“That does seem to be your philosophy,” she agreed.
If he wasn’t mistaken, she rolled her eyes.
Then she added, “Furthermore, I am enjoying myself.”
“Then stop worrying over what other people will think. Just this once.”
She took in a sharp breath and sent it out in an exasperated puff.
“Very well. I shall try.”
“After all,” he said, “you are a young woman with your life ahead of you, born into wealth and comfort, assured because of your beauty and sweetness to make a good marriage match. And yet, you do not always seem happy.”
He hoped he hadn’t said too much, but he added, “I have only been blessed to hear your laughter once, maybe twice.”
“What you say is true,” she agreed. “My eldest sister is nearly always happy and laughing and making others do the same. The comparison between us has ever been stark and to my detriment. I am not serious by nature, but I tend to want everything to be just sobeforeI can relax.”
“Really?” he quipped. “I hadn’t noticed.”
As intended, his words elicited a smile.
“When you find everything is not up to your standards,” he observed, “you wish to make them perfect ahead of any enjoyment.”
“Precisely,” she said. “Ever since childhood. If my parents held a party, I felt it was my duty to make certain the guests were happy.”
“There are things you cannot control, my lady,” he reminded her, thinking of his father’s untimely death. But he wouldn’t mention that early, dreadful lesson when they were trying to have an entertaining ride. Yet, perhaps he could give her a new perspective.
“If people around us wish to have unkind thoughts, there is little you can do. What’s more, even amongst the things you caninfluence, you might find a sense of relief if you don’t worry about them, either. Occasionally, let someone else be concerned over all the trivialities of the day.”
“The trivialities?” she asked.
He nodded. “Most of them are decidedly small issues, which will be forgotten when the sun sets, so why bother yourself?”
After a moment, she nodded, too. “I shall attempt a respite from trying to bring to order that which is insignificant.” She tapped her chin. “I should make a list of things with which I am overly troubled. I can consult it to make sure I do not—”
When Matthew began to laugh, she broke off.
Raising her dark eyebrows, she asked, “What have I said that is amusing you?”
“You are going to make a list,” he began, but fell to laughing again.
She crossed her arms over her shapely bosom.
“Please,” he said between chortles. “Don’t take offense. You must see how funny that is. An orderly,carefullist of things you are trying not to care about.”
He could imagine her diligently going to her writing desk, marking down what she ought not to worry over, and then worrying over whether she had included everything. Matthew laughed even harder.
“Cease braying like a donkey,” she said without rancor, cracking a smile. “You are correct. I shall endeavor to be more like you in some matters.”
He gasped for air. “I wouldn’t suggest being so drastic in changing your nature.”
She ignored him. “I should go somewhere fun where one needn’t worry.”
“And where is that, my lady?”
“Vauxhall,” she pronounced, looking pleased with her suggestion.
He winced.
