had just been dancing with the Marquis of Chestleton before she fainted. My girl, was he improper or tiresome in any way?”
“No, uncle, he was not improper. Though he was certainly tiresome: a most exasperating, rude man. I do not know why he possesses such popularity in society. I do not know why my brother considered him a friend,” railed Araminta, feeling that the dark nobleman was entirely to blame for the embarrassment of the night. Realising that she could not fully explain the situation to her aunt, uncle or cousin, she softened her voice, though her eyes still sparkled with ire. “But odious though he is, he is not to blame. I fear that Sir Timothy was correct. Perhaps I simply had too much excitement for one night.”
“Then it is a good thing you got the excitement over with tonight, Minta, for I am sure Sir Timothy will make you an offer soon, and it would not do at all to faint when he does,” laughed Susan, squeezing Araminta’s hand good-naturedly.
***
The next morning found Araminta in Regent’s Park. She had woken up a little past sunrise and had been unable to return to sleep. At Kitty’s suggestion she decided to take an early walk in the park. Susan and the rest of the family had yet to awaken, and so Kitty was to accompany her charge on her stroll.
Araminta’s mood had inclined her towards dark colours, but Kitty would not hear of it, and had persuaded her into a beautiful walking gown of pale lemon, with gauze over satin and a pale blue riband under the bosom. She wore a straw poke bonnet, covered in silk that perfectly matched the dress. The bonnet was finished with pale yellow ribbons and she carried a white parasol.
When Araminta was dressed, Kitty admired her handiwork proudly, fussing over the girl like a mother hen. The former nurse had lost her own husband early and she had never remarried or had children, and so she thought of Minta as her own daughter.
The park was almost empty so early in the morning, and the weather was pleasantly clear as they took a turn down one of the park’s many walks, enjoying the early morning birdsong and the greenery. Watching the rosiness return to the young lady’s cheeks, Kitty felt certain that the walk would do both her mood and her constitution a lot of good. Kitty would not have the girl grow wan and sickly under her charge.
Watching Araminta stare off into the distance as she walked, Kitty thought she recognised that look. There had to be a young man involved, to throw a lady into that much turmoil. Not that Araminta had mentioned any such thing, of course — Kitty knew that her mistress could clam up completely when the mood struck her, and there had been no getting a single shred of information out of the girl. Still, the older woman was confident about her guess, though she was surprised, for Sir Timothy, who had shown such pronounced interest in the young Miss Barrington, did not seem at all the type to create turmoil.
The walk continued very uneventfully, and they met few acquaintances on their way. Though Araminta had stopped to exchange polite greetings and pleasantries with the people she knew, she did not linger long over the conversation. They had been just about to go back, when a polished black phaeton drew up beside them. The horses pulling the vehicle were a handsome, dappled pair. Kitty looked up in surprise at the driver, who lifted his hat in greeting to the ladies.
“Good morning, Miss Barrington, madam. You’re up early, I see. I must say I am surprised. And how lovely you look, Miss Barrington. You remembered your promise to ride with me in the park today, perhaps?” His voice was like velvet, with a promise of sin, Kitty noticed, and his striking dark looks matched it perfectly. She took in his slender build, strong shoulders accentuated by the cut of his dark blue coat, his thin expressive mouth, high cheekbones and dangerous grey eyes below dark, curling hair — and instantly decided that he was exactly the
“No, uncle, he was not improper. Though he was certainly tiresome: a most exasperating, rude man. I do not know why he possesses such popularity in society. I do not know why my brother considered him a friend,” railed Araminta, feeling that the dark nobleman was entirely to blame for the embarrassment of the night. Realising that she could not fully explain the situation to her aunt, uncle or cousin, she softened her voice, though her eyes still sparkled with ire. “But odious though he is, he is not to blame. I fear that Sir Timothy was correct. Perhaps I simply had too much excitement for one night.”
“Then it is a good thing you got the excitement over with tonight, Minta, for I am sure Sir Timothy will make you an offer soon, and it would not do at all to faint when he does,” laughed Susan, squeezing Araminta’s hand good-naturedly.
***
The next morning found Araminta in Regent’s Park. She had woken up a little past sunrise and had been unable to return to sleep. At Kitty’s suggestion she decided to take an early walk in the park. Susan and the rest of the family had yet to awaken, and so Kitty was to accompany her charge on her stroll.
Araminta’s mood had inclined her towards dark colours, but Kitty would not hear of it, and had persuaded her into a beautiful walking gown of pale lemon, with gauze over satin and a pale blue riband under the bosom. She wore a straw poke bonnet, covered in silk that perfectly matched the dress. The bonnet was finished with pale yellow ribbons and she carried a white parasol.
When Araminta was dressed, Kitty admired her handiwork proudly, fussing over the girl like a mother hen. The former nurse had lost her own husband early and she had never remarried or had children, and so she thought of Minta as her own daughter.
The park was almost empty so early in the morning, and the weather was pleasantly clear as they took a turn down one of the park’s many walks, enjoying the early morning birdsong and the greenery. Watching the rosiness return to the young lady’s cheeks, Kitty felt certain that the walk would do both her mood and her constitution a lot of good. Kitty would not have the girl grow wan and sickly under her charge.
Watching Araminta stare off into the distance as she walked, Kitty thought she recognised that look. There had to be a young man involved, to throw a lady into that much turmoil. Not that Araminta had mentioned any such thing, of course — Kitty knew that her mistress could clam up completely when the mood struck her, and there had been no getting a single shred of information out of the girl. Still, the older woman was confident about her guess, though she was surprised, for Sir Timothy, who had shown such pronounced interest in the young Miss Barrington, did not seem at all the type to create turmoil.
The walk continued very uneventfully, and they met few acquaintances on their way. Though Araminta had stopped to exchange polite greetings and pleasantries with the people she knew, she did not linger long over the conversation. They had been just about to go back, when a polished black phaeton drew up beside them. The horses pulling the vehicle were a handsome, dappled pair. Kitty looked up in surprise at the driver, who lifted his hat in greeting to the ladies.
“Good morning, Miss Barrington, madam. You’re up early, I see. I must say I am surprised. And how lovely you look, Miss Barrington. You remembered your promise to ride with me in the park today, perhaps?” His voice was like velvet, with a promise of sin, Kitty noticed, and his striking dark looks matched it perfectly. She took in his slender build, strong shoulders accentuated by the cut of his dark blue coat, his thin expressive mouth, high cheekbones and dangerous grey eyes below dark, curling hair — and instantly decided that he was exactly the
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