heavy going, but a gentleman known for his address could converse well enough for two. As he returned her to Lady Hanscombe, he said, “I hope you would not object to my calling on you soon, Miss Hanscombe.”
She stared at him blankly for a moment, then murmured almost inaudibly, “Of course not, my lord.”
Lord Radford moved away, pleased that his cam paign was under way. Complicated tactics should not be required; the mother had clearly been dazzled to have the chit distinguished by his attention. Lady Hanscombe seemed to be a bit of a toadeater, but that would work in his favor.
Now that they had been for mally introduced, he could call on the girl and further the acquaintance. He would not rush things by danc ing with her again tonight; that he had singled her out was enough. It was just a matter of time. Boringly easy, really.
* * * *
While Lord Radford was searching for his friend Mr. Fitzwilliam to call this portion of the evening to an end, Caroline was being interrogated by Lady Hanscombe. Unsure whether to be pleased that Caro line had been sought out, or insulted that Lord Rad ford had no interest in meeting Gina, her ladyship was relentlessly extracting every iota of information.
“And then what did he say?. .. And you replied? ... And I myself heard him say he wished to call on you. Straighten up, Caroline, don’t slouch! Perhaps he has decided it is time to start hanging out for a wife. Past time, really, the man has been on the town this age! Well, I’m very sure he must be pleased with you, there is no substitute for breeding and manners, and you are a very pretty-behaved girl.”
Her ladyship interrupted her mono logue to look dubiously at Caroline. While the girl had a well-bred air, it was difficult to imagine why someone like Radford would pay such distinguishing atten tion.
Well, if he did call, it would give him a chance to meet Gina and note her superior charms. If his lord ship was ready for a wife, Gina was just as well-bred, and more attractive as well.
Lady Hanscombe conveniently forgot that her own forebears could in no way compare with those of Caroline’s mother. At least, not in the eyes of those who used the same standards for judging people as they used for horseflesh.
Gina’s enthusiasm was more generous but no easier to bear. Throughout the ride home she talked cease lessly about Lord Radford’s darkly handsome counte nance, his superb tailoring, and his well-known fortune. “They say, Caro, that he never comes to Al mack’s, or dances with girls making their come-out. They say he has kept some of the most dashing high fliers—!”
“Gina, how dare you refer to such things!” Lady Hanscombe interjected. “It is not at all proper for you to know how gentlemen amuse themselves.”
“But, Mama, everyone does know,” Gina said irre pressibly. “He must have seen Caroline at a ball or in the park and decided he must make her acquaintance. It is so romantic!”
Loyal to her older sister, Gina was quite willing to believe a gentleman would be struck instantly by Caroline’s sweetness and charm. Content with her Gideon, she felt not a shred of jealousy. “It will quite make Caro socially. Everyone will wish to meet the girl who took Lord Radford’s fancy.”
Surrounded by such avid speculations, it was un necessary for Caroline to say a word. And she could not discuss the most important fact about Lord Radford: that she didn’t like him and had no desire to see him again.
She knew it was irrational but she had felt deeply uncomfortable in his presence. Silent and un happy, she had a throbbing headache when they re turned to the Adam Street town house.
“Excuse me, Mama, I am very fatigued and wish to retire directly,” Caroline said in a thin voice.
“Yes, yes, my dear, we must keep you in looks for Lord Radford’s call,” Lady Hanscombe said magnani mously.
Caroline’s bedchamber had the slightly drab air common to rental properties, but tonight it
She stared at him blankly for a moment, then murmured almost inaudibly, “Of course not, my lord.”
Lord Radford moved away, pleased that his cam paign was under way. Complicated tactics should not be required; the mother had clearly been dazzled to have the chit distinguished by his attention. Lady Hanscombe seemed to be a bit of a toadeater, but that would work in his favor.
Now that they had been for mally introduced, he could call on the girl and further the acquaintance. He would not rush things by danc ing with her again tonight; that he had singled her out was enough. It was just a matter of time. Boringly easy, really.
* * * *
While Lord Radford was searching for his friend Mr. Fitzwilliam to call this portion of the evening to an end, Caroline was being interrogated by Lady Hanscombe. Unsure whether to be pleased that Caro line had been sought out, or insulted that Lord Rad ford had no interest in meeting Gina, her ladyship was relentlessly extracting every iota of information.
“And then what did he say?. .. And you replied? ... And I myself heard him say he wished to call on you. Straighten up, Caroline, don’t slouch! Perhaps he has decided it is time to start hanging out for a wife. Past time, really, the man has been on the town this age! Well, I’m very sure he must be pleased with you, there is no substitute for breeding and manners, and you are a very pretty-behaved girl.”
Her ladyship interrupted her mono logue to look dubiously at Caroline. While the girl had a well-bred air, it was difficult to imagine why someone like Radford would pay such distinguishing atten tion.
Well, if he did call, it would give him a chance to meet Gina and note her superior charms. If his lord ship was ready for a wife, Gina was just as well-bred, and more attractive as well.
Lady Hanscombe conveniently forgot that her own forebears could in no way compare with those of Caroline’s mother. At least, not in the eyes of those who used the same standards for judging people as they used for horseflesh.
Gina’s enthusiasm was more generous but no easier to bear. Throughout the ride home she talked cease lessly about Lord Radford’s darkly handsome counte nance, his superb tailoring, and his well-known fortune. “They say, Caro, that he never comes to Al mack’s, or dances with girls making their come-out. They say he has kept some of the most dashing high fliers—!”
“Gina, how dare you refer to such things!” Lady Hanscombe interjected. “It is not at all proper for you to know how gentlemen amuse themselves.”
“But, Mama, everyone does know,” Gina said irre pressibly. “He must have seen Caroline at a ball or in the park and decided he must make her acquaintance. It is so romantic!”
Loyal to her older sister, Gina was quite willing to believe a gentleman would be struck instantly by Caroline’s sweetness and charm. Content with her Gideon, she felt not a shred of jealousy. “It will quite make Caro socially. Everyone will wish to meet the girl who took Lord Radford’s fancy.”
Surrounded by such avid speculations, it was un necessary for Caroline to say a word. And she could not discuss the most important fact about Lord Radford: that she didn’t like him and had no desire to see him again.
She knew it was irrational but she had felt deeply uncomfortable in his presence. Silent and un happy, she had a throbbing headache when they re turned to the Adam Street town house.
“Excuse me, Mama, I am very fatigued and wish to retire directly,” Caroline said in a thin voice.
“Yes, yes, my dear, we must keep you in looks for Lord Radford’s call,” Lady Hanscombe said magnani mously.
Caroline’s bedchamber had the slightly drab air common to rental properties, but tonight it
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