ignore them.’
* * *
Caroline said goodbye to Sir Frederick at the door of her aunt’s house. She asked him if he would care to come in for some refreshment, but he refused, saying that he had another appointment. She smiled at him, giving him her hand, which he kissed gallantly before returning to his curricle.
Caroline went into the house. She was still feeling pleased with herself for she had made him give her her own way, and, though she knew the escapade might cause her problems, she was excited at the idea. It was a long time since she had done anything so rebellious and at times had been feeling rather constricted at having to behave in the ladylike manner that was expected of her. Why did ladies always have to be so particular in their behaviour when gentlemen could do much as they pleased? There was so much she would have liked to do that was forbidden her. It was not fair and she was tired of being scolded by her aunt for things that were completely trivial.
‘Caroline,’ her mother’s voice called to her as she walked up the stairs. ‘Come here, my love. We have a visitor.’
Mrs Holbrook was standing in the doorway of the parlour she used most while a guest in her sister’s house. It suited her because it was small and prettily furnished, and so seldom used for entertaining by her sister that she might think it her own. She looked very pleased with herself, almost excited about something.
‘What is it, Mama?’ Caroline’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Is it Nicolas?’
‘No, it is your brother Tom,’ Mrs Holbrook said, seizing her daughter by the hands and drawing her into the room. ‘He is in his chamber changing, for he has just this minute arrived—and with good news. Bollingbrook has settled the most pressing of his debts. There—what do you think of that?’
‘I think it wonderful news,’ Caroline said, surprised and pleased. ‘I am so glad for him, Mama. Do you know why Grandfather decided to do something for him?’
‘I have no idea,’ Marianne said with a frown. ‘After the last time we visited him I thought he would not wish to see any of us again—but Tom says that he has asked particularly for you, Caroline. It would be wonderful if he were to do something for both you and Nicolas.’
‘Oh, Mama, why should he?’ Caroline said. ‘It is quite enough that he has helped Tom to recover from his debts. Besides, Nicolas has found a life for himself and we are well enough as we are, are we not?’
‘If your grandfather means to do something, you should visit him,’ her mother said, hardly listening to her daughter’s disclaimer. ‘I know you are engaged for the next three weeks or so, but after that you might go down for a few days. I would stay here, of course, and you could always return. Your brother intends to visit Bollingbrook again in three weeks. He could take you down, and perhaps your grandfather would send you back in his own carriage. Yes, that would be quite acceptable, Caroline.’
‘I have no objection to visiting Grandfather,’ Caroline said. It would be pleasant to spend a few days with the Marquis. ‘But you must not expect anything more, Mama. I dare say Grandfather thought it his duty to help Tom, but I do not need anything. I am quite content as I am.’
‘Do not be so foolish,’ Mrs Holbrook said and frowned at her. ‘Louisa tells me that there are prospects of a marriage between you and a certain gentleman—but nothing is sure, Caroline. I dare say you would receive many more offers if you had a decent dowry.’
‘From fortune hunters?’ Caroline raised her eyebrows. ‘Surely I may find someone who truly cares for me, Mama—and if I should not, it is hardly the end of the world. I may stay at home and be a help to you.’
‘Do not be ridiculous,’ her mother said and looked cross. ‘It is as Louisa told me. You are too stubborn for your own good, my girl. I cannot afford to keep you in a home of my own, and your brother will not want us
* * *
Caroline said goodbye to Sir Frederick at the door of her aunt’s house. She asked him if he would care to come in for some refreshment, but he refused, saying that he had another appointment. She smiled at him, giving him her hand, which he kissed gallantly before returning to his curricle.
Caroline went into the house. She was still feeling pleased with herself for she had made him give her her own way, and, though she knew the escapade might cause her problems, she was excited at the idea. It was a long time since she had done anything so rebellious and at times had been feeling rather constricted at having to behave in the ladylike manner that was expected of her. Why did ladies always have to be so particular in their behaviour when gentlemen could do much as they pleased? There was so much she would have liked to do that was forbidden her. It was not fair and she was tired of being scolded by her aunt for things that were completely trivial.
‘Caroline,’ her mother’s voice called to her as she walked up the stairs. ‘Come here, my love. We have a visitor.’
Mrs Holbrook was standing in the doorway of the parlour she used most while a guest in her sister’s house. It suited her because it was small and prettily furnished, and so seldom used for entertaining by her sister that she might think it her own. She looked very pleased with herself, almost excited about something.
‘What is it, Mama?’ Caroline’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Is it Nicolas?’
‘No, it is your brother Tom,’ Mrs Holbrook said, seizing her daughter by the hands and drawing her into the room. ‘He is in his chamber changing, for he has just this minute arrived—and with good news. Bollingbrook has settled the most pressing of his debts. There—what do you think of that?’
‘I think it wonderful news,’ Caroline said, surprised and pleased. ‘I am so glad for him, Mama. Do you know why Grandfather decided to do something for him?’
‘I have no idea,’ Marianne said with a frown. ‘After the last time we visited him I thought he would not wish to see any of us again—but Tom says that he has asked particularly for you, Caroline. It would be wonderful if he were to do something for both you and Nicolas.’
‘Oh, Mama, why should he?’ Caroline said. ‘It is quite enough that he has helped Tom to recover from his debts. Besides, Nicolas has found a life for himself and we are well enough as we are, are we not?’
‘If your grandfather means to do something, you should visit him,’ her mother said, hardly listening to her daughter’s disclaimer. ‘I know you are engaged for the next three weeks or so, but after that you might go down for a few days. I would stay here, of course, and you could always return. Your brother intends to visit Bollingbrook again in three weeks. He could take you down, and perhaps your grandfather would send you back in his own carriage. Yes, that would be quite acceptable, Caroline.’
‘I have no objection to visiting Grandfather,’ Caroline said. It would be pleasant to spend a few days with the Marquis. ‘But you must not expect anything more, Mama. I dare say Grandfather thought it his duty to help Tom, but I do not need anything. I am quite content as I am.’
‘Do not be so foolish,’ Mrs Holbrook said and frowned at her. ‘Louisa tells me that there are prospects of a marriage between you and a certain gentleman—but nothing is sure, Caroline. I dare say you would receive many more offers if you had a decent dowry.’
‘From fortune hunters?’ Caroline raised her eyebrows. ‘Surely I may find someone who truly cares for me, Mama—and if I should not, it is hardly the end of the world. I may stay at home and be a help to you.’
‘Do not be ridiculous,’ her mother said and looked cross. ‘It is as Louisa told me. You are too stubborn for your own good, my girl. I cannot afford to keep you in a home of my own, and your brother will not want us
Similar Books
