My One and Only Earl (Forever Yours #12) - Stacy Reid Page 0,10

these past two years. With a groan, Poppy refolded the letter and put it back in her treasure chest. Surely it could not be over that she felt anxiety searing through her at the thought of seeing Mr. Delaney again.

Chapter 3

That evening they were all bundled inside Lavinia’s town carriage, rattling away to her dearest friend’s midnight ball. Amusingly, Lavinia’s friend also lived on Upper Wimpole Street, perhaps a few minutes' walk, but it would be most unfashionable to appear at any ball on foot.

“You look lovely,” her stepmother said stiffly, a flicker of surprise on her face.

With a jolt of surprise, Poppy realized the compliment was directed at her. “Thank you,” she replied, also noting the assessment of her sisters.

“I never imagined you had such a gown in your armoire,” Lavinia said with a tight smile. “However did you afford it?”

Poppy stared at her sister, wondering if she imagined the hint of envy she heard in her tone. Her stepmother and two sisters were dressed in the heights of fashion with rubies and diamonds winking at their ears and throat. Rebecca’s silken gown was patterned in tiny clusters of magnolia flowers. It revealed her creamy shoulders and had delicate short sleeves and a corsage of cream silk flowers at the center of the lowish neckline. The hem was inset by a slightly darker cream lace with clusters of peach silk flowers regularly interspersed. It was a beautiful dress and this year’s crack of fashion. Lavinia, as a young matron could risk darker colors, had chosen cobalt blue watered silk with a deep frill of Chantilly lace around the neckline and elbow-length sleeves of the same lace above her white satin gloves.

Poppy had darned the white pair of kid gloves she wore, no earbobs adorned her ears, and only a single strand of pearls encircled her throat. Surely that envious tone from her sister was misplaced.

“It was a gift from Richard on my one and twentieth birthday,” Poppy said politely, smoothing down the front of her simple but elegant icy blue ballgown with its ruffled sleeves, cinched waist, and scalloped neckline. “Tonight is my first chance to wear it.”

“Well,” Lavinia said brightly, “See that you adjust the other dresses I sent to you for other outings. They are far more fashionable even if they are last season’s wear.”

Rebecca heaved a long sigh. “It is the earl we should be speaking about! I am a bit nervous not knowing anything about him.”

“I’ve heard that he treats everyone with bored indifference but owns the right amount of charm to not make him a person non grata,” Lavinia said, smiling at Rebecca. “He was a bit of a devil before he inherited the title and had even made Captain in Her Majesty’s army!”

Rebecca brightened. “Did you find out why he does not like to attend balls?”

“Some speculate it is to avoid the parson’s trap, but he is careful to accept the more notable invitations to keep his connections with notable lords and ladies current. Lady Sarah told me the last three balls he attended, he only danced with his sister. Many hearts were left disappointed. I cannot imagine why he would be so disagreeable at all,” Lavinia groused with a sigh.

Poppy lowered the carriage curtains. “Perhaps he does not want to marry.”

“Not marry?” Rebecca cried, aghast. “Poppy, your ignorance of high society shows. Every lord needs an heir. Hence a wife! And I will make him a most splendid countess.”

Rebecca’s excitement plucked at buried dreams inside Poppy’s chest and reminded her of a time when she had lain in her bed and dreamed of meeting a beau at a country ball. Or even at church. “What if he is an ogre?” she said to Rebecca, “Deciding whom to marry should require careful consideration. Is he kind? Will he be thoughtful and loving?”

Her sister slanted her an annoyed glance. “It only matters that I’ll be a countess! Can you imagine? All of the other debutantes will be so jealous of me!”

Irritation flashed in her stepmother’s eyes. “Do not fill your sister’s head with ridiculous notions. In time, affection will grow between her and the earl.”

The carriage rumbled to a halt, and they quickly descended with the aid of the footman. Several ladies and gentlemen formed a queue inside the front door of the lovely townhome. Unbridled excitement rushed through Poppy. Her very first ball. And such an elegant one too. It mattered not that her role tonight was that of a chaperone; once again,