The Belle Dames Club Read Online Free Page A

you, Miss Wyckenham?’
    ‘Indeed she is not,’ put in Lady Wyckenham, avoiding her stepdaughter’s furious look.
    Mr Norwell grinned. ‘There you are then, Marius. Go to it, man, they are forming up now!’
    Lord Alresford held out his arm.
    ‘It seems we are besieged on all sides, Miss Wyckenham. Will you do me the honour of standing up with me?’
    Clarissa laid her fingers on his sleeve and with a final, darkling look at Lady Wyckenham she walked off with him to join the dancers. She risked a glance up at him as he led her on to the floor.
    ‘Between your friend and my stepmama there was no escape,’ she said lightly. ‘They seem determined we should dance.’
    ‘I am sorry for it, Miss Wyckenham. I asked for the introduction because I felt I had not thanked you properly for your assistance on the road to town the other day.’
    ‘Then I am sorry if your attempt at civility has resulted in this unpleasant experience, sir.’
    ‘That is not what I meant, I would never—’
    Her eyes twinkled.
    ‘I know it, but the temptation to tease you was too great for me. Your solemn look made it irresistible.’
    His brow darkened even further.
    ‘Do you treat everything with such levity, Miss Wyckenham?’
    ‘Yes sir, when I meet with pomposity.’ She bit her lip. ‘Now I am being uncivil. Forgive me, my lord.’
    He inclined his head and said no more. The dance separated them, they came back together, but still there was silence. When they parted again Clarissa made up her mind that she would converse with him, whatever the cost. As the dance brought them back together she raised her eyes to his face.
    ‘Who is Elizabeth?’
    She observed the start of surprise in his eyes, a shadow ofannoyance, and thought at first he would not answer her, but at last he spoke in a low voice.
    ‘We were betrothed.’
    ‘Were?’
    ‘She died.’
    ‘Oh I am so sorry.’ She looked again at his dark frock-coat, the lack of fobs and seals dangling across the front of his champagne -coloured waistcoat. ‘It was very recent, I think?’
    ‘Six years ago. You look surprised, Miss Wyckenham.’
    ‘I am. I thought from your demeanour—’ She broke off, at a loss how to continue. A recent bereavement would explain his sober appearance and stern looks, but six years! Clarissa thought his affections must have been very deep to produce such a period of mourning. They remained silent until the dance ended, and they were making their way off the floor before the earl spoke again.
    ‘You may have found me a little lacking in grace, when we met in the wood at Tottenham, Miss Wyckenham.’
    ‘Naturally I put that down to your fall, sir. I trust you are fully recovered?’
    ‘I was a little bruised, no more.’ They had come up to Lady Wyckenham. Lord Alresford raised Clarissa’s fingers to his lips. ‘I was very grateful for your assistance that day, ma’am. I am in your debt.’
    Clarissa shook her head.
    ‘No, no,’ she said, with her delightful smile. ‘I would not have you under an obligation to me, sir. Consider the debt paid off with the dance.’
    Lady Wyckenham, who had listened to the exchange in growing wonder, watched him walk away.
    ‘Well, what is this, my dear? What was the obligation?’
    Briefly Clarissa explained their encounter in the wood, and at the end of it her stepmama tapped her arm in exasperation.
    ‘And you did not think to tell me of it?’
    ‘You will recall, Mama-Nell, the inopportune timing of myarrival in Charlotte Street. Events there quite pushed it from my mind.’
    ‘Well, to have Alresford in your debt is a coup, my love,’ returned Lady Wyckenham, ‘although I have to say he is not to my taste. He never smiles. His face is so sharp you could cut yourself upon it, and one would take him for a radical, his hair is so short!’
    ‘And worse you can say of no one ma’am. But I agree he is an oddity. When we met I thought him taciturn, but put it down to the circumstances. Having danced with