June Calvin Read Online Free Page B

best weapons at our command.”
    Davida shook her head. “I thank you, Lord Pelham, but I have long since planned to attend with Lady Sarah and her aunt.”
    Pelham half bowed in his chair toward Sarah. “I shall be glad to escort you and your aunt, too, Lady Sarah. To continue Lady Elizabeth’s metaphor, we can use all the reinforcements we can get in this battle.”
    Sarah responded as Davida knew that she would. “Of course. My aunt will be delighted to renew her acquaintance with your mother. She often speaks with pleasure of their come-out together.”
    “But your mother is not well,” Lady Elizabeth remonstrated. “Did I not hear that she is an invalid?”
    “She suffers from rheumatism and goes about very little, but she agrees with me that this step is entirely necessary, else Elspeth’s hateful remark could lead to Davida’s social ruin.”
    Davida sat back, stunned. “It is very serious, then.”
    “Very.”
    “Yes, I thought so when Sarah told the tale.” Davida’s mother nodded her head. “We deeply appreciate your standing by her in this.”
    “It is only right that I do so. In fact, I hope to take Miss Gresham with me now to meet my mother. She wishes to know her before introducing her to Lady Jersey.” He bent his gaze on Davida, determination flashing in the dark, intent eyes.
    Davida rose, giving him her hand. “Thank you, my lord. I will be pleased to come with you.”
    “Don’t look so solemn, Miss Gresham. Remember, whatever happens at the Stanhope ball, you will have the pleasure of my company to look forward to.” A roguish twinkle lit his eyes.
    She laughed. “Oh, indeed, sir. For that I will endure any scandal.”
    “And rightly so!” Lord Pelham chuckled softly.
    “Davida will need to change clothes if she is to accompany you now,” Lady Elizabeth observed. Davida was dressed in a simple round gown of yellow sprigged muslin, and had on a frilly cap. And pantaloons! Her mother dropped her eyes significantly, and Davida nodded that she had understood the message.
    “Wear that charming blue dress you had on the other morning when you rescued me from making a cake of myself in front of Lady Elspeth.”
    Davida nodded, flattered that he had noticed her favorite dress, and hurried upstairs. After her maid had swiftly helped her remove the offending pantaloons and change into the blue walking dress, Davida took a moment to tidy her hair. The visage that looked back at her from her mirror was unfamiliar. Instead of her usual naturally rosy countenance, she beheld a pale, frightened face.
    With a shaking hand Davida replaced her brush and pinched her cheeks to give them some color, before donning the leghorn bonnet she had purchased the day before. How long ago that seemed! Just this morning she had arisen feeling smugly excited that she had begun to make progress in the
ton.
Now, because of her impulse to assist Lord Pelham, she was on the brink of complete social ruin.
    ***
    Lord Pelham’s mother was a pleasant, friendly person who seemed very disposed to like Davida. Rheumatism had left her somewhat bent and with gnarled hands, but Lady Pelham was still an attractive woman, whose graying red hair suggested the source of the red glints in her son’s deep brown curls.
    She received them in a charming drawing room which had been cleverly decorated to include some fine older pieces of furniture along with the more modern, lighter furniture. Though all was understated, with no ostentatious display, Davida had no doubt that everything in the room was of the first quality, and some of the paintings were doubtless priceless.
    Lady Pelham quickly put the somewhat overawed Davida at ease by a low, chuckling laugh very like her son’s as she ventured, “You may perhaps be beginning to regret attempting to help my son get his ox from the ditch since it seems to have landed your own there straightaway.”
    “I greatly fear it is a case of fools rushing in, Lady Pelham.”
    “No, the