Mr. Malcolm's List Read Online Free

smile faltered a little and there was an awkward
silence.   Selina was suddenly aware that
she should not have remained alone in the library with a strange gentleman
carrying on a philosophical discussion.   “I should go,” she finally said, but made no move to leave.   She realized as soon as the words left her
mouth that she had nowhere to go.   She had been instructed by Cassie and Julia to stay where she was until
they returned for her.   Thankfully, the
gentleman said he should be the one to leave, and walked to the door where she
still stood.  
    She stepped aside but he paused in front of her.   “I would be delighted if you would save a
dance for me, once you return to the ballroom and we have been properly
introduced, that is.”
    Selina just nodded, suddenly shy.   It was only after he left the room that she
remembered she would not be returning to the ballroom.  

 
 
    Mr. Malcolm entered the ballroom to find his friend Cassie
searching for him.
    “Where have you been?   I’ve got a likely prospect for you.   Young filly, deep-chested, long legs….”
    Malcolm was regretting having ever used that horse
analogy.   Cassie had described every
young lady he’d seen since in equine terms.
    “I am not interested, Cassie.   I think I’ve found a likely prospect of my
own.”
    “What?” Cassie said, looking alarmed.   Malcolm looked over at him in surprise.
    “Why do you look so concerned?   I thought you wanted me to find a suitable
young lady.”
    “I do, I do.   It’s
just that there’s a new girl in town that everyone’s talking about.   She’s visiting my cousin Julia for a few
weeks.   She has quite the air of
mystery.”
    “That sounds rather alarming.   I tend to stay away from young ladies of
mystery.   It usually turns out they are
pining away for their dancing master or some other equally unsuitable parti .”
    “No such thing, I assure you,” Cassie said, but Malcolm just
ignored him, looking casually around the ballroom.
    “I wonder how long she will be in the library,” Malcolm
muttered, and Cassie looked up, startled.
    “What’s that?” he asked his friend.
    “Oh, it was nothing of consequence,” Malcolm said.   “She’ll probably turn out to be married or
equally ineligible,” he mumbled to himself.  
    Cassie did not reply.   He only looked searchingly at his friend for a moment before excusing
himself.   Malcolm just nodded, still
scanning the ballroom.   He found himself
a little ambivalent about meeting the young lady again.   He had been quite impressed with her during
their first meeting, but he was worried that when he encountered her again he’d
find that he’d endowed her with nonexistent qualities in his eagerness to find
an eligible bride.   She had seemed like
an answer to a prayer, arriving in the library so suddenly when he had almost
convinced himself his quest was futile.   Even in the darkness of the library she sparkled.   Her large eyes glowed with intelligence and
humor, and her smile enchanted him with its sweet sincerity.   The more he thought about her the more
impatient he became to meet her again, so he could discover for himself the
exact color of those fascinating eyes.

 
 
    Cassie rushed to the library to find Selina sitting rather
disconsolately on a sofa, staring into space.  
    “Selina, did you meet a gentleman in here?” he asked her.
    Selina looked up, startled by Cassie’s sudden entrance.   “What?   Oh, yes.   Yes, I did.   He asked me to dance.”   The thought of missing that dance caused
Selina to frown.   She wondered what there
was for Cassie to grin about.
    “Excellent,” he said.   “I think we should return to the ballroom so that you can have that
dance.”
    “Really?   Do you know
the gentleman?” Selina asked.
    “I rather think I do,” Cassie replied, smiling even more
broadly.

 
    Cassie and Selina joined Mrs. Thistlewaite to await Julia’s
return from dancing.   Mrs.