A Desirable Husband

He laughed aloud and then stifled it when he heard Miss Bannister stir. ‘If you like.’

‘I do not think I could do that. It would be most improper and Rosemary has been lecturing me on being proper. I am, according to my sister, a very improper young lady. Myles says I must be guided by her, but it is so difficult, when I want to ask so many questions. It is not polite to quiz people, so I am told.’

He gathered from that statement that she had been scolded over her questioning of him the day before. ‘I do not mind it,’ he said. ‘But I can see that a lively curiosity might lead you into trouble.’

‘You were not offended? My sister said that was why you hurried away from us yesterday.’

‘Did I hurry away?’

‘Oh, yes. We were in the middle of a conversation and you suddenly took your leave. Were you angry?’

‘No, of course not.’ But he had been angry, not with her, but with himself. He had found himself succumbing to her charm, a charm she seemed completely unaware she wielded. Or was she? Ladies could be accomplished deceivers. It was that which had driven him from the room. How could he so soon forget the vows he had made to himself? He was sorry afterwards and afraid he had hurt her feelings, which was why he was here with her now. And it was happening all over again. Would he never learn? ‘I had an appointment.’

‘Then I forgive you.’

He smiled. ‘I am obliged, though I do not remember asking forgiveness.’

She let that go. ‘How is your design for the Exhibition hall coming along?

‘I do not seem able to concentrate on it.’

‘Oh, the lady.’

‘What lady?’ He was genuinely mystified.

‘The lady who is so attractive she is keeping you in town when you ought to be going home.’

‘Oh, that one.’

‘Yes. I am a little jealous of her if she commands so much of your time.’

‘No need to be. I—’ He stopped suddenly as Miss Bannister gave a loud snort and opened her eyes to find her charge apparently in intimate conversation with a strange young man. She had heard Lady Trent scolding Esme—Rosemary never had learned to lower her voice—and it was plain that a young gentleman was involved. No doubt this was he.

‘Miss Bannister, may I present Lord Pendlebury?’ Esme said, knowing perfectly well that she was flattering the old lady by the formal introduction. One simply did not introduce one’s servants to one’s acquaintances. But Banny was more than a servant—she was a friend, a confidante, an ally.

Miss Bannister hastily adjusted her bonnet. ‘How do you do, my lord?’

‘Banny is my dear friend and companion,’ Esme told him.

‘You are indeed fortunate,’ he told Esme while smiling at Banny and quite winning her over, though she knew she had been very remiss in her duty towards her charge.

‘His lordship is an accomplished artist,’ Esme said. ‘He has been showing me how to draw a horse.’

‘So I see.’ She stood up a little shakily and Felix rose to take her elbow to steady her, but let her go the moment she had found her balance. ‘Now I am rested and it is time we returned home. Come, my lady.’ The formal address was for his lordship’s benefit. ‘Good day to you, my lord.’

Esme gathered up her sketching pad and pencils and murmured, ‘Goodbye, my lord’, before following her.

He sat down again, picking up his own sketching book from the seat beside him. He flipped over the top page on which he had outlined his building and worked on the drawing of Esme. If only he could get her to sit for him, he could really make a shot at making the picture come to life, but that would need the permission of the dragon who resided at Trent House and he knew he would never get that.

‘I suppose I am to say nothing to your sister of that young gentleman?’ Miss Bannister said, as they walked.

‘We met by accident, Banny. He saw what I was doing and stopped to help. There was no harm in it. He behaved perfectly properly.’

‘I do not think your sister would agree.’

‘But you won’t say anything, will you? She will only give me a scolding.’

‘Esme, you are nearly twenty years old, a grown woman, and it is time you learned to behave like one. If you want that young gentleman to court you, then you must persuade Lady Trent to accept him, not meet him in secret.’

‘There was nothing secret about the park, Banny. There were hundreds of people there.’

‘That’s what I am afraid of,’ her mentor said repressively.

‘Banny, how shall I know when I am in love? And what is the difference between love and desire? Is there one?’

‘My dear child, you are asking quite the wrong person,’ Miss Bannister said. ‘Your mama should be the one to speak to you of such things and no doubt she will do so when the time is right.’

‘And when will the time be right?’

‘Why, when you have become betrothed, a day or two before your wedding day.’

‘It will be too late then. Banny, I do not want to make a dreadful mistake.’

‘You won’t make a mistake, Miss Esme, you are too level-headed for that.’

‘I am not, I am feeling all topsy-turvy, very far from level-headed. How will I know if I have met my match? And what if he is not at all acceptable to Rosemary? She is determined to find me someone she calls suitable. I have a dreadful feeling that her idea of suitable and mine are not the same thing at all, and Mama and Papa are bound to be guided by her.’

‘Your sister can be a little dogmatic, I own,’ the old lady said. ‘But she is only thinking of your good.’ She paused and laid her gloved hand over Esme’s. ‘I fancy these questions have been sparked by that particular young man, is that not so?’

‘Is it so obvious?’

‘I am not blind, child, I can see he is having a very powerful effect upon you, but do not be misled into thinking it is love.’

‘You don’t think it is? When he looks at me, my knees wobble and my heart beats so fast I can hardly speak.’

‘Goodness, that sounds alarming.’

‘Have you ever had that feeling, Banny?’

‘Once, but it doesn’t signify.’

‘Why not?’

‘He was most unsuitable and in the face of my papa’s opposition he disappeared. I believe he married a servant girl in the end.’

‘Oh, how sad for you.’

‘No, for I think he went to the bad and I had a lucky escape. So you see, it pays to listen to one’s parents and those who know more of the world. All the glisters are not gold.’