actually was. Or they could go to New York and get lost among the immigrants, or journey west and make their fortune panhandling for gold.
It was these very thoughts that occupied her as she left the factory at the end of the day, and caused her to quite literally run into James Ashdown.
“I'm so sorry,” she said before she looked up, but as her eyes met his, her expression turned cold. “Excuse me.” She made to walk around him but he blocked her path.
“No, no, it was my fault, I'm sure.”
“I believe my feeble brain can determine if I was in the wrong or not,” she snapped. “You do neither of us any favours by shouldering the blame for an act you were not responsible for. Good day, Mister Ashdown.” She intentionally called him Mr and not Lord because as far as she was concerned, he didn't deserve a title.
“Please. I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day, Lady Beaumont, and I'd like to apologise.”
“If you still hold the same views, then I want no apology, and your offering one is rather hypocritical.”
“Please, Miss Beaumont. My sister speaks very highly of you and I would very much like to get to know you.”
“You've seen her?” Hope asked.
“No, she is still unwell but she will be fine again tomorrow, or so the doctor says. She has been sending me notes through the staff, so we are keeping in touch.”
Actually, after reading the note he had written about meeting Hope, both in the town square and at the picnic, Honoria had written back and insisted that he give Hope a second chance. His sister was rarely so forceful in her manner, so he decided to obey her request and now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
“Then send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Good day.” Hope tried to walk around him a third time and he didn't stop her.
“What a vile, wretched little man,” she mumbled under her breath as she walked away.
James simply watched her walk away, wondering how his dear sister could be so wrong about Hope's character. Proof indeed, as if any more were needed, that the mind of a woman lacked the insight of a man's brain.
Still, despite all his misgivings, there was something about Hope Beaumont that captivated him.
Chapter Seven
James' and Honoria's father was a reckless man, some might even say feckless. He enjoyed gambling, womanising and drinking, and had set a terrible example for his children.
Such a parent often affect their children in one of two ways; they pick up their parent's bad habits, repeating their behaviour, or they rebel against such actions, leading very ordered and disciplined lives, in an attempt to counteract the chaos.
James and Honoria had fallen firmly into the latter category, which is why, although James was six years older than his sister, they had always been close. When James went away to school, they wrote to each other almost every day, even though his classmates teased him for it. They were a team and they drew strength from the other, even when they hadn't seen each other for months.
James had been much more of a parent to Honoria than anyone else in her life, and it was his moral code which Honoria had adopted as her own, believing that her duty to God came first and her duty to her family a close second.
When Honoria had been told to marry Malcolm, she had immediately sought James' advice. He answered her letter, saying that although their father was reckless and had wasted the family's money, as his daughter she had a duty to help him and marry Malcolm, so that the family might be saved from disgrace.
In the first few months of marriage, she had written to James often, telling him that she was finding married life a struggle and that Malcolm was an impossible man to reason with. James had responded that she had promised before God to love, honour and obey Malcolm and as such, must do everything within her power to be a good wife to him. He advised that she pray for guidance.
Honoria grew more and more unhappy, for
It was these very thoughts that occupied her as she left the factory at the end of the day, and caused her to quite literally run into James Ashdown.
“I'm so sorry,” she said before she looked up, but as her eyes met his, her expression turned cold. “Excuse me.” She made to walk around him but he blocked her path.
“No, no, it was my fault, I'm sure.”
“I believe my feeble brain can determine if I was in the wrong or not,” she snapped. “You do neither of us any favours by shouldering the blame for an act you were not responsible for. Good day, Mister Ashdown.” She intentionally called him Mr and not Lord because as far as she was concerned, he didn't deserve a title.
“Please. I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day, Lady Beaumont, and I'd like to apologise.”
“If you still hold the same views, then I want no apology, and your offering one is rather hypocritical.”
“Please, Miss Beaumont. My sister speaks very highly of you and I would very much like to get to know you.”
“You've seen her?” Hope asked.
“No, she is still unwell but she will be fine again tomorrow, or so the doctor says. She has been sending me notes through the staff, so we are keeping in touch.”
Actually, after reading the note he had written about meeting Hope, both in the town square and at the picnic, Honoria had written back and insisted that he give Hope a second chance. His sister was rarely so forceful in her manner, so he decided to obey her request and now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
“Then send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Good day.” Hope tried to walk around him a third time and he didn't stop her.
“What a vile, wretched little man,” she mumbled under her breath as she walked away.
James simply watched her walk away, wondering how his dear sister could be so wrong about Hope's character. Proof indeed, as if any more were needed, that the mind of a woman lacked the insight of a man's brain.
Still, despite all his misgivings, there was something about Hope Beaumont that captivated him.
Chapter Seven
James' and Honoria's father was a reckless man, some might even say feckless. He enjoyed gambling, womanising and drinking, and had set a terrible example for his children.
Such a parent often affect their children in one of two ways; they pick up their parent's bad habits, repeating their behaviour, or they rebel against such actions, leading very ordered and disciplined lives, in an attempt to counteract the chaos.
James and Honoria had fallen firmly into the latter category, which is why, although James was six years older than his sister, they had always been close. When James went away to school, they wrote to each other almost every day, even though his classmates teased him for it. They were a team and they drew strength from the other, even when they hadn't seen each other for months.
James had been much more of a parent to Honoria than anyone else in her life, and it was his moral code which Honoria had adopted as her own, believing that her duty to God came first and her duty to her family a close second.
When Honoria had been told to marry Malcolm, she had immediately sought James' advice. He answered her letter, saying that although their father was reckless and had wasted the family's money, as his daughter she had a duty to help him and marry Malcolm, so that the family might be saved from disgrace.
In the first few months of marriage, she had written to James often, telling him that she was finding married life a struggle and that Malcolm was an impossible man to reason with. James had responded that she had promised before God to love, honour and obey Malcolm and as such, must do everything within her power to be a good wife to him. He advised that she pray for guidance.
Honoria grew more and more unhappy, for
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