Drawn to Lord Ravenscar

‘I am glad. You...you look beautiful, Judith.’

Her cousin had dark hair, which was swept into a sophisticated chignon at the back of her head, a few tendrils curling about her face. Her complexion was pale, her eyes so dark that in a certain light they looked black. Her gown was crimson silk with a buttoned bodice and a deep lace collar and cuffs; rubies sparkled in her ears and in the gold brooch she wore at her throat. Anyone looking at the two girls might think them a perfect foil, the one so dark, the other so fair. Lucy had a delicate colour in her cheeks, but her lips were not as red as her cousin’s and there was a sparkle in Judith’s eyes—a sparkle that spoke of laughter and a joy of life.

‘Thank you, Lucy,’ Judith said and laughed softly. ‘I would say I have more style than beauty, but I do not turn up my nose at compliments, I assure you.’

‘You do have a style of your own,’ Lucy said thoughtfully. ‘I do not know quite what it is—but you are not like most ladies I know.’

‘I am told I resemble a Greek goddess,’ her cousin said, laughing. ‘I think they mean statuesque... I am certainly not a wraith like you and I mean that as a compliment.’

‘You mean I am thin,’ Lucy said. ‘Papa says I am too thin, but I cannot help it.’

‘And I am nicely rounded...’ her cousin twinkled ‘...but because I am tall I can get away with it, you see. If I were diminutive, I should be fat, but the Greeks liked their goddesses well rounded, it seems.’

‘You are not in the least fat,’ Lucy said and shook her head. ‘You are—yes, you are statuesque, but I find that magnificent.’

‘I should have visited you long ago, for you are good for my morale,’ her cousin teased. ‘We shall certainly be friends, Lucy dearest. I am told you have travelled to Italy and France. I should like to travel more. I was taken to Paris for a wedding trip, but unfortunately my husband became ill of a fever when we returned and was never quite well again. Our plans to visit Greece and Spain never came to anything.’

‘I enjoyed my time in Italy but...’ Lucy sighed. ‘I was grieving and I did not wish to come home for a long time, but now I do not think I wish to travel for a while.’

‘You disappoint me,’ Judith said. ‘Had you been eager for it we might have travelled together...but never mind, I shall not tease you. Papa says I should find myself an obliging husband, who will take me to the places I want to see, and perhaps I shall.’

‘Are you looking for a husband?’

Judith seemed thoughtful, then gave an expressive shrug. ‘I am not certain. He would have to be someone I could respect... A man who would be willing to indulge me and not dominate me. You see, I am quite wealthy and can afford to indulge myself. I would not risk that freedom unless...’ Again she shrugged. ‘The future will take care of itself. Tell me, are you thinking of marriage in the near future?’

‘My parents think of it for me,’ Lucy said. ‘I was to have married, as you know. Since then I have not met anyone new that I liked enough. I was asked in Italy more than once, but I could not consider any of the gentlemen who were so obliging as to offer for me.’

‘Well, perhaps we shall help each other to find husbands,’ Judith said and her soft laughter made Lucy want to giggle. ‘After Papa leaves, perhaps my aunt would take us both to Bath, if we asked her nicely.’

‘I am sure she would, for she has spoken of it,’ Lucy agreed and tucked her arm into Judith’s. ‘Tell me, Cos, do you ride or do you drive yourself?’

‘I enjoy both,’ Judith said. ‘I have arranged for my horses to be brought down, Lucy. Do you think your father will stable them for me—or should I ask his advice as to where adequate stabling may be had?’

‘How many horses do you have?’

‘Three that I wish to bring with me,’ Judith replied. ‘Queen Mab is my mare and an excellent riding horse—but Thunder and Lightning are two of my favourites. I drive them when I go out in my phaeton—but I have others at my home. Sir Michael kept an extensive stable and I have not wanted to sell his horses, though most serve no practical purpose, other than to draw my travelling coach, because I could not handle them.’

‘You should offer them to Adam Miller should you wish to sell any of them,’ Lucy said. ‘I think he would offer a fair price for good horses.’

‘I do not know the gentleman,’ Judith said. ‘I would only sell to a man I could be certain would treat them well.’

‘Captain Miller is a cousin of both Paul and Mark Ravenscar...Hallam, too.’