“My brother looks as smitten as I,” Ralph murmured, adding hurriedly in an even lower voice, “with the other sister, of course. For five years he’s pined for his lost Bella, our neighbor with whom we’d grown up. For the past two I’ve told him he can’t burn a flame to her forever. A surprise that the two young ladies who’ve engaged his interest couldn’t look more different.”
“How did Miss Bella break his heart?” Lissa asked the question more to deflect him from his extravagant praise of Araminta. She was deeply dismayed at the idea of Araminta setting her cap at Ralph’s brother. How would Lissa compare as a prospect for Ralph in consequence? The truth would be revealed, and a situation could not possibly be allowed whereby two sisters—one of aristocratic stock with a handsome dowry, the other illegitimate and penniless—could marry two brothers like Ralph and Lord Ludbridge.
She swallowed down her sadness. Marrying Ralph was what she wanted more than anything, yet how could it ever be possible?
“I think I mentioned once that Miss Bella’s father leased a house near our estate. He worked for the East India Company and she and my brother were once inseparable. He was going to marry her. Then one day, Miss Bella just disappeared.”
Lissa, who’d been staring at Araminta, jerked her head back to look at Ralph. “What do you mean, just disappeared?”
“Just that. Teddy went to London. He intended to choose a betrothal ring and to make arrangements so he could ask Miss Bella to marry him when he returned. But he got back to discover their house empty and the family gone. He could never discover where. It was as if they’d never existed.”
“I’ve never heard anything so extraordinary. And she never wrote to say where they’d gone? There was no forwarding address?”
“Nothing. Teddy tried everything to elicit information. It was the strangest thing. Now, five years later, Miss Araminta looks to be the one to at last mend his broken heart.”
***
Araminta was very pleased with the intensity of Lord Ludbridge’s gaze. Even after that simpering harp player, Miss Shrew—or whatever her name was, though she certainly resembled a shrew with that unfortunate nose—started her infernal strumming, which everyone else seemed to think divine, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
He really was the most charming young man she’d met in two seasons. He was tall and well made with a strong jaw and a delicate mouth. It seemed everyone liked Lord Ludbridge, too.
Going back to see her Mama had not been the tragedy she’d thought it for it was clear how much His Lovely Lordship had missed her. As for herself, she could not wait to kiss that mouth. In fact, before the week was out, she would do it. The time had come to get matters moving.
Lord Ludbridge offered her his arm when the assembly rose for refreshments. With a coy glance, Araminta murmured her thanks and was rewarded with a most gratifying smile. Her heart fluttered with pleasure and she gave his arm a little squeeze. Yes, he really was a most handsome and agreeable gentleman. Titled and rich enough. Indeed, Lord Ludbridge was the answer to all her difficulties.
“Ralph, good to see you!”
Araminta turned at Lord Ludbridge’s warm tones and was horrified to find herself confronting her escort’s brother in company with her half-sister. Mortifying was that their hostess, Lady Milton, who materialized from behind the harpist, immediately exclaimed over the resemblance between the girls.
Mr. Tunley had already opened his mouth but Araminta interrupted quickly. “There is no family connection. I am Lord Partington’s daughter and Miss Hazlett is—”
“My grandfather was a country solicitor from Hampshire,” Larissa murmured.
“Hampshire? I know that part of the world. And your father?”
Araminta felt as panicked as Larissa looked but Mr. Tunley changed the subject, smoothly. “I am impressed by our entertainers tonight. You have put together an excellent program, Lady Milton.”
For a moment, Araminta thought he’d saved them from any further uncomfortable questions, but the panic she’d felt must have gone deeper than she’d thought, for all of a sudden she felt the room closing in on her. She flicked open her fan and began a vigorous attempt to circulate the air but the heat of the dozens of bodies was too oppressive for such meager measures.
“Excuse me—” she began before she grasped at Lord Ludbridge’s arm, her legs buckled and darkness closed in.
***
Aramina came to on a royal-blue velvet chaise longue in Lady Milton’s sitting room surrounded by her hostess, her chaperone and—as good a reason as if she could have come up with the idea of fainting, herself—Lord Ludbridge.
“What happened?” Despite feeling thick-headed and dazed, she was delighted at the expression of concern on Lord Ludbridge’s face.
“My dearest Miss Partington, it would seem the close air was too much for you. How do you feel now?” Lord Ludbridge, who was kneeling on the red and gold carpet at her side, gently patted her hand.
She fluttered her eyelashes and he cleared his throat and released her hand, Araminta coloring prettily. At least, that was the effect she was confident she achieved, for he looked suitably entranced.
After a sly exchange of smiles, Miss Monks and Lady Milton excused themselves and discreetly took a turn about the room, stopping to chat in confidential voices by the window at the far end, which allowed Araminta and His Lordship a little privacy.
“I think I can sit up now,” Araminta told him uncertainly, adopting the frailness of an invalid. He immediately snaked an arm about her shoulders to help her into a comfortable sitting position.
“Goodness, I can’t imagine what came over me. You are very good to have looked after me so well. What a kind man you are. I’m sure you must be the kindest of all your brothers.”
Indeed, he did seem a very kind man, and a very kind man who was clearly entranced by her was a very pleasant lifelong prospect.