I
know is, he would rather have stayed with his regiment—he never wanted the
title or the estate with all its duties. He must find it very dull after the
excitement of campaigning. Perhaps that's why he is so rackety at present. I
don't think I should have said that to you, should I?'
'What?
That my husband is rackety? Probably not.' Frances noted his consternation with
some amusement.
'All
I meant to say was—'
'I
know what you meant to say,' she reassured him.
'That's all right,
then. I would not want to upset you.' He then let the matter drop, with obvious
relief, to introduce Frances to a passing acquaintance. But it left Frances
with much to think about. Here were more facets to Aldeborough than were at
first apparent and she discovered a sudden desire to know him better.
She
was stirred from her reverie by Matthew.
'Just
our luck,' he grinned ruefully. 'Here is The Iceberg. For once I wish Julie was
with us. She is much better at social chit-chat.'
An
ancient landaulet pulled up beside them as Matthew reined in the bays. So this
was the much-admired Miss Penelope Vowchurch and, on first impressions,
Frances felt her heart sink in her chest. She was a polished, handsome lady
with glossy brown curls falling in ordered ringlets and clear, light blue eyes.
Her skin was fair, flawless like the petals of a blush rose, her features
regular in the classical mode. Her clothes were elegant and demure, nothing
extreme, but with more than a brief nod towards fashion. Miss Vowchurch inclined
her head graciously towards Frances, her social smile well in place. She was a
talented water colourist, her singing voice was a delight to hear and she could
speak French and Italian very prettily. She would never be ill mannered, never
malicious. But there was a challenge in those clear eyes, which the smile did
not warm. Frances experienced an urge to pick up the challenge rather than
become a victim. She furled her parasol with determination. She had had enough set-downs
from Lady Aldeborough to last a lifetime.
Matthew
made the introductions, his tone carefully neutral.
'I
am delighted to meet you.' Miss Vowchurch extended a slender gloved hand. 'Lady
Aldeborough has lunched with my mama today and she has told us so much about
you.' Her voice was as well modulated and as elegant as her appearance.
'Indeed? Lady Aldeborough
spoke much of you at dinner last night. I feel that I know you already.'
Miss Vowchurch's eyebrows
rose faintly. 'I believe that you are related to the Mortimers? We know them
well socially. We are forever invited to their town house. But we were never,
to my recollection, introduced to you there. I am sure I would have
remembered.'
'I have not had the
pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Earl of Wigmore, my cousin, but that
will be remedied now that I am fixed in town for some time. Perhaps you are
acquainted with my paternal relatives with whom I have been living, Lord and
Lady Torrington?'
'We have been introduced.'
Miss Vowchurch turned to Matthew, neatly shutting Frances out of the discussion
of common acquaintance.
'I expect we shall meet at
dear Phoebe's celebration party tonight. She is such a good friend of mine. Do
you go there, Matthew?'
'Orders have been given.
It will be a full family turn-out, I believe. And now that Frances is a member
of the family, Aldeborough wishes to introduce her to as many of the relatives
as possible.'
'It must be a little
unnerving knowing no one.' Penelope favoured Frances with a pitying glance. 'I
understand that you have not been in town before, that you did not have the benefit
of a Season. It is invaluable in showing you how to go on in Society.'
'No. It was not
possible—for family reasons. I am finding it a great pleasure.'
'It will soon become
tedious when you know it well,' Miss Vowchurch replied with languid and
fashionable boredom. 'I am sure Matthew will agree with me.'
'I am afraid I can not
conceive of being bored.' Frances showed her teeth
know is, he would rather have stayed with his regiment—he never wanted the
title or the estate with all its duties. He must find it very dull after the
excitement of campaigning. Perhaps that's why he is so rackety at present. I
don't think I should have said that to you, should I?'
'What?
That my husband is rackety? Probably not.' Frances noted his consternation with
some amusement.
'All
I meant to say was—'
'I
know what you meant to say,' she reassured him.
'That's all right,
then. I would not want to upset you.' He then let the matter drop, with obvious
relief, to introduce Frances to a passing acquaintance. But it left Frances
with much to think about. Here were more facets to Aldeborough than were at
first apparent and she discovered a sudden desire to know him better.
She
was stirred from her reverie by Matthew.
'Just
our luck,' he grinned ruefully. 'Here is The Iceberg. For once I wish Julie was
with us. She is much better at social chit-chat.'
An
ancient landaulet pulled up beside them as Matthew reined in the bays. So this
was the much-admired Miss Penelope Vowchurch and, on first impressions,
Frances felt her heart sink in her chest. She was a polished, handsome lady
with glossy brown curls falling in ordered ringlets and clear, light blue eyes.
Her skin was fair, flawless like the petals of a blush rose, her features
regular in the classical mode. Her clothes were elegant and demure, nothing
extreme, but with more than a brief nod towards fashion. Miss Vowchurch inclined
her head graciously towards Frances, her social smile well in place. She was a
talented water colourist, her singing voice was a delight to hear and she could
speak French and Italian very prettily. She would never be ill mannered, never
malicious. But there was a challenge in those clear eyes, which the smile did
not warm. Frances experienced an urge to pick up the challenge rather than
become a victim. She furled her parasol with determination. She had had enough set-downs
from Lady Aldeborough to last a lifetime.
Matthew
made the introductions, his tone carefully neutral.
'I
am delighted to meet you.' Miss Vowchurch extended a slender gloved hand. 'Lady
Aldeborough has lunched with my mama today and she has told us so much about
you.' Her voice was as well modulated and as elegant as her appearance.
'Indeed? Lady Aldeborough
spoke much of you at dinner last night. I feel that I know you already.'
Miss Vowchurch's eyebrows
rose faintly. 'I believe that you are related to the Mortimers? We know them
well socially. We are forever invited to their town house. But we were never,
to my recollection, introduced to you there. I am sure I would have
remembered.'
'I have not had the
pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Earl of Wigmore, my cousin, but that
will be remedied now that I am fixed in town for some time. Perhaps you are
acquainted with my paternal relatives with whom I have been living, Lord and
Lady Torrington?'
'We have been introduced.'
Miss Vowchurch turned to Matthew, neatly shutting Frances out of the discussion
of common acquaintance.
'I expect we shall meet at
dear Phoebe's celebration party tonight. She is such a good friend of mine. Do
you go there, Matthew?'
'Orders have been given.
It will be a full family turn-out, I believe. And now that Frances is a member
of the family, Aldeborough wishes to introduce her to as many of the relatives
as possible.'
'It must be a little
unnerving knowing no one.' Penelope favoured Frances with a pitying glance. 'I
understand that you have not been in town before, that you did not have the benefit
of a Season. It is invaluable in showing you how to go on in Society.'
'No. It was not
possible—for family reasons. I am finding it a great pleasure.'
'It will soon become
tedious when you know it well,' Miss Vowchurch replied with languid and
fashionable boredom. 'I am sure Matthew will agree with me.'
'I am afraid I can not
conceive of being bored.' Frances showed her teeth
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