had removed themselves from polite society, so I hardly ever saw them.”
Ambrosia was intrigued, but hated to pry. “Removed themselves, you say?” she asked casually.
Her mother laughed. “Curious? Would you care for me to elaborate?”
Ambrosia straightened her back. “It would not be gossip if you simply recounted the events in a historically accurate manner.”
Flora nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of engaging you in gossip, but I could manage to simply relay the events as they are known to me.” She took a sip of tea before starting what promised to be a most interesting story. “Lord Bristol’s mother was from the continent-French. But aren’t they always?” She playfully nudged her daughter who was completely lost at the suggestive remark. “His father was an avid gambler and lecher who lost much of the family’s fortune and the two of them were involved in several public dalliances. He died at the home of his much younger mistress-in a most disgraceful manner that I will spare you the details of. Unless of course, you’d like to know?”
Ambrosia vehemently shook her head.
“I didn’t think so,” Flora continued. “She disappeared shortly after that. The last report I was privy to described her traveling the continent with a man from a less restrictive station when she fell ill.”
Ambrosia fought the urge to gasp. Less restrictive station was code in good society for stable boy or something similarly degrading. “Obviously, the eldest brother became the Earl and as we all know met an early demise last Season. But what of the younger? Why is it that Lord Bristol has not been known to me till now?”
Flora thought for a moment. “He was sent away so long ago, I doubt many people remember him.”
Ambrosia’s eyes widened. “He was sent away ?”
“Banished, really. There was some sort of falling out and he was sent to live at one of his family’s estates up North.”
“ Banished ? My goodness, what on earth could he have done?”
Flora laughed. “It couldn’t have been all that bad if I’ve never heard the details. From what I’ve been able to gather, it was an issue within his family circle. But, he is newly returned and I have no reason to paint him with the same brush that marked his parents. Besides, every party needs a bit of excitement and that is reason enough for me to invite Lord Bristol.”
Ambrosia shook her head. “Being a blackguard is hardly what I would consider to be exciting.”
Perhaps just a wee bit exciting.
“Be it right or wrong, talk is talk. Besides, from what I’ve seen while he’s been in London, his are mistakes that are easily forgiven. Men will be men, after all, and when I met him at the Montgomery’s ball, I found him to be most interesting . . . and handsome. Wouldn’t you agree?” Flora sipped her tea, coyly eyeing her daughter’s response.
“I suppose he’s pleasing enough to the eye,” she answered with all honesty. There was no use in lying about the obvious. “In the kind of way most blackguards are,” she finished in a contemptuous tone.
Her mother cast her a sideways glance. “Snide remarks don’t become you, dearest Ambrosia. You could do far worse than marrying the Earl. The Bristol title is quite old and by all accounts quite wealthy. I do admit there is some concern over the history of the Maddox men’s conduct, but what man doesn’t have faults? Honestly, Ambrosia, I find it fascinating how you continue to cast aside any and all prospects.”
“Mama,” Ambrosia scolded playfully, “if you do not wish for me to continually reject your suitors, then it seems to me the solution would be to simply present me with better candidates.”
Flora pursed her lips. “Thomas’s fiancé-she was such a pleasure. Do you remember? Such a fine lady and he was so very in love with her. You know he would want the same for you. We all do. It would please your father and me to know you were finally settled down and
Ambrosia was intrigued, but hated to pry. “Removed themselves, you say?” she asked casually.
Her mother laughed. “Curious? Would you care for me to elaborate?”
Ambrosia straightened her back. “It would not be gossip if you simply recounted the events in a historically accurate manner.”
Flora nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of engaging you in gossip, but I could manage to simply relay the events as they are known to me.” She took a sip of tea before starting what promised to be a most interesting story. “Lord Bristol’s mother was from the continent-French. But aren’t they always?” She playfully nudged her daughter who was completely lost at the suggestive remark. “His father was an avid gambler and lecher who lost much of the family’s fortune and the two of them were involved in several public dalliances. He died at the home of his much younger mistress-in a most disgraceful manner that I will spare you the details of. Unless of course, you’d like to know?”
Ambrosia vehemently shook her head.
“I didn’t think so,” Flora continued. “She disappeared shortly after that. The last report I was privy to described her traveling the continent with a man from a less restrictive station when she fell ill.”
Ambrosia fought the urge to gasp. Less restrictive station was code in good society for stable boy or something similarly degrading. “Obviously, the eldest brother became the Earl and as we all know met an early demise last Season. But what of the younger? Why is it that Lord Bristol has not been known to me till now?”
Flora thought for a moment. “He was sent away so long ago, I doubt many people remember him.”
Ambrosia’s eyes widened. “He was sent away ?”
“Banished, really. There was some sort of falling out and he was sent to live at one of his family’s estates up North.”
“ Banished ? My goodness, what on earth could he have done?”
Flora laughed. “It couldn’t have been all that bad if I’ve never heard the details. From what I’ve been able to gather, it was an issue within his family circle. But, he is newly returned and I have no reason to paint him with the same brush that marked his parents. Besides, every party needs a bit of excitement and that is reason enough for me to invite Lord Bristol.”
Ambrosia shook her head. “Being a blackguard is hardly what I would consider to be exciting.”
Perhaps just a wee bit exciting.
“Be it right or wrong, talk is talk. Besides, from what I’ve seen while he’s been in London, his are mistakes that are easily forgiven. Men will be men, after all, and when I met him at the Montgomery’s ball, I found him to be most interesting . . . and handsome. Wouldn’t you agree?” Flora sipped her tea, coyly eyeing her daughter’s response.
“I suppose he’s pleasing enough to the eye,” she answered with all honesty. There was no use in lying about the obvious. “In the kind of way most blackguards are,” she finished in a contemptuous tone.
Her mother cast her a sideways glance. “Snide remarks don’t become you, dearest Ambrosia. You could do far worse than marrying the Earl. The Bristol title is quite old and by all accounts quite wealthy. I do admit there is some concern over the history of the Maddox men’s conduct, but what man doesn’t have faults? Honestly, Ambrosia, I find it fascinating how you continue to cast aside any and all prospects.”
“Mama,” Ambrosia scolded playfully, “if you do not wish for me to continually reject your suitors, then it seems to me the solution would be to simply present me with better candidates.”
Flora pursed her lips. “Thomas’s fiancé-she was such a pleasure. Do you remember? Such a fine lady and he was so very in love with her. You know he would want the same for you. We all do. It would please your father and me to know you were finally settled down and
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