was even more difficult.
Phoebe smiled. “Aurelia, you aren’t ... You haven’t ... That is, could you possibly have conceived a tendre for Ranfield?”
The question left Aurelia almost as breathless as the Earl did. “A tendre forRanfield? I truly don’t know.”
The two looked at each other.
Aurelia sighed again. “I have been feeling most peculiar lately.”
Phoebe considered this. “Since your accident?”
“Well, actually since that day in the park.”
Phoebe’s mouth fell open. “What day in the park? Oh,do tell me.”
“The day Harold introduced me to his lordship.”
Phoebe pleated the material of her gown and looked thoughtful. “And has your heart been palpitating?”
Aurelia frowned. “Hearts do not really palpi-- Oh, Phoebe, they do! At least, mine does. Do you really think ... ?”
Phoebe nodded. “I’m afraid it sounds suspiciously like love.”
Aurelia’s heart gave several lively jumps. “Love? But Phoebe, I know nothing of love.”
Phoebe’s sigh echoed through the room. “Nor I. But oh, I should like to. I should very much like to.” She clasped Aurelia’s hand. “Just think, when you and Ranfield marry, we shall be cousins.”
“M-marry?” Aurelia repeated. “But surely if his lordship wanted a wife, he would have chosen one by now.”
Phoebe looked thoughtful. “He’s three and thirty. He’s had plenty of time.”
“Then perhaps he does not mean to many.”
Phoebe raised an eyebrow. “Impossible. He must marry and provide an heir.”
“Still ...”
“No.” Phoebe smiled. “It’s actually quite obvious. The man needs a wife.”
“But ...”
“No ‘ buts,’ “ said Phoebe, in a tone so like Ranfield’s that Aurelia dissolved into laughter.
When she could speak again, she shook her head. “Phoebe, we should not build dream castles like this.”
“And why not?”
“Well, dream castles are so unreal. After all, we have no indication that his lordship ...” She faltered. “That is, he has been most kind, but perhaps he has a liking in another direction.”
Phoebe considered this. “I think not. He has made no mention of hanging out for a wife.”
Aurelia bethought herself of the Earl’s meeting with Alvanley. “Is there someone named Annette?”
Phoebe shook her head. “I know no one of that name. Ranfield wouldn’t marry without telling us.”
“But Phoebe, dear, you still forget. I’ll be going back to London.”
Phoebe shook her head. “You must not. You must stay and marry Ranfield. Oh, Aurelia, it will be above all marvelous. You and I deal so famously together already.”
“Yes, we do. But isn’t it more important ... ? That is, shouldn’t the Earl and I ... ?”
“Shouldn’t the Earl and you what?” came his voice from the doorway.
Aurelia jumped, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. Her mind went a perfect blank. “I ...” His coming in so unexpectedly had cast her into a regular flutter. She could not think. She could not speak. She could scarcely breathe. But she did have enough presence of mind to look at Phoebe.
And, blessedly, Phoebe sprang into the breach. “Shouldn’t Aurelia and you talk about ballooning,” she explained.
How resourceful Phoebe was. Aurelia felt her wits returning. “Yes,” she said. “I was afraid that perhaps I had bent your ear too much. Earlier when we were discussing air flight.”
“Of course you did not.” The Earl advanced into the room. “As I told you, I am much interested in ballooning.”
What a fine figure of a man he made. His coat fit so smoothly across his shoulders, his fawn inexpressibles showed not a single wrinkle, and his Wellingtons gleamed in the spring sun.
Her heart was palpitating. Could Phoebe be right? Could these strange feelings mean that she had, at last, met a man who could make her think seriously of matrimony?
The thought was disconcerting, especially with him standing right there, bigger than life. And oh so handsome.
“I came to check
Phoebe smiled. “Aurelia, you aren’t ... You haven’t ... That is, could you possibly have conceived a tendre for Ranfield?”
The question left Aurelia almost as breathless as the Earl did. “A tendre forRanfield? I truly don’t know.”
The two looked at each other.
Aurelia sighed again. “I have been feeling most peculiar lately.”
Phoebe considered this. “Since your accident?”
“Well, actually since that day in the park.”
Phoebe’s mouth fell open. “What day in the park? Oh,do tell me.”
“The day Harold introduced me to his lordship.”
Phoebe pleated the material of her gown and looked thoughtful. “And has your heart been palpitating?”
Aurelia frowned. “Hearts do not really palpi-- Oh, Phoebe, they do! At least, mine does. Do you really think ... ?”
Phoebe nodded. “I’m afraid it sounds suspiciously like love.”
Aurelia’s heart gave several lively jumps. “Love? But Phoebe, I know nothing of love.”
Phoebe’s sigh echoed through the room. “Nor I. But oh, I should like to. I should very much like to.” She clasped Aurelia’s hand. “Just think, when you and Ranfield marry, we shall be cousins.”
“M-marry?” Aurelia repeated. “But surely if his lordship wanted a wife, he would have chosen one by now.”
Phoebe looked thoughtful. “He’s three and thirty. He’s had plenty of time.”
“Then perhaps he does not mean to many.”
Phoebe raised an eyebrow. “Impossible. He must marry and provide an heir.”
“Still ...”
“No.” Phoebe smiled. “It’s actually quite obvious. The man needs a wife.”
“But ...”
“No ‘ buts,’ “ said Phoebe, in a tone so like Ranfield’s that Aurelia dissolved into laughter.
When she could speak again, she shook her head. “Phoebe, we should not build dream castles like this.”
“And why not?”
“Well, dream castles are so unreal. After all, we have no indication that his lordship ...” She faltered. “That is, he has been most kind, but perhaps he has a liking in another direction.”
Phoebe considered this. “I think not. He has made no mention of hanging out for a wife.”
Aurelia bethought herself of the Earl’s meeting with Alvanley. “Is there someone named Annette?”
Phoebe shook her head. “I know no one of that name. Ranfield wouldn’t marry without telling us.”
“But Phoebe, dear, you still forget. I’ll be going back to London.”
Phoebe shook her head. “You must not. You must stay and marry Ranfield. Oh, Aurelia, it will be above all marvelous. You and I deal so famously together already.”
“Yes, we do. But isn’t it more important ... ? That is, shouldn’t the Earl and I ... ?”
“Shouldn’t the Earl and you what?” came his voice from the doorway.
Aurelia jumped, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. Her mind went a perfect blank. “I ...” His coming in so unexpectedly had cast her into a regular flutter. She could not think. She could not speak. She could scarcely breathe. But she did have enough presence of mind to look at Phoebe.
And, blessedly, Phoebe sprang into the breach. “Shouldn’t Aurelia and you talk about ballooning,” she explained.
How resourceful Phoebe was. Aurelia felt her wits returning. “Yes,” she said. “I was afraid that perhaps I had bent your ear too much. Earlier when we were discussing air flight.”
“Of course you did not.” The Earl advanced into the room. “As I told you, I am much interested in ballooning.”
What a fine figure of a man he made. His coat fit so smoothly across his shoulders, his fawn inexpressibles showed not a single wrinkle, and his Wellingtons gleamed in the spring sun.
Her heart was palpitating. Could Phoebe be right? Could these strange feelings mean that she had, at last, met a man who could make her think seriously of matrimony?
The thought was disconcerting, especially with him standing right there, bigger than life. And oh so handsome.
“I came to check
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