Why was he even here? This was not the type of entertainment that Lord Seth Claxton enjoyed, at least not according to gossip. Had his sister convinced him to join her? It was the only reasonable explanation. Didn’t he have a gaming establishment to run or a mistress to visit?
He smiled and started in their direction as Tessa had her husband move further away so that there was space enough on the bench for two people between her and Tessa.
If Seth and his sister must join them, why couldn’t they sit on the other side of His Grace?
As they approached, Lady Blythe and Seth greeted them and Tessa reached out to take Lady Blythe’s hand.
“I am so happy that you decided to join us.”
Had she been warned that they’d have these additional guests, Frances would have found an excuse to remain home.
“I had forgotten how much I enjoyed attending Astley’s Amphitheatre,” Lady Blythe said as she settled next to her cousin which left the only vacant seat beside her.
How impolite would it be to simply leave? Certainly, she would be able to hail a hackney to take her home.
“Lady Bethany, Miss Hawthorn, it's a pleasure to see you again,” Seth greeted as he took his seat beside Frances.
She acknowledged him only with a nod and continued to face forward.
“Oh, my brother has arrived,” Bethany said as she stood.
If Shrewsbury joined them, they'd have to sit even closer and the last thing Frances wanted was to have her leg pressed against Seth's even if there were layers of clothing between them.
“As we are crowded, I will go join him,” Bethany said and was gone before anyone could stop her. This did allow Frances to scoot away from Seth, but he moved closer to her again, which left more room for his sister, Tessa and His Grace. Despite having no one else to speak with, she did her best to ignore Seth even though she was very much aware of the heat radiating from his body and the all too familiar citrus cologne that wafted toward her.
Certainly, there was enough room that he could sit closer to his sister and why did he make her so nervous? Frances had never been anxious around him before, not even that first day when he appeared in the cottage and she recognized him as the duke’s second son, so why now?
He shouldn’t and she’d already lost one night of sleep because of him. Therefore, she would simply ignore him and if that was not possible, cool politeness was all she’d offer, then permanently put him from her mind once she returned home.
Luckily, it was not long before she was delighted by the magicians, clapped for the jugglers, held her breath during the sword fights, laughed at the melodramas and closed her eyes during the tightrope walkers because she did not want to watch anyone suffer a horrific fall. They did not and Frances was quite glad when their performance came to an end.
“It appears you have not gotten over your fear of heights,” Seth observed.
For but a moment, when she’d been afraid for the tightrope walker, Frances had forgotten Seth was seated beside her and then he spoke.
“It appears the only thing that has not been cured from my younger years,” she responded.
“Are you inferring that you needed to be cured from me?” he asked quietly.
“You may infer whatever you wish from my response,” Frances answered then turned her attention to the horses and their riders entering the arena.
The equestrian acts managed to keep her mesmerized, which allowed her to easily ignore the gentleman seated beside her. Frances was also envious of their talents. She could ride a horse, of course, but had had none of the talent she witnessed by the riders performing.
“I recall that I often saw your younger sister, Miss Hope, galloping across the fields. In fact, I am not certain I ever saw her not on a horse, other than in church of course,” Seth commented. “Has she had the opportunity to come to Astley’s Amphitheatre?”
“Yes,” Frances answered without taking her eyes off the performance. “She enjoyed it very much during her first Season and the following summer she attempted many of the same tricks. Uncle Edmund had tried to put a stop to her activities because he was certain Hope would fall and break her neck. In time she ceased doing tricks with the horse and began racing. Next year she plans on entering flat races for women.”
“And he approves?” Seth asked.
“He does not, but Hope is four and twenty and has a mind of her own. She behaved the perfect debutante and miss to wed and please him. As that has not happened, she now wishes to pursue what she enjoys.”
“I recall you also being independent.”
“I was given little choice.” Once her parents were gone and her uncle left her siblings and cousin to be raised by servants and a governess, they each found their own interests and comforts and learned to rely on themselves and each other, but not the adults in the household.
“May I call on you?” Seth asked in an abrupt change in conversation.
Frances stiffened and looked at him. She’d foolishly been lulled into a pleasant conversation, even though she had been determined to ignore him. “For what purpose?”
