has not been in the church before today."
Mr. Langdon, who had lingered in the cool, dark church after everyone else had exited, joined the small group as Lord Berne was answering.
"Miss Desmond awakened in me yesterday a lively concern for the state of my immortal soul," said the viscount, bestowing an adoring glance upon that fair evangelist. "Accordingly, I came to church, and as I gazed heavenward, hoping my prayers for forgiveness would be heard, I noticed the stains on the ceiling. As I looked downward to confirm my suspicions, my eyes lit upon Miss Desmond's bonnet. If it rained — as it has almost incessantly — and the roof leaked, her bonnet would be ruined. The thought was insupportable."
Miss Desmond glanced away to hide the smile she could not suppress… and met Mr. Langdon's sober grey scrutiny. Her smile vanished, though her colour increased.
"You would have done better, My Lord," said Lady Potterby as severely as she could, considering the hopes blossoming within her breast, "to have reflected upon your soul — not young ladies' bonnets."
"One should never underestimate the power of a bonnet," his lordship returned. "It is the ladies who teach us to be good — but first they must obtain our attention."
"It is certainly not good of you to insult their intelligence," Mr. Langdon put in. "You speak as though Miss Desmond would stand there witlessly, allowing the roof to leak upon her."
The image conjured up was evidently more than Miss Desmond's composure could withstand, because she giggled.
Lord Berne was good-natured enough to chuckle and Lady Potterby permitted herself to smile. "Indeed, I hope my grand-niece has better sense," said she.
"My Lady, your grand-niece is the most levelheaded young lady I have ever met," said Lord Berne. "A great many others would do well to emulate her — though that would be difficult," he added solemnly. "They have the advantages neither of your kinship nor your wise guidance."
"Yet you believed I had so little sense I would stand under a dripping roof," said Delilah. "You contradict yourself, My Lord."
"His lordship is confused," said Jack. "Clearly, the experience of hearing a sermon was too great a shock to his senses. It has addled his wits."
"Mr. Blenkly was addled enough himself," Lady Potterby calmly intervened before Lord Berne could retort upon his friend. "I could not make heads or tales of his homily. Yet I still retain sufficient perception to note that the sky darkens. Dear me, and the day had begun so bright. We had better go home, Delilah."
"I do not know whether this is very good or very bad," said Lady Potterby when they were safely within the carriage. "To attend services here instead of at home… to travel at least twenty-five miles in each direction… and after the same journey yesterday… and to behave so respectfully towards you. That is most puzzling."
"I may take it then, that unlike his friend, Mr. Langdon regularly attends services?" Delilah asked.
"Dear me, no. Only a marriage or a baptism might lure him here. Still, there is no predicting what that young man will do. He may have come to admire the architecture — or a young lady," she added slyly.
The grand-niece frowned.
"You needn't look so grim," said Lady Potterby. "I admit he's not dashing, but he's perfectly eligible. He has twenty thousand a year of his own. When he comes into the title the figure will increase considerably. You could do worse."
"I will, of course, do as you tell me, Aunt, but I hope you will not let Papa's ill-considered remarks influence you. I'm sure the only reason Mr. Lang-don tolerates me is out of respect for your longstanding friendship with his uncle. Whenever Mr. Langdon looks at me he makes me feel there's dirt on my nose — or that I've got my bonnet on backwards."
"That is merely his way," Lady Potterby said dismissively. "At least you have nothing to fear from him. On the other hand, Lord Berne is a sorry rascal. Still, a new roof
Mr. Langdon, who had lingered in the cool, dark church after everyone else had exited, joined the small group as Lord Berne was answering.
"Miss Desmond awakened in me yesterday a lively concern for the state of my immortal soul," said the viscount, bestowing an adoring glance upon that fair evangelist. "Accordingly, I came to church, and as I gazed heavenward, hoping my prayers for forgiveness would be heard, I noticed the stains on the ceiling. As I looked downward to confirm my suspicions, my eyes lit upon Miss Desmond's bonnet. If it rained — as it has almost incessantly — and the roof leaked, her bonnet would be ruined. The thought was insupportable."
Miss Desmond glanced away to hide the smile she could not suppress… and met Mr. Langdon's sober grey scrutiny. Her smile vanished, though her colour increased.
"You would have done better, My Lord," said Lady Potterby as severely as she could, considering the hopes blossoming within her breast, "to have reflected upon your soul — not young ladies' bonnets."
"One should never underestimate the power of a bonnet," his lordship returned. "It is the ladies who teach us to be good — but first they must obtain our attention."
"It is certainly not good of you to insult their intelligence," Mr. Langdon put in. "You speak as though Miss Desmond would stand there witlessly, allowing the roof to leak upon her."
The image conjured up was evidently more than Miss Desmond's composure could withstand, because she giggled.
Lord Berne was good-natured enough to chuckle and Lady Potterby permitted herself to smile. "Indeed, I hope my grand-niece has better sense," said she.
"My Lady, your grand-niece is the most levelheaded young lady I have ever met," said Lord Berne. "A great many others would do well to emulate her — though that would be difficult," he added solemnly. "They have the advantages neither of your kinship nor your wise guidance."
"Yet you believed I had so little sense I would stand under a dripping roof," said Delilah. "You contradict yourself, My Lord."
"His lordship is confused," said Jack. "Clearly, the experience of hearing a sermon was too great a shock to his senses. It has addled his wits."
"Mr. Blenkly was addled enough himself," Lady Potterby calmly intervened before Lord Berne could retort upon his friend. "I could not make heads or tales of his homily. Yet I still retain sufficient perception to note that the sky darkens. Dear me, and the day had begun so bright. We had better go home, Delilah."
"I do not know whether this is very good or very bad," said Lady Potterby when they were safely within the carriage. "To attend services here instead of at home… to travel at least twenty-five miles in each direction… and after the same journey yesterday… and to behave so respectfully towards you. That is most puzzling."
"I may take it then, that unlike his friend, Mr. Langdon regularly attends services?" Delilah asked.
"Dear me, no. Only a marriage or a baptism might lure him here. Still, there is no predicting what that young man will do. He may have come to admire the architecture — or a young lady," she added slyly.
The grand-niece frowned.
"You needn't look so grim," said Lady Potterby. "I admit he's not dashing, but he's perfectly eligible. He has twenty thousand a year of his own. When he comes into the title the figure will increase considerably. You could do worse."
"I will, of course, do as you tell me, Aunt, but I hope you will not let Papa's ill-considered remarks influence you. I'm sure the only reason Mr. Lang-don tolerates me is out of respect for your longstanding friendship with his uncle. Whenever Mr. Langdon looks at me he makes me feel there's dirt on my nose — or that I've got my bonnet on backwards."
"That is merely his way," Lady Potterby said dismissively. "At least you have nothing to fear from him. On the other hand, Lord Berne is a sorry rascal. Still, a new roof
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