“I was just challenging Miss Knightsbridge to a race to the gate, I wagered twenty pounds. Should you like to join in? Jolly good fun, eh?”
Lady Marksworth coldly stared at Mr. Conners. Lord Hampton looked infuriated. Now, Cassandra had no doubt that Mr. Conners sought to insult her. But why? What had she ever done to the gentleman? She had only suffered through a dance with him and if he had noted that she suffered, it might have taught him to become more amusing, rather than seeking to insult his victim.
“I would have a word,” Lord Hampton said to Mr. Conners. The lord took the reins from Mr. Conners’ hands and led him away from the carriage.
Cassandra looked toward her aunt, but Lady Marksworth still had her gaze locked on Mr. Conners. Cassandra could not hear what the two men spoke of, but could see that whatever it was, Mr. Conners did very little of the speaking. The one phrase she did hear was the last one. She was certain Lord Hampton had said, “Now clear off,” before dropping Mr. Conners’ reins.
For Mr. Conners’ part, he spurred his horse and cantered away without taking his leave. Lord Hampton watched him go and then turned his own horse and trotted over to the carriage.
“Lady Marksworth, Miss Knightsbridge, I would apologize for my uncouth acquaintance.”
Lady Marksworth softened at the sentiment. “We are glad to see you, Lord Hampton. It seems absolutely anybody might wander round the park bothering people these days.”
Lord Hampton nodded and said, “I will escort you on your way to ensure that none of Mr. Conners’ friends are so inclined to harass.”
At that, they made their way forward. Lord Hampton was silent, as was Cassandra. It was fortunate that Lady Marksworth was not so afflicted and nattered on about where society was going when young bucks took such liberties.
Cassandra was far too busy trying to work out what Mr. Conners had thought he was about. Was it really because he noted that she was not delighted with his conversation at the Montagues’ ball? It was a frightening thought, especially if there were other gentlemen who might think to insult her if they felt themselves affronted by her lack of interest. There might well be—Lord Hampton had cautioned against the gentleman’s friends.
But then, she was certain she had not shown her true feelings when Mr. Conners had asked her no end of questions about Surrey. She had been quite civil. At least, she thought she had been.
Finding herself unwilling to remain in the dark on such a matter, Cassandra said, “My Lord, is Mr. Conners in the habit of proposing such ludicrous things to ladies he hardly knows?”
Lord Hampton had taken time with his answer, and finally said, “I cannot claim to know his habits, Miss Knightsbridge. I am only very casually acquainted with him. Though, having witnessed it, I will make it my business to be less acquainted with him.”
It did not give Cassandra any real answer, but she found she was much complimented by the idea that the lord would cut Mr. Conners on account of an insult to herself. In truth, she was admiring of the way Lord Hampton had handled the entire situation. He had been masterful, and a lady could not be oblivious when a gentleman stepped in on her behalf.
“I applaud you, Lord Hampton,” Lady Marksworth said. “It’s all well and good to allow a mister or missus into one’s sphere, but only if they can conduct themselves creditably in civil society. We lords and ladies must lead the way and set the example.”
Lord Hampton seemed particularly struck by the idea and softly said, “Indeed, we must.”
A clatter of hooves behind Cassandra made her turn her head, almost dreading that it might be Mr. Conners’ friends. Instead, she saw Lord Lockwood and Lord Ashworth.
While she was glad it was not to be some other gentleman challenging her to a race, she found herself slightly alarmed to be in the company of three of the gentlemen of the pact.
The two men very civilly greeted her and Lady Marksworth. Lord Hampton said, “I was just escorting Lady Marksworth and Miss Knightsbridge. I discovered Mr. Conners acting less than a gentleman.”
The three men exchanged looks between them that Cassandra could not divine the meaning of.
Lord Lockwood said, “We might all have a mind to escort Miss Knightsbridge, if Lady Marksworth is not opposed.”
Cassandra knew her aunt could not be less opposed to anything. Lady Marksworth said, “We should be delighted to have your company, my lords. Though, we are nearly at the gate.”
“We should not mind going all the way to Marksworth House, should we not, gentlemen?” Lord Ashworth asked.
The gentlemen all nodded as if this were the most usual thing in the world. Lady Marksworth appeared delighted. Cassandra turned her head to hide her face. What they proposed was extraordinary. It was as if she retained her own cavalry. It had not gone unnoticed, either.
Every carriage they passed contained people looking fairly agog at their progress.
What was the meaning of it? Why should the three gentlemen escort them to her aunt’s house? Further, what should they do when they arrived? Invite them all in for tea?
She noticed, as she pondered it, that the three gentlemen had placed themselves into some kind of formation. Lords Lockwood and Ashworth rode ahead on either side, while Lord Hampton rode behind her.
Cassandra blushed. She might be a queen for all the care that was being taken. But why?
It sometimes felt constraining to keep oneself in the realm of polite conversation, and it certainly did at the moment. If she could have had her way, Cassandra would have said, “Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this? What is it you do?”
She could not say such a thing and was forced to ride forward as if this situation were not at all strange. That itwasstrange was evidenced by the various looks of passerby. Cassandra dearly hoped it would not lead to any unfortunate gossip.
