more like Charlotte.”
“No, I do not,” Mama said. “I wish you to be yourself, Diana. Only a less extreme version, if you please.”
Diana sighed again, thinking how there was enough sighing between her and Mama this morning to blow a ship across the Channel. Mama wasn’t being particularly honest, either. Diana was certain she’d much prefer her to be a precise copy of Charlotte. What mother wouldn’t? Charlotte always did the proper thing, whether choosing a suitable gown, arranging guests for a formal supper, or producing sons to secure March’s dukedom, and she did it so pleasantly that few realized how impossibly perfect she was. Of course Diana did, having to follow after such an exemplary older sister. Even if she wished to be like Charlotte, she could never be as dutiful . It simply wasn’t in her blood.
“You must think of Lord Crump now as well as yourself,” Mama was saying. “I’m sure he would much prefer to have his wife as an ornament at his side, rather than drawing stares of amazement from strangers.”
“I could put plumes in my nose, and I doubt Lord Crump would take notice. Tall curled ostrich plumes, dyed crimson.”
Brecon laughed, until Mama shot him a look of warning that made him smother it into a restrained cough.
“Certainly Lord Crump would notice,” Mama said. “Gentlemen always take notice of what ladies wear. They simply don’t feel the need to comment on every scrap. Still, if you were to wear your cherry-colored silk tomorrow night when Lord Crump attends the theater with us, I doubt even he will be able to resist smiling at you with pleasure.”
“You have asked him to come with us, Mama?” Diana asked faintly, her heart sinking. “Tomorrow?”
Mama nodded, smiling warmly. “I thought he would enjoy it, and Heaven knows there’s plenty of room in March’s box. We never begin to fill the chairs.”
“It’s not that his lordship wouldn’t enjoy the play,” Diana said, looking down at Fig in her lap. “It’s only that, ah, I do not wish us to appear too forward. Last night I thought he seemed somewhat, ah, startled that I’d accepted his proposal as quickly as I did. Perhaps he needs a bit more time apart for considering. To be completely certain in his choice, you know.”
That was her only hope now: that Lord Crump would have second thoughts and break off the match. A gentleman could do that, and though he’d be faulted for a while, he could still marry someone else. But a lady would forever be known as a jilt if she changed her mind and went back on her word, a reputation that would keep away all other suitors.
To be sure, it was a slender hope, and Brecon soon squashed it flat.
“Nonsense,” Brecon said briskly, leaving no further room for doubt. “What has the man to consider? A most delightful young lady has accepted his proposal of marriage. I’m sure he’s as proud as the day, and with every good reason, too.”
Mama leaned forward eagerly. “Most likely he was simply stunned by his good fortune, that was all. I saw not a hint of reluctance from him. But I thought that was why we should include him in our party tomorrow night. The sooner we welcome him into our family, the sooner he will feel at ease among us.”
Diana ran her fingers along Fig’s spine, ruffling her fur back and forth. “I’m not sure Lord Crump feels at ease anywhere.”
“Clearly he does in your company,” Mama said, resting her hand gently on Diana’s knee. “And no wonder, when you are being so very thoughtful and considerate for his sake. Oh, Diana, I am so happy for you!”
“We all are,” Brecon said. “I’m sure your head was spinning too fast to hear it, but there was nothing but praise for the match last night at Fortescue’s. It’s most satisfying to see such a creditable arrangement made between two young persons of rank.”
“That’s it exactly, Brecon,” Mama agreed, then turned back to Diana. “But it’s not only about having you
“No, I do not,” Mama said. “I wish you to be yourself, Diana. Only a less extreme version, if you please.”
Diana sighed again, thinking how there was enough sighing between her and Mama this morning to blow a ship across the Channel. Mama wasn’t being particularly honest, either. Diana was certain she’d much prefer her to be a precise copy of Charlotte. What mother wouldn’t? Charlotte always did the proper thing, whether choosing a suitable gown, arranging guests for a formal supper, or producing sons to secure March’s dukedom, and she did it so pleasantly that few realized how impossibly perfect she was. Of course Diana did, having to follow after such an exemplary older sister. Even if she wished to be like Charlotte, she could never be as dutiful . It simply wasn’t in her blood.
“You must think of Lord Crump now as well as yourself,” Mama was saying. “I’m sure he would much prefer to have his wife as an ornament at his side, rather than drawing stares of amazement from strangers.”
“I could put plumes in my nose, and I doubt Lord Crump would take notice. Tall curled ostrich plumes, dyed crimson.”
Brecon laughed, until Mama shot him a look of warning that made him smother it into a restrained cough.
“Certainly Lord Crump would notice,” Mama said. “Gentlemen always take notice of what ladies wear. They simply don’t feel the need to comment on every scrap. Still, if you were to wear your cherry-colored silk tomorrow night when Lord Crump attends the theater with us, I doubt even he will be able to resist smiling at you with pleasure.”
“You have asked him to come with us, Mama?” Diana asked faintly, her heart sinking. “Tomorrow?”
Mama nodded, smiling warmly. “I thought he would enjoy it, and Heaven knows there’s plenty of room in March’s box. We never begin to fill the chairs.”
“It’s not that his lordship wouldn’t enjoy the play,” Diana said, looking down at Fig in her lap. “It’s only that, ah, I do not wish us to appear too forward. Last night I thought he seemed somewhat, ah, startled that I’d accepted his proposal as quickly as I did. Perhaps he needs a bit more time apart for considering. To be completely certain in his choice, you know.”
That was her only hope now: that Lord Crump would have second thoughts and break off the match. A gentleman could do that, and though he’d be faulted for a while, he could still marry someone else. But a lady would forever be known as a jilt if she changed her mind and went back on her word, a reputation that would keep away all other suitors.
To be sure, it was a slender hope, and Brecon soon squashed it flat.
“Nonsense,” Brecon said briskly, leaving no further room for doubt. “What has the man to consider? A most delightful young lady has accepted his proposal of marriage. I’m sure he’s as proud as the day, and with every good reason, too.”
Mama leaned forward eagerly. “Most likely he was simply stunned by his good fortune, that was all. I saw not a hint of reluctance from him. But I thought that was why we should include him in our party tomorrow night. The sooner we welcome him into our family, the sooner he will feel at ease among us.”
Diana ran her fingers along Fig’s spine, ruffling her fur back and forth. “I’m not sure Lord Crump feels at ease anywhere.”
“Clearly he does in your company,” Mama said, resting her hand gently on Diana’s knee. “And no wonder, when you are being so very thoughtful and considerate for his sake. Oh, Diana, I am so happy for you!”
“We all are,” Brecon said. “I’m sure your head was spinning too fast to hear it, but there was nothing but praise for the match last night at Fortescue’s. It’s most satisfying to see such a creditable arrangement made between two young persons of rank.”
“That’s it exactly, Brecon,” Mama agreed, then turned back to Diana. “But it’s not only about having you
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