Beguiled

скачать книгу бесплатно


“I’m beginning to think that I don’t know anything,” Graydon told him. “Save that I spent all of this morning making visits that have clearly been a waste of time, and that I won’t lose St. Cathyrs because a pretty female has suddenly taken leave of her senses.”

With that, he began to make his way across the dance floor.

A momentary surprise possessed her features when she saw him stalking toward her, to be covered almost at once by the chilly expression she’d worn for most of the evening.

He made his second greetings of the evening to both Lady Margaret and Lady Isabel before turning to the object of his wrath.

“The supper dance is about to be played, I believe, Lady Lillian. I should be honored if you would allow me to be your partner.”

She lifted one white-gloved hand and made a sharp, negative gesture. Behind him, he heard Lady Isabel say unhappily, “She said ‘Thank you very much, my lord, but I’m afraid that I don’t feel quite up to dancing at the moment.’”

Proficient in sign language he was not, but Graydon knew very well that Lady Lillian hadn’t said anything quite so nice.

“Then perhaps you might enjoy a walk in the gardens? The evening air is comfortable and I understand that Lady Pebworth has decorated the walkways with Chinese lanterns.”

Her clear blue eyes glittered with what Graydon recognized as a fury that matched his own, and her hand came up again. Before she could consign him in her silent language to the place to which her expression had already condemned him, Graydon took her hand and held it very firmly.

“Thank you most kindly, my lady,” he said, forcibly placing her hand upon his arm. To Lady Margaret, who was somewhat distracted by the spectacle of Lord Daltry carrying her daughter off onto the dance floor again, he said, “I shall make certain to return your niece in time for supper, ma’am.”