Page 22 of Romancing the Heiress
When they reached the New Inn, Leah took her hand from his arm and thanked him once more. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Yes. Save me a dance.”
Her lips curled into a brilliant smile. “I will.”
“And tell Miss Selkirk to do the same. The first one, if she’ll allow it.” That would give him the best chance before she was swept away by other, perhaps more alluring gentlemen. Would a young lady from London like her even be interested in a country squire like him?
“I’ll tell her.” Leah turned and walked through the yard to the inn.
Phin frowned. This plan could very well fail. Mrs. Selkirk had made a comment about watching out for fortune hunters, which he was. He’d have to find a way to be more than that. He could woo Miss Selkirk. They already had music in common, and there were bound to be other things. Did she like horticulture? Would she want to spend time with him in the greenhouse?
He couldn’t help but think of Leah. Too bad she wasn’t an heiress. Wait, really? Could he actually think of her in that manner?
After recalling that forgotten kiss from their youth, he wondered if he just might.
Chapter8
“There is our maiden fair!” Mrs. Selkirk exclaimed the next day when Genevieve stepped into the sitting room from the bedchamber she shared with Leah. While Genevieve had nervously walked to the dais last night upon being chosen as a maiden fair, Mrs. Selkirk had practically leapt with joy. She’d hardly stopped smiling since and had even beenpleasantto Leah for the rest of the evening. “That walking dress is marvelous. And I’m glad we decided on the coral spencer.”
Genevieve folded her hands over her chest, pouting. “I think it makes me look sallow.”
Mrs. Selkirk waved her hand. “Nonsense, it makes you look radiant.”
Rolling her eyes, Genevieve muttered, “I hate all this attention, and if I wear a color that makes me appear as though I have jaundice, I’ll only have more of it.”
Leah felt bad that Genevieve was uncomfortable. Last night before bed, she’d said how much she disliked being on the dais, having a throne, wearing a crown, and having to dance with all eyes on her.
Genevieve’s disquiet was, in Leah’s opinion, a tad ironic given Genevieve’s fixation on reading gossip about others. But perhaps that was why she didn’t want to be a maiden fair—she knew what awaited her as one who would attract focus and, almost certainly, gossip.
Mrs. Selkirk smiled gleefully as she rose from her chair. “You will attract more gentlemen on our promenade than flowers do bees.”
“Do I really need to attract more gentlemen?” Genevieve asked sullenly. “I danced with so many last night.”
“Yes, and today you need to show them encouragement.” Mrs. Selkirk lowered her voice as if she were sharing a secret. In their private suite. Where no one could hear them. “I heard an earl arrived late last night.”
“A title would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?” Mrs. Dunhill mused from the settee. “Too bad there aren’t any more…mature peers present. Though I suppose if there were, they’d be looking at Genevieve and other young belles like her.”
“Perhaps a young peer might be drawn to you,” Leah said.
Mrs. Selkirk sniffed. “Pish. That is highly unlikely.”
Leah noted the flash of annoyance in Mrs. Dunhill’s gaze. Turning the topic away from her, Leah said, “I heard there’s an heir to a viscountcy here as well.”
Mrs. Selkirk and Mrs. Dunhill made faces. “Reuben Medford is an heirpresumptive. But neither that position nor his wealth makes him suitable for Genevieve.”
“He’s suitable for other things, however,” Mrs. Dunhill murmured with a devilish smile.
Mrs. Selkirk threw her a quelling glance.
Leah wondered what was most important to Mrs. Selkirk when it came to Genevieve’s suitors. Was it position or rank? Wealth? Genevieve’s happiness?
“I like Mr. Radford,” Genevieve said.
“I like him too, dear, but it’s far too soon to narrow our choices.” Mrs. Selkirk said “our” as if she were somehow going to be involved in her daughter’s union. Drawing on her gloves, she asked, “Are we ready for our promenade?”
Mrs. Dunhill stood from the settee. “Quite. Though he may not be a peer, I had a lovely conversation with Mr. Bilson last night, and I said I would look for him today.”
Mrs. Selkirk’s brows rose high on her forehead. “You didn’t tell me that.”
