“A few minutes ago, I passed the study and could not help but overhear your argument with Uncle. What is amiss?”
He shook his head. “Nothing at all. We had a minor disagreement.”
“I know you too well to believe that. Pray tell me what is wrong.”
His nostrils flared, and with an audible exhalation, he paced before me. “I cannot abide the disparity in my father’s treatment of Cassie and you—it is unpardonable. This could never have happened if Mother still lived. She would not have stood for it.”
Dear, sweet Noah,he had long been my fiercest advocate. An ache plagued my chest; I could not bear to be the unwitting cause of his distress. “There is no reason for you to be upset.”
“How can you say so? This inequity has existed for years, and to my shame I never disputed my father’s rationale before. But now you are seventeen and out in society. You ought to have the same opportunities as Cassie. She goes to parties and balls in town whilst you remain here.” His arms flailed to mark his speech. “Furthermore, FatherspoilsCassie. He buys her nothing but the best gowns, hats, trinkets, jewellery, and whatever else she desires whilst heis stingy with you.” He pointed at my gown. “You receive the clothes Cassie discards, never anything new.”
“Pray do not be vexed with Uncle Barton. He has the best of intentions. You must be aware of his reasoning.”
“Oh yes, I have heard his explanation.” Noah sputtered the words, adopting a mocking tone. “He does not want any potential suitor of yours to mistakenly assume you have a fortune. What a ridiculous and paltry excuse! We may count on Cassie to ensure every new acquaintance learns she has a dowry and you do not.” His mouth wrenched into a sneer.
“You are severe on her.”
“I speak the truth as you well know.”
“Believe me, the situation does not trouble me in the least. Cassie’s dresses ought to be finer than mine. First of all, she loves clothes far more than I do. Second, she is Uncle’s daughter, while I am merely his ward.”
“To my mind, you are no less my family than Cassie.”
“And I feel the same way towards you.” I touched his shoulder. “Allow me to remind you that Uncle is generous in the ways that are most dear to me. He allows me to pursue the pastimes I love. I may ride Lily whenever I wish, and he grants me free access to his library.” Cassie disliked reading aside from the occasional popular novel. And although she had learnt to ride as a child, she shunned the activity and had no affection for horses. Cassie could not abide ‘smelling like a horse’ and deemed riding habits to be ‘unbecoming’.
Noah raked a hand through his sandy hair. “What about our trips to London? It must bother you that Father always leaves you here at the estate.”
“He does that for my protection.” Although Uncle Barton made more frequent trips to town alone, my cousins sojourned with him there for a month or so each Season. Uncle Barton had explained that he would take no chances of my crossing paths with my uncle Gardiner.
“There is no reason to think we could not keep you safe in London or anywhere else.”
I bit my tongue. In actuality, I should love to visit the public gardens and museums in town and see a play or opera; rather than admit this, though, I should ease Noah’s mind. “Although I miss the three of you whenever you are away, I am content to remain on the estate.”
He ceased his movement and confronted me. “Is this your true opinion?”
Despite my discomfort for deceiving my cousin, I strove to appear sanguine. “Yes, it is.”
“Even if that is the case, I think my father is wrong.” Noah picked up a handful of loose stones from the path and threw each one towards the meadow in rapid succession. After a moment, he turned back to me. “Well, I suppose it would make little sense for me to carry on being resentful if you are not.”
Thank goodness.I moved into an easy posture. “Quite so.”
The hint of a smile lightened his expression. “Well, since there is no point in my sulking any longer, shall we take the horses out for a ride?”
I grinned. “Yes, by all means.”
Wednesday, 17 April 1811
Knight's Manor
Elizabeth
Cassie twirled before me, her golden locks flying off her shoulders. She stopped and adopted a showy attitude with her hands on her hips, her chin high. “What do you think, Lizzy? Is this dress not beautiful?” She moved to preen in front of the looking glass, smoothing the satin fabric of her new gown. The afternoon sun illuminated her lavish chamber, decorated in tasteful pigments of pinks and greens.
“Yes. The design is stylish, and the citron hue complements your blonde hair.”
“I had the same thought, and I am eager for Stephen to see me wearing this.”
My cousin intended to marry Mr. Stephen Ware, the heir to a nearby estate, Hawthorn Ridge. This past winter, their friendship had taken a romantic turn. He had proposed to Cassie a week ago, and she had accepted. But Uncle Barton had withheld his consent; while he approved of the younger Mr. Ware, he would not allow Cassie to marry before the age of one-and-twenty due to a promise he had made to Aunt Barton in the days before she died. Cassie would not reach her majority until February of next year.
