face serious.
‘Marianne, I apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it not?’
‘Yes, it is.’ She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as fainthearted as I had supposed, exactly the opposite, in fact.’
* * * *
They returned rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and Marianne saw him speaking urgently to her, his brown hair almost touching her black.
‘Marianne, I am going in to change, for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I will send you something else. I believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere. I never liked it overmuch.’
‘It sounds ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily stepped forward and embraced her.
‘I think of you as a sister already, so it is only right that we share.’
* * * *
As she soaked away the dust and sweat of the long run through the woods in her second bath of the day, Marianne went over the events again. Something was amiss; if she thought hard she was sure she would discover what this was.
Jane had tutted sadly about the torn gown but promised to wash, press and repair it by the following morning. She had not asked how the damage had occurred and Marianne had not volunteered the information. Time enough when she had it straight in her own mind.
She ran through the sequence of events for a third time. She gasped and sat up, sending a cascade of dirty water flooding onto the floor. Charles had not been scared of what the men would do—but what they might say. He had made them race off, not because they were in any danger but because he and Edward were desperate to avoid being recognized or greeted by name.
She felt sick. Her suspicions were correct. Charles and Edward, who already had a place in her affections, were involved with free-traders. She had been placed in the invidious position of having to decide if she would denounce them or turn a blind eye to their activities. That there was to be a third option did not then occur to her.
Chapter Six
Three horses, all eager to depart, were being held steady at the front of Frating Hall. Marianne, out in good time for her morning ride, arrived at the door and her eyes narrowed.
‘John, do not tell me, Miss Grierson and Lady Arabella are accompanying us!’
John grinned. ‘Fraid so, miss; orders came down last night to have three horses saddled.’
‘I thought I had made the position clear to Lady Arabella. I told her I had no wish to ride with her. I cannot imagine what Sir Theodore’s reaction will be.’
‘You will soon find out, miss, for I can see him coming up the drive.’
Marianne glanced behind her. There was no sign of Emily. The two girls had not been invited so she saw no reason to wait. They would depart as soon as her guardian arrived. She was congratulating herself on a lucky escape too soon, because at that moment Emily appeared at the head of the steps, her face wan.
Forgetting her annoyance, Marianne exclaimed, ‘Emily, you do not look the thing. Are you unwell?’
‘No, I am not sick. Oh, Marianne, I am so sorry, but Arabella insisted. I know you did not wish us to come with you this morning.’
Marianne’s anger evaporated and she smiled warmly. ‘I am delighted to see you. I was a cross-patch yesterday—pray forget I ever mentioned not wishing to have your company.’
* * * *
At the sound of hooves behind them they both turned. Tom and Sam appeared leading two
‘Marianne, I apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it not?’
‘Yes, it is.’ She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as fainthearted as I had supposed, exactly the opposite, in fact.’
* * * *
They returned rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and Marianne saw him speaking urgently to her, his brown hair almost touching her black.
‘Marianne, I am going in to change, for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I will send you something else. I believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere. I never liked it overmuch.’
‘It sounds ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily stepped forward and embraced her.
‘I think of you as a sister already, so it is only right that we share.’
* * * *
As she soaked away the dust and sweat of the long run through the woods in her second bath of the day, Marianne went over the events again. Something was amiss; if she thought hard she was sure she would discover what this was.
Jane had tutted sadly about the torn gown but promised to wash, press and repair it by the following morning. She had not asked how the damage had occurred and Marianne had not volunteered the information. Time enough when she had it straight in her own mind.
She ran through the sequence of events for a third time. She gasped and sat up, sending a cascade of dirty water flooding onto the floor. Charles had not been scared of what the men would do—but what they might say. He had made them race off, not because they were in any danger but because he and Edward were desperate to avoid being recognized or greeted by name.
She felt sick. Her suspicions were correct. Charles and Edward, who already had a place in her affections, were involved with free-traders. She had been placed in the invidious position of having to decide if she would denounce them or turn a blind eye to their activities. That there was to be a third option did not then occur to her.
Chapter Six
Three horses, all eager to depart, were being held steady at the front of Frating Hall. Marianne, out in good time for her morning ride, arrived at the door and her eyes narrowed.
‘John, do not tell me, Miss Grierson and Lady Arabella are accompanying us!’
John grinned. ‘Fraid so, miss; orders came down last night to have three horses saddled.’
‘I thought I had made the position clear to Lady Arabella. I told her I had no wish to ride with her. I cannot imagine what Sir Theodore’s reaction will be.’
‘You will soon find out, miss, for I can see him coming up the drive.’
Marianne glanced behind her. There was no sign of Emily. The two girls had not been invited so she saw no reason to wait. They would depart as soon as her guardian arrived. She was congratulating herself on a lucky escape too soon, because at that moment Emily appeared at the head of the steps, her face wan.
Forgetting her annoyance, Marianne exclaimed, ‘Emily, you do not look the thing. Are you unwell?’
‘No, I am not sick. Oh, Marianne, I am so sorry, but Arabella insisted. I know you did not wish us to come with you this morning.’
Marianne’s anger evaporated and she smiled warmly. ‘I am delighted to see you. I was a cross-patch yesterday—pray forget I ever mentioned not wishing to have your company.’
* * * *
At the sound of hooves behind them they both turned. Tom and Sam appeared leading two
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