waiting room. A clerk hurried over to wait on them and confirmed that Mr. Wovington was in. He ascertained that the solicitor would be able to spare them a few minutes, and soon James strode out of his office with a smile of welcome upon his face.
“Victoria, I did not know that you were visiting Salisbury. How fetching you look in that dress. How is David?”
“Very well, James,” she responded, taking his proffered hand and smiling back at him. “Allow me to introduce you to a friend of mine, Miss Margaret House. We are staying in town with Mother Ladbrook for a few days, and have just come from the gallery in High Street.”
James turned to Miss House and bowed. “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss House.”
“I am very happy to know you, Mr. Wovington,” she responded with a curtsy.
James ushered them into his office and seated them in comfortable chairs next to his desk. Miss House said, “I believe that you are acquainted with one of my brothers? Ralph House from Mowbray Manor.”
“Certainly. I have passed many enjoyable evenings in your brother’s company. He is fearless at cards.”
“Among other pursuits,” Miss House said with a smile.
James grinned, but did not comment. Instead, he inquired, “What plans do you have for your visit, ladies?”
Victoria said, “Mother Ladbrook did mention that there would be a ball at the Assembly Room tomorrow evening, and I have promised Miss House that we will attend. Perhaps I can persuade my brother-in-law to come with us? Otherwise, I fear that we will be two women without an escort.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ladbrook has kindly agreed to go for my sake. Do you like to dance, Mr. Wovington?”
“Oh, James is the best dancer I know, Miss House. He is always up on the latest steps. I am sure that he suffers from a lack of accomplished partners, although he is too well-mannered to say so. I have yet to see him dance with his equal,” Victoria said.
“I am afraid that Victoria is too enthusiastic in her praise, Miss House,” James responded, turning a pointed gaze upon Victoria. She smiled innocently back at him.
“I dare say that my enthusiasm outweighs my skill, but I would dearly love to dance with you, Mr. Wovington. My own brothers are much too lazy to keep up with the latest steps, and one seldom meets a truly accomplished partner outside of London. One improves one’s own skill by dancing with one’s better, I always say. Are you going to the ball tomorrow evening? I do hope so.” She smiled at him encouragingly.
“Yes, James, can you come? Not only would it afford you the pleasure of dancing with Miss House, but we could discuss the purchase of some pasture adjacent to our estate. David will be writing to you about it, but I thought to acquaint you of his intent while I am here. You could combine business with pleasure.”
James looked from Victoria to Miss House and back to Victoria again before acquiescing with a bow. “I can think of no greater pleasure than to escort both of you to the ball tomorrow evening. I hope that my dancing skills will not disappoint you, Miss House, and I would be happy to assist you and David with your latest enterprise, Victoria.”
“Wonderful, James. We shall come for you in Mother Ladbrook’s carriage at eight o’clock. But let us take no more of your valuable time. I am sure that you are very busy.”
James rose and escorted the women to the lobby door. Returning to his office, he sat down with a sigh. The problem was that he lived too close to her. The only escape would be to move away, which would suit neither him nor his father. Perhaps he should convert to Catholicism and become a priest? He envisioned himself in a cassock and shuddered. Helping himself to a generous draught from his flask, he replaced it in the desk drawer and returned to his paperwork.
Chapter Eleven ‒ A Good Beginning
The two
“Victoria, I did not know that you were visiting Salisbury. How fetching you look in that dress. How is David?”
“Very well, James,” she responded, taking his proffered hand and smiling back at him. “Allow me to introduce you to a friend of mine, Miss Margaret House. We are staying in town with Mother Ladbrook for a few days, and have just come from the gallery in High Street.”
James turned to Miss House and bowed. “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss House.”
“I am very happy to know you, Mr. Wovington,” she responded with a curtsy.
James ushered them into his office and seated them in comfortable chairs next to his desk. Miss House said, “I believe that you are acquainted with one of my brothers? Ralph House from Mowbray Manor.”
“Certainly. I have passed many enjoyable evenings in your brother’s company. He is fearless at cards.”
“Among other pursuits,” Miss House said with a smile.
James grinned, but did not comment. Instead, he inquired, “What plans do you have for your visit, ladies?”
Victoria said, “Mother Ladbrook did mention that there would be a ball at the Assembly Room tomorrow evening, and I have promised Miss House that we will attend. Perhaps I can persuade my brother-in-law to come with us? Otherwise, I fear that we will be two women without an escort.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ladbrook has kindly agreed to go for my sake. Do you like to dance, Mr. Wovington?”
“Oh, James is the best dancer I know, Miss House. He is always up on the latest steps. I am sure that he suffers from a lack of accomplished partners, although he is too well-mannered to say so. I have yet to see him dance with his equal,” Victoria said.
“I am afraid that Victoria is too enthusiastic in her praise, Miss House,” James responded, turning a pointed gaze upon Victoria. She smiled innocently back at him.
“I dare say that my enthusiasm outweighs my skill, but I would dearly love to dance with you, Mr. Wovington. My own brothers are much too lazy to keep up with the latest steps, and one seldom meets a truly accomplished partner outside of London. One improves one’s own skill by dancing with one’s better, I always say. Are you going to the ball tomorrow evening? I do hope so.” She smiled at him encouragingly.
“Yes, James, can you come? Not only would it afford you the pleasure of dancing with Miss House, but we could discuss the purchase of some pasture adjacent to our estate. David will be writing to you about it, but I thought to acquaint you of his intent while I am here. You could combine business with pleasure.”
James looked from Victoria to Miss House and back to Victoria again before acquiescing with a bow. “I can think of no greater pleasure than to escort both of you to the ball tomorrow evening. I hope that my dancing skills will not disappoint you, Miss House, and I would be happy to assist you and David with your latest enterprise, Victoria.”
“Wonderful, James. We shall come for you in Mother Ladbrook’s carriage at eight o’clock. But let us take no more of your valuable time. I am sure that you are very busy.”
James rose and escorted the women to the lobby door. Returning to his office, he sat down with a sigh. The problem was that he lived too close to her. The only escape would be to move away, which would suit neither him nor his father. Perhaps he should convert to Catholicism and become a priest? He envisioned himself in a cassock and shuddered. Helping himself to a generous draught from his flask, he replaced it in the desk drawer and returned to his paperwork.
Chapter Eleven ‒ A Good Beginning
The two
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