felt disappointed to not secure a private visit with her aunt. Mary nibbled a biscuit and filled her family in on the latest developments regarding Jane.
"She honestly struck him? I must say, I am impressed." Mr. Gardiner smiled as he gazed out the window to the bustling street beyond. He errantly tapped his injured leg with his thumb, thinking how long until he might return to his offices. He trusted Darcy's man to help his clerk, but there was something emasculating about relying on another's work for his livelihood. If this was the life of a gentleman, he was quite content to remain in trade. His wife's piercing gaze made him realize he had not attended the conversation. "Pardon me, you were saying?"
"I thought for sure you'd be most anxious to attend to your office by now." Madeline Gardiner gave her husband a sly wink to make sure he knew she was not sending him away, but that the ladies needed a few moments alone.
"Yes, yes, I must review those latest figures." Edward Gardiner nodded to his niece and motioned for the footman's assistance. He resolved privately that by the end of the week he would be in possession of a fine walking stick. The potential re-injury of falling by attempting to walk on his own again was well worth the embarrassment of needing a strong arm for support.
His wife wasted no time, once the ladies were alone, to gently pat the sofa next to her. Obediently, Mary rose to join her aunt as she turned her upper body to face her niece. "Now, talk to me about the Colonel."
Mary gasped. "How did you, how did you know?"
Pursing her lips, her aunt wore an amused expression. Madeline Gardiner smiled to think all young people were so similar, so wrapped up in their own lives that they failed to consider those older and wiser had faced similar trials of the heart, too. "My dear, your eyes light up when he walks into the room. I do believe you dropped your silverware three times when we last dined at Matlock House."
Mary hung her head, ashamed her wanton behavior was visible to all. Her aunt crooked a finger and lifted her chin. "There is no reason to be ashamed. You are blossoming into a vivacious young woman and he is a handsome match."
"But I am excitable around him and I am too poor! I shall not fall like Lydia!"
Confused, Madeline used a few moments of silence that a sip of tea afforded to work through Mary's outburst. How had she moved from rejection to fear of compromise? Was there information she did not hold? "Have you . . ." she cleared her throat to make her tone as non-judgmental as she could manage, "Have you permitted him liberties?"
Mary shook her head, then whispered, "I desire his attentions and that is a sin and a wrong I must carry. As the woman, it is my burden to not tempt his baser instincts and I fear I am failing."
"Mary. Mary! I should hope by now you would stop using Fordyce's Sermons as the measure of manners for a young lady! Heavens!" Exasperated, Mrs. Gardiner blew out a breath and smoothed a curl behind her ear.
Restoring her calm, she grasped Mary's hands and held them tightly. "You are a beautiful, kind, vibrant young woman and any suitor would be blessed to have you as his wife. The feelings you fear are the stirrings of love. Certainly, your behavior must reflect proper decorum for you both, but there is nothing wrong with feeling attracted to the Colonel."
Mary closed her eyes and considered if all her feelings for Richard were lustful. She imagined him hurt and a deep melancholy washed over her. She remembered his teases and verbal taunts when they were in mixed company, and her heart felt light. Opening her eyes, she gave her aunt a curious look. "How do I show him affection? How do I demonstrate the depth of my feelings?"
Mrs. Gardiner released her niece's hands to take another sip of tea. To explain this part was tricky. Finally, she arrived at an explanation. "Your interest and genuine support of his interests will carry the point. A woman's good opinion is
"She honestly struck him? I must say, I am impressed." Mr. Gardiner smiled as he gazed out the window to the bustling street beyond. He errantly tapped his injured leg with his thumb, thinking how long until he might return to his offices. He trusted Darcy's man to help his clerk, but there was something emasculating about relying on another's work for his livelihood. If this was the life of a gentleman, he was quite content to remain in trade. His wife's piercing gaze made him realize he had not attended the conversation. "Pardon me, you were saying?"
"I thought for sure you'd be most anxious to attend to your office by now." Madeline Gardiner gave her husband a sly wink to make sure he knew she was not sending him away, but that the ladies needed a few moments alone.
"Yes, yes, I must review those latest figures." Edward Gardiner nodded to his niece and motioned for the footman's assistance. He resolved privately that by the end of the week he would be in possession of a fine walking stick. The potential re-injury of falling by attempting to walk on his own again was well worth the embarrassment of needing a strong arm for support.
His wife wasted no time, once the ladies were alone, to gently pat the sofa next to her. Obediently, Mary rose to join her aunt as she turned her upper body to face her niece. "Now, talk to me about the Colonel."
Mary gasped. "How did you, how did you know?"
Pursing her lips, her aunt wore an amused expression. Madeline Gardiner smiled to think all young people were so similar, so wrapped up in their own lives that they failed to consider those older and wiser had faced similar trials of the heart, too. "My dear, your eyes light up when he walks into the room. I do believe you dropped your silverware three times when we last dined at Matlock House."
Mary hung her head, ashamed her wanton behavior was visible to all. Her aunt crooked a finger and lifted her chin. "There is no reason to be ashamed. You are blossoming into a vivacious young woman and he is a handsome match."
"But I am excitable around him and I am too poor! I shall not fall like Lydia!"
Confused, Madeline used a few moments of silence that a sip of tea afforded to work through Mary's outburst. How had she moved from rejection to fear of compromise? Was there information she did not hold? "Have you . . ." she cleared her throat to make her tone as non-judgmental as she could manage, "Have you permitted him liberties?"
Mary shook her head, then whispered, "I desire his attentions and that is a sin and a wrong I must carry. As the woman, it is my burden to not tempt his baser instincts and I fear I am failing."
"Mary. Mary! I should hope by now you would stop using Fordyce's Sermons as the measure of manners for a young lady! Heavens!" Exasperated, Mrs. Gardiner blew out a breath and smoothed a curl behind her ear.
Restoring her calm, she grasped Mary's hands and held them tightly. "You are a beautiful, kind, vibrant young woman and any suitor would be blessed to have you as his wife. The feelings you fear are the stirrings of love. Certainly, your behavior must reflect proper decorum for you both, but there is nothing wrong with feeling attracted to the Colonel."
Mary closed her eyes and considered if all her feelings for Richard were lustful. She imagined him hurt and a deep melancholy washed over her. She remembered his teases and verbal taunts when they were in mixed company, and her heart felt light. Opening her eyes, she gave her aunt a curious look. "How do I show him affection? How do I demonstrate the depth of my feelings?"
Mrs. Gardiner released her niece's hands to take another sip of tea. To explain this part was tricky. Finally, she arrived at an explanation. "Your interest and genuine support of his interests will carry the point. A woman's good opinion is
Similar Books
