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"Then it does suit me," Helena replied, amused by the relative hush as the guests nearest them strained to overhear the conversation, "for I fear I, too, shall prove to be rather unusual. I hope, having long stood her friend, you will not hold my social lapses against Lady Darnell, who is taking great pains to try to civilize me.
Lady Jersey chuckled. "Your concern for your aunt speaks well of her efforts, Miss Lambarth. Being such a contrast to the norm of milk-and-water misses, I expect you shall cause a stir." A little smile played about her lips. "I shall greatly look forward to witnessing it."
After leaving their hostess, Lady Darnell led them toward a fashionably dressed matron holding court in the opposite corner of the room, murmuring that she was delighted she would be able to present Helena to another of the Almack patronesses, Princess Esterhazy.
As they walked, Helena noted a finely dressed older watching her. Since they'd entered Lady Jersey's parlor, each time Helena looked around during a pause in the conversation, she'd caught
the woman staring at her.
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"Aunt Lillian, who is the lady in the green dress?" she asked, pointing her chin in the woman's direction.
Turning where Helena indicated, Lady Darnell gasped. "Oh, my! ‘Tis...'tis Lady Seagrave, my dear. The mother of the gentleman whom.
"My mother loved," Helena finished, now inspecting the woman as avidly as that lady had regarded her. "Should I approach her?"
"I can introduce you if you like, but it wouldn't be wise to encourage the connection. Though 'tis many years since the..
.unfortunate events transpired, if you associate with Lady Seagrave, some may remember what circumstances forced your poor mama to do, and think badly of her."
A decade of anger sizzled in Helena. '"Tis my father Society should think badly of!"
"Indeed, my dear, but when a marriage doesn't prosper, 'tis always the woman who is blamed. Then, too, Lady Seagrave might resent you. If your mama had not taken refuge with her son, perhaps he might have been able to return to England. 'Tis best not to stir up old troubles."
Her aunt was probably correct, Helena thought, unable to read what emotion lay behind Lady Seagrave's enigmatic expression.
In any event, since Lady Darnell was clearly uncomfortable about introducing them, Helena would not trouble her by insisting on it.
But she couldn't make herself turn away without acknowledging the challenge of Lady Seagrave's steady regard.
Drawing herself up to her full height, she gave 172 THE UNTAMED HEIRESS
the woman a gracious nod. With the faintest of smiles, Lady Seagrave returned it, leaving Helena still uncertain of the woman's opinion of her.
Then, swallowed up in the crowd of gentlemen around the princess, Helena lost sight of the woman. Lady Darnell explained as they drew closer that, like the princess's husband, many of the men here were diplomats, the Englishmen having returned to London to consult with the government.
When they were halfway through the group, a tall, blond gentleman chanced to look their way. His dark eyes lighting, he eased his way toward them.
"How are you, ma'am?" he asked, bowing over Lady Darnell's hand. "You may not remember me, for you retired to Clay gate soon after Adam and I became friends, but he and I were at Oxford together. Nathan Blanchard."
"Of course I remember you, Lord Blanchard!" Aunt Lillian responded with a smile. "Allow me to present you to Adam's sister and my niece, Miss Lambarth."
"Miss Lambarth, a pleasure. But surely this blond angel cannot be Adam's little sister! I seem to recall at our last meeting a child with long pigtails, some sort of furry creature in arms and a quantity of mud."
Charis blushed. "Lord Blanchard, children grow up."
"But few grow so enchanting! Lady Darnell, you must permit me to call while I'm in London."
"You will be welcome at any time," that lady replied, looking pleased by Blanchard's reaction to her charges.
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"Will I find Adam at home, or is he still with the army in Paris?"
"No, he returned about a montfi ago. He will be de lighted to see you—in such time as he can spare from his betrothed. He has just become engaged to Miss Standish."
Lord Blanchard raised his eyebrows. "Adam captured the hand of the elusive Priscilla Standish? He's been quite busy! Tell him I shall seek him out to present my congratulations. And I hope to see you ladies again soon."
After exchanging a few words with the princess, who gave Helena a gracious smile, Lady Darnell shepherded the girls to the door. Pronouncing herself highly satisfied with the call, Lady Darnell decided to treat the party to ices and return home. She expected Miss Standish and her mother to call to thank her for the dinner party, she told them, and wished to rest before they arrived.
Understanding her aunt's need for repose before having to receive Adam's fiancée and her tiresome mother, Helena was doubly glad she would be driving out with Mr. Dixon—and thus had an excuse to avoid being present during the Standish ladies'
visit.
Helena's escort arrived promptly at the arranged time.
Determined to »scape before Darnell's fiancée arrived, Helena descended minutes after Harrison sent up his card.
"Miss Lambarth, you astound me!" Dixon exclaimed as she entered the parlor already garbed for the drive. "I've scarcely had time to warm my hands at the fire."
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"Perhaps you should invest in warmer gloves, sir," she responded with a chuckle as he shepherded her to his phaeton.
"Before you commend my punctuality, however, I must confess it is due more to the desire to avoid.. .certain callers than to an unusually high degree of promptness."
It took him only an instant to puzzle out her meaning. "In that case," he replied with a grin, "I'm surprised you were not waiting in the foyer!"
The open vehicle into which he assisted her had a narrow bench seat suspended high over very large wheels. She admired the view offered by its superior elevation while Mr. Dixon scrambled up to take the reins.
"I hope the height of the phaeton doesn't alarm you," he said as he set his team in motion. "Though it may appear the seat is suspended a dangerous distance from the ground, 'tis quite safe—
with a competent driver at the ribbons. You needn't worry I shall overset you."
"I doubt you could have gone through a war intact if you were
that ham-fisted. I love the carriage! I shall obtain one myself as soon as I learn to drive it."
A bit of coolness in his tone, he replied, "I beg your pardon, but even at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I couldn't allow a female to drive my rig."
She looked at him in surprise. "Are females not permitted?
How tiresome! Then I shall hire a carriage and pay John Coachman to teach me. I have vast experience driving a pony cart and expect the same principles apply."
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Looking at first a bit taken aback at her blithe disregard of convