“However,” Lady Easton said, “a young lady being escorted by her maid says nothing to passerby. A young lady being escorted by a highly placed matron says everything. Lady Redfield has kindly offered to come tomorrow morning. She’s quite looking forward to it, actually, as none of her boys ever seem to have time to go along with her to the shops.”
Miss Upton looked resigned to the idea and Richard thought he might be able to understand part of it. It was likely not that she was opposed to being escorted, but perhaps Lady Redfield’s chatter and indecisiveness were found to be wearing. He could not claim he had a different opinion of the lady—if one were to come in wet from the rain, Lady Redfield would invent a compliment on the charm of being damp.
“Well, then,” Lord Easton said, “it’s all settled and no harm done, eh?”
Only Miss Upton managed to smile at that bizarre statement.
Richard seriously wondered what his uncle was thinking these days. Or perhaps it was just that hewasthinking these days, and his thoughts were exceedingly odd. Lord Easton would be far better served to go back to his old unthinking days and allow his wife to do the thinking for him.
Chapter Eleven
Lady Redfield hadagreed to escort Caroline about the town and the lady was as good as her word. She arrived to the house at eleven. Caroline had resigned herself to the idea that she’d be looking at ribbons or buying paper for letters or scanning a shelf of books while the rest of the town was down at the beach to see the boxing exhibition.
She so wished to be there! She was so eager to see how it would unfold. Caroline was certain that Lord Bertridge would do very well and had a yearning to view him boxing in earnest. Then of course, she reminded herself that she must also be interested to see how Mr. Landon would fare.
In truth, her attention felt torn between the two gentlemen. Lord Bertridge was so devilishly handsome that no matter how many times she attempted to dismiss him from her thoughts, her thoughts would rebel and bring him right back up for consideration.
Her thoughts, as unruly as they were, could not be convinced that the lord’s nature was not at all suited to her. He was, she was afraid she must finally admit, the stickiest-sticky-stick-stick. Still, for all his stickiness, there was something in his manner, his confidence, the way he carried himself.
And then, she did have the strangest shivery feeling when it seemed he approved of her, right along with the intense irritation of when he did not. He had been unusually kind to her at dinner the night before, at least unusually kind forhim. It had been in some way touching. Then, might not a stick unstick himself over time? Just because he was a stick now did not mean he would be forevermore.
Her thoughts were very stupid, as she well knew Lord Bertridge, stick or not, did not give a toss for her.
Mr. Landon was of quite a different nature. He was lively and fun and did not take himself too seriously. His interests were closely aligned with her own and he did not think a wife should be kept away from his horses. They were suited, she was sure.
But, though he was a pleasant-looking gentleman, her rambling thoughts did not see him in the same light as Lord Bertridge. Her logic understood the matter very well, but whatever guided her thoughts had seemed to drift into the camp of Lord Bertridge.
It was all ridiculous, in any case. It was not as if either gentleman was pressing a suit. She might look at both men from every angle, but that did not mean either of them were seriously looking ather.
Except, she did feel Mr. Landon had an interest. She could feel it in her bones. From Lord Bertridge, though, she could sense nothing.
So why was she being such a fool as to compare them? As Bemmy very rationally said, a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. If there were a gentleman anywhere near her hand, it was Mr. Landon. It might be early days, but she sensed it.
All of these thoughts passed through her mind as Bemmy was pointing out various establishments to Lady Redfield. Though the lady had a house in town, it appeared she did not get to the shops often. She generally found that her carriage had gone off with one of her sons, or the carriage was there but the horses were gone.
“That one, there, Lady Redfield,” Bemmy said, “is Jennings. Mr. Jennings has the finest in everything a proper lady might require by way of ribbons, fans, bonnets, parasols, and reticules. You did say you’d been huntin’ for a new reticule? If Mr. Jennings don’t have it, it ain’t worth having.”
At this rather ringing endorsement, Lady Redfield said, “Well of course I have heard of Jennings, at least I think I have. Did I say I required a new reticule? Well, I suppose I might have, one does say things in passing that do not commit to memory. In any case, as it seems I am looking for a reticule and Mr. Jennings does have what’s worth having, we ought to go in.”
And so they did proceed in, with Bemmy taking the lead. “Mr. Jennings,” she said to the proprietor, “I brought two fine ladies to examine your wares. I told ’em, if you don’t have it, it ain’t worth having. Lady Redfield, in particular, is looking for a new reticule.”
Mr. Jennings, a middle-aged man with a shiny bald head, bowed very low and said, “Lady Redfield, just this way to the counter. I am sure you will find something to your liking.”
Bemmy said, “Right you are, Mr. Jennings. While you’re showin’ off your things, I’ll take Miss Upton here to the back of the shop to have a look at them new ribbons you talked about.”
There was a flicker of confusion on Mr. Jennings’ features, as if he had no notion of new ribbons.
Bemmy took Caroline by the arm and firmly directed her down the rather crowded rows in Mr. Jennings’ shop. There were twists and turns and boxes stacked to the rafters. It was a veritable maze.
“I do not see any ribbons here, Bemmy,” Caroline said.
“No, you don’t,” Bemmy said merrily. “What you see in front of you is a back door out of this place.”
“But you do not mean we should…”
“A course I do,” Bemmy said. “Poor Lady Redfield will get so turned round in this place she’ll never figure out how she lost us.”
Caroline was torn. She would not wish to cause Lady Redfield any trouble. On the other hand, she desperately wished to see the exhibition and she and Bemmy had so carefully worked out how it could be done safely.
