That would put an end to any temptation to be foolish.
Chapter 7
After that comforting thought, Ariana was aggrieved to arrive back at Lady Cawle’s house at the same time as Kynaston. He was paying off a hackney cab as their carriage halted, and came over to hand them down. Ariana would not have believed that the contact of gloved hands could be significant.
Ariana’s mother went ahead toward the open door, so Ariana was left to walk to the house with him.
“You leave tomorrow, I believe,” he said.
“You will be pleased to see us gone.”
“It would be most discourteous of me to agree.”
This was an opportunity to clear away one matter. “I am not eyeing you as a future husband, my lord.”
He raised his brows at her. “You’re eyeing all the men of London that way, Lady Ariana.”
Angry words rose, but they were passing through the doorway by then, with servants and family ahead, for Lady Cawle was waiting to see them safely returned.
Ariana said, “Not Lord Inching, I assure you,” andLady Cawle put in, “That dreadful man. Keep your distance from him. Good night.” With that, she went upstairs.
“Lord Inching?” Ariana’s mother asked.
“The very short man. Apparently he has something of an obsession for tall ladies.”
“Then definitely to be avoided. I hope your sister enjoyed the dance, Kynaston.”
“She’s in alt.” His tone was distinctly sour, and no wonder.
“Every young lady is thrilled by her first ball,” Ariana said. “Such events soon become humdrum.”
“I wished to keep her out of the social whirl a while longer,” Kynaston said, “but circumstances forced my hand.”
A poorly maintained roof, Ariana remembered, which had led to his sister being here by charity of neighbors, but with no money for pretty gowns. Lady Cawle had denied that Kynaston was in financial straits, but he could have concealed the truth from her.
“She’s seventeen, is she not?” her mother said. “Not too young for a first dabble.”
“But too young for marriage, ma’am.”
With those stern words, he wished them a good night and walked off toward the library. That room again. Did the servants know to have a decanter of brandy there, waiting? Ariana was tempted to run in there and smash it.
“As if she’s going to marry within days of her first Town dance!” Ariana’s mother remarked, heading for the stairs. “But my older brothers were the same. As bad if not worse than my father.”
“Because they knew what young men get up to?”
Her mother chuckled. “I’m sure you’re right, dear.”
When they reached their rooms, Ariana’s mother said, “Good night,” and went into hers, but Ariana lingered in the chilly corridor, thinking that no young man had ever tried to get up to anything with her. In Hampshire she’d had admirers, but they’d all behaved with perfect propriety. Exactly as it should have been, but she couldn’t help wishing that some fevered gallant had tried to clasp her in his arms and seize a passionate kiss.
Just once.
Especially if it were Kynaston...
Memory of Fettersby returned like a dose of salts. He’d tried to kiss her against her will and she’d thumped him on the nose for it. Probably every other man had sensed she’d do the same thing, since she was an Amazon of a woman.
Which had her remembering Kynaston clasping her raised fist.
Ariana hesitated, knowing she mustn’t do what she was thinking of doing.
