The Suitor List Read online

  At the conclusion of supper, Mr. Bertram Allendale apparently had no interest in remaining with the gentlemen for an after-dinner port and turned to his right. "I hear tell that the Sutherlands have a fine gallery, Lady Augusta. Would you care to take a turn?"

  Sir Benjamin Palfrey shot to his feet and tugged his waistcoat taut, moving toward the head of the table where Augusta sat. "Yes, I beg you to allow me to escort you, Lady Augusta."

  "Might we all be allowed to share in Lady Augusta's company?" Lord Carlton huffed, sounding wholly unsatisfied that mention of the other guests had been omitted.

  I shall need an escort"-Mrs. Parker glanced from one side of her to the other, looking for gentlemen to volunteer, and offering them kind smiles if they were to oblige-"or two"

  "I would be delighted, Mrs. Parker. If you would do me the honor?" A dashing Lord Stanton stood and helped her from her seat. Lord Carlton Wingate reluctantly accepted and took her other arm.

  "Oh, I say this is far more agreeable than lying about the dining room partaking spirits without the enjoyment of the ladies' company," Lord Carlton enunciated in a rather loudish manner.

  Augusta had heard him but was already in conversation with the two men on either side of her. Sir Benjamin wasted no time and offered to accompany her for an afternoon visit to Kew Gardens. She was delighted to accept.

  No sooner had she agreed to Sir Benjamin's afternoon diversion than Mr. Allendale, who would not be outdone, suggested she might care for a far more adventurous journey-a trip to the Exeter Exchange!

  Cousin Miriam's fiance, Earl Dawson, happily escorted her, and Sir Samuel Pruitt offered her his arm as well. The remaining two gentlemen, Lord Perkins and Lord Bancroft, escorted Miss Emma Sutherland. The four groups of three headed out of the dining room for their stroll through the gallery.

  The next afternoon, Penny could not keep Miriam, Lizzie, and Emily from peering out the double-sash windows facing the front of Worth House. They stood on tiptoes, watching for Augusta to return from her drive in Sir Warren's green high-perched phaeton.

  Penny approached the girls. "Come away from there" They huddled closer and appeared completely intrigued with the arrival of the vehicle rolling up the street.

  "Watch out, they'll see us!" Miriam cried out.

  Penny drew the three away. "Into the parlor, we shall wait for Gusta there" She urged the girls down the corridor but she could not resist a quick glance out the window herself before following them.

  "Is Sir Warren not handsome?" Miriam looked to Lizzie and Emily for their thoughts. "I think he must find Gusta very agreeable. This is her second drive with him in his new phaeton"

  "Do you think she cares for him as well?" Lizzie wondered.

  "I'm afraid I would be terrified out of my wits to climb aboard such a vehicle," Emily confessed, sounding timid. "It is very high."

  "But he is ever so handsome"

  "Miriam, I am not about to marry anyone because he is handsome," Emily remarked in a stern tone.

  "Nor would I turn one away because he owns a highperched transport," Lizzie confessed.

  "I thank you for your company, Lady Augusta," Sir Warren's voice echoed in from the marble entryway. "Might we share another drive through the park in a few days?"

  The occupants of the cerulean blue parlor went quiet as they waited for Augusta's answer. There was a reply but much too soft for any of them to decipher.

  "Very well, then," he said. The answer must not have been the one he wanted. "Until we meet again-and I pray that it may be soon. Good day to you"

  Penny and the girls all looked at one another wideeyed, completely silent, still, waiting for something to-

  Augusta strolled into the room, extremely slowly. When she saw them perched upon the sofa unnaturally motionless, she inquired, "What are you lot doing?"

  "We did not wish to disturb you" Penny seemed to be quite shocked at Augusta's somber demeanor.

  "I ... I need to sit ... ," Augusta began, "... on something that does not move"

  Miriam, Lizzie, and Emily giggled.

  "And someplace where my feet can touch the solid floor."

  Miriam and Emily laughed again.

  "Let me fetch you some tea, dear. You don't look very well at all." Penny stood and headed out the door.

  "Thank you, Aunt Penny," Augusta called after her.

