Vice and Virtue Read Online Free Page B

musicians played a stately court dance rather than a country jig, for Edward’s benefit. Richard Allcott’s task as groomsman would have been easier if the music had been fast enough to require the holding-up of skirts. But he was determined to perform the ritual regardless. Clearing his throat, he spoke to Aurora in a voice loud enough to be heard above the music as he led Flora round. “You will give me your garter as a marriage token, will you not, my lady?”
    In the shadow of his hat brim Aurora saw the expression in his eyes: amused, but determined. She turned away her face, pretending bashfulness, and took a few more measures with Edward. “Sir, you are impertinent!” she scolded Mr Allcott.
    Flora, more delighted by the playing-out of this scene than the prospect of more dancing, let go of her partner’s hand. “Go on, Mr Allcott!” she whispered urgently. “We have tied the garter low for you!”
    “Impertinent? Never!” declared Richard Allcott gravely. “Gallant? Certainly!”
    Aurora released Edward’s hand and looked at the faces of her sisters. Each was pink-cheeked from wine and bright-eyed from excitement, and over each was spread a joyful abandon she had not seen there in years. The attentiveness of Edward and his friend, clearly intended to make up for the shortcomings of the wedding, had turned Flora and Eleanora for the moment into young girls newly out of childhood, without anxiety and eager for innocent entertainment. Which, of course, they should be. How Aurora wished they could remain so!
    “What will you do, sir?” she asked Mr Allcott, who looked so comically solemn she could hardly keep her countenance.
    “Why, steal it!”
    The musicians began a fast tune. Amid squeals from her sisters, Aurora set off around the room, followed by Richard Allcott, who repeatedly lunged towards her, trying to lift the hem of her gown. She pleased the onlookers by turning round and round, holding down her skirts against her pursuer’s attempts to raise them. As the room whirled around her, she was aware of Edward, resting on a chair, watching her.
    She was unwary for a second, and immediately Mr Allcott reached under her skirt as far as the white silk garter below her right knee. It untied as he pulled it. With a yelp of triumph, he twirled it round above his head, then tied it round his hat.
    “Do I not look fine?” he asked, placing his hand on his sword and striding around the room like a dandy.
    “Very fine indeed,” said Edward from his chair. “Will you steal the other garter, and fasten it to my hat?”
    Aurora, her eyes on Edward’s face, allowed Mr Allcott to lift the hem of her skirt again. While the garter was being retrieved, she and Edward continued to look at each other. Several times today she had tried, unsuccessfully, to fathom his expression. This time was no different. She saw that he was entertained by the spectacle, though his face held some of the bemused embarrassment it had shown earlier. But she could not read the meaning of the flash of emotion that crossed his countenance when he grasped the piece of white silk Mr Allcott handed to him.
    “Thank you, Richard.” Never removing his gaze from Aurora’s face, Edward kissed the garter before allowing Mr Allcott to tie it to his hat. Amid the applause that followed, he said, “Now, let us have more dancing. As we have seen, traditions must be adhered to.”
    The musicians played; the hour grew late. Aurora’s head and feet began to ache, and she was relieved when Edward ordered one last dance before thanking and dismissing the musicians. They bowed, and while the dancers applauded, Aurora sank gratefully into a chair.
    The man-servant appeared in the doorway, almost hidden behind armfuls of rosemary and branches of bay. He put his load on the floor, gave Edward an inscrutable look, and retreated.
    “Oh, Eleanora, look!” exclaimed Flora. “We are going to strew the way for them!”
    Aurora could not find it in her