A Proper Companion (33 page)

She sighed and looked up with a resigned shake of
her head.

"Of course, it is up to you, my lord," she said in a
husky whisper, "but Lady Amanda has an unfortunate tendency toward
plumpness. Only look at her mother." She cocked her head in the
direction of the corner of the room reserved for dowagers and
chaperones.

Jack's glass followed her gaze toward the sea of
plumed turbans in the corner. It was hard to miss Lady Egerton
whose bulk took up almost an entire settee. One of the
spindly-legged chairs used by the other matrons would have surely
collapsed under the woman's tremendous girth.

Jack bit back a smile.

He dropped his quizzing glass, which, attached to
its black ribbon, fell against his white brocade waistcoat, and
heaved a dramatic sigh.

"Well, madam," he said in a bored tone, "I seem to
be foiled at every turn. Perhaps you have a candidate of your own
to recommend?" Most likely the woman had a daughter or niece or
some other charge under her wing, with hopes of securing an
advantageous match. Well, thought Jack, so long as the chit came
with a plump dowry, he was willing to entertain any and all
suggestions.

"Not at the moment," the woman replied, smiling
brightly up at him. "But I would be happy to help you in your
search, Lord Pemerton."

Jack pulled away from the pillar, straightened up,
and peered down at the woman, furrowing his brow in puzzlement.
Still, he could not place her, though she obviously knew him. Of
course, there was nothing particularly distinctive about her that
would have kept her in his memory; although he thought he might
have remembered that intriguingly husky voice, surprising in such a
small woman.

"I beg your pardon, madam," he said, "but you seem
to have the advantage of me. You apparently know who I am and yet I
don't—"

"Oh, but we have met, my lord," she interrupted.

"Indeed? I must apologize, then, for I am afraid I
don't recall—"

"No need to apologize, my lord," she interrupted
again, this time with a wave of dismissal. "I do not expect you
would remember since you were thoroughly foxed at the time."

"Oh, good Lord," Jack mumbled as he raked a hand
through his hair and dropped his eyes to the ground. What
transgression had he committed in this lady's presence? Before he
could ponder the countless possibilities, his attention was firmly
snatched back to the present by the sound of a rich, throaty
chuckle. He looked over to find the lady's head thrown back as she
abandoned herself to laughter. The sound was so delightful, almost
like a rusty gate, that he could not help but smile.

"Lady Mary Haviland," she said at last, offering her
hand.

* * *

Like it? Download a copy of
A Change of Heart
from any online e-book retailer.

Candice Hern is the award-winning, bestselling
author of historical romance novels set during the English Regency,
a period she knows well through years of collecting antiques and
fashion prints of the period. She travels to England regularly,
always in search of more historical and local color to bring her
stories and characters to life.

Her books have won praise for the "intelligence and
elegant romantic sensibility" (
Romantic Times
) as well as
"delicious wit and luscious sensuality (
Booklist
).

Candice's award-winning website (
www.candicehern.com
) is
often cited for its Regency World pages, where readers interested
in the era will find an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline,
illustrated digests of Regency people and places, articles on
Regency fashion, research links, and much more. It is the only
author website listed among the online resources for the Jane
Austen Centre in England.

Visit
www.candicehern.com
for
more information on all Candice's books, including excerpts and a
look "behind the scenes" of each novel.

Visit Candice's
website
.

Join
Candice on Facebook
.