Beyond the Rocks

The whole scene was so novel and delightful to Theodora she cared not at

all whether her father accepted or no, so long as she might sit quietly

and observe the world.

Mrs. McBride had perceived immediately that the string of pearls round

Mrs. Josiah Brown's neck could not have cost less than nine thousand

pounds, and that her frock, although so simple, was the last and most

expensive creation of Callot Soeurs. She had always been horribly

attracted by Captain Fitzgerald, ever since that race week at Trouville

two summers ago, and fate had sent them here to-night, and she meant to

enjoy herself.

Captain Fitzgerald acceded to her request with his usual polished ease,

and the radiant widow presented the rest of her guests to the two

new-comers.

The tall man with the fierce beard was Prince Worrzoff, married to her

niece, Saidie Butcher. Saidie Butcher was short, and had a voice you

could hear across the room. The sleek, fair youth with the twinkling

gray eyes was an Englishman from the Embassy. The disagreeable-looking

woman in the badly made mauve silk was his sister, Lady Hildon. The

stout, hook-nosed bird of prey with the heavy gold chain was a Western

millionaire, and the smiling girl was his daughter. Then, last of all,

came Lord Bracondale--and it was when he was presented that Theodora

first began to take an interest in the party.

Hector, fourteenth Lord Bracondale of Bracondale (as she later that

night read in the Peerage) was aged thirty-one years. He had been

educated at Eton and Oxford, served for some time in the Fourth

Lifeguards, been unpaid attaché at St. Petersburg, was patron of five

livings, and sat in the House of Lords as Baron Bracondale; creation,

1505; seat, Bracondale Chase. Brothers, none. Sister living, Anne

Charlotte, married to the fourth Earl of Anningford.

Theodora read all this over twice, and also even the predecessors and

collateral branches--but that was while she burned the midnight oil and

listened to the snorts and coughs of Josiah Brown, slumbering next door.

For the time being she raised her eyes and looked into Lord

Bracondale's, and something told her they were the nicest eyes she had

ever seen in this world.

Then when a voluble French count had rushed up, with garrulous apologies

for being late, the party was complete, and they swept into the

restaurant.

Theodora sat between the Western millionaire and the Russian Prince, but

beyond--it was a round table, only just big enough to hold them--came

her hostess and Lord Bracondale, and two or three times at dinner they

spoke, and very often she felt his eyes fixed upon her.