The Thoroughly Compromised Bride Read Free Page B

Ashton. I had no idea, when I agreed to deliver Margaret safely to Bath, that it would prove to be such an interesting place.”
    It was Elizabeth’s turn to raise an eyebrow as she said, “No doubt you are referring to the Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms and our many other attractions.”
    “Just so! Especially the ‘other attractions.’“
    The corners of her mouth twitched in response to his wicked grin, but before she could make a suitable retort, a loud throat-clearing caused three pairs of startled eyes to swing round to the forgotten Lord Braxton, who was fairly quivering with indignation at having been ignored for so long.
    “Oh, my dear Lord Braxton,” gasped Emily, “we have been indulging in the most inexcludible behaviour! Pray, forgive us and allow me to make Mr. Carlyle known to you.”
    Charles gazed at Emily in fascination.
    Lord Braxton, his countenance stiffened with disapproval, said, “I am acquainted with Mr. Carlyle, and you will not object, I know, Miss Godwin, when I say that he is not a fit acquaintance for a delicately nurtured female such as Miss Ashton. It would be remiss of me were I not to inform you of this, and, indeed, a shirking of my duty as your friend.” He glared at Charles, who merely smiled sardonically as though he were enjoying the whole situation immensely.
    Elizabeth’s eyes flashed with anger. “Lord Braxton, you go too far! When I wish your advice as to whom I may be acquainted with, I shall tell you! But you were just leaving, were you not? We mustn’t detain you!”
    As a distressed Aunt Emily tried to smooth Lord Braxton’s ruffled feathers, Charles whispered, “Good girl!” into Elizabeth’s ear, and so inordinately pleased was she at this approbation that she had difficulty maintaining the quelling stare with which she was regarding Lord Braxton.
    His lordship very obviously had no wish to leave while Charles remained, but was unable to think of an appropriate excuse for staying. He said only, “Well, well, we shall speak of this another time when you are feeling more yourself. I shall look for you, dear ladies, this evening at the conceit.” With that, he finally took his leave.
    While Emily accompanied him to the door of the room, still talking soothingly, Elizabeth turned to Charles with laughter in her eyes and said in a low voice, “You must not encourage me in being rude to a guest.”
    “If giving that pompous toad a set-down he richly deserves is being rude, then I certainly shall encourage you! For that matter, why do you encourage him to dangle after you?”
    “No, no! I don’t! It’s Aunt Emily who does that! But it takes very little to encourage him, I fear, for he has an excessively high regard for himself.”
    “Give him a damper and send him to rout,” he advised her.
    “Do you think I have not tried? I assure you I have, but the man is impervious to insults and rejections alike. Add to that the fact that he cannot bring himself to imagine that any female would not be thrown into transports by his attentions, and the situation becomes impossible.”
    “Would you like me to discourage him?” Charles laughed. “I could, you know.”
    “Good heavens! I’m afraid to ask how you might do it,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
    He smiled. “Oh, nothing too drastic—merely one of my famous set-downs. However, let’s not waste our time speaking of him. Tell me, instead, does your aunt always exhibit that peculiar manner of speech?’’
    She gave another gurgle of laughter. “Not always, but frequently. Especially when she is excited or overset, which is most of the time!”
    “But what an endless source of amusement for you,” he said, his eyes crinkling with laughter.
    “Yes,” she agreed. “But she is really a dear, and I don’t know how I should go on without her.”
    “Lends you countenance, in fact, does she?”
    “Exactly so!”
    Before he could reply to this. Aunt Emily returned from seeing Lord Braxton out, and they all