you
recall, Grymes, she's had a harrowing trip. We're fortunate that she was spared
the fever" —his arresting eyes, flecked with shards of gold, flickered
over her appraisingly— "and has arrived in such remarkably vibrant
health."
Susanna glanced at him in shock, hardly believing he
would speak for her as if he had the right to. Who did he think he was, anyway?
"Oh, yes, of course," Robert said, nodding
his head so vigorously that the curls of his powdered wig bobbed. "Forgive
me, Miss Cary. It was not my intent to inconvenience you. Please come and visit
us, but only when you're rested enough to do so . . . Oh, and don't feel you
must wait for a formal invitation. We Virginians rarely use them. We pride ourselves
upon our hospitality, a code of courtesy you might say, and welcome visitors
whenever they chance by."
"Thank you, Mr. Grymes," she murmured through
clenched teeth, pointedly ignoring Adam's hard look of disapproval. But she
said nothing more and did not commit herself to any visit, knowing Camille
would have wished to stay at home. She sensed the planter must have heard of
her shyness, though, when instead of excusing himself, he persisted by trying
another tack.
"Come to think of it, I have an even better idea,
Miss Cary. Perhaps my family and I might take it upon ourselves to visit
Briarwood. Such an arrangement would spare you from any unnecessary traveling.
The summer is a rather tedious time for us planters since the tobo is ripening
in the fields, which gives us some respite for amusement. Why, we could make a
grand welcome ball of it, say, on Saturday which is almost a full week away,
and invite some of your other neighbors, who I'm sure are eager to meet you. I
would think you'd be well-rested by then—"
"I have it upon excellent knowledge that Miss Cary
is not one for social gatherings," Adam interjected again, his tone even
more rude. "She prefers more peaceful pastimes."
"Nonsense," Robert objected with a
good-natured chortle, clearly undaunted or perhaps just accustomed to dealing
with Adam's surly manners. "What young lady doesn't like such amusements?
Why, my pretty Celeste was a shy one until her fourteenth birthday, then when
she saw what fun all the other girls were having, she came around. I believe
the best cure for such a malady is to expose oneself to frivolity on a regular
basis. I'm sure Miss Cary will find there is no harm in meeting her
neighbors."
"Sorry, Grymes, but it won't be possible. Now if
you'll excuse us, Elias is waiting with the carriage to take us back to
Briarwood. I'm sure Miss Cary is eager to see her home."
Susanna felt Adam's insistent tug on her arm as he
attempted to steer her away, but she chose to ignore it and remained right
where she stood. How dare both of these men talk over her head as if she wasn't
there, as if she didn't have a tongue with which to speak! What in bloody hell
was going on here? She was so angry that this time it was difficult to keep her
voice mild and steady.
"I think a house party at Briarwood on Saturday
would be delightful," she said, glancing from Adam to Robert Grymes and
then demurely at the ground. "Papa would have wanted me to meet my
neighbors."
When she received no ready reply, Susanna peeked
through her lashes to find the planter beaming from ear to ear and Adam
glowering, his jaw taut. She knew he couldn't argue with such a statement. Of
course she would want to meet her neighbors, whether she was shy or not.
She was eager to fulfill her promise to Camille by
launching herself into the Tidewater's social whirl so she might find the right
husband, but she would have to move slowly if she was to maintain her
deception. A reputedly timid young woman would not become a popular belle
overnight, yet a welcome ball would be a good way to start and it could lead to
other outings. She had always dreamed of attending such an event, but as a
lady's maid, it had been out of the question. Now she would have her chance.
Before long
recall, Grymes, she's had a harrowing trip. We're fortunate that she was spared
the fever" —his arresting eyes, flecked with shards of gold, flickered
over her appraisingly— "and has arrived in such remarkably vibrant
health."
Susanna glanced at him in shock, hardly believing he
would speak for her as if he had the right to. Who did he think he was, anyway?
"Oh, yes, of course," Robert said, nodding
his head so vigorously that the curls of his powdered wig bobbed. "Forgive
me, Miss Cary. It was not my intent to inconvenience you. Please come and visit
us, but only when you're rested enough to do so . . . Oh, and don't feel you
must wait for a formal invitation. We Virginians rarely use them. We pride ourselves
upon our hospitality, a code of courtesy you might say, and welcome visitors
whenever they chance by."
"Thank you, Mr. Grymes," she murmured through
clenched teeth, pointedly ignoring Adam's hard look of disapproval. But she
said nothing more and did not commit herself to any visit, knowing Camille
would have wished to stay at home. She sensed the planter must have heard of
her shyness, though, when instead of excusing himself, he persisted by trying
another tack.
"Come to think of it, I have an even better idea,
Miss Cary. Perhaps my family and I might take it upon ourselves to visit
Briarwood. Such an arrangement would spare you from any unnecessary traveling.
The summer is a rather tedious time for us planters since the tobo is ripening
in the fields, which gives us some respite for amusement. Why, we could make a
grand welcome ball of it, say, on Saturday which is almost a full week away,
and invite some of your other neighbors, who I'm sure are eager to meet you. I
would think you'd be well-rested by then—"
"I have it upon excellent knowledge that Miss Cary
is not one for social gatherings," Adam interjected again, his tone even
more rude. "She prefers more peaceful pastimes."
"Nonsense," Robert objected with a
good-natured chortle, clearly undaunted or perhaps just accustomed to dealing
with Adam's surly manners. "What young lady doesn't like such amusements?
Why, my pretty Celeste was a shy one until her fourteenth birthday, then when
she saw what fun all the other girls were having, she came around. I believe
the best cure for such a malady is to expose oneself to frivolity on a regular
basis. I'm sure Miss Cary will find there is no harm in meeting her
neighbors."
"Sorry, Grymes, but it won't be possible. Now if
you'll excuse us, Elias is waiting with the carriage to take us back to
Briarwood. I'm sure Miss Cary is eager to see her home."
Susanna felt Adam's insistent tug on her arm as he
attempted to steer her away, but she chose to ignore it and remained right
where she stood. How dare both of these men talk over her head as if she wasn't
there, as if she didn't have a tongue with which to speak! What in bloody hell
was going on here? She was so angry that this time it was difficult to keep her
voice mild and steady.
"I think a house party at Briarwood on Saturday
would be delightful," she said, glancing from Adam to Robert Grymes and
then demurely at the ground. "Papa would have wanted me to meet my
neighbors."
When she received no ready reply, Susanna peeked
through her lashes to find the planter beaming from ear to ear and Adam
glowering, his jaw taut. She knew he couldn't argue with such a statement. Of
course she would want to meet her neighbors, whether she was shy or not.
She was eager to fulfill her promise to Camille by
launching herself into the Tidewater's social whirl so she might find the right
husband, but she would have to move slowly if she was to maintain her
deception. A reputedly timid young woman would not become a popular belle
overnight, yet a welcome ball would be a good way to start and it could lead to
other outings. She had always dreamed of attending such an event, but as a
lady's maid, it had been out of the question. Now she would have her chance.
Before long
Similar Books
