Page 19
“Yes I was there with my sister-in-law.”
Elizabeth flushed.
“My apologies for not recognising you in the same way that you recognised me.”
Lady Maria waved it away.
“You were focusing on my niece and her mother, I understand. I have many nieces and nephews but little Louisa is a particular favourite. She reminds me of myself at the same age.”
Elizabeth smiled at the small human moment. She was suddenly drawn to the lady’s surname. The name Leonard seemed very familiar, but her mind was spinning and it was not coming to her. She made a bland conversational gambit.
“I am glad that she is safe.”
“What you did not say, although my sister-in-law and I both saw it, was that you pulled my niece out of the way mere moments before a wagon shed its load on that very spot. That was incredibly brave.”
Again Elizabeth struggled to find the right words in response.
“Thank you. I did what was necessary.”
This comment, although another bland nothing, seemed to draw a line under the incident as Lady Maria changed tack.
“Are you a resident of London or are you just visiting Miss Bennet? Where is your father’s estate?”
This was the more familiar cut and thrust of society life. Elizabeth had to suppress a smile. Or was it a grimace.
“My father is a minor country squire; his estate is in Hertfordshire.”
Factually accurate without fully answering the question.
“So you are just visiting? It is a wonderful coincidence that our paths crossed.”
Elizabeth knew that she was never going to get away with less than a full accounting. Mayhap this would bring the interrogation to an end.
“My uncle is a widower, injured in the same accident that claimed the life of my aunt, his wife. She was crushed to death when a tun was displaced. My uncle lost his legs in the accident. I now live here in London, assisting him in raising their children, my cousins.”
Elizabeth saw the first flash of compassion as she told her story, but was surprised when she saw a second, longer look on Lady Maria’s face.
“The accident five months ago must have brought back very painful memories.”
Elizabeth did not trust her voice and merely nodded.
“I would like to invite you to tea. Are you free later this week?”
Elizabeth sighed, making no attempt to stifle it.
“Thank you for the generous offer but I feel I must decline. My uncle is my mother’s brother and he is in trade.”
There was no point in getting into any of the details. The barrier between them was too high. Elizabeth watched in surprise as Lady Maria thought about how she had responded. She expected an immediate end to the conversation and was astonished that it had not happened.
“Allow me time over the festive period to consider this. Can you give me your directions? I will send a note in the New Year.”
Elizabeth passed over her address on Gracechurch Street and after they parted never expected to hear from Lady Maria Leonard ever again. She may have been polite but a Lady was never going to associate with someone bearing the stench of trade. Claire walked beside her with Robert behind them.
“That Lady is used to getting her own way.”
Claire cut to the chase. Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
“You are right. My leisurely browsing through Hatchard’s has now become rather more of a standard shopping trip. I need to find a book for my father and it seems, oh I do not know, more of chore now. Meeting this Lady has thrown my mind into a muddle. I do not even know what her connections are.”
