Lord Dearborn's Destiny Read Online Free PDF

Rosalind reasonably. "It will be her formal introduction to Society, you know, as well as mine."
    This reminder that the Town house they were renting for the Season possessed no ballroom failed to sweeten her mother's mood. She would dearly have loved to present her dazzling Rosalind properly, at her own come-out ball. "She can wear your yellow silk, if you are so certain the colour will become her. It is too tight for you, anyway," she said sourly.
    "Oh, that would be lovely," said Ellie, sorting through a box of buttons at the counter. "You know I have always admired that gown, Rosie."
    "Rosalind, if you please, Elinor," admonished her aunt. "I will thank you to limit your use of vulgar nicknames to the house. Ah, yes," she continued in a completely different tone, turning to the modiste as she approached, "that sky blue velvet will make a perfect habit for my daughter, Madame Francine."  
    "A riding habit?" asked Rosalind in dismay, completely forgetting Ellie for the moment. "Mama, you know I do not ride."
    "Tush, anyone can ride. You had lessons as a child. At any rate, you must, for I have recently discovered that Lord Dearborn rides in the Park almost every morning at eleven o'clock. 'Twill be the perfect opportunity to further your acquaintance with him."  
    Rosalind looked stricken, and Ellie, well aware of Rosalind's fear of riding, was moved to speak. "'Twill not be so bad, my dear," she said soothingly. "No one goes above a trot in the Park, I have heard, and you know you can manage that." Ellie hoped that this reassurance might bolster her cousin's spirits; she herself dearly loved to ride. Trying not to sound too eager, she enquired of her aunt, "Will I be expected to accompany her, ma'am?"
    "Why, yes, I suppose you must," replied Mrs. Winston-Fitts, regarding her closely. Ellie kept her expression carefully neutral. "You ride well, as I recall, and may give Rosalind a few pointers. Lord Dearborn is a first-rate whip, and will doubtless prefer a girl who is at ease on her mount." She gave her daughter a significant glance.
    Rosalind suddenly smiled. "Then you will have to buy Ellie a habit as well, Mama, since I have no old one to pass on to her."  
    Mrs. Winston-Fitts grimaced, but she was neatly caught and she knew it. "Very well." Turning back to the modiste, she said, "Have this velvet made up for my daughter and show us something in wool for my niece, if you please, Madame Francine."  
     
    *             *             *
     
    Three days later, Ellie and Rosalind prepared for their first ride in Hyde Park. Rosalind looked absolutely divine in her new habit, Ellie thought, with the pale blue velvet just matching her eyes. She could not be displeased with her own appearance, either, for while her habit was of wool rather than the more fashionable velvet, the deep peach colour with chocolate brown frogging set off her pale skin and dark hair admirably.
    "Aunt Mabel said that I might select our mounts, so we might as well step round to the mews ourselves. 'Twill be quicker than having a succession of horses brought to the door for our inspection," said Ellie as she finished tying the dark blue ribbons on Rosalind's sky blue shako hat. She herself was wearing her usual chip straw bonnet.
    "To the mews? Ourselves?" asked Rosalind uncertainly. "Is that quite proper?"
    "I can't see why not. It is not as though we are going to Tattersall's, and the stable is just round the corner behind the garden."
    Ellie was correct. After only two minutes walking, the two young ladies, accompanied by a footman, entered the warm dimness of the boarding stables on Market Mews behind Curzon Street. Ellie breathed in the pungent equine scent with relish, but Rosalind coughed at the unfamiliar smell.
    "Miss Winston-Fitts! Miss O'Day!" exclaimed the groom in surprise when he saw them. "I had a pair of horses all ready to lead round to the front door as soon as the missus sent word."
    "We decided to look at the horses