A Wedding In Springtime(26)

“There she is,” said the Comtesse de Marseille, who was dressed in a raiment of silk and lace fit to beggar a king. “I cannot believe she has the audacity to show her face in society.”

“That is Lady Bremerton’s niece,” replied a man. “Pretty thing, quite pretty, too bad she has not the manners to match.”

“Whatever do you mean?” asked Grant, joining the conversation.

“Did you not hear the latest on-dits about Miss Talbot? Apparently, she made quite a spectacle of herself before the queen.”

“Ah, you speak of the presentation,” said Grant. “I was there, you know.”

“Do tell!” exclaimed the comtesse with a malicious glint to her eye.

“My Lord Chamberlain made an utter fool of himself by making known the painful result of ill digestion. Truly, I worry for him. The queen was quite put out at his behavior, I must say.”

The Comtesse de Marseille laughed without a trace of mirth. “I heard that young chit embarrassed herself by shrieking with laughter.”

“I heard she fell to the floor with hysterics,” replied the man.

“Sorry to disappoint, but that’s all a hum. Such a lovely girl, she shone in comparison to the other young ladies. Wonder who could benefit from spreading false rumors?” added Grant.

“Jealous mamas, no doubt,” said the comtesse with authority. “They are a vicious breed.”

“I heard it from a reliable source,” countered the man, not ready to give up his bit of gossip.

“As did I,” agreed the comtesse. “The Talbot girl made a fool of herself.”

“The Talbot girl,” said the Duke of Marchford, joining the conversation with stiff hauteur, “is the granddaughter of the Earl of Wainwright and the cousin of my betrothed.”

The group turned to find the duke studying them with the disinterest of a noble. If anyone doubted Miss Talbot’s behavior, it was not going to be discussed before the duke.

“Good show,” said Grant as he watched the gossips promenade away stately in search of safer ground. “You can give a set-down better than most.”

“I fear it is a performance I shall have to repeat all evening.”

“You’ll enjoy that,” said Grant, not at all attending to what his friend was saying. Instead, he watched Genie’s entrance into the ball, the way the candlelight shone in her hair, the soft curve of her hip in the silk gown.

“Grant.” The duke’s voice was threaded with warning, but his companion was enthralled.

“Yes, yes, quite right. Must dash.” Grant made a direct line to the object of his fancy.

***

“I am not supposed to dance with you,” whispered Genie as she followed Mr. Grant onto the ballroom floor.

“Who told you that? The sour-faced companion to the dowager?”

“No!” insisted Genie, who felt allegiance to her new friend as one of the only people in London who would claim a friendship with her. “Well, yes,” she amended. Upon reflection, she decided there was no use in denying it. “But she is hardly the only one. I do wish to thank you for securing this invitation for me, but my aunt, my cousin, oh, everyone from the chambermaid to the groomsman has warned me not to go anywhere near you.”

“I am flattered to know my reputation has finally made its way into the gossip of the chambermaids.”

“You are quite incorrigible.”

“My dear girl, if you insist on flattering me in this manner, I fear I shall have to make you my new favorite.”

“Mr. Grant, I would beg that you stop funning me. The only reason I am standing up with you is because you made it impossible for me not to.” Grant had come up to Genie and her aunt alongside the Duke of Marchford. Aunt Cora could hardly cut her future son-in-law, so she watched helplessly as Grant led Genie out to the dance floor.

“Again, your flattery is too much.”

“These are serious matters, Mr. Grant. After my disastrous presentation at court, my reputation is in shreds. I cannot be seen dancing with a known rake. No respectable person will speak to me.”

“You should thank me then. All the respectable people I know are dreadfully dull.”

Genie was prevented from making a stinging retort by the start of the music and the necessity to attend to her steps as she skipped forward for the country dance. “I am trying to be respectable,” she hissed when they crossed paths for the dance.