Trying not to be obvious about it, Ariana assessed him. Perhaps she’d misjudged Lady Cawle, for she’d pointed out an attractive possibility. Dauntry was elegant and fashionable, but his ease of manner countered any suggestion of fop. He said something that amused those around him, which suggested he wasn’t a bore.
A knot of anxiety loosened. It was too soon to decide anything, but Lord Dauntry seemed to have everything to recommend him.
See.
She’d known it couldn’t be so very difficult in the end.
Chapter 6
Back in Albemarle Street and undressing, she told Ethel all about the evening, including the encounter with Uncle Paul.
“A cesspit of a man,” Ethel said, unfastening Ariana’s gown. “Who inherits if your uncle dies?”
“A distant cousin. A better option, but almost anyone would be.”
“Then perhaps you should kill your uncle.”
Ariana turned to stare. “What!”
“Man like that, if he fell off a bridge and drowned in the river, no one would wonder or care.”
“I couldn’t dream of such a thing.”
“Easier, I’d think, than marrying to force your brother.”
“One’s illegal and a terrible sin, and the other isn’t.”
“Less likely to get you hanged, true enough.”
“Of a certainty.”
“I meant, killing your uncle,” Ethel said. “When you kill your unpleasant husband, you’ll be the first suspect.”
“I’m not going to kill anyone,” Ariana said. “Thevery idea! And I’ll find a tolerable husband. There has to be at least one.”
“This Viscount Dauntry?”
“I’ve not even met him.” Ariana sat so Ethel could take the ornaments out of her hair.
“True, it’s early days yet,” Ethel agreed. When Ariana’s hair was free, she began to brush it. “So you ran Lord Churston off.”
“Thank heavens. I can’t believe that he tried to scold me.”
“You could have said I was with you in the cellars.”
“I could, but that would have diluted the deterrent. As it is, I’m free of him, at least.”
“But no additional suitors other than Dauntry.”
“Whom I’ve not yet met,” Ariana reminded her. “Frank Fettersby tried to court me.”
“The fortune-hunting rake?”
“The very one. If he learned not to sneer when rebuffed, he might have more success.”
“People don’t change,” Ethel said, putting down the brush. “I’m not going to become excitable. You’re not going to become meek. The Prince Regent’s not going to become frugal.”
Ariana turned to look up at her. “What of all the sermons about repentance and reform?”
