The Thoroughly Compromised Bride by Catherine Reynolds

her down in the way she expected, he placed both hands on her slim waist and lifted her down, then stood for a moment looking into her eyes, his hands still on her waist.
    He released her at last and said quietly, “It has been a delightful day.”
    “Oh, yes,” she answered breathlessly, for she suddenly felt very confused and very shy.
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    After their parting that afternoon, both Elizabeth and Charles experienced some misgivings at the intensity of their feelings in that moment. However, each managed, after a period of introspection, to subdue what fears they had that there might be some danger in continuing the acquaintance. Both contrived to convince themselves that they were capable of keeping their association on the level of a friendly flirtation.
    And so, when Charles called the next day, inviting Elizabeth to ride out with him, she agreed without a qualm, and over the next two weeks, they spent increasingly more time together, taking long rides over the countryside, meeting in the Pump Room and in Sydney Gardens, or walking out to Beechen Cliff. They attended the balls in the assembly rooms, the concerts on Wednesday evenings and dined together often with their families.
    Elizabeth, having decided simply to enjoy this interlude in her quiet life, stepped forward to meet each new day joyously and heedlessly, blind to the knowing looks of all the Bath Quizzes, and deaf to their tongue-waggings. Nor did she take notice of the frequent concern that began to show in her aunt’s eyes.
    A strong sense of uneasiness and fear was developing in Emily’s breast. At first, thrown into transports of joy by the apparent affinity between her niece and Charles, she had congratulated Margaret on whatever contrivance she had used to prolong Charles’s presence in Bath. And when her friend had denied any hand in this, Emily became quite deliriously hopeful of the desired outcome of the affair, surmising that Elizabeth was the attraction which held him. So wildly optimistic was she that she had allowed them hours alone together without protest or consideration for propriety. She had even gone so far as to encourage this very improper conduct.
    But Emily could not fail for long to see the sidelong glances, or hear the whispered innuendoes of Bath Society. Neither could she forget Charles’s unfortunate reputation, nor the fact that he had never yet shown any predilection for serious or lasting romantic connections.
    At last, she could contain her dire apprehensions no longer and revealed them to her friend.
    “But, Margaret,” she wailed, “it has been more than two weeks, and while they are forever in each other’s pockets, and he is excessively attentive, I cannot but feel that his manner is more flirtatious than overwise.”
    “Nonsense, Emily!” her friend replied. “It is as plain as a pikestaff that they are head over heels in love. They are simply too foolish or too obstinate to admit to it.”
    “Do you think so, indeed?” asked Emily hopefully.
    “Of course! Stop being such a ninnyhammer, Emily!”
    However, Emily could not stop being what she was and very soon fell prey, once more, to the most miserable doubts.
    “Still, if he should be but amusing himself with a mere flirtation, it would be too unbearably dreadful! Oh, I don’t know what I should do!”
    “I daresay what they need is a small push and I expect we must give it,” Lady Margaret mused.
    “It’s all very well for you to say that, but I cannot for the life of me see what we may do!”
    The veriest touch of peevishness had crept into Emily’s voice.
    “Well, my dear, I had not meant to tell you quite yet, but as it happens, I do have a scheme that just may answer,” said the redoubtable Lady Langley.
    When she failed to continue, but sat instead in frowning contemplation, Emily urged impatiently, “Well? What is it? Don’t just sit there! Pray, tell me!”
    Her affectionate friend had no intention of disclosing her plan to