Hoping to avoid her mother, Miranda hurried downstairs for breakfast. She was wearing one of her favorite pink printed gowns because she and Derek had made plans to spend the day seeing some of London"s most famous sights. However, she was disappointed to find her mother already ensconced at the breakfast table when she entered.
"Good morning, my dear.” The Countess looked up from the letter she was reading. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?"
"Well, the food was dismal, as usual and the company stilted.”
"Stilted?" Her mother laughed. "Only the best families are admitted into Almack"s. I, for one, had a lovely evening."
"Mm." Miranda refrained from answering, pretending to study the food set out on the sideboard. She placed a scoop of eggs on her plate, followed by a piece of toast
