Page 54 of The Heiress's Daughter
Now, if only this evening could end. She went in search of Mrs. Price-Jones, planning to claim a headache and ask to leave early. It wasn’t quite a lie. She was exhausted.
Race remained on the garden seat, sitting in the dark, his thoughts in a whirl. And the cause? Miss Clarissa Studley.
He hadn’t really noticed her when he’d initially met her: she was just Leo’s ward, a pleasant, somewhat shy young lady.
Her riding skills had impressed him first. Quiet, unassuming young ladies were generally, in Race’s experience, cautious, often barely competent riders, hardly able to do much more than trot tolerably well in the park. But on horseback, Miss Clarissa was not merely capable, but quite dashing. The contrast between her modest and demure social demeanor and her prowess on horseback intrigued him.
Then, witnessing the incident at the Arden ball, where she had publicly stepped forward to defend her half sister—and hang the consequences!—he realized that she was courageous, and amazingly loyal to those she loved.
There was the public Miss Studley—quiet, shy, unassuming—and then there was the private Clarissa, still apparently quiet and shy—but don’t ever mistake that for weakness, as some people did. She was full of surprises.
In the last few weeks, in Leo’s absence, Race had been thrown more into her company than usual, and as he got to know her, the realization had grown on him that she was beautiful. Oh, it wasn’t the obvious arrangement of features that passed for beauty in society—he was well used to society beauties demanding his attention.
Clarissa’s was a more subtle beauty, something to do with the softness and purity of her skin, the clarity of those wide hazel eyes and the many expressions and thoughts reflected so candidly in them. There was a sweetness in her that was rare and precious—and he wasn’t simply talking about her smile, or that luscious mouth—or that kiss! He shook his head in frustration.
No, no list of features could sum up Clarissa: she was more, so much more than the sum of her parts. He’d been too blind at first to realize it, but now that he truly saw her, he couldn’t unsee it. She was beautiful. And warm and loving. And utterly desirable.
He wanted her, he was clear about that. But that one glorious kiss aside, she was proving damnably resistant to his charms.
“Don’t suppose you’ve madeany morning calls on Lady Scattergood recently, have you?” Race asked his cousin in what he hoped was a casual manner. He’d dropped in on the off chance of catching up with his favorite relative. At least that’s what he told himself. They were taking tea together.
Maggie laughed. “Why? Have you developed a tendre for the old lady? I do find her most entertaining.”
Race arched a sardonic eyebrow.
Maggie laughed again and gave him a knowing look. “I have, as a matter of fact. And in very interesting news, Miss Studley’s chaperone let slip to me that the angelic-looking Mr. Clayborn is becoming most particular in his attentions.Mostparticular. She seemed quite thrilled.”
Race set his jaw. Clayborn? Surely she couldn’t…She wouldn’t…
“She gave me to understand that she wouldn’t be surprised if there was an Interesting Announcement in the not-too-distant future,” Maggie continued. “Exciting, isn’t it?”
Race said nothing. He hadn’t believed in that “understanding” that Clayborn had claimed that time but what if it hadn’t been braggadocio? What if there was some kind of an understanding and they were only waiting for Leo to return from his honeymoon to announce it?
It was not to be thought of. But he wasn’t going to sit around and wait for it to happen. He had to act, quickly.
Several society events were being held this evening; a card party, asoirée musicaleand a small but very select dinner at one of the foreign embassies—the Austrian one, he thought. For some reason Race had received invitations to all three. He had no doubt his cousin had as well.
“Do you and Oliver have any plans for this evening?” he said nonchalantly, effecting a change of subject.
“Oh yes, definitely,” Maggie said. “You know I like to keep busy.”
“I don’t suppose you know…” He trailed off. His cousin’s expression was that of a magpie spying a glittering treasure. “Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
“Oliver and I have dinner invitations from the Austrian embassy. You know how Oliver enjoys these political discussions, but if it’s too dreary I’ve told him I’m leaving the moment the dinner is over and will go on to something else more interesting.”
“Understandable.” His cousin hadn’t the faintest interest in politics.
Maggie cocked her head curiously. “Didn’t you receive an invitation to it?”
“I did, yes. As well as several others.” Lately, since the rumor had spread that he was now in the market for a bride, he’d been inundated with invitations. Curse it.
“And what are your plans?” Maggie asked. “Will you join us at the embassy?”
“No. My plans are undecided at the moment. I don’t suppose you know anyone else who might be going?” He couldn’t imagine Miss Studley would be invited, but it would narrow down the choices.
“Oh yes, several of Oliver’s stodgy friends will be there.” Maggie sipped her tea, nibbled on a piece of shortbread and after a few moments said airily, “Miss Studley told me she was planning to attend Lady Gastonbury’ssoirée musicalethis evening.”
“Indeed?” he said, affecting polite indifference.
