“Is it that bad?”
“It is,” he confirmed. “There are so many carriages that they move along at a sedate pace on the path, allowing riders to come up alongside of them to chat.”
“That sounds awful.”
“It is the time to be seen by the other members of theton.”
“I’m afraid I do not like to draw attention to myself.”
“Neither do I,” he said. “It is much simpler that way.”
Henrietta glanced over at Lord Charles and asked, “How long have you been friends with Lord Brixton?”
“Most of my life,” Lord Charles responded. “We met on the first day we arrived at Eton, and we have been friends ever since.”
“Do you believe his affection towards my sister is genuine?”
“I do.”
“That pleases me to hear,” she said. “I would not want to have to challenge him to a duel for hurting my sister.”
His brow lifted. “A duel?”
“Yes; why can’t a woman challenge a man to a duel?”
“Well, they are illegal,” Lord Charles replied, amusement in his voice.
“Yet they still occur with little or no repercussions.”
“That is true.” Lord Charles adjusted the reins in his hand. “Do you even know how to shoot?”
“I do,” Henrietta replied. “The gamekeeper at my country estate taught me how.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded, then grinned impishly. “I may have pleaded with him until he finally relented.”
“Why is that?”
“My father didn’t think it was an important skill for a young woman to have,” she shared. “He only seems to care about accomplishments that make me more noticeable to gentlemen.”
Lord Charles smiled. “I take it that your father is not impressed with your kite-making abilities, then.”
“No, he is not.”
“Well, for what it is worth, I think it is admirable that you pursue your passions,” Lord Charles said.
“Not every gentleman feels the same as you do.”
“Then they are fools.”
A slight laugh escaped her lips. “I agree with you,” Henrietta said. “May I ask what you are passionate about?”
Lord Charles hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Antiquities.”
“Truly?”
He bobbed his head. “I own a percentage of a company that buys and sells antiquities from all over the world.”
