“Yes, and other places. You were six when Norris became ill in Town with some fever and nearly died. After that, we didn’t bring either of you to London again.”
“Oh, I do remember that. It was frightening and I was taken away by someone. Uncle Willoughby?”
“That’s right. We wanted you far away in case it was infectious. Fortunately no one else caught it and Norris recovered, but we were all very alarmed.”
“We think we know about our family and our world, but much is forgotten, or not spoken of.”
“Perhaps we should all be diarists for our children and posterity, but I never had the patience for that.”
“Nor did Father.” They’d reached her mother’s bedchamber. “May I come in for a moment?”
Her mother agreed, but said, “Is something amiss, dear?”
“Not at all. Or not really.” Ariana didn’t want to speak of her insanity. “I think Norris might be seriously interested in Lady Phyllis Delacorte.”
“The plain one?” her mother asked, and Ariana wondered how much it hurt to be constantly referred to that way. Like “the tall one.”
“Say rather that her looks are quiet,” Ariana said.
“I suppose so. She’d be greatly improved by colors.”
“Then we’ll hope the mourning ends soon. He plans to ask Kynaston tomorrow, but he thinks Kynaston will want them to wait.”
“No harm in that.” Her mother smiled happily. “I told you he’d fall in love.”
“Yes, but he might not marry for years.”
“If they love, I doubt they’ll wait quite that long.”
“Mama, have you forgotten the purpose behind all this?”
“No, but I refuse to even consider the prospect of Norris dying in my lifetime.”
“I can’t ignore it.”
“Ariana, surely you’re not thinking of continuing with your challenge now. How could you? If you manage to marry by the end of the year, Norris would be honor-bound to follow you to the altar.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
Her mother was looking at her as if she’d run mad. “But if Kynaston won’t allow Phyllis to marry for a while—and that seems completely as it should be—Norris would have to marry someone else.”
Ariana put a hand to her head. “Oh, Lord. I’m an idiot! This all seemed so simple once.”
“You were wrong about that, but I knew there was no point in saying so.”
“Am I so unreasonable?”
“No, dear, but headstrong. Once you get an idea, it can take time to purge it, even if it must be purged. Being purposeful is an excellent quality, especially if you now pay attention to finding yourself a husband you can love.”
Love, love, love.
Ariana couldn’t keep the words in. “What do you think of Kynaston?”
“Goodness. Are you considering him after all? Not the easiest of husbands, I’d think.”
Ariana backstepped hurriedly. “I meant as a brother-in-law! And son-in-law.” She was hot-cheeked, but her mother didn’t seem to notice.
“I don’t suppose he’d visit Boxstall very often.”
