Mr. Malcolm's List Read Online Free Page B

probably not be many callers as the London season had officially ended a few weeks ago.   She had a great many other things to say as well but Selina, although
pretending to listen, was instead wondering how to act should Mr. Malcolm call.
    “Selina, are you listening to me?” she heard Julia ask in a
sharp tone of voice.
    “Why, of course, Julia.   You were lectur—that is, you were advising me.”
    “So you agree with what I said?”
    “Of course I do.   You
have the greater experience in these matters,” Selina said absently, thinking
that perhaps she should have worn a more demure gown.   Her salmon colored gown was very stylish, but
she thought it might be a little too flashy in combination with her hair.   But Julia, who was a pattern-card of
elegance, had assured her it was “just the thing,” so she comforted herself
with that knowledge.
    The butler announced the first caller, a Lord Sylvester
Mountjoy, and Selina shook off her abstraction to entertain Lord Sylvester, one
of her dance partners from the previous evening.   Fairly soon the Thistlewaite’s drawing room
was filled with eager young gentlemen, and Selina found herself enjoying her
social success and forgetting Mr. Malcolm.   So she was quite startled when Reeves, the Thistlewaite’s butler,
announced his name.
    He strode into the room, greeting Mrs. Thistlewaite and
Julia before approaching Selina.
    “Good day, Miss Dalton.   I trust I find you in good health?”
    “Yes, indeed, sir,” Selina stammered, feeling suddenly
gauche and unsophisticated.   “And you?”
    “I am quite well, thank you.”
    There was an uncomfortable pause as Mr. Malcolm stood in
front of Selina and Selina’s admirers eyed him jealously.   All the seats near Selina were taken, and it
was obvious none of the young gentlemen would willingly surrender his seat to
Mr. Malcolm.
    “I hate to remove you from such pleasant company, Miss
Dalton, but I am forced to remind you of our appointment.”
    “Our appointment?” Selina repeated, at a loss.   She was further bewildered when one of Mr.
Malcolm’s eyes quickly closed and reopened in a wink.
    “Surely you cannot have forgotten?   You promised me the previous evening that you
would drive with me today, when I was not fortunate enough to enjoy a dance
with you.”
    Selina could not help but be flattered at Mr. Malcolm’s
obvious ploy to remove her from the midst of her admirers.   She shared a secret smile with him but,
before she could reply, Julia once again intervened.
    “Selina, do not forget that you agreed to drive with Cassie
this afternoon.   He will be arriving at
any moment.”
    “I am sure Cassie will not mind if Miss Dalton drives out
with me.   He had the privilege of dancing
with her last night, whereas I was not similarly honored,” Mr. Malcolm said.
    “But when I asked Selina this morning if she was looking
forward to her drive with Cassie she agreed that it was a good idea,”
Julia said, her voice filled with meaning.  
    Selina realized that she must have unwittingly agreed to
pretend to be otherwise occupied if Mr. Malcolm invited her out.   She understood Julia’s strategy in wanting
her to appear to be unattainable to Malcolm, but she felt that Julia was in
danger of going too far.
    “I am sorry, Julia.   I’d forgotten I’d agreed to drive with Mr. Malcolm already,” Selina
said.
    “Miss Dalton appears to be a very agreeable young
lady,” Lord Sylvester said in his girlish voice.   A few of the gentlemen dutifully laughed at
his little quip.
    “That is certainly one way to describe her,” Julia said,
glaring at Selina from across the room.
    “Miss Thistlewaite,” Malcolm said, with an impatient glance
in Julia’s direction, “while I appreciate your loyalty to your cousin, I am
sure Cassie will not mind if I take Miss Dalton for a drive.   He is not here to claim the lady, and you
know what they say about those that hesitate.”
    “I will collect my things,”