“And I hope to see you as well, Miss Benson.”
He watched her leave as he slowly made his way back to the manor. Well, now that he’d put his plan in motion, Collin couldn’t possibly object. From here on out, Adrian would be the country cousin.
Pausing at the door, he frowned. Then again, his brother did make it a habit of disagreeing with everything Adrian wanted to do. It would be interesting to see who would win tonight’s argument.
TWO
In Lyndsey Benson’sworld, there was no such thing as peace and quiet. Unless she left the house. Of course, being the eldest sister, there was bound to be some bickering back and forth, some tattling and some yelling, and alotof whining. Their mother had died ten years ago leaving the raising of four daughters to their father. Sadly, most of the time Lyndsey felt like a mother more than a sibling.
The carriage bounced her in the seat as she stared out the window. Her father rode his horse next to the carriage as they made their way toward Hanover Hall. Sighing, she frowned. She envied her father who didn’t have to be in the cramped space with three arguing women.
Thankfully, Lyndsey’s sister, Priscilla – who was a year younger than Lyndsey – was more mature than Jannette and Lizzie. It was nice to have someone in her family who understood Lyndsey’s dreams and disappointments.
As the carriage turned into the pathway toward Hanover Hall, the three-level manor with two adjoining wings, stood out majestically. Bright lights along the bottom floor of the manor helped to illuminate the way for their guests.
Nervously, Lyndsey wrung her hands in her lap. Not more than an hour ago, Pa had taken her aside and explained to her how necessary it was to secure a wealthy husband. The farm hadn’t been producing as much, and the little funds they had been living off were quickly being depleted. As the town’s clergyman he didn’t get paid much, either. Soon they’d be penniless and living off the kindness of the parishioners, unless a miracle happened.
Although she believed in miracles, she must do as her father instructed.Faith without works is dead,so the scripture from the Bible read. She clenched her jaw. Being the eldest meant that she willingly took on the burden of finding the right man to wed for her family’s sake – and prayed everything would happen the way it should.
Lyndsey glanced at Priscilla sitting next her. In Lyndsey’s opinion, Prissy should be the sister to land a wealthy husband. Her sister’s blonde curly hair, bright blue eyes, and fair skin made her exceptionally pretty. Whereas Lyndsey could only describe herself in one word – drab. Plain brown hair that was almost too curly for her ringlets to look natural; and the sprinkle of freckles across her nose proved how much she enjoyed being outdoors without a bonnet. Lyndsey didn’t even like to wear brightly-colored dresses like her sisters.
The rhythm of the horse’s hoof-beats decreased, and the two younger sisters gasped and practically hugged a window as they spied the manor while the driver prepared to stop. Lyndsey was not as enthused as her sisters. Even though she loved dancing and meeting new people, the mere idea that she was here tonight to find a husband, ruined her mood.
She shivered and clutched her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
Priscilla glanced at her and frowned. “Are you not feeling well tonight? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
Lyndsey put forth her best smile. “I’ve had much on my mind, but I’m well, I assure you.”
It didn’t take long after the carriage had stopped, that the driver opened the door and assisted each of them out of the vehicle. Lizzie and Jannette giggled as they hooked arms and followed their father up the grand stone steps of the manor.
Lyndsey walked next to Prissy, but neither of them spoke another word to each other. Lyndsey was certain her sister was in awe of the place, just as she’d been when she’d found her younger sisters sneaking around the grounds earlier today.
Embarrassment crept over Lyndsey as she recalled seeing the irritation written over the man’s very judgmental face. Her mind stalled, trying to remember his name, but he hadn’t given her one. All he’d said was that he was the earl’s cousin.
Although he seemed irritated when she first started talking to him, by the end of their conversation, he’d grown slightly more pleasant. He was a handsome man, too, which she found distracting – or was it his dirty clothes and messy hair that distracted her? Regardless, she hoped to see him this evening, and perhaps she’d beg him to introduce her to his cousin, the Earl of Hanover, Collin Dorsey.
