Chapter 7
We went to the theater tonight at the Royal Lyceum to see Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance.The play should have been fascinating, but I was too taken aback by Harry’s sudden attention to have a care for it.
Moira had to go back downstairs for her fan and made Harry
Harry escorted me up to our box, holding my hand where it tucked into the crook of his arm all the while!Though I know he is a practiced flirt, I cannot help but think he is sincere in his compliments.And he was ever so obvious in his reluctance to release my hand when we finally reached our seats.
~From the diary of Lady Fiona MacKintosh—Jan 1893
––––––––
“He did look ratherdispleased when we left the park.”
“Lord Ramsay is lacking in patience, but it is nothing to worry over,” Fiona told her as their slow-paced walk brought them again to the granite stoop and wrought iron railings that marked the entrance to Glenrothes House.
At seven stories and with five window bays across the white stucco and red brick Georgian facade, the townhouse the Earl of Glenrothes had purchased just the past year stood as the grandest residence in the square, remodeled not very long ago to encompass two lots.
Naturally, Francis hadn’t purchased it for its utterly ostentatious presence with a façade adorned with eight mammoth pillars and a ridiculous amount of wrought iron ornamentation but rather because the sheer number of bedchambers provided by those seven floors far exceeded the number provided by Glenrothes’ previous London residence in Cavendish Square.Simply put, it was house enough for the whole clan to inhabit without constantly rubbing elbows.
But small enough, as Ilona pointed out, to inundate Fiona with constant reminders of what her life was lacking.
One might have thought the monstrous place large enough to provide a moment—the smallest moment, mind you—of respite from everything that had prompted what had been labeled as her ‘unseemly haste.’”
It did not.Now, she was only bound by it.Upstairs and down.
“Are you certain?”
“He wants an elopement,” she admitted as they entered the dimly lit foyer.As her eyes adjusted from the bright sunshine, she missed seeing her sister-in-law’s frown.
“I hope you did not agree to such a thing!”
“I would never,” Fiona assured her.“And I told him the same.I was nearly tempted to tell him of Francis’ compromise as well.Perhaps he would have suggested that we become engaged and simply wait out the year.”
Ilona had doubts on the matter but kept the refrain to herself as Hobbes greeted them at the door and snapped his fingers at the footmen, who rushed to his side to take their accoutrements as Hobbes handed them over.“Did you have a pleasant walk, my lady?Madam?”
“It was most pleasant, Hobbes, thank you for asking,” Ilona said.“Is everyone at home?”
“The ladies of the house are still in the family parlor, but I’m afraid the gentlemen remain scattered to the winds, madam,” he answered, handing off the last parasol.
“There was an advertised auction this morning at Tattersalls,” Fiona told her.“I suppose they couldn’t resist.”
“There were to be races as well, I believe,” Hobbes added.
“Ah,” Fiona nodded.“There you are then.”
“Would you send up some refreshment for Mrs.MacKintosh, Hobbes?”Fiona linked her arm with Ilona’s as they headed up the broad, carpeted staircase to the first floor.
