My Dear Duchess Read Online Free Page B

her adoration of the Captain. “Go take a damper.”
    The much overwrought Clarissa darted forward and boxed her sister’s ears and then burst out into noisy tears.
    “Pray control yourself, Miss Sayers,” said the Captain in a calm voice. “You do not want to spoil those beautiful eyes by making them red.” This and the fact that the Captain was looking at her in a new speculative way, had the effect of making Clarissa dry her tears. She did not want to lose an admirer. She hugged Frederica and apologized in a pretty, soft voice which had the desired effect of bringing the warmth back to the Captain’s eyes. And only Frederica was aware of the vicious pinch on the arm which Clarissa gave her as they approached the box.
    Once again the Captain had to go to Frederica’s rescue. Mrs. Sayers would not believe that a
Marquis
could be capable of any misconduct. By the time he had soothed her the Captain felt considerably older. Then as he caught Clarissa’s eye, he noticed that she was looking at him with that particular intimacy which she seemed to share with him alone.
    He bent over Clarissa’s hand at the end of the evening. “I shall call on your mama in the morning,” he whispered softly.
    Clarissa immediately cast down her eyes but the Captain put it down to maidenly modesty and, well-satisfied, took his leave.
    Frederica had caught the whisper and wondered if she could possibly reach the privacy of her bedroom before she burst into tears.

Chapter Three
    It had never dawned on the Captain that Mrs. Sayers might be absent from home on the following morning. The butler showed him into the downstairs drawing room, volunteering the information that Miss Sayers was at home.
    The Captain paced up and down nervously, feeling as if he were in some kind of exotic, striped cage. Broad crimson and gold stripes embellished the upholstery, broad crimson and gold strips raced up and down the wallpaper and barred the heavy curtains. A French landscape portraying a long country road lined with poplars was hung above the fireplace to add the finishing touch to the horizontal effect. Mrs. Sayers had forgotten the color scheme at floor level and Chinese rugs in delicate blues and whites seemed to cringe before their noisier rivals.
    He turned abruptly as the butler announced Clarissa and then retired leaving the door punctiliously open. With a fast-beating heart, the Captain strode forward and took her hand. She had faint blue shadows under her eyes which seemed to enhance her fragile beauty rather than detract from it.
    Captain Wright made a move to take her into his arms but she retreated a step and said in a cold voice, “State your business, sir. I am engaged to drive with Lord Percival this morning.”
    “What!” cried the Captain, outraged. “After last night. How could you, Clarissa?”
    “I was not aware that I had given you permission to use my Christian name,” she retorted in chilly accents.
    The Captain shook his head in a baffled kind of way. This was not going at all the way he had planned. Then he suddenly smiled. Of course! She was just as nervous as he!
    He led the reluctant girl to the sofa and sat beside her and began, “After last night, Miss Sayers, I am no longer in any doubt that my feelings are reciprocated. Will you do me the inestimable honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”
    She bowed her head and traced the pattern in the rug with one slippered foot.
    “No,” she said baldly.
    “But, my dear…” began the Captain.
    Clarissa got to her feet. “My dear sir,” she said lightly and hurriedly, “I fear you have placed too much importance on a stolen kiss by moonlight. I am extremely honored by your proposal but,” here she stifled a yawn, “I infinitely regret I cannot accept it.”
    “May I hope that you may change your mind?” said the Captain stiffly.
    Clarissa stole a look at him from under her lashes. He was so handsome. She was tempted to keep him dancing on her string. But then