singled her out in even the largest gathering.
None of the men she appeared to be considering were good enough for her. He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t think of any man worthy of her. No matter whom she married, she’d be settling for a man who was beneath her.
His footman returned with Lady B’s answer. They’d be happy to join him and Louisa on his outing. Laurence was pleased to arrive at their home in his new barouche-landau, complete with two matching bays and a coachman.
A house, a carriage large enough for a small family, people under his employ‑ what was happening to him? Just months ago he was happily unencumbered, sharing a valet with several of the bachelors at the Albany. He didn’t regret the addition of little Louisa to his life, but he‑anyone who knew him, for that matter‑would never have believed him capable of adjusting to these changes.
Louisa looked leery about leaving Lady B’s home with Laurence, but she happily took Hannah’s hand and climbed into the carriage, leaning over the side to look down at the street. “It’s broken.”
“What’s broken?” he asked, sitting beside her, their backs to the horses.
“The carriage. The top broke off.”
He chuckled. Her father could likely only afford one carriage, if that, a very serviceable one. “The top is merely pulled down.” He tugged her bonnet so it hung down her back. “Like your bonnet,” he added.
A pout clouded her cheerful face and he feared she was going to cry.
Hannah laughed brightly and tugged at the ribbons holding her own hat in place. “How fun, to let the wind blow in your hair, don’t you think, Louisa?” She nodded sharply at her mother.
Lady B frowned. “You’ll turn brown, my dear. You’re determined to vex me, aren’t you?”
“Oh, mama, one outing without a hat won’t ruin me.”
Turning her glare on Laurence, Lady B simply responded, “We’ll discuss it later.”
An odd form of tension had simmered between mother and daughter recently. He hoped he wasn’t the cause of it. Rather than continue to cause strife, he untied Louisa’s bonnet and replaced it on her head. Due to the angle he was sitting, he had difficulty tying the ribbons beneath her chin. The resulting bow ended up slightly askew, but he knew no one would comment on it.
Louisa yanked at the ribbons, untying them. “It’s crooked. The bow goes here.” She pointed beneath her chin.
Drawing in a deep breath, Laurence forced a cheerful smile. “I need practice, and I see you will give me much of it until I get this right. Please turn toward me so I may do this properly.” He refused to glance at the two ladies opposite him, knowing they must be laughing at his situation.
With the bow tied, he sat back and took in the passing scenery, intent on keeping his mask of composure in place. He couldn’t let them see how close he was to losing his weak grasp on the life he now found himself living. If someone had pulled the carpet from beneath his feet he couldn’t have been more off balance.
“Has David mentioned the filly he’s looking to acquire? Colonel Sir Lewis Branson’s horse out of Zephyr’s granddaughter.” Somehow in recent years Hannah had become a skilled conversationalist, gracefully guiding them into safer territory.
“No, I hadn’t heard. Your father must be overjoyed at the news.”
“They haven’t mentioned it to him yet. David and Knightwick don’t wish to get his hopes up and have it come to naught.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
“Yes.”
Lady Bridgethorpe’s hands had come together in a firm grasp at the mention of the earl. She never spoke of it, but her husband’s prolonged illness must weigh heavily on her. One would never know it to see her in Society. She kept up a strong front.
“We’re planning a celebration dinner when Trey finishes his studies. We haven’t set a date yet, but it will be before Mama and I return to the country. You must plan on attending, as you
None of the men she appeared to be considering were good enough for her. He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t think of any man worthy of her. No matter whom she married, she’d be settling for a man who was beneath her.
His footman returned with Lady B’s answer. They’d be happy to join him and Louisa on his outing. Laurence was pleased to arrive at their home in his new barouche-landau, complete with two matching bays and a coachman.
A house, a carriage large enough for a small family, people under his employ‑ what was happening to him? Just months ago he was happily unencumbered, sharing a valet with several of the bachelors at the Albany. He didn’t regret the addition of little Louisa to his life, but he‑anyone who knew him, for that matter‑would never have believed him capable of adjusting to these changes.
Louisa looked leery about leaving Lady B’s home with Laurence, but she happily took Hannah’s hand and climbed into the carriage, leaning over the side to look down at the street. “It’s broken.”
“What’s broken?” he asked, sitting beside her, their backs to the horses.
“The carriage. The top broke off.”
He chuckled. Her father could likely only afford one carriage, if that, a very serviceable one. “The top is merely pulled down.” He tugged her bonnet so it hung down her back. “Like your bonnet,” he added.
A pout clouded her cheerful face and he feared she was going to cry.
Hannah laughed brightly and tugged at the ribbons holding her own hat in place. “How fun, to let the wind blow in your hair, don’t you think, Louisa?” She nodded sharply at her mother.
Lady B frowned. “You’ll turn brown, my dear. You’re determined to vex me, aren’t you?”
“Oh, mama, one outing without a hat won’t ruin me.”
Turning her glare on Laurence, Lady B simply responded, “We’ll discuss it later.”
An odd form of tension had simmered between mother and daughter recently. He hoped he wasn’t the cause of it. Rather than continue to cause strife, he untied Louisa’s bonnet and replaced it on her head. Due to the angle he was sitting, he had difficulty tying the ribbons beneath her chin. The resulting bow ended up slightly askew, but he knew no one would comment on it.
Louisa yanked at the ribbons, untying them. “It’s crooked. The bow goes here.” She pointed beneath her chin.
Drawing in a deep breath, Laurence forced a cheerful smile. “I need practice, and I see you will give me much of it until I get this right. Please turn toward me so I may do this properly.” He refused to glance at the two ladies opposite him, knowing they must be laughing at his situation.
With the bow tied, he sat back and took in the passing scenery, intent on keeping his mask of composure in place. He couldn’t let them see how close he was to losing his weak grasp on the life he now found himself living. If someone had pulled the carpet from beneath his feet he couldn’t have been more off balance.
“Has David mentioned the filly he’s looking to acquire? Colonel Sir Lewis Branson’s horse out of Zephyr’s granddaughter.” Somehow in recent years Hannah had become a skilled conversationalist, gracefully guiding them into safer territory.
“No, I hadn’t heard. Your father must be overjoyed at the news.”
“They haven’t mentioned it to him yet. David and Knightwick don’t wish to get his hopes up and have it come to naught.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
“Yes.”
Lady Bridgethorpe’s hands had come together in a firm grasp at the mention of the earl. She never spoke of it, but her husband’s prolonged illness must weigh heavily on her. One would never know it to see her in Society. She kept up a strong front.
“We’re planning a celebration dinner when Trey finishes his studies. We haven’t set a date yet, but it will be before Mama and I return to the country. You must plan on attending, as you
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