The Blue Devil (The Regency Matchmaker Series) Read Free Page B

with no expense spared. But this room, though equally beautiful, was not the same. The bed and windows bore counterpanes and draperies of deep, liquid purple exactly matching the shade of the violets, while the rest of the room was decorated in shades of palest lavender and cream. No gaudy gilt moldings or flocked wallpaper spoiled its simplicity. Kathryn looked up and wondered at the magnificent high ceiling. It was painted in trompe l’oeil to look like a blue summer sky, complete with puffy white clouds and a bird flying high above. The entire effect was lovely.
    It seemed she was home.
    Kathryn turned the key in the lock behind her, lit a candle, and set it in the window to await the arrival of John and her clothing, but there was no need of them, for Auntie had already provided a costume for the masqued ball. On the bed lay an exquisite gown of sheerest white silk. Beside it lay a wreath for the hair fashioned of violets and the palest yellow roses. Eyes wide, Kathryn examined the creations. The gown was sewn with tiny faceted silver beads that sparkled even in the pale candlelight. It was stunning, and Kathryn smiled.
    Ducking into the small dressing room, she made efficient use of the water basin and some soft linen toweling before donning the gown, fluffing her short blond curls with her fingers, settling the wreath of flowers on her head, and finally marveling at the effect in the cheval glass. The magnificent gown fit reasonably well, and Kathryn wondered how Ophelia had accomplished that. Studying her image, she was reminded of the fairy character Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream , which Ophelia had taken Kathryn to see when a traveling company had passed through Heathford some years before. Kathryn had openly admired the gown the actress wore, and it was obvious Auntie had ordered this gown to be made similar to that one.
    A box on the bed held matching silver gloves and slippers, a delicate lace reticule, a white satin-and-silver lace masque, and at the very bottom . . . sparkly silver wings and a wand! Kathryn tipped her head back and chuckled, wondering how she was to don all of the accessories at one time. Then, remembering Ophelia’s admonition that ladies of the ton did not laugh out loud, she clapped her hand over her mouth. Lifting the filmy gauze wings out of the box, Kathryn twirled about the room, and then she noticed the diamond-studded coronet waiting for her on the dressing table.
    Diamond-studded, just like Lydia’s bow.
    Her feet stilled. How could she have forgotten the girl’s plight? Or the man responsible, the rotter? Outrage surged through her. Would he have the audacity to appear in the ballroom after what he’d done?
    Poor Lydia certainly could not appear below, not with her dress torn and her hair wildly askew. No. Everyone would see her chaperon was otherwise occupied, and dear sweet Lydia would be ruined instantly.
    Spoiled. Sullied. Done for.
    And the shameless despoiler, meanwhile, would no doubt return to the ball with impunity. Perhaps he would try to deny he’d had any part in the unpleasantness. Perhaps he was someone of importance, someone who could ruin Lydia with a single word. Perhaps he would attempt to place the blame elsewhere and implicate some unsuspecting young man to save his own reputation. Then two lives would be ruined, for, even if they wed, Lydia and her nameless young man would both be cast from Polite Society. Well! Kathryn was not about to let that happen.
    She snatched up the wings and other accessories and hastily finished dressing. Since dear, innocent Lydia could not defend herself, Kathryn was honor-bound to come to the sweet flower’s aid!

CHAPTER TWO
    T HE SWEET FLOWER , meanwhile, was much too busy to be concerned over what was being said about her in the ballroom. Having slipped the grasp of her elderly duenna, the Honorable Lydia Northam was making the most of the resulting opportunity. Though the delectable but tiresome marquis had been