“Oh, sister, I wish you would forget all of that. I was unspeakably rude to him.”
Lily’s face shifted, but in the dancing candlelight, Winnie could not work out what was in her mind. “So… you are regretting what you said? And jilting him?”
“I regret themannerof my speech to him, but not its import,” Winnie said crisply. “And he jilted me, if you recall.”
“Then you would not have him back?”
“Not for a king’s treasure! Even if I were not engaged to Walter, I would not marry Mr Lomax now if he were the last man on earth.” Her words resonated in her head, making her smile — was that not exactly what she had once said to Walter? Then she had not meant it, but now… “No, I would not have him back. Everything I said was true, Lily. He and I should not suit at all.”
“I think you may be right,” Lily said. “It seems to me that when he first encountered you at the Post Office, he saw you as a… a princess in need of a knight to rescue her. He has a very chivalrous nature, and wished only to protect you from the world, but I do not think you like to be protected, Winnie.”
“No, indeed! There are occasions when a gentleman’s greater strength is useful, but on the whole, I believe I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. As I had already done at the Post Office, in fact. Not that I was ungrateful for Mr Lomax’s intervention, but neither I nor my reticule were in any further danger.”
Lily lapsed into silence for some little while as the candle flickered. Then abruptly she said, “Was it truly terrible when he kissed you?”
Winnie laughed. “Why the interest in kissing?”
“I should like to be prepared, that is all. I very much hope to be kissed one day, and I should like to know what to expect… and whatnotto expect. Will you tell me what he did wrong?”
“He took me by surprise. He just… grabbed me, without warning.”
“So… he should have warned you?”
“He should have asked. A gentleman should always ask, unless a lady makes it obvious that such attentions would be welcome. And then he should be very gentle and say sweet things and stroke her hair… that sort of thing. It should be romantic and tender and loving, not abrupt and harsh.”
“Romantic and tender and loving… I see.”
“Lily! What are you planning?”
“Heavens, how suspicious you are!” she said, laughing. “Goodness, my candle is almost out. I shall have to feel my way back to my room. Good night, sister… and thank you.”
“Whatever for?” Winnie murmured, but her quicksilver sister had vanished, the door closing quietly behind her. “Hmm… now, what was that all about?”
At seventeen, it was not surprising that Lily’s head was full of romance, and perhaps her questions were no more than idle curiosity, but Winnie thought she would mention the matter to Mama.
***
Winnie’s days were so busy, she hardly had time to breathe. There were dinners held to celebrate their betrothal by several of the neighbouring families. There was a visit to Knaresborough to see Mabel, for she was too close to her confinement to travel. At Mama’s suggestion, there were whole days at the castle, as Walter showed Winnie everycorner of his home, and introduced her to everyone, even the secretaries, stewards, gamekeepers, poultry maids, bakers, brewers, dairymaids and woodsmen. And there was church, when she could walk in on Walter’s arm and imagine the day she would walk out again as his wife.
The earl and several members of the family were at St Timothy’s, obliged by the death of their chaplain to attend divine service at the parish church instead of the convenience of the chapel at Corland. They did not linger afterwards, for it was starting to rain, but the earl dashed across to speak to Papa.
“Tuesday,” Papa said with satisfaction, as soon as the carriage was in motion. “His lordship and Mr George Atherton will call on Tuesday at noon to discuss settlements, and then we shall see, Winnie. Yes, then we shall see. But I am not optimistic that you will be able to marry soon, my dear. You must be prepared for a long engagement, I fear.”
“I do not mind that, Papa,” she said.
“No, but… who knows what may happen?” He threw a quick glance at Walter. “And you will be two hundred and fifty miles apart for much of the year, which is not at all ideal.”
“I do not mind a long engagement, either, sir,” Walter said. “Winnie is worth waiting for.”
Winnie threw him a shy glance and was rewarded with a look of such fire in his eyes that she blushed and looked away.
“How romantic!” Lily sighed as Papa smiled benignly at them, and even Mama’s disapproval lifted momentarily into a slight nod.
Tuesday came, and with it Lord Rennington and Mr George Atherton, together with an attorney. It was of no great interest to Winnie. She would have her five thousand, that much she knew, but how much the earl could do for his son now that he had lost his inheritance was another matter. It was one thing to make anallowance to the heir, for he had a claim on the estate, but an illegitimate son had no such right.
Walter’s employment would pay him only two hundred pounds a year, and the interest on Winnie’s dowry was only another two hundred or so. Although many families lived on a great deal less, Winnie had never been brought up in great economy. Her father’s income was not large, but with the home farm and their own productive kitchen garden and orchard, they lived very well. How she would manage in London on only four hundred a year, buying everything in, was beyond her understanding.
So, they would wait until Walter was better established, and she would live at home until then, and there was no point at all in thinking about wedding clothes or a house or children. She could have had all of those, and lived in luxury for the rest of her life with Mr Lomax, but she had made her choice. She would be happy in poverty with Walter, rather than miserable in luxury.
