Nathan found himself a little bewildered by the sudden change in subject.
“No, of course not.”
“Of course not,” Lord Davenport agreed. “The higher the stakes, the more careful we ought to be. We seek advice. We take a safe choice. Turning our back on practicality and safe choices will lead to our losing a great deal. A very great deal indeed. And time might well be running out.”
Before Nathan could respond, Lord Davenport got to his feet, ostentatiously taking out a gold pocket watch and checking the time.
“I don’t believe I have time for tea after all,” he remarked, with faint disappointment. “I had better be going. I hope you found this conversation enlightening, my boy. I am fond of you, and I do my best to give you good advice for the sake of your old Papa.” He paused, leaning forward. “And I should very much like, one day, to give you advice as an almost-son to me.”
Nathan swallowed thickly. “I… I shall think on it.”
Lord Davenport nodded, smiling. “I’m sure you shall. But don’t think too long, eh? Time waits for no man, and nor will Amanda.”
He left without another word, leaving Nathan sitting at his desk and feeling deeply unsettled.
Chapter Five
“I’m surprised a second son can afford all of this,” Bridget commented, tight-lipped. “Although, I suppose it is Katherine’s dowry that paid for it.”
Pippa flinched, throwing her mother an alarmed glance. “Mama! You can’t speak that way. Katherine and Timothy are hosting us. This is where we’ll meet the rest of the family. They invited us to aparty, Mama.”
“Gratitude is all very well,” Bridget responded tartly, “so long as it is not takentoo far.”
Pippa gave up.
They had spent the first night at William and Lavinia’s home only the previous night. Pippa had found herself lying awake for hours, despite sleeping in a larger and more comfortable bed than she hadeverhad.
My whole life has changed,she’d thought, over and over again.But what if it doesn’t last? What if I only get used to it, and then it’s over?
She was being foolish, she knew that. Nothing lasted forever, and anyway, if she wanted a more comfortable life, she’d have to marry somebody who could provide it for her.
It didn’t help the nerves.
The carriage on loan from William, of course rolled to a halt in front of a well-appointed, pretty little town-house. It wasn’t as large as the Willenshire manor, of course, but it was five or six times as big as anywhere Pippa had lived in her entire life.
A woman stood out on the front steps, smiling and waving. She was tall, pretty, and with the same colouring as William; olive skin, light eyes, dark hair. She was also pregnant to her second child, her belly curving out under her dress. A man of average height stood beside her. He was wiry, with dark blond hair and large green eyes, a handsome oval face and round wire-rimmed spectacles.
“This must beMr.Rutherford,” Bridget muttered under her breath, and Pippa cringed.
“Please, Mama. Don’t be unkind.”
“Who said I would be unkind?” she shot back. “Don’t speak to your own mother like that, Pippa. Now, wipe that look off your face. Smile, for heaven’s sake. You have to be pretty and entertaining, or they’ll ship you off to one of the other cousins.”
That was all they had time for before the door was opened by a liveried footman, and it was time to climb out.
“Pippa, Aunt Bridget!” Katherine said, beaming. “I’m so happy to see you. William wrote and told me all about your visit. We’re all quite thrilled to see you!”
Pippa never thought about curtsying, which she probably should have done. Instead, she threw her arms around her cousin, hugging her tight.
“Pippa!” Bridget hissed, obviously mortified, but Katherine only laughed and held on tighter. She pulled back, inspecting Pippa closely.
“You are extremely pretty,” Katherine announced. “I have rooms all prepared for you, and I hope you’ll stay with me for at least a few days, perhaps longer, before you decide to go back to William. Now, as he and Lavinia arejustmarried, they won’t be going into Societystraightaway,so I thought I could take you to a few events, while you find your feet and make a few friends. I daresay you’ll be wanting to make a good match this Season?”
Pippa opened her mouth to respond, but it was Bridget who answered.
“Oh, heavens, yes,” she said, laughing. “If we’re to take our proper place in Society again, Pippa will need to marry. We’re hoping for a Marquess at least.”
Katherine blinked, taken aback for just an instant before she recovered.
