Read Online Miss Lindel's Love by Cynthia Bailey Pratt - Free Book Online Page A

might admire a gentleman, you’d never sink to subterfuge. I only ask you to guard your heart. There are many men in this world—even well-born men—who would take advantage of your sweet nature.”
    “You need not worry about me. I’m too sensible to throw my heart away on someone unsuitable.” Maris had no illusions about her blush now. It spread like strawberry jam from her décolletage to her hairline.
    Now it was Mrs. Lindel’s turn to give her daughter a squeeze about the middle. “Every girl falls in love with someone unsuitable at least once. It’s as commonplace as rain.”
    Maris didn’t want to think of herself or her feelings as commonplace. “So someone like ...say, Lord Danesby would be wrong for me?”
    “My dear child. The two of you are from such different levels of society. You could never be happy with the role his bride will have to play.”
    “I could learn. I am not so very base.”
    “You are a gentleman’s daughter, true. But he is a Danesby. He may look as high as he chooses for a bride,”
    “Then it is I who am unsuitable. As I know very well.”
    Her mother’s smile held much understanding and the tenderest maternal love. “I think I can go north now with a clear mind. I know you will be a good and sensible girl. Mind what Mrs. Paladin says and stay close beside her and Lilah. They’ll show you how to conduct yourself. When I return to town, we shall have all London at your feet and I shall enjoy your triumph.”
    Marls found it difficult, two days later, to say farewell to her sister and mother without tears springing to her eyes. Suddenly London, to which she’d been growing slowly accustomed, seemed just as huge, forbidding, and empty as it had on her first day. As their loaded carriage drove away, a handkerchief fluttering from the window in final farewell, her tears overwhelmed her efforts to keep them back.
    As Maris turned toward the red brick town house, a wind of loneliness seemed to swirl about her. She’d never been alone like this before. With her mother and sister gone, not for the hour or the day, but for a week or more, London seemed so big and lonely that Maris wanted nothing other than to retire to bed, pulling the covers over her head until they should return.
    Though Mrs. Paladin and Lilah were kind, they were not family. She could not open her heart and expect to be understood almost without words. She knew she would miss her mother and wished she’d had the opportunity to talk about the strange ways of society in greater depth. But how cruel it would have been to have demanded all her attention when Sophie needed her so badly.
    She rested on her bed for an hour, recruiting her strength for tonight’s ball. Maris wondered at her own lack of enthusiasm. Her mother should have been there to assist her, rather than a bored lady’s maid hired for the Season. It should have been her mother’s eyes, bright with tears, not Mrs. Paladin’s narrowed with criticism, watching her come down the stairs.
    Even so, she felt a quiver of excitement as their hired carriage crept through the press striving to reach the Marchioness of Bevan’s ball. This was to be the great inaugural event to open this social season. All London would be there—at least all those who mattered, as Mrs. Paladin explained with a titter.
    “Do you know the marchioness?” Maris asked.
    “We met often last year. Lilah became quite good friends with one of her daughters.”
    Lilah was looking particularly charming in a crepe gown of palest lilac, her hair beautifully dressed in waves, a Psyche knot at her crown. Yet at this comment, the blank expression came once more into her face. “Hardly friends, Mother. Mere acquaintances.”
    “Nonsense, nonsense. Didn’t she invite you to her birthday picnic at Richmond? I’m sure she wouldn’t have done that for just anyone. So many single gentlemen ...including Lord Danesby. He’s bound to be here tonight and you in quite your best looks,