An Affair of the Heart Read Free Page A

fair competition. Really nobody else worth a second look brought out this year. Just like the Wanderleys, though, to go breaking their legs. Hoydens, Clay, the whole lot of them. Joan rode astride till she was into her teens—that’s Lady Siderow. And Caroline—”
    “About Wanda,” Claymore interrupted impatiently. “Took a tumble from her horse, I suppose?”
    “No such a thing. She don’t ride much, actually. She was climbing a tree, not to be outdone by Ellie, you know.”
    “Another sister?”
    “The fourth of the Wanderley beauties. No, or is it third now? Yes, she was born a little before Wanda.” He had to nurse his thumb after the strain of delivering this news.
    “Some nine or ten months before, I must presume.”
    “No, it wasn’t nearly that long.” Claymore stared at this miracle, and Rex rambled on. “They was twins, you see, that’s how it was.”
    “I see. And why was not Miss Ellie presented this year, then, being, er, older. Broke her head climbing a tree, did she?”
    In spite of considerable thumb-sucking and ear-rubbing, Rex could not explain the mystery, though he assured his friend there must have been a good reason for it. Even if Ellie wasn’t quite as pretty as the others, she would certainly get her crack at the London beaux; her mama and her married sisters would see to that
    “Well then, my friend, you must present me to these wonderful Wanderleys,” Clay declared magnanimously.
    “Can’t do it, Clay. For one thing, the Season’s over, or next to it, and they ain’t in town. As I said, Wanda’s as well as hitched. Wouldn’t be surprised to read the announcement any day.”
    “I have not read it yet, and I’ll wager a pony we will not read any such thing once I have offered for her.”
    “Lord, you haven’t even met her! You might not care for Wanda at all. I don’t. Like her the least of the batch, and that’s a fact. You’d do better to have Ellie, though of course she ain’t so handsome, and wouldn’t square you with the Rose at all.”
    “It is Wanda I have decided on.”
    “Well, if you ain’t a loose fish, Clay. Getting yourself buckled to a girl you don’t even know, just to spite the Rose.”
    “What does a man ever know of the girl he marries?” Does Everleigh know, for example, that his bride called him ‘the old goat’ behind his back, and showered her kisses on anyone who bothered to reach out and take them? No, indeed, all you knew was what you could see, and if Miss Wanda proved attractive to the eye, he would have her.
    “You know Wanda don’t love you, for I’m tellingyoushe’s powerful fond of George Hibbard.”
    “We’ll see if she isn’t powerful fond of a title and a fortune as well. I think I shall do you the honor of accepting your kind offer to pass a few weeks at the Abbey.”
    “What offer?”
    “The offer you are about to extend.”
    “I was thinking of going to Bath, Clay.”
    “Think again. You are about to go home and visit your mama.”
    “ She’s going to Bath, too.”
    “Not till July, I think?”
    “Yes, but dash it, Clay, I want to get there before her, and have a bit of time to enjoy myself, for you know once she and my sister, Missie, get there, I shall be pressed into service taking them to Pump Rooms and libraries and such dull stuff.”
    “It is only early June, Rex. I shan’t burden you with my presence for more than two weeks. That should be sufficient time to reach an understanding with Miss Wanda.”
    “I wouldn’t wish that woman on my worst enemy, let alone my best friend. Just such a spoiled beauty as the Rose.”
    “That is precisely the sort of beauty I require,” Clay returned firmly, even grimly.
    “Yes, to flaunt in Miss Golden’s face, and pretend you ain’t all cut to ribbons by her having Everleigh.”
    “Just so.”
    “Well, we’ll go to the Abbey, but Wanda won’t have you, and I’m glad of it, for you two wouldn’t suit in the least.”
    “We shall deal exceedingly,”