The Aim of a Lady Read Free Page B

had found someone I wanted to marry. You have no pressing engagements, have you?”
    “No, nothing of moment.” Alma drew his hand through his black hair absently. His black brows above intensely blue eyes were expressive of his emotions, and they were now drawn up in self-mockery. He ran a hand gently over his aching wound. “I am in some pain, George.”
    “Lord, why did you not say so?” George rose abruptly and gathered the cards together. “I shall have Diana bring you some laudanum right away.”
    “Has my man arrived with my clothing?”
    “Yes, while you were asleep. Shall I send him to you?”
    “Please. And do not bother your sister—my man can take care of me.”
    “As you wish. I shall speak with you before I leave in the morning. I regret the inconvenience to you, Ellis.”
    “I appreciate your understatement, Savile. I shall remember in future to accept any invitations to your home with great caution.” His sardonic tone did not obscure the fact that his face was pinched with pain, and his host hastened to send for his valet.
    When Rodgers arrived, George bid his friend sleep well and slipped out the door into the candle-lit hall. He felt restless and in need of company, so he asked where his sister might be found and joined her in the music room. She was seated at the harpsichord playing a haunting tune of the countryside. George seated himself comfortably on the upholstered settee and closed his eyes until she had finished the piece.
    “Is something the matter, George?” Diana asked with concern.
    “I cannot shake the feeling...no, nothing is wrong. Ellis is having some pain but his man has gone to him. I am leaving in the morning, Diana. I told Ellis I would have Mrs. Lewis come in while he is here for the sake of appearance. You will not mind?”
    “No, she’s a dear soul. Do not delay yourself; I will go to her in the morning. Come, sing with me a while.”
    Diana started to finger a more cheerful song and her brother joined his voice with hers. The strains of their music reached Alma in his bedchamber as he drifted into a restless sleep.

Chapter Three
     
    “No, Papa, there can have been no mistake on Lord Vallert’s part,” Alonna Sanfield said angrily. Her blazing eyes lifted from the announcement in the Herald. “I realize he had your permission to pay his addresses to me, but I did not accept him. It is beyond anything for him to have sent an announcement to the Herald. You will have to have him retract it.”
    “Now, now, my dear. Let’s not be hasty. He’s a good young fellow—nice manners, pleasant spoken, plenty of the ready,” he exhorted bluffly.
    “I had thought him pleasant enough myself, Papa, until this!” Alonna jumped up from her chair in the breakfast parlor and paced restlessly about the room. “I will not be forced into marrying him just because he has been so rash as to place the announcement. How dare he!”
    “You are not getting any younger, Alonna. It is time you were married. You could not do better than Vallert, I assure you,” her red-faced parent blustered. “So he was a trifle premature; it only shows how eager he is."
    “It shows how unprincipled he is,” his daughter retorted coldly. “I have not been in town so long as to wear my welcome thin as an unmarried lady in society. My sisters each had sufficient time given them to make a match of their choice, and I hope that you do not intend to rush me into marriage now that Mama is dead.”
    Her father had the grace to flush, but a sly gleam entered his eye as he said, “I take it you are waiting for some other young man to come up to scratch, miss.”
    Alonna did not allow him to see that he had discomfited her. “I will not marry Lord Vallert after this fiasco, Papa, so you must have him retract the announcement of our engagement.” She walked from the room with all the dignity she possessed.
    It would destroy her, she thought. How could he do such a thing? Lord Vallert had recently