Mr. Malcolm's List Read Online Free Page A

Thistlewaite
was a petite, timid woman with “delicate nerves.”   She was no match for her headstrong daughter
and allowed Julia an inordinate amount of independence.   She and her husband had been approaching
middle age when Julia was born so Julia’s birth was greeted as a miracle.   Mr. Thistlewaite had been an indulgent father
during his lifetime and even now Julia was able to coerce her mother on those
few occasions she opposed Julia by saying:   “Papa would have allowed it.”
    Mrs. Thistlewaite greeted her nephew and Selina warmly,
rising at their approach and dropping her shawl on the floor.   Selina recovered it for her.
    “Oh, how clumsy of me.   Thank you, Selina.   Such a dear
girl.   But why have you not been
dancing?   I have not seen you dance with
anyone other than Cassie.”
    Selina and Cassie exchanged a look but thankfully Julia
arrived just at that moment and a reply was not necessary.
    “Cassie!   What is
Selina doing here?   You are going to undo
all my hard work.   Everyone is fascinated
by the new Incognita.   If they actually
see Selina they will no longer be interested in her.”
    “Why, thank you, Julia,” Selina said.
    Cassie began to tell Julia about the meeting in the library
when he was interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Malcolm.
    Selina, still unaware of the identity of the mysterious man
from the library, was thrilled to see him again.   In the brighter light of the ballroom she was
able to determine he was just as handsome as he had first appeared.   This had the unfortunate effect of making it
difficult for her to breathe, or to think, for that matter.   So it took a few moments for her to realize
that her mysterious stranger was being addressed as Malcolm by Cassie.
    “Malcolm!” Selina said in surprise, and then flushed when
all heads swiveled in her direction.
    Mr. Malcolm, his eyebrows raised, smiled quizzically at Selina.   “That is correct.   I, however, have not yet learned your name.”
He then turned to his friend Cassie to perform the honors.
    “Mr. Malcolm, may I present Miss Dalton.”
    “Miss Dalton, I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” Mr.
Malcolm said, bowing over her hand.
    Selina sank into a curtsey and hoped desperately she would
be able to rise again, for her legs suddenly seemed too weak to support
her.   This was the insufferably
arrogant man who went around breaking ladies’ hearts?   The ridiculous charade she was embarked on
now seemed more impossible than ever.   Selina knew she was no more immune to a glance from those blue eyes than
any other woman.   If Julia, who was much
more sophisticated than Selina, had succumbed, what chance did she, a lowly
vicar’s daughter, have against those seductive, glittering orbs and that
devastating smile?
    Mr. Malcolm requested the next dance but before Selina could
collect her scattered wits to make a reply, Julia had stepped between them and
addressed Mr. Malcolm.
    “Unfortunately, sir, you have arrived too late.   Miss Dalton has been besieged by admirers
since she arrived and has promised all of her dances.   Regrettably, I have not enjoyed such success and
have this dance free.”
    Mr. Malcolm hid his disappointment remarkably well.   “Then perhaps I could have the honor of this
dance?” he asked Julia.
    Julia accepted with a commanding glare at her cousin Cassie,
who offered his arm to Selina.   Apparently he was to dance with Selina once again to give credence to
Julia’s lie.   Selina wondered where the
rest of her partners were to come from, but when she exited the dance floor she
was besieged by eager gentleman and danced every dance for what was left of the
evening.   Unfortunately, every gentleman
she met paled in comparison to Mr. Malcolm, who left the ball shortly after his
dance with Julia.

 
 
    Three
     

 
 
 
    Julia and Selina sat with Mrs. Thistlewaite in the drawing
room awaiting the morning’s callers.   Julia told Selina that there would