  "What happened? Was it thrilling?" Emily's excitement could not be contained.

  "Is he as famous a whip as I have heard?" Lizzie begged her to answer.

  Augusta managed to look at her best friend, but she quite felt that her expression might have given away her lackluster opinion. "I really can't speak of it now. I need to recover from the ordeal."

  Emily gasped. "Oh, dear."

  "And while we wait, Em"-Miriam turned to her left-"allow me to tell you and Lizzie what happened after dinner at the Sutherland's last night."

  "Oh, yes, do tell us, Mimi." Lizzie shifted so as to look squarely upon the speaker.

  "After dinner we all lined up, three abreast-two men for each female, one on each of the ladies' armsand we made our way down through the long gallery."

  "So the men outnumbered the women? Was that not awkward? Were not some of the men left out?" Emily wanted to know, and she leaned forward, showing great interest.

  "Actually, some of the women"-Miriam turned toward Emily and whispered-"Miss Sutherland, poor dear"-then spoke at her normal volume-"did not manage to engage any of the gentlemen."

  That wasn't entirely true but Augusta felt too out of sorts to correct her cousin.

  "You should have seen Lord Carlton." Miriam glanced heavenward and exhaled, displaying her full exasperation. "He nearly came to tears when he could not take Gusta's arm on our return trip through Sutherland's gallery."

  August had to speak up. "The gentlemen insisted that .. " How was she to explain without sounding conceited?

  There was no need, for Miriam continued, "The ladies had to exchange gentlemen escorts once we'd arrived and there were some who nearly came to blows-for there were seven eligible gentlemen, and Augusta was limited to two arms. She could not accommodate them all"

  Lizzie let out a cry of laughter while Emily tried to stifle hers.

  "It was not as horrible as that" Augusta tried to downplay the event, but even she had to admit that it was a truly frightening scene-and she was enormously relieved it had not come down to fisticuffs.

  "I believe I did see Lord Carlton's eyes welling up with tears during our return to the drawing room when Gusta announced that she could not accept any more offers for afternoon outings. She said they were all welcome to call, when it was convenient for them, and she would be most delighted to see them if they were to catch her at home"

  There was a knock at the open door before Ralston entered and offered her a card upon a salver. "Pardon me, Lady Augusta, Sir Samuel Pruitt has arrived. Shall I show him in?"

  "No, I'll-" Augusta thought it best she shield Sir Samuel from the prying eyes of her friends, or perhaps worse, their gossiping tongues.

  "Excuse me" Augusta rose and stood for a moment to make certain she could stand upright without losing her balance. She headed out the door, turned to the right, and walked down the corridor.

  "Lady Augusta-" Sir Samuel stood just beyond Mrs. Parker in the marble entryway with his hat and walking stick in hand. "I feared I would be denied the pleasure of calling on you this afternoon, so I thought I might chance an intrusion by stopping by a bit early." He made a shallow bow. "Mrs. Parker tells me you are-" Sir Samuel stepped forward and spoke very softly. "I can see for myself that you look a bit pale." His eyes narrowed and he observed her with a tilt of his head. "You do not seem as if you are feeling the thing."

  "I believe I need-" Augusta wasn't quite sure what she needed, but no, she did not feel the thing at all.

  Today's drive, unquestionably, had not agreed with her.

  She wasn't sure which put her off the most, the precarious height of the phaeton o
r the baronet attempting to break a land record of a particular peer's, accounting for today's accelerated speed.

  "Was it Sir Warren and that ridiculous green monstrosity of his?" Sir Samuel guessed, raising one of his well-formed eyebrows, but he did not wait for her to answer and continued, "It is obvious you have been through somewhat of a shock. Your nerves are quite overwrought" He paused. "Might I suggest something ... more soothing, calming?"

  She glanced at her aunt, who had stepped back from the couple out of sight, just around the corner. Augusta did not need to wonder how much her relative had heard. She guessed her aunt had witnessed everything.

  "A stroll through a lovely garden, perhaps?" He watched Augusta's reaction as if to measure her approval. "If I may, I will take you to a place where there are beautiful, exquisite flowers to gaze upon. It will remind you of your sorely missed gardens at Faraday Hall."

