Daughter of Trade

Lesley-Anne McLeod

Description

Dinah Driffield has grown up happy and content in the upper middle class of society in Leeds in the north of England. Her family is numerous and loving, her friends many and her year is a satisfactory round of charitable work, social events, and summer visits to nearby Harrowgate. She expects that she will marry within her class and continue her life in much the same pattern. Her opinions of the aristocracy are low. On the evidence of limited association and much superficial evidence, Dinah believes all noblemen to be expensive idlers.All her preconceptions are challenged, on a summer visit to her grandmother in Harrowgate, by a meeting with Sebastian Delamain, Viscount Holly. Holly is inquisitive, active and unpretentious. Though obviously disconcerted by family life as she understands it, he quickly becomes a favourite of her several brothers and sisters, and engages her affections with remarkable ease and grace.The summer of 1812 is coloured, for the manufacturers of the north, by the activities of those calling themselves Luddites who are desperately opposed to the new machinery changing the cloth manufacturing industry. The Luddite riots and frame breaking create a tense autumn during which Sebastian tries to convince Dinah that aristocrats, like people of all classes, deserve to be considered on individual merits. Holly finds nothing difficult or confusing about their growing attachment and is convinced that their love is all they need to create whatever future they wish for themselves. Dinah, torn between her love for the viscount and her loyalty to her class, cannot believe that society's barriers can be easily overcome. Extraordinary events will be required to convince her. Sebastian, with the love of his life and a whole new family at hazard, is willing to undertake any challenge.(Previously published by Awe-Struck eBooks)

Sujets

• Historical romance

Informations

• Publié par: Uncial Press
• Date de parution: 14 février 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781601741776
• Langue: English

Extrait

DAUGHTER OF TRADE
 
By
Lesley-Anne McLeod
 
 
Uncial Press       Aloha, Oregon 2014
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and eventsdescribed herein are products of the author's imagination or are usedfictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actualevents, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirelycoincidental.
ISBN 13: 978-1-60174-177-6
Daughter of Trade Copyright © 2006, 2014by Lesley-Anne McLeod
Cover art and design Copyright © 2014 byShakoriel Old mill photo © silvergull - fotolia.com
Previously published by Awe-Struck E-Books, 2006
All rights reserved. Except for use in review, the reproduction orutilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic,mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbiddenwithout the written permission of the publisher.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of thiscopyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, includinginfringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and ispunishable by up to five (5) years in federal prison and a fine of$250,000.
Published by Uncial Press, an imprint of GCT, Inc.
Visit us at http://www.uncialpress.com
 
