you, Edmund.” She glanced at the earl, but his expression had not changed.
Mr. Caston, on the other hand, showed signs of a rising temper. Of medium height with a figure solidly muscled by years in the saddle, he was, at twenty-six, generally a placid man. At the moment, however, his fine light brown hair was disordered where he had shoved a frustrated hand through it, his jaw was rigid, his toffee-brown eyes flashed, and his voice was tight.
“Don’t be fatuous, Catheryn. You have had nearly a fortnight in town, though you’ve no business to be here at all, and it’s time to come home. No doubt, you are apprehensive of reprimand, and I cannot deny that my parents and I are displeased. However, that will pass, and now that you have seen the metropolis, perhaps you will be content in future to remain at home.” He permitted himself a smile. “We are not buried there, after all. We often avail ourselves of the cultural advantages permitted by the proximity of Bath.”
Dambroke blinked. Catheryn was used to Edmund’s manner of speech and had been on the verge of losing her temper, but the earl’s rather obvious reaction amused her and helped restore her self-control. She spoke evenly. “Edmund, Lady Dambroke has generously asked me to stay, and I’ve no immediate intention of leaving. I know you think me ungrateful, even wicked, but—”
“Nonsense,” he interrupted. “You are not wicked, my dear, merely thoughtless and a bit flighty. Living with your grandfather so long with no proper female guidance … but we have been over this ground before, have we not? Besides, we impose upon his lordship. You will return post with me tomorrow, and I’ll tolerate no further argument on the subject. If we depart before noon, we shall be only the one night on the road. I shall call for you at eleven.” Clearly believing the interview ended, he began to rise from his chair. Catheryn opened her mouth in angry protest but shut it again when help came from an unexpected quarter.
“I think not, Mr. Caston.” Dambroke’s voice held a note of surprise. “It would be most improper, you know.”
Edmund was on his feet and turned to the earl a bit stiffly. “There is nothing improper about it, my lord. Miss Westering and I are by way of being betrothed, and … and we shall have Ditchling as well, of course,” he added hastily as Catheryn, outraged, leaped to her feet.
“How dare you, Edmund!” she cried. “We are not by way or in any way betrothed, and we never shall be! You have no right to make such a statement, to tell such, such—”
“Sit down, Catheryn.” The earl’s voice cut easily into her diatribe, though he did not raise it. Glaring at him and still muttering under her breath, she obeyed. “If you have quite composed yourself, Miss Westering,” he went on blandly, “we shall continue this discussion in a civilized manner.” She cast him a speaking glance but subsided.
“Thank you, my lord.” Caston allowed himself a brief, man-to-man smile and sank back to his own chair. “As you see, she is just as I described her—quick-tempered and impulsive. Her very flight to London is sufficient evidence of that, of course. Surely, you must concur that her proper place is in Somerset under my parents’ protection.”
“Tommyrot!” cried Catheryn before the earl could speak. “You make me sound mentally deficient. Your parents’ protection indeed! Aunt Agatha would cheerfully be rid of me if you had not convinced her that you want me for your wife. I never understood why before, but of course Uncle Daniel’s fortune is the reason. Between you, you and Uncle Horace conspired to keep it in the family. I should never even have known of it, had you not suffered a slip of the tongue!”
He was instantly indignant. “That’s not true, Catheryn, and you know it! I’ve even had recent second thoughts regarding our marriage, but I decided to overlook this escapade, not because of any interest in your
Mr. Caston, on the other hand, showed signs of a rising temper. Of medium height with a figure solidly muscled by years in the saddle, he was, at twenty-six, generally a placid man. At the moment, however, his fine light brown hair was disordered where he had shoved a frustrated hand through it, his jaw was rigid, his toffee-brown eyes flashed, and his voice was tight.
“Don’t be fatuous, Catheryn. You have had nearly a fortnight in town, though you’ve no business to be here at all, and it’s time to come home. No doubt, you are apprehensive of reprimand, and I cannot deny that my parents and I are displeased. However, that will pass, and now that you have seen the metropolis, perhaps you will be content in future to remain at home.” He permitted himself a smile. “We are not buried there, after all. We often avail ourselves of the cultural advantages permitted by the proximity of Bath.”
Dambroke blinked. Catheryn was used to Edmund’s manner of speech and had been on the verge of losing her temper, but the earl’s rather obvious reaction amused her and helped restore her self-control. She spoke evenly. “Edmund, Lady Dambroke has generously asked me to stay, and I’ve no immediate intention of leaving. I know you think me ungrateful, even wicked, but—”
“Nonsense,” he interrupted. “You are not wicked, my dear, merely thoughtless and a bit flighty. Living with your grandfather so long with no proper female guidance … but we have been over this ground before, have we not? Besides, we impose upon his lordship. You will return post with me tomorrow, and I’ll tolerate no further argument on the subject. If we depart before noon, we shall be only the one night on the road. I shall call for you at eleven.” Clearly believing the interview ended, he began to rise from his chair. Catheryn opened her mouth in angry protest but shut it again when help came from an unexpected quarter.
“I think not, Mr. Caston.” Dambroke’s voice held a note of surprise. “It would be most improper, you know.”
Edmund was on his feet and turned to the earl a bit stiffly. “There is nothing improper about it, my lord. Miss Westering and I are by way of being betrothed, and … and we shall have Ditchling as well, of course,” he added hastily as Catheryn, outraged, leaped to her feet.
“How dare you, Edmund!” she cried. “We are not by way or in any way betrothed, and we never shall be! You have no right to make such a statement, to tell such, such—”
“Sit down, Catheryn.” The earl’s voice cut easily into her diatribe, though he did not raise it. Glaring at him and still muttering under her breath, she obeyed. “If you have quite composed yourself, Miss Westering,” he went on blandly, “we shall continue this discussion in a civilized manner.” She cast him a speaking glance but subsided.
“Thank you, my lord.” Caston allowed himself a brief, man-to-man smile and sank back to his own chair. “As you see, she is just as I described her—quick-tempered and impulsive. Her very flight to London is sufficient evidence of that, of course. Surely, you must concur that her proper place is in Somerset under my parents’ protection.”
“Tommyrot!” cried Catheryn before the earl could speak. “You make me sound mentally deficient. Your parents’ protection indeed! Aunt Agatha would cheerfully be rid of me if you had not convinced her that you want me for your wife. I never understood why before, but of course Uncle Daniel’s fortune is the reason. Between you, you and Uncle Horace conspired to keep it in the family. I should never even have known of it, had you not suffered a slip of the tongue!”
He was instantly indignant. “That’s not true, Catheryn, and you know it! I’ve even had recent second thoughts regarding our marriage, but I decided to overlook this escapade, not because of any interest in your
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