A Gentleman's Kiss Read Free Page A

Claudia could see she was still trying to get hold of her giggles. “Just please don’t do that at the ball,” she admonished, waggling her finger at her. “I can imagine you marching into the Montbattens’ ballroom, waving your American flag, and dumping tea into their fountains in protest.”
    Claudia giggled and straightened her cape, which had become askew. “Perhaps I’ll don the beaded leather dress one of my Choctaw friends made for me before I left and mark my face with war paint.”
    Helen walked to Claudia’s bed then returned with a satin purse. “As fun as that would be to witness, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave your war paint at home and face the wolves with only your wits to guard you.” She handed her the purse and added, “Unless I can talk you into going to my house. I do have a brand new novel we can read to each other.”
    Claudia raised her brow and narrowed her gaze at her friend. “I just thought of something. You never told me how your husband reacted when he saw the invitation made out only to him.”
    Helen looked at the floor. “Well. . .I didn’t exactly show him the invitation.” She started picking at imaginary lint on her cream-colored skirt. “I told him it had arrived and suggested we miss this one and attend the Beckingham ball tomorrow night.” She looked up and met Claudia’s gaze. “But shouldn’t we leave this matter in God’s hands? He will deal with the Montbattens as they deserve.”
    “Of course, but don’t you think God enlists our help on occasion to make people aware of their bad manners?” She smiled at her friend. “God does not mean for you to endure such disrespect—you are His child. You are also the Duchess of Northingshire, and nothing they do or say will change that fact. But tonight perhaps I can make one man understand his actions are petty and mean. I only pray he has some decent, God-fearing part inside him that can be reasoned with.”
    She turned toward the mirror one last time, and after taking a deep breath squared her shoulders. “Well, I’m ready. You’ll say a prayer for me tonight?”
    Helen looked at her in the mirror and nodded her head slowly. “I shall be praying all night, for I fear you’ll need it.”
    “I will come and visit you on the morrow and tell you about it,” Claudia said to Helen as they walked out of the room to go to their respective carriages. “I’m sure I’ll have good news about how the earl saw the error of his ways and will bring you his apology.” She prayed her statement would prove true.
    Claudia’s great-aunt Julia, who acted as her chaperone, was in the carriage and had fallen asleep as usual. Claudia would wake her up when they arrived, and after greeting the key members of her circle her aunt would find a nice comfortable chair and fall asleep again. Claudia smiled to herself and looked out the window as the carriage began to move. At least she didn’t have to worry about her aunt reporting back to her grandfather that she had sought the audience of one Earl of Kinclary.
    Since the Montbattens’ London home was only two blocks from her grandfather’s, she and her aunt were soon standing at the grand entrance to the ballroom, and their names were being announced.
    She observed a few nods of greeting and curious looks as they entered, especially from some of the young men who’d been vying for her attention lately; but mostly she entered unnoticed since the party was in full swing. Aunt Julia went her way, and Claudia walked down the few steps onto the ballroom floor, casually glancing about in hopes of spotting Lord Kinclary.
    “Ah, Lady Claudia!” She looked to her right and saw Lady Ravenhurst hurrying over to her. “I had almost given up on your gracing us with your presence this evening,” the older woman said in a sugary voice that surprised Claudia. Since their last meeting at the park had been such an unpleasant one, she had not expected Lady Ravenhurst to be so nice to her.