Emma was right in her assessment that Felix disapproved of their association but wrong in her idea of the cause. Only too well-acquainted with his brother’s character, their guardian entertained a grave concern that the frustrates involved in behaving with decorum in the face of Emma Fleming’s bounteous temptations would prove overwhelming long before Franck’s was brought to admit he was in love with the chit. His worst fears had seemed well in the way to being realized when he had, entirely unintentionally, surprised them in their way back to the ballroom. His sharp blue eyes had not missed the glow in Emma’s face. Consequently, the look he had directed at his brother, which Emma had intercepted, had not been particularly encouraging. She had missed Francis’s carefree response.    Margaret, reasonably certain of Felix’

   It was Emma who initiated the Fleming sisters' friendship with the two Norwood girls, also being presented that year. The Misses Norwood, Amy and Antonia, were very pretty young ladies in the manner which had been all the rage until the Flemings came to town. They were pale and fair, as ethereal as the Flemings were earthy, as fragile as the Flemings were robust, and, unfortunately for them, as penniless as the Flemings were rich. Consequently, the quest to find well-heeled husbands for the Misses Norwood has not prospered.    Strolling down yet another ballroom, Lady Thorpe's as it happened, on the arm of Francis, of course, Emma had caught the sharp words uttered by a large woman of horsey mine to a young lady, presumably her daughter, sitting passively at her side. "Why can't you two be like that? Those girls simply walk off with any man they fancy. All it needs is a bit of push. But you and Amy..." The rest of the tirade has been swall

   The change in Antonia Norwood’s fortunes brought a frown to Margaret’s face. She would not have liked the connection for any of her sisters. Still, Antonia Norwood was not her concern. As her sisters appeared to have taken the event philosophically enough, she felt justified in giving it no further thought, reserving her energies, mental and otherwise, for her increasingly frequent interludes with her guardian.    Despite her efforts to minimize his opportunities, she found herself sharing his carriage on their return journey to Mount Street. Marian Winford sat beside her and Felix, suavely elegant and exuding subtle aura of powerful sensuality, had taken the seat opposite her. Lady Hillsborough and her three sisters were following in the Twyford coach. As Margaret had suspected, their chaperon fell into a sound sleep before the carriage had c

   For Maribella, the distraction of Sir Jack came at an opportune time in her juggling of Sir Jerome and Mr. Overend. It formed no part of her plans for either of these gentlemen to become too particular. And while her sober and earnest consideration of their suits had, she knew, stunned and puzzled Lord Byron, who watched with a still sceptical eye, her flirtation with Sir Jack had brought a strange glint to his hazel orbs.    In truth, Henry had been expecting Maribella to flirt outrageously with her court in an attempt to make him jealous and force a declaration. He had been fully prepared to sit idly by, watching her antics from the sidelines with his usual sleepily amused air, waiting for the right moment to further her seduction. But her apparent intention to settle for a loveless marriage had thrown him. It was not a reaction he had expected. Knowing

   By the time they reached the area cordoned off in the centre of the large field, a crowd had gathered. The balloon was already filling slowly. As they watched, it lifted from the ground and slowly rose to hover above the cradle slung beneath, anchored to the ground by thick ropes.    “It looks like such a flimsy contraption,” said Maribella, eyeing the gaily striped silk balloon. “I wonder that anyone could trust themselves to it.”    “They don’t always come off unscathed, I’m sorry to say,” answered Mr. Overend, his schoolmasterish tones evincing strong disapproval of such reckless behaviour.    “Humph!” said Sir Jerome Needham.