A Curious Heart (Love Vine: A Regency Series) Read Free Page A

Alana is rather independent. Quite set in her ways—"
    "She's a bluestocking?" Rothburn's question was fraught with disbelief. How could such a lovely, feminine creature be such a thing? It was not to be borne. He shuddered to think he had actually sought her company at the ball last night, only to have her elude  him. While it was true that he had approached Miss Allie for one dance, the second time he had approached, he'd meant to dance with Lady Alana. She had neatly sidestepped his advance and maneuvered him into a second dance with her niece, however, and he had been quite put out.
    He was somewhat relieved at Sir Gordon's next words.
    "Not exactly a bluestocking, Old Fellow. Though she is an intellectual and her interests are sought accordingly. She's quite quick-minded actually. But as I said, very independent. Has money from her grandmother, the dowager Countess of Champlay. Could probably buy or sell either of us."
    "You exaggerate! Why, you alone are one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom. She might buy me, but never you." Rothburn reckoned that it would take a vast fortune to outgun the wealth of the Pendleton family.
    It was a wonder they hadn't been offered a peerage before now. He knew they had done more for the economy of Britain than most merchant families over the last two centuries. They had never been close to the throne, however, and Rothburn knew that advancement into the peerage was more a matter of politics than merit.
    Returning to the topic at hand, he queried his friend about the lady once more. "If she's so well setup, it's a wonder she's still single. What of her parents? Why have they not arranged a marriage for her?"
    "My grandmother has tried, but Alana puts them off. There has been a devil of a row in our family because of it, actually. Between her and grandmother, that is. They hardly speak to one another. Grandmamma does not like to be thwarted, and Alana is just like her. Between them they have managed to keep us all upset these last five years.
    "My father was enlisted to get her married off a few years ago. Naturally, his plans failed and now Grandmamma hardly speaks to him either. Glad to see her married, would eliminate our suffering immensely! Are you interested in bearding the lioness in her den, perhaps?"
    "Never say so! I've been dodging the matrimonial plotting of my own mother for so long, you should know I'm not up to it."
    He looked at Sir Gordon with an innocent air. "Not interested—just curious. She is quite lovely, you know. One has to be curious when such an eligible female remains on the shelf."
    Rothburn was lying to himself, but he ignored it. Intrigued with the mysterious Lady Alana Fisk, already half in love with her, he continued to stare in her direction while Sir Gordon noted the fact with a wry grin.
    "Well, should you change your mind, you may apply directly to Grandmamma. I'll not get involved in the plotting—as you put it—for all the tea in China!" He then leaned closer whispering, "Don't forget, Old Fellow, you are practically betrothed to another."
    The comment earned him a dark look. "I need not be reminded of my mother's manipulations in regard to my future wedded state."
     * * * * *
    "Aunt Alana, do you notice that Lord Rothburn stares in this direction quite often?" Allie tried to gauge her relative's reaction to her question.
    She looked disappointed, however, when Lady Alana only gazed at her blankly, features smooth and unaffected by the possibility of such attention. Alana was no fool, and knew her niece quite well.
    Allie, whose heart appeared to be healing nicely from the blow of unrequited love, looked to have the germ of an idea blossoming in her youthful head. The wheels turning in the girl's brain could only mean one thing, as Allie kept glancing between Alana and Rothburn.
     "He appears quite taken with you," Allie said brightly. "You would make such a lovely couple. Lord Rothburn is so distinguished and you are without doubt the most