Unlike the townhouse her brother had previously owned in Cavendish Square, which was miles away from anything of note in London, this one in Eaton Square was just a half-mile off Hyde Park.The proximity allowed her to partake in her own amusements—or keep a clandestine rendezvous, as it were—without having to continually call up a carriage.
“Oh!That sounds lovely.Do you mind if I join you?”
Despite her promise to meet Lord Ramsay in the park, Fiona assured Ilona that she didn’t mind.Hobbes sent a maid to fetch Ilona's hat, gloves, and parasol while they waited near the door.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?I know I’m likely to slow you down.”
“Not at all!You know I love your company, and we haven’t had a moment alone since coming to town,” Fiona told her.“Besides, a brisk walk might be had anytime, but a quiet stroll with you is a rare treat.”
Besides, it was almost impossible to be in a gloomy mood when Ilona was about.The sunshine yellow of her silk morning gown was an outward reflection of her ever-sunny disposition.
The maid returned, and Hobbes passed the items along to Ilona one at a time before opening the door for them.“Mind the sun, my lady,” he said to Fiona, then nodded to Ilona.“Madam.”
The door shut behind them, and Ilona cast a wicked smile her way.“He really does care, doesn’t he?”
Fiona shook her head.“Sometimes I wonder.”
“Well, I think he’s positively doting,” Ilona said as they linked arms and set out toward the park.Despite the wide brim of the hat that shaded her face, Ilona kept her lace parasol held high while Fiona swung her fetching parasol by her side.She rarely used them in the manner for which they were intended, but where she usually eschewed overly feminine frills in her gowns, Fiona had a weakness for lavish accessories.
Although her robin’s egg blue walking suit and white blouse were only sparingly detailed with silver metallic embroidery at the cuff, hem and wide waistband, her matching leather boots and gloves were heavily detailed with the embroidery, as well as glass beads, pearl buttons, and silver cording.Her parasol reflected more of the same.The satin dome was covered with beads and embroidery while the edges cascaded with white Chantilly.
Still, if she hadn’t adored simply carrying it, she would have done so any way to make Hobbes happy.Why did she bother when he seemed to make no effort to do the same?“He treats me like a child just as the other lads do.”
Ilona shook her head merrily, twirling her parasol as they walked.“He treats you like a daughter,” she corrected.“What a delightfully glorious morning for a walk in the park.Don’t you agree, Fiona?”Ilona asked with a gusty sigh.“Though I suppose you would rather be riding.”
“If I were to ride, I would rather be at Glen Cairn galloping across highlands, hatless...and corsetless.”
“I would as well, but still, it is a surprisingly nice day.”
There was a stubborn persistence in her tone that Fiona knew well, as Ilona was always adamant about seeing the best of every situation and insisting that others join in her eternal optimism.
But the weatherwasfine that morning.Clear blue skies and a cool spring breeze created ideal conditions for a heavily garbed lady to get some small exercise without suffering heat exhaustion.“Yes, Ilona, it is a lovely day...made all the brighter by your company.”
It wasn’t a lie.Ilona was one of her favorite sisters-in-law—Fiona labeled all five of her sisters-in-law thus—but like her relationship with Eve, her friendship with Ilona was closer than most.
Of course, there was nothing to dislike about Ilona.She was spontaneous and occasionally mischievous, like Fiona, so they got on very well.She was also the caring sort and possessed a quality Fiona knew she herself was lacking, in that Ilona was also one of the few genuinely kind people in the world.Far nicer than herself.
It made her easy to love.
It also helped that they were nearly the same age and of similar enough dispositions to become fast friends rather than mere in-laws upon Ilona’s marriage to her brother, Colin.The only difference between them was that Ilona had been married for three years now, while Fiona faced near spinsterhood.
Alone.
“I saw you dancing with Lord Temple last night,” Ilona said brightly, taking Fiona by the hand to pull her out of her sudden onset of melancholy and across the street to Belgrave Square.
“I think he means to court me,” Fiona confided as they cut across the gardened square.“He practically said as much.”
Ilona studied her momentarily as if something in Fiona’s tone worried her.“Would that be such a bad thing?He seems to be an amiable man and is already friendly with your brothers.”
Fiona chewed her lip, a bad habit when she was troubled.She’d been doing a lot of it of late.“He is very nice.It just came as something of a surprise, and you know I am all but engaged to Lord Ramsay.”
“I know nothing of the sort,” Ilona refuted.“What I do know is that you are stubborn.Stubborn enough to refuse to admit you might be wrong about something.”
“Ilona!”
“I know it is not my place to lecture,” her sister-in-law continued as they rounded Wilton Crescent, and the border of the park came into sight down the street.“But as your friend, who wants only your happiness, I must say that I cannot believe you will find it in Lord Ramsay.”
Another voice to add to the steadily growing chorus disparaging her choice.A troubled frown creased Fiona’s brow.“But you haven’t even met him,” she pointed out.“How can you say such a thing without laying eyes on him?”
