Bluestocking Bride by Elizabeth Thornton Page A

hand, and Catherine looked curiously at the owner of the voice that had caused a ripple in Rutherston's cool exterior. She recognized Lady Harriet, the deb acclaimed as the Incomparable, a nonpareil in beauty who was highly conscious of everything that was owed to her. She had been out for a couple of Seasons and had all the young blades, and not a few of those who should have known better, scurrying for her favors. It was rumored that Lady Harriet had set her sights high—on nothing less than an earl. A marquis, of course, would be even better.
    A pair of hostile eyes raked Catherine from head to toe, and she instantly withdrew her hand from Rutherston's arm as if it had suddenly scalded her. The martial glint in the lady's eyes was not lost on Catherine, nor the proprietary air as Lady Harriet dismissed her with a slight nod of the head before devoting her full attention to Rutherston .
    Catherine moved apart to converse with Lady Harriet's escort. She could hear Rutherston's glib tongue begin his extravagant flatteries, and Lady Harriet accepted them as her due. Catherine was disgusted.
    It did not take Catherine long to engage the young man's interest, although his lover-like glance was frequently cast in the direction of the golden-haired goddess. Sisterly knowledge of a brother of aspiring Corinthian tastes gave Catherine an advantage, and she soon coaxed Mr. Sinclair to wax eloquently on the merits of Tattersall's, the neckties he favored, and the various sporting vehicles that were all the crack.
    It was with something of a start that she heard Rutherston address her and invite her to join in a conversation that the Incomparable had but a few minutes before insinuated was to be a private tête-à-tête.
    "Miss Harland, I beg you, rescue me from Lady Harriet's undeserved encomium. She exaggerates my equestrian ability. I have admitted to being fair, and only fair in the saddle. As one who has a more intimate knowledge of my prowess in the field, what say you?"
    "Oh la, sir, you dissemble," tittered the beauty hanging on his arm, not at all pleased to have Catherine addressed in such familiar terms. "You are quite without equal, isn't that so, Mr. Sinclair?" she appealed to her erstwhile escort, pointedly excluding Catherine.
    Mr. Sinclair was compelled to honesty and declared that it was universally acknowledged that his lordship was a Nonsuch without equal, drove to an inch, and had the honor of being a member of the Four Horse Club—an indisputable distinction.
    "Well, Miss Harland? What say you?" demanded Rutherston , the smirk of complacency twitching his lips.
    Catherine was conscious that he was enjoying himself hugely at her expense, and a look of devilment fleetingly lit up her face. She turned to Lady Harriet, her eyes rounded in disbelief.
    "You wish me to contradict the noble Lord Rutherston ? That, Lady Harriet, I cannot do. No, no, you will not dissuade me. It would be beyond my power, beyond my understanding, beyond anything. Besides," she went on sarcastically, "I would never wish to lay the charge of false modesty at Lord Rutherston's door."
    Catherine was immensely pleased with herself, thinking that she had delivered a leveler to floor the marquis, but when she looked triumphantly into his face she was chagrined to see that he was grinning at her in the most appreciative way.
    "Of course, one would not wish to contradict Lord Rutherston ," began the Beauty in some doubt, "but in this case . . ."
    "No, no!" intoned Catherine seriously. "It would be an impertinence . We must respect the assessment of so noble a lord."
    Rutherston thought it politic to intervene at that moment and he whisked Catherine away with the excuse that he had solicited her hand for the next dance, which was just about to begin.
    As he led her to their place in the set he inclined his head and murmured, "May I hold you to that, Miss Harland? It would please me excessively if you would show me even a little respect."
    "You are