“No.”
“He is a handsome, virile man.”
“Mama!”
“Am I not supposed to notice such things?” She looked directly at Ariana. “Tell the truth, dear. Are you considering him as a husband?”
Ariana looked away. “His behavior is unstable. He drinks too much and can behave tempestuously.”
“Tempestuously?”
“Never mind.”
“Ariana, what did happen in that cellar?”
Ariana looked back. “Nothing! Ethel was with me.”
“Ethel is perfectly capable of turning a blind eye if she wants.”
“She didn’t. Nothing untoward happened except Kynaston becoming upset by a mummy and leaving without us.”
After a silent consideration, Ariana’s mother said, “Very well. I trust your good sense, dear. I know you’ll do the right thing.”
Ariana escaped to her room, wishing she had such faith. She didn’t say a thing to Ethel about Kynaston, and did her best not to let a hint slip. If her mother had picked up her interest, Ethel easily would. It was the first time she’d kept anything of importance from Ethel, and that made her think. Once she was settled in bed, candle extinguished, she made herself review the situation.
Truly, she’d had a fit of madness. She remembered with mortification that it had been Kynaston, not she, who’d broken that kiss. If he’d persisted, she’d have continued, even to her ruin. And he must have known it. He’d stopped—because he hadn’t wanted to go that far.
He’d only been doing as he’d said, and teaching her a lesson.
She wanted to shrivel into a ball and roll into a holein the ground. She wanted to flee Town at first light tomorrow and never return. Certainly never see Kynaston again.
Who was probably going to become her brother-in-law.
He’d hate that as much as she would. Would he refuse Norris on those grounds? That would be horribly unfair, but he was capable of it. Very well, she’d reassure him. She’d avoid him, but when they met, she would be cool, calm, and composed, so he’d have no need to fear that she’d tear off his clothes. That thought didn’t help her cool, calm composure, but she forced her mind to practical matters.
Tomorrow she was to visit the Egyptian Hall with Sellerden. She couldn’t easily cry off the engagement, but she mustn’t encourage him in any way. Now she couldn’t marry soon. It would cause a disaster.
Instead she would turn all her efforts to smoothing Norris’s way to the altar with Lady Phyllis Delacorte.
Chapter 9
The next morning Ariana awoke to rain. That didn’t augur well for a pleasure trip, but suited her for the outing with Sellerden. Perhaps the weather would literally dampen his enthusiasms. She could only hope it would extinguish any lingering idiocy she had about Kynaston. She’d been plagued by dreams. Such dreams...!
For Sellerden’s benefit, she chose an outfit that was quietly fashionable but as unalluring as possible. Her black-striped walking dress covered by her gray fur-lined redingote should do that. On her head she wore a low black velvet hat that she knew was close to ugly.
“Why that one?” Ethel asked.
“It has to be worn sometimes.” Ethel clearly wasn’t satisfied by that. “Very well, I’ve decided Sellerden won’t suit, but I’ve committed myself to this.”
“What’s wrong withhim, then?”
“He’s boring.”
“There are worse fates.”
“I couldn’t endure it. In fact, I’m giving up my husbandhunt. My brother is falling in love with Lady Phyllis Delacorte, and I intend to push them to the altar with all possible speed.”
“Oh,” Ethel said. “You going to remain a spinster all your days, then?”
