Regency High Society Vol 7: A Reputable Rake / The Heart's Wager / The Venetian's Mistress / The Gambler's Heart. Diane Gaston
guide Rose around the room. It was not Sloane who was out of step, but she. He was deftly making his place in society, with the same ease as he moved through the steps of the waltz. She was the one who did not fit.
After the dancing, they all went to the front drawing room for refreshment so that the footmen could return the library to its former state. Hungry and thirsty from the morning’s exertion, they eagerly consumed the lemonade and biscuits Cripps served, the butler revealing nothing of his thoughts of the morning’s activities. There was much laughter. Even Lucy laughed aloud at something Mr Elliot said to her.
Madame Bisou’s carriage soon arrived and she had to drag her friend Robert away from the book he and Mary had their noses in. After they left, Morgana glanced over to where Katy and Rose practised flirting with Sloane. He looked up at the same time and caught her watching him.
It was almost as if she could feel his lips on hers once more.
Lucy appeared next to her, Mr Elliot standing behind. ‘Beg pardon, Miss Hart, may Mr Elliot and I return to the garden? I had not finished showing him some of the plants.’
Morgana could not help but give the girl a quizzical look, but she said, ‘Of course you may, Lucy.’ Were they really sneaking away to bed?
The idea did not shock her at this moment. She touched her lips where Sloane had kissed and wondered what other thrills existed between men and women, matters Madame Bisou implied in every lesson. Until the feel of Sloane’s arms around her and his achingly tender, then eager, kiss, Morgana had not quite grasped the madam’s meaning.
Another carriage rumbled to a stop out in the street. Morgana wandered over to the window to see who it was. The blood drained from her face as she watched her aunt and cousin assisted from the carriage. ‘It is Aunt Winnie and Hannah.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Miss Moore wrung her hands.
‘How lovely,’ her grandmother said.
Morgana heard the knock at the door and Cripps open it. ‘It is too late to hide in the library.’ They would be seen from the hall. She turned to the girls. ‘You are Miss Moore’s nieces, remember. You know precisely how to behave.’
Cripps came to announce the visitors. Miss Moore whispered, ‘Katy, remember to be quiet and ladylike.’
Katy nodded, clamping her mouth shut.
Her aunt and cousin were the last people Morgana would wish to call upon her, especially with Sloane present, but she stood ready to face them. All the others rose from their chairs as well, standing like a line of soldiers behind their captain. Only her grandmother remained seated. Morgana patted her hair quickly and tried to tuck up the strands that had come loose during the waltz.
Her aunt and Hannah entered. Morgana smiled. ‘Why, Aunt Winnie, Hannah, how lovely to see you.’
‘Lovely to see you,’ Lady Hart parroted.
Her aunt looked perplexed at the room full of women. Hannah’s eyes landed directly on Sloane, though they narrowed considerably when she saw him standing between one pretty girl and one beautiful one.
‘Come, meet Miss Moore’s nieces.’ Morgana kept her voice light. ‘Remember, I told you they were visiting, and look who else has come to call—Mr Sloane.’
She made the introductions, but was not surprised when her aunt and cousin showed little curiosity. The nieces of a lady’s companion would no doubt be almost beneath their notice.
Hannah looked daggers at Rose, but when Sloane sat in the chair next to her, she brightened a little.
‘We decided we must call upon Morgana,’ Hannah remarked to him, but for all to hear. ‘We have been sadly remiss for not doing so before, but there are so many calls one must make. Today I insisted we must put her first on our list.’
Hannah regarded Sloane with her usual proprietary air, and Morgana pushed away another wave of envy, felt more acutely so soon after experiencing his kiss. Hannah had recently confided that Sloane had not made an offer, but had asked Hannah’s father if he would object to one. Uncle Cowdlin had not objected. According to Hannah it would be only a matter of time before her parents would be giving an engagement ball.
Morgana pressed a hand to her stomach.
Sloane had turned all his attention to Hannah. Katy sat very stiffly, her lips compressed into a tight line. Rose examined a piece of music that had been left on the table. Morgana sat between her grandmother and her aunt, trying to deflect any conversation that might cause her aunt to discover Lady Hart’s infirmity of mind.
After about five minutes, Sloane stood. ‘I have quite overstayed my welcome. It is time for me to take my leave.’
Morgana turned to him with a polite smile. ‘Thank you so much for calling, Mr Sloane. It was kind of you.’ She turned back to her aunt.
He said goodbye to the others and Hannah walked him to the drawing-room door. Sloane did not look at Morgana again.
After he left, Hannah and her mother prattled on for a few minutes about how Sloane was bound to offer for Hannah soon, information that had Rose, Katy and Mary passing surprised glances to each other. Then Hannah announced that she and her mother ought to depart to make their numerous other calls. Morgana saw them to the door and Cripps stood by to assist them.
‘You do come to Almack’s with us tonight, do you not, Morgana?’ her aunt asked.
‘Yes. Thank you so much for including me, Aunt Winnie.’ In truth, Morgana had found the ton’s marriage mart a bit tedious of late.
Hannah gave Morgana a quick hug. ‘Do not worry, Morgana. I will find some beaux to dance with you.’
‘Thank you, Hannah,’ Morgana responded tightly. ‘You are too good.’
Sloane stepped out of White’s after a dinner with Heronvale, during which the marquess had impressed upon him the necessity of a good marriage to succeed in politics. If that were not enough, Sloane’s father had made an appearance, infuriated that Sloane shared Heronvale’s table. The noise of carriages clattering by and the other street sounds were infinitely preferable to the Earl’s grating voice. As was his habit, Sloane glanced around him.
His nephew stood a few steps from the bow window. ‘Do you attend Almack’s, Uncle?’
It was easy to read on David’s countenance that he had something on his mind. ‘I am headed there now.’
‘May I walk with you?’ David smiled tentatively.
‘Certainly.’
‘Does your grandfather know you waited for me?’ Sloane asked as they crossed the street.
‘Never,’ exclaimed David. He glanced at Sloane. ‘He has it in for you, you know.’
Sloane laughed. ‘He always has had.’
‘I think it irrational,’ David said firmly. ‘I disapprove heartily.’
‘But not loudly, I hope.’ The boy was still at the Earl’s mercy, at least financially. Unless he wanted to take the hard road Sloane had taken, he’d best keep his opinions to himself.
His nephew flashed a quick smile and then they walked for a while in silence.
Finally David said, ‘I have called again upon Lady Hannah. I thought you should know.’
‘I’ve made no claim, David,’ Sloane said. ‘She is free to spend time with whom she pleases.’
‘But I respect your interest in her. I—I just wanted you to know my reasons make no infringement on your interest. As I explained, I cannot even think of marrying, so my time spent calling on her and taking her for a turn in the park is mere friendship. If I called upon someone else, it might raise the girl’s hopes unrealistically, but Lady Hannah has no expectation of me. It makes it a good arrangement between us.’
Sloane was glad Hannah