Chapter 2: Page 1
A foolish sense of satisfaction and hope budded inside
Lord Irvine Kinneas as he helped Selphie Tilmitt
out of his carriage. Bringing her to Helmhurst to help
celebrate his cousin's engagement made him feel as if
she belonged to him, however briefly.
The Earl of Welland stood near the magnificent pillared
entrance to the house, greeting his guests. The old
fellow looked as frail as ever, but happier than Kinneas
had seen him since his grandson had returned disfigured
after the Battle of Waterloo. Beside the earl stood a
lovely young woman with shining brown hair and a shy smile.
"Kinneas, my dear boy!" The earl glanced from Kinneas to
Selphie with the twinkling eyes of an unrepentant
matchmaker. "I am delighted you've brought such a lovely
companion with you to grace our celebrations. I want
this gloomy old place steeped to the eaves in the
laughter and romance of young folk for a few days. It
will be the perfect tonic for me."
Kinneas dearly hoped he would be able to oblige the old
fellow. He bowed to the earl and to the young lady he
assumed must be his cousin's fiancée. "Thank you for the
invitation, sir. May I present a dear friend of the
family, Miss Selphie Tilmitt?"
"What — not Bram Tilmitt's little girl? Why it seems
just yesterday we were toasting your christening.
Welcome, my dear!" The earl turned to the young woman
beside him. "This is a dear friend of my family, and
soon to be a member of it, Miss Rinoa Heartilly."
The gentlemen bowed over the ladies' hands. Kinneas and
Selphie both congratulated Miss Heartilly on her
engagement to Lord Leonhart and everyone praised the
fine weather.
"Is Squall around, by any chance?" asked Kinneas. "I'd like
to congratulate him on his good fortune and good sense
in securing such a lovely bride."
"You'll see him at dinner," said the earl with no
further explanation. "Until then, why don't you both
settle in and make yourselves at home. I hope you
brought masks and costumes for the ball."
They assured him that, indeed, they had. Kinneas could
scarcely wait for a glimpse of Selphie as Helen of Troy.
He'd have launched a thousand ships for her, if he'd
thought it would do him any good.
A foolish sense of satisfaction and hope budded inside
Lord Irvine Kinneas as he helped Selphie Tilmitt
out of his carriage. Bringing her to Helmhurst to help
celebrate his cousin's engagement made him feel as if
she belonged to him, however briefly.
The Earl of Welland stood near the magnificent pillared
entrance to the house, greeting his guests. The old
fellow looked as frail as ever, but happier than Kinneas
had seen him since his grandson had returned disfigured
after the Battle of Waterloo. Beside the earl stood a
lovely young woman with shining brown hair and a shy smile.
"Kinneas, my dear boy!" The earl glanced from Kinneas to
Selphie with the twinkling eyes of an unrepentant
matchmaker. "I am delighted you've brought such a lovely
companion with you to grace our celebrations. I want
this gloomy old place steeped to the eaves in the
laughter and romance of young folk for a few days. It
will be the perfect tonic for me."
Kinneas dearly hoped he would be able to oblige the old
fellow. He bowed to the earl and to the young lady he
assumed must be his cousin's fiancée. "Thank you for the
invitation, sir. May I present a dear friend of the
family, Miss Selphie Tilmitt?"
"What — not Bram Tilmitt's little girl? Why it seems
just yesterday we were toasting your christening.
Welcome, my dear!" The earl turned to the young woman
beside him. "This is a dear friend of my family, and
soon to be a member of it, Miss Rinoa Heartilly."
The gentlemen bowed over the ladies' hands. Kinneas and
Selphie both congratulated Miss Heartilly on her
engagement to Lord Leonhart and everyone praised the
fine weather.
"Is Squall around, by any chance?" asked Kinneas. "I'd like
to congratulate him on his good fortune and good sense
in securing such a lovely bride."
"You'll see him at dinner," said the earl with no
further explanation. "Until then, why don't you both
settle in and make yourselves at home. I hope you
brought masks and costumes for the ball."
They assured him that, indeed, they had. Kinneas could
scarcely wait for a glimpse of Selphie as Helen of Troy.
He'd have launched a thousand ships for her, if he'd
thought it would do him any good.
