‘I was referring to my youngest sister, sir,’ Phoebe returned in her most dignified voice, ‘who is still but twelve years old!’
To her satisfaction, the faintest flicker of chagrin passed across the viscount’s impassive face.
‘Excellent!’ he recovered swiftly. ‘Then let us hope she remains incurious for as long as possible; there are few things less appealing than a lady who likes her liquor.’
‘I assure you, sir, that none of my sisters are so afflicted!’ Phoebe retorted. ‘Though I would challenge anyone who called themincurious.’
‘Lord, Alex!’ the captain chortled. ‘You sound like the vicar! I see no reason why a lady need not enjoy herself as much as any gentleman, providing it does not compromise her of course. Personally, I feel the fairer sex would betwiceas responsible withhalfour freedom, were we just to relax our collar points a little. This is 1820, after all!’
Phoebe flashed the captain a look of intense gratitude.
‘And yet we would risk every decent offer of marriage, were we to admit to any of the mischief in which you gentlemen indulge on a daily basis,’ Aurelia purred with a gleam.
‘Truth!’ the viscount nodded abruptly. ‘Far better to accept the reality of the world in which we live than dream of one that doesn’t, for surely that must lead only to disappointment.’
‘Then I am destined to be a disappointed dreamer, sir!’ Phoebe ground furiously.
‘I too, Miss Fairfax,’ said the captain. ‘And I often remind my brother there is room for dreamers and pragmatists alike in this world!’ He smiled. ‘Now, I believe we have detained you ladies for far too long, and you will be much missed from your party. Lady Aurelia, Miss Fairfax…’
Phoebe sank into a curtsey as the gentlemen made their bows, and waited only until they were out of earshot before spinning to address her companion.
‘What were you saying before? About an adventure?’ she asked, the viscount’s insufferable arrogance making her bloodboil.
A gleam crept into Aurelia’s eyes, as she picked up her skirts.
‘This way,’ she nodded, stepping off the path.
Phoebe hesitated only briefly, before following her into thetrees.
‘Of all the people to run into unchaperoned!’ Aurelia rolled her eyes. ‘And yet here, it is perfectly respectable for us to have a short walk – unlike in town where one has to be presented, and chaperoned, and presented again until one feels quite exhausted! What do you think? Isn’t the season a bore?’ She yawned prettily, pushing her way through two thick rhododendron bushes.
‘I wouldn’t know, I’ve only attended one Assembly,’ Phoebe muttered, staring down at a crumpled pamphlet entitledMary Wollstonecraft and Women’s Equality.
It seemed particularly poignant, with the viscount’s words still ringing in her ears.
‘Our education being solely for the purpose of marrying has rarely made sense to me,’ she added. ‘My brothers are encouraged to learn and travel, while we are treated as little more than fragile butterflies, to be collected and pinned. As though we don’t have minds and voices of our own at all!’
Aurelia paused to look back at Phoebe, a look of curious satisfaction on her face.
‘I knew you were a bluestocking!’ she replied. ‘And in answer to your question about how Iknew: you gave yourself away! When I asked if I looked with child, you pulled exactly the same expression you pulled in the modiste’s, when we discovered you fencing with a parasol. Oh, how funny that was! I knew right away it was you, but what I couldn’t understand was why you’d gone to such garish lengths to attend a boring Assembly Ball ofallthings!’
She smirked before stepping through to a pretty, lantern-lit glade, where she withdrew a small ivory snuff box from her reticule, flipped it open, and raised a pinch.
‘And I certainly don’t intend to be collected and pinned!’ she observed, inhaling swiftly. ‘When I marry, I shall run a fashionable townhouse, host parties of the ton, own more ball dresses than I can ever hope to wear and be a dutiful wife in every way, but … I shall also have as many adventuresasI wish, because for people like us marriage is a business contract. So you see, there’s no need to be quite so concerned about our education, whenfragile butterfliescan be masters of their own disguise! Snuff?’
Phoebe shook her head, suppressing a rise of feelings as she recalled the viscount’s view.
‘Such behaviour in young ladies of quality would be reprehensible to many gentlemen with a name and reputation to protect…’
Somehow, she doubted Aurelia’s intentions accorded with his own expectations of his marital union – and yet she was sure they couldn’t be more suited, either.
‘It’s my own special recipe,’ Aurelia smiled, taking another pinch. ‘Finely ground tobacco, scented rose petals andsomething extra with a littlerushat the end!’
Phoebe watched as Aurelia inhaled again, her delicate eyelashes fluttering, before stepping back to steady herself.
‘Do try it. Consider it a … first step to equality!’ She giggled.
‘I’m not really sure snuff is up there with education and worker’s rights,’ Phoebe muttered.
