The Wedding Game by Jane Feather Read Free Book Online

there quite often,” Prudence said, sweeping past the interruption.
    “Only the best in horseflesh will do for me,” the lady continued, ignoring her hostess. “I had the most beautiful filly at home, did I not, Mama?”
    Her mother consented and the signorina continued to expatiate on the delights and concerns of owning an Arabian mare, while somehow managing to convey to her companions that of course no one else could possibly have experienced either the delight or the concern.
    The woman was impossible, Prudence thought disgustedly. She wasn't worth the time or effort to snub.
    Chastity asked suddenly, “Signorina Della Luca, do you intend to be presented at Court? You will find it necessary if you intend to participate in the London Season.”
    “Oh, most certainly, I do,” the lady declared. “Why else would we come to London? After Christmas, Mama will present me. She was herself presented to Queen Victoria, of course.”
    “Of course.” Chastity's smile was a little vague and she seemed to return to her reverie. If Laura Della Luca was intending to participate fully in the Season in the new year, then she must be on the lookout for a husband. She was, by even the kindest assessment, approaching the shelf. How anxious was she to get herself to the altar? Chastity mused.

Chapter 3

    W hat a pill,” Prudence declared when the door had closed on the last of their guests. “Not even you, Chas, could find any redeeming features in
Signorina Della Luca.
” She imitated the woman's affected accents.
    “Oh, I don't know,” Chastity said. “There might be some external redeeming features if one looked for them.”
    Constance looked at her sharply. “You've been very absorbed all evening, Chas,” she observed. “You hardly said anything after we left the dining room.”
    Chastity only smiled and helped herself to a chocolate from the silver bonbon dish on the low marquetry table in front of the sofa where she sat.
    “Cognac, Constance?” Gideon asked, well aware of his sister-in-law's tastes.
    “Thank you.” She accepted a goblet.
    “Liqueur, Prudence?”
    “Grand Marnier, please.”
    “And the same for you, Chastity?”
    “No, Benedictine, I think,” Chastity responded. “It goes better with chocolate.”
    Gideon smiled. Chastity's sweet tooth was something of a family joke.
    Prudence took the tiny glass filled with the sweetish orange liqueur and remarked, “Did you say earlier that you wanted to talk to Max about something, Gideon? Something about Christmas, wasn't it?”
    “Ah-ha,” Max said. “I get the impression we're being dismissed, Gideon.”
    “'Tis ever thus,” Gideon said with a mock sigh as he rose from a deep armchair beside the fire. “Thrown out of my own drawing room, cast into the cold.”
    “There's nothing cold about the library,” Prudence pointed out, removing her glasses from her nose and holding them up to the light to see if she could detect a smudge. “Take the cognac decanter with you and go and smoke a cigar.”
    “As you command.” Gideon, shaking his head, picked up the cut-glass decanter. “Come, Max, my fellow exile.” The two men went out, leaving the laughing sisters in sole possession of the drawing room.
    “Now,” said Prudence, replacing her glasses and coming to sit beside Chastity. “What have you been concocting, Chas?”
    Chastity took another chocolate and followed it with a tiny but delicious sip of Benedictine. “Those monks certainly knew what they were doing,” she said, holding up her glass to the light.
    “Come on, Chas.” Constance leaned forward and moved the bonbon bowl out of her baby sister's reach.
    “Oh, unfair,” Chastity said, but she set down her liqueur glass.
    “External redeeming features,” Prudence reminded her.
    “Yes, well, I had a thought . . . two, actually. I do seem to be having rather a number of them just recently.” Chastity sounded a little smug. “Our friend Laura is indeed a pill, but it's possible