Love in Three-Quarter Time Read Online Free Page A

Felicity’s age, their mother must be desperate. Every person of quality simply must be an expert at dance. They might be ready to launch into society any moment. By the time a letter gets there and back, she could find someone else. A visit in person is more apt to produce a positive result.”
    â€œNay, Constance can’t just run off. Why, they’re practically on the frontier.” Mother and Patience discussed her as though she were not in the room.
    Fair enough as thoughts of Robbie and libraries, not to mention waltzes, kisses, and stabbing pains of betrayal all flooded her as she struggled to remain in the present moment.
    â€œA letter will do,” Mother concluded. “I assume she’s waiting for a response from Molyneux. Too bad he won’t recommend her.” Mother scanned the ceiling and then turned her attention to Constance. “You know, I believe we have another connection we could use. I think her son might have been that handsome, young Montgomery who courted you in Prince George County.”
    Constance could not push an answer past the growing lump in her throat.
    Patience laughed. “Oh Mother, she had so many beaux. How could you possibly tell them apart?”
    â€œI remember this one. He came to dinner on several occasions. Aye, he was from Albemarle County as well. I recall we did discuss his mother. Perhaps he’ll remember your exceptional skill on the dance floor, Constance. Please tell me you were kind to him. What was his name now? Richard…Raymond…”
    â€œRobert.” Constance managed to rasp out the word.
    â€œYes, of course, Robert. And you were rather fond of him. Weren’t you?”
    â€œYes.” Constance’s face felt cold. Surely all the blood had drained to her toes. Mother continued chirping as Grammy and Felicity looked on. But Constance could no longer decipher the words.
    â€œOh,
that
Robert Montgomery,” Patience whispered and placed a hand on Constance’s back to rub small soothing circles. Only Patience knew Robbie had all but proposed—and that when Constance had gone after him, begging him to marry her and save them from ruin, Robbie had crushed her heart.
    But she could not worry about that now. Constance hadn’t seen Mother so animated in months. Even Felicity glowed at the prospect, now that she had adjusted to the idea.
    â€œI shall make a wee bit of tea to celebrate!” Grammy announced, creaking out of her rocker and toward the kitchen.
    Well, that settled it.
    Robbie ran his own plantation, inherited from his late father. She could think of no reason to suspect he might live with the Beaumonts. He had spent much of his youth being educated in New England, and he had traveled often when she knew him five years ago. She might not see him at all. And if she did…She surveyed the hopeful faces in the room again.
    For their sakes she’d find the courage to get through it. Constance Cavendish no longer succumbed to the fickle whims of her heart or to the heated passion of her emotions. Constance Cavendish made reasonable decisions and acted upon them with determination and decorum.
    â€œI heard at the mercantile that many young men are touring Europe these days.” Patience, no doubt, wished to be helpful.
    Yes, of course. Constance struggled to convince herself. He might reside an ocean away. She attempted to steady her breathing and rub a bit of color back into her cheeks.
    Mother picked up her needlework again. “True. They dashed off once the war finished. Mother England beckons to us still, does she not?”
    â€œToo bad Constance doesn’t have some sort of British accent. That would secure her the position for certain. Or better yet, French like
Monsieur Molyneux.
” Patience inflected his name with a perfect mimicry of his exaggerated accent.
    Constance chuckled despite her churning emotions. Patience always knew how to cheer her. “I could never