For my Father
Who never doubted I could do it, and supported me everystep of the way.
CHAPTER ONE
"Who can those gentlemen be?" Miss Dinah Driffield asked heryounger sister. Her curiosity piqued, she studied the two new arrivals to thewell-appointed, elegant ballroom of the Dragon Hotel.
"Which gentlemen?" Miss Adelaide echoed, while gazing about theoverheated, busy chamber. More than five and seventy of the mostfashionable visitors to Upper and Lower Harrowgate were crowded into theballroom. The day had been hot and airless, and it had waned into eveningwith little diminution of the heat.
"The gentlemen whom the host is scurrying to welcome." MissDriffield was discreet about her inquisitive stare. She had thought she knewevery resident in the town, by sight at least, and had a familiarity with theidentities of the regular summer visitors. After all, she had been attendingat the Dragon's public balls for three years, having spent every summer ofthe past ten years in Low Harrowgate. But she had never seen these youngmen. "Good gracious! They are very fine but they look as out of place as twoSouth Downs among a flock of Swaledales."
Her sister--her junior by a year--was a little taller, a little more fairof colouring, and rather more conventionally pretty than Dinah. She turnedaway and flicked open her fan. "Whoever they are I shall not stare. And youcannot mean to compare them to sheep! Don't be common," Adelaide saidfrom behind the painted silk.
"The wool of sheep indirectly provided the very lovely gown youwear; it is surely not vulgar to speak with respect of the author of ourprosperity." She chuckled. "Those sheep are very handsome and so too arethese gentlemen. You may turn again to look without detection. Everyone inthe room is staring at them."
Indeed a brief, breathless hush had enveloped the busyassemblage. The air, heavy with perfumes and pomades, was very still,though the sash windows were open to admit whatever breeze might arise.A vivid sunset could be glimpsed by anyone inattentive to the shiftingcurrents of the ballroom.
Adelaide lowered her fan enough that she could survey the twogentlemen. "Oh, my!"
The newcomers were attending with every appearance of interestto the functionary of the hotel who acted as host to the Monday balls. Theywere incidentally standing directly below a chandelier which illuminatedtheir every feature with precision.
"Exactly my thoughts." Dinah plied her daintily painted fan withvigour against the heat.
The gentlemen were dressed in the first stare of fashion with darktailcoats, figure-molding pantaloons extending to silk stockings at the ankle,and black pumps. While the taller gentleman had elected to don simplelinen and a white shagreen waistcoat, the other man, though he tended toplumpness, had chosen a shirt with a deep frill and a dazzling waistcoatpatterned in blue and green.
The activity in the chamber resumed with a sighing of silk skirtsand a shuffle of soft dancing shoes, though the orchestra had not yet struckup the next dance. Dinah took a deep, steadying breath as she gazed stillacross the room. She was not an impressionable miss and she prided herselfon her level head and commonsense. Despite both, she felt that in the tallergentleman she was beholding one of the most beautiful young men she hadever seen.
He was above medium height and slender and moved with fluidgrace as he bent slightly to speak with the very short host. His auburn haircurled luxuriantly and his clear hazel eyes were wide set. His firm mouthhad a willful but humorous curve. A strong jaw and an uncompromisingnose saved his face from effeminacy but rendered it no less beautiful.
He laughed unaffectedly at a comment made by his companion,and gazed about the chamber with a lively curiosity.
Dinah was brought back to earth as her sister discreetly elbowedher in the ribs.
"Stop staring. Who do you suppose they are?" Adelaide said.
"I cannot imagine. But my first thought was accurate. They lookout of place."
"They are very welcome," said the young lady who had approachedthe Driffield sisters unnoticed. "There are few enough young gentlemenhere."
Miss Driffield and Miss Adelaide greeted Miss Juliana Hesler withpleasure and the ease of long acquaintance. She had been since infancy theirparticular friend, and was enjoying a summer sojourn at Harrowgate in thecompany of her parents.
"I saw you arrive with Dr. and Mrs. Hesler, just before thegentlemen. Did you meet them?" Dinah said, with a semblance ofdisinterest.
"The host hurried us out of the way and did not introduce us." MissHesler made a moue of displeasure.
"Ah well, there is always Mr. Humberstone," Adelaide said, uponseeing that worthy approach.
"But he has eyes only for Dinah," Juliana retorted, with a teasingchuckle.
Dinah, watching her tiresome partner for the next dance shambleup, said, "Hush you both." She winked at her companions.
The musicians scraped the opening bars of a country dance asBernard Humberstone bowed before her. She could not but note that hisbrown satin knee-breeches, brown velvet coat, ruby cravat pin and buckleddancing pumps were cast in the shade by the newcomer's simple, elegantevening dress. Then she set thoughts of the strangers firmly aside, andsmiled kindly at Mr. Humberstone as he led her into the set forming.
Humberstone was no more than an adequate dancer, and Dinahhad always to be on her guard against accident while acting as his partner.She applied herself to the dance with attention, striving by her actions toaid Humberstone's steps. They never spoke when they danced; Mr.Humberstone could not manage with both activities at the one time.
Only minutes later, the breath was punched from Dinah by theimpact of her body's contact with that of an onlooker at the edge of thedancing floor. She gasped, "Great heavens sir, I do beg your pardon." Shecast a look up at the gentleman with whom she had collided. With dismayshe beheld the glorious young man she had previously beheld.
"Not at all, ma'am. I think your, er, flight, was not of yourdoing."
His voice was as charming as his appearance. Elegantly baritone,unhurried and quite without northern accent. Dinah thought it soothed theear.
Dinah's partner, whose overly enthusiastic swing had sent herreeling, hurried up. "Miss Driffield, my humblest apologies...you are so verylight on your feet...my feelings carried me away. We might have beenflying--are you hurt?--if my enthusiasm should have injured..."
"Mr. Humberstone, I am fine, really," she said. Dinah turned herattention from her erstwhile partner back to the gentleman into whom shehad cannoned. "We owe this gentleman our apologies I think." She steppedout of the country dance with a curtsey and a smile of apology to herdancing neighbours, and another couple hurriedly took their place. Shewithdrew to the edge of the dancing floor with Humberstone at herside.
Mr. Humberstone had transferred his explanations to the unknowngentleman. "Miss Driffield is so exquisite a dancer, sir. I was carried intoecstasies and mistook my own strength. It is no thanks to me she isuninjured...and you, sir, are you at all hurt? Humberstone's my name,Bernard Humberstone, and I meant to offer no insult. I think I do not knowyou... You are a newcomer to Harrowgate, and your introduction to ourlittle assemblies is become violent. I do apologize--"
The stranger raised a slim, graceful hand to stem the flood of Mr.Humberstone's eloquence. "Sir, be assured I have suffered no injury, and Itake no offense. This is very fine dancing indeed, and such enthusiasm canonly be commended. But perhaps Miss--ah, Driffield--would be glad of aglass of negus to calm her nerves. Do you procure it, and I shall walk withher a little to help her regain her equanimity."
Humberstone, relieved of responsibility, hurried off smiling. Hewas still uttering thanks and assurances as he edged through thecrowd.
The gentleman offered Dinah his arm.
After a moment's hesitation she laid her gloved hand upon it. "Mynerves and my equanimity have suffered no imbalance, sir," she said, with alaugh and a warm smile.
"I was certain of it, but Humberstone badly needed activity and Icould not do less than provide it him."
"But we have no acquaintance sir."
"Of course you are correct, but I think the host will rectify thatomission," he nodded in the direction of the small, busy man. "He willintroduce me, and the proprieties will be appeased."
Dinah, brimming with amusement, and wishing her curiosityregarding the gentleman satisfied, acquiesced without delay.
A slight gesture from the gentleman brought the Dragon'sballroom host scurrying over.
"An accident has thrown us together, sir, and we have nointroduct