  Truly, could he do such a thing in the middle of Town?

  "It shall restore you and you'll feel quite ... transported, I promise you." A wondrous smile crossed his face that convinced her that every word he spoke was to be believed.

  Augusta found herself returning his sentiment. Her glance to her aunt did not go unnoticed by Sir Samuel. He stepped to Mrs. Parker's side and they had a short, quiet conversation. She smiled and apparently gave her consent to whatever it was he had proposed.

  "We shall return shortly, and do not fear, I shall not allow any harm to come to her." Sir Samuel returned to Augusta with a renewed bounce in his step and offered her his arm.

  The man was so impatient, honestly, he had to be reminded that Augusta needed to collect her bonnet and pelisse before leaving. They stepped outside onto the walk.

  "We need only travel down the street here and turn left" Sir Samuel gestured with his hat before replacing it upon his head. "My aunt lives down only a few houses more."

  Not that Augusta found walking distasteful, but it really was not conducive to eliminating the pain in her head. Sir Samuel did seem empathetic to her discomfort and reassured her that with the short stroll and their engaging conversation, they would arrive in no time at all.

  "We hardly had a chance to speak last night," he reminded her, then chuckled. "Not that there was enough time. You had more than your fair share of admirers."

  "I do apologize." Augusta remembered he had attended the Sutherland dinner. He sat where it was impossible for them to speak, and she could barely see him throughout the duration of the meal.

  "There is nothing for it." He shrugged. "Can't imagine what you could have done any differently. Ah-here we are now. Sir Samuel motioned to an arched opening with a tall, sturdy iron gate.

  Ivy, originating from beyond the gate, clung to the building. The greenery seemed to creep out and around from the outer edges, toward the street, softening the starkness of the smooth surface.

  "We'll go in through the side entrance" He fished about in his vest pocket and pulled out a key. "We'll let ourselves in, the Baroness won't mind." With a wellpracticed turn, the deed was done and moments later the iron gate swung open.

  "Is she at home?" Augusta took a tentative step into the lush green courtyard.

  "I believe so. One can usually find her tending her garden."

  Augusta's gaze came to rest upon a person wearing a large hat, who squatted low to the ground tending to the plants, and who was seemingly unaware of the creak of the gate as they entered.

  "Samuel, have you returned so soon?" The gardener did not stand or glance in their direction.

  "Aunt, I have brought a guest," Sir Samuel announced.

  "Without any warning?" The hat came off with one hand; in the other were a pair of clippers that disappeared into an apron pocket. The woman turned to regard them. "Look at me-I'm in no condition to receive guests" She pulled at her gloves, removing them, and brushed at the skirt of her hopelessly soiled apron. "I daresay I believed you had better manners than that"

  There was no shame in her partaking of her hobby in the privacy of her home. Augusta wished the Baroness would not feel as if she had done something improper.

  "Lady Augusta, will you allow me to present my aunt, the Dowager Baroness Vernon?" Sir Samuel motioned to the woman who resembled a gardener. "Lady Augusta is feeling poorly and I suggested she stroll through your magnificent garden and see if it does not set her to feeling right once again."

  "Might I suggest you head toward the kitchen corner? It's at the far end, and just to the right," Lady Vernon said. "That particular spot does wonders for easing one's mind. Just continue down that path."

  Sir Samuel walked Augusta forward and urged her to move on at her own pace.

  "Thank you" Augusta stepped in the indicated direction, hesitating long enough to hear the woman call out to her.

  "If you will be so kind as to excuse me, I will take this time to change out of these work clothes into something more appropriate."

  "I shall be fine, my lady" Augusta reassured her. She released Sir Samuel's arm, indicating that she would venture off on her own.

  Lady Vernon whispered to her nephew, "Samuel, would you be so good as to inform Mrs. Crumb that I would like a tea tray brought out for us?"

  Augusta glanced back to see the two of them soon leave the garden and disappear into the house. She continued her stroll toward the kitchen corner as directed.

  Augusta had taken only a few steps into the garden before she felt immeasurably better. The cooling breeze, the delightful floral scents, the beautiful flowers surrounding her ...

  This garden, lying behind the townhouse ... it should have been shady-but somehow the sun filtered down to the plants that appeared to be perfectly content and thriving in their various pots and planters.

  A single white tulip sat among the twenty red ones, growing in a rectangular container. A dozen pink hollyhocks stood erect in the corner flanked by two enormous ferns.

  She passed pink and white roses mingling with delphiniums that must have hid one wall. Lobelia tumbled out of pots, covering the feet of the long spiked flowers of mignonette.

  Augusta began to feel as if she were truly walking down a path in the country. She glanced to her left and saw...

  "Are those really bluebells?" A flower so familiar to her, it brought to mind the woods near Faraday Hall, the path she would take to visit the Wilbankses at Yewhill Grange. The tall, thin trees with their new spring leaves so very green, and the dense carpet of bluebells at their roots ... but this was not spring and this was London, not the country.

  The scent of mint drifted in the air before her, tempting her to continue to find its source. By the time Augusta came upon the profusion of mint that scented the air, she noticed planted nearby the many sprigs of parsley and the woody stalks of the massive fragrant rosemary bush among the so very many other herbs that would be employed by the kitchen.

  "How are you feeling?" Lady Vernon, approaching from the house, looked distinguished in a modest cap and lilac morning dress.

  "I feel as if I have been walking in the country for hours." Augusta wondered exactly how much time had passed.

  "It hasn't been as long as that" The Baroness chuckled. "There is a tea tray on the veranda table. Will you join me?"

  "I have arrived unannounced. I do not wish to take up more of your afternoon than I already have" Augusta walked alongside the Baroness.

  "Nonsense. You are already here and the tea is waiting. Please let us sit." Lady Vernon gestured toward the small round table with a sweep of her arm.

  "Very well." Augusta moved toward the table, taking the chair that faced the flowers. "You do have a most amazing garden, Lady Vernon, with almost magical healing qualities."

  They both laughed. The corner of the Baroness's eyes crinkled when she smiled. She had the most kindhearted manner about her, making conversation easy and her company enjoyable.

  "Do you take sugar in your tea?"

  "No, thank you" Augusta looked around, wondering about Sir Samuel's whereabouts. "Will your nephew n
ot be joining us?"

  "He has indicated that you are not to have tea without some sort of exquisite tidbits from a certain confectionary shop-of which the name completely escapes me" Lady Vernon laughed at herself and poured a bit of milk into each cup before pouring the tea. "He has gone to fetch them himself. I have every confidence he shall return shortly."

  "He shouldn't have gone to the bother." Augusta could not imagine what had possessed him to deposit her with his aunt and dash out for biscuits, no matter how delectable.

  "Are you certain you are feeling quite well?" The Baroness handed Augusta her cup and saucer.

  "I am-as Sir Samuel put it-transported. I assure you." She sipped from the cup.

  "I do not mean to pry, but it has come to my notice that my nephew holds you in great esteem. He has spoken quite highly of you"

  "I cannot imagine what he could say. We only met at the Sutherland's last night. And, unfortunately, we were not able to converse"

  "Ah, so you do not know much about him." The casual comment sounded anything but.

  "I'm afraid not" Augusta wondered what it was she should know about him.

  "He is the eldest son of the Earl of Hampstead, grandson of the Duke of Cubberleigh, and is in line to inherit both titles. He has two younger brothers, and a younger sister."

  "I am the eldest of three sisters, and I have a younger brother."

  Lady Vernon chuckled. "He understands that he will become duke one day and wishes to conduct himself accordingly-to marry someone who will be a suitable duchess." She glanced at Augusta from the corner of her eye. "Before this morning he had not even mentioned any young lady of interest."

  "If by that you mean that he has taken notice of me ... all I can say is ... I am deeply flattered" Augusta considered that Sir Samuel might very well be vying with Lord Fieldstone for the top of her list.

  "I would expect the daughter of a duke to be much more forthright. At least as self-assured as a young man who will come into such a title." Lady Vernon paused to draw in a measured breath. "I do have one small reservation."