For once, Caroline’s humour seemed somewhat forced. Remembering the strangely intense study the men had made of her face, Lucy replied quite honestly, “I preferred Mr Thornton and Mr Cotton.”
“Oh no, that will not do. Mr Thornton is a confirmed bachelor, and Mr Cotton might be talented, but he’s half mad and can only love himself.”
“I meant I preferred their company! Their conversation. It was…very interesting.” Still desperate to know more about the studio classes Mrs Moller had mentioned, she added, as naturally as she could manage, “Will we see them again soon, do you think? I very much enjoyed talking to them.”
“Then yes! I’ll arrange it as soon as may be.”
Lucy had to be content with that and spent a pleasant enough hour walking in the park, though they were frequently greeted by people Miss Sedgewick knew, all of whom seemed very eager to meet her new friend.
She began to think her new host was even more popular than she’d first guessed; a jewel at society’s very centre. Peers and people of fashion greeted her every few yards, gentlemen lifting their hats, ladies lifting an elegant hand. Gleaming, sporting equipages were stopped, horses reined in. A viscount pressed Lucy’s fingers with great solicitude, and moments later, an ageing duke bent his head over that same hand.
It was dizzying to Lucy, used as she was to being mostly ignored, or, if not ignored, then ordered around. She was tired and overwhelmed by the time they directed their steps homeward. Miss Sedgewick, too, was oddly quiet.
Lucy hoped she might be permitted a short rest in her room, but that was denied her—not by her hostess, but by the presence of a very smart curricle drawn up outside Miss Sedgewick’s door, her solitary manservant standing nervously at the heads of two energetic, chestnut horses.
“Lord Orton?” Miss Sedgewick asked her man, apparently recognising the vehicle.
“Just stepped inside this very moment, ma’am.” He shot a look at one of the chestnuts as it jerked the reins. “Told me to walk ’em!”
She chuckled. “Have a care, William. They look fresh.”
“Fresh? Mad, more like it,” the grumbling servant muttered as he drew the horses forward, adding so quietly Lucy suspected only she heard, “just like their owner.”
The ladies entered the house and found Jack in the hall, just removing his caped driving coat. “Hullo,” he greeted them cheerfully. “Your man said you were due back any moment. Thought I’d risk waiting—and I’m rewarded!”
“You may stay five minutes,” Miss Sedgewick replied with a smile. “That’s as long as I’ll risk my man to your wild cattle.”
“Wild? A child could hold them!”
Just then, Captain Sedgewick appeared at the top of the stairs. “I could hear your voice from the parlour,” he told Jack. “Is that you, sister? I’ve been waiting half an hour.”
“Did we have an engagement?”
“Do I need one to visit my own house?”
He didn’t wait for her reply before fixing his smile on Lucy as he came down the stairs, looking very tall and manly in his red coat. “Miss Fanshaw! It was you I was hoping to see anyway.”
“Spare my feelings,” muttered Miss Sedgewick.
He paid her no heed but extended his hand to Lucy who took it cautiously, still reeling from her excursion and now further disturbed by the toothy smile the captain was directing at her. Perhaps it was all a joke. Some prank the men had made among themselves to see if she’d believe any of the attention was real. She might have suspected Jack was the cause—he’d always been fond of mischief—but such a trick would be far beyond even his taste for teasing.
She said hello, and the captain, still holding her fingers, said, “I know my sister often takes a turn in the park at this hour. Permit me to accompany you.”
“We’ve just come from the park,” said Miss Sedgewick.
“AndIam here to take Miss Fanshaw for a drive,” said Jack. Lucy turned to him in surprise, and the captain finally let go her hand.
“A drive,” repeated the captain. “What a…ah…good idea. Permit me, Miss Fanshaw! I’d be delighted to drive you wherever your heart desires.”
“Very gallant of you,” observed Jack, “but somewhat difficult to put into practice without a vehicle.”
“Oh, and that wasungallantof you to say so!” tsked Miss Sedgewick, laughing.
“The truth often is,” Jack replied.
There was a faint flush on the captain’s cheeks, and though Lucy thought it was more from anger than embarrassment, she nevertheless felt a little sorry for him. “I would be very happy to drive with you, Captain Sedgewick, when…when circumstances permit.”
“Nowthat,” Miss Sedgewick observed, “is how to make a pretty speech.”
