A Curious Courting by Laura Matthews

that her mind had wandered to Mr. Rushton’s disapproving face and she shook herself with annoyance. It did not matter in the least what he thought of her, but she must write that note to Penrith.
     

Chapter Five
     
    “You see?” Sir Penrith declared triumphantly as he waved a folded sheet under his friend’s nose. “I have had a note from Miss Easterly-Cummings in which she apologizes for her ‘rash and ridiculous’ words to me. I am not held to blame for anything, and she regrets that she should have caused a scene, and can only excuse herself on the grounds of her shock and fright. And,” he added with a mischievous smile, “she has invited the lot of us to tea this afternoon.”
    “Has she now? I imagine that is very unusual,” Rushton commented sardonically.
    “Well, it is. I cannot remember the last time I was invited there, and I dare say it is not much more recent an occurrence for my mother and Cassandra.”
    “It is her way of apologizing, no doubt. Just as bizarre as the costume she wears.”
    “Does that put you off? The way she dresses? Lord, Gareth, you’d have to be blind not to see that she’s beautiful, even under those dowdy drapings.”
    “I had not missed her essential loveliness,” he retorted dryly. “All the more odd of her to dress so peculiarly. It would be a real treat to see her in London dressed that way.”
    “Perhaps she’ll dress more conventionally for this occasion,” Penrith suggested hopefully.
    And there was some lessening to the strangeness of her costume, he noted as he followed his mother and sister and friend into the green drawing room at Shalbrook. Selina had honored the tea party with her yellowish-green gown, to be sure, but she had attached a fall of lace at the high neck and discarded the walking shoes. The scarlet shawl was replaced by one of brown and she sported an uninspiring cap, but it bore no resemblance to her nun-like ones. Sir Penrith could not know that Henry was responsible for this change in his cousin’s costume. The boy had adamantly refused to attend this social gathering unless Selina made some effort to observe it with dignity. “For how on earth am I to face Sir Penrith after the trimming you gave me yesterday? I shall have quite enough discomfort without blushing for your appearance, my dear cousin.”
    Lady Southwood curiously surveyed the room into which she had been shown with its fourteenth century wainscot and painted ceiling. It was not a chamber she was unfamiliar with, though it was many years since she had been in it. “Your mama used to entertain here, my dear,” she said, turning to smile at Selina. “It was done in green then, too, but I can see that you have recently refurbished it. And your taste is quite as exquisite as hers. Who would have thought the plank chest would fit perfectly under that ancient tapestry? And you have brought the set of globes from the gallery, have you not? Delightful, absolutely delightful.”
    “Thank you, Lady Southwood. I was not aware that my mother used the room, for we have come to use the East Room extensively these last years.” She turned to Cassandra, her eyes laughing. “I had no idea, from your demure appearance in church, what a dashing lady you had become, Cassandra. Are you to have a Season in London this year?”
    “So Mama and Penrith promise me. And Maria is to be there, too.”
    “Yes, I have heard from her recently and she said they were going up to London. She sounds decidedly content with her life and family.”
    “Oh, yes, Franmore is the dearest man, and she has two adorable boys. Perhaps they will return with us for a while this summer so that you shall have an opportunity to see them.”
    “I hope so,” Selina assured her. As the ladies seated themselves, she moved to Sir Penrith and Mr. Rushton, offering her hand to the former. “Am I forgiven, Sir Penrith?”
    “You were used to call me Pen, Selina. And you have no need to apologize. Where is the young