“Oh, I should think so. But some people particularly adore it.”
“Do they?”
“Lord Baderston,” Rosalind said as they waited their turn in the line, “I suppose you will put off marriage until at least next year?”
Lord Baderston looked exceedingly surprised to hear it. “Ah, well, I hadn’t thought…”
“You really ought to,” Rosalind said.
The earl appeared exceedingly startled. “Do you say, then, Lady Rosalind, that there is something…needing improvement? Some aspect of my person that time might remedy?”
“Goodness no,” Rosalind said. “It is just not your moment.”
“Not my moment?”
“You must wait to encounter someone who will appreciate your looks,” Rosalind said pointedly.
The earl appeared entirely affronted. “Lady Rosalind, while I realize that I might not be to everybody’s taste—”
“But that is just it!”
“I did not ask to be born a redhead!” he whispered heatedly.
“Of course you did not ask for it, but it is your good luck,” Rosalind said. “My sister adores red hair. Viola, you ought to wait for her.”
“Adores it? Viola?”
“Indeed,” Rosalind said. “She is quite set on red hair and as there cannot be many of you, I would say you have a distinct leg up. Further, you have a very nice shade going for you—it is rather like copper and I imagine she will highly approve of it. You will adore her, of course. She is very pretty and the most charming lady you shall ever meet.”
“Viola?”
“Lady Viola Bennington. She shall be here next season. Though, I will tell you something confidentially,” Lady Rosalind said.
The earl leaned close to hear it.
“She is in Townnowand we plan to often go out in the carriage all together. Were you to spot us in the park, you would know her as being the lightest haired of us. She is a charming strawberry blond with marvelous blue eyes.”
“Well, of course I do go to the park quite often,” the earl said thoughtfully. “Lady Viola.”
“Just so, my lord,” Rosalind said. “She is prodigiously fond of ham too. Which is why I asked for your own views on it.”
“I see,” the earl said. “Now, of course I may have downplayed my fondness for ham. One does not like to express too much enthusiasm for any sort of meat on such short acquaintance.”
“Just as I thought,” Rosalind said. “As well, Viola is a very loyal sort of person.”
“Is she?”
“Oh yes, if Viola decides that she is in your corner, then that is it forevermore. She says loyalty is the hallmark of a true heart.”
“It certainly is a very good quality. One would always wish for those in one’s sphere to be loyal.”
“What doesn’t our Viola have going for her?” Rosalind said. “Beauty, charm, loyalty, and a fondness for red hair and ham.”
“Gad, that is a remarkable list,” the earl said softly to himself.
Rosalind nodded, thoroughly satisfied with the earl. Now that she had conducted that bit of business for Viola, she turned her thoughts in the only direction they wished to go—Conbatten.
Chapter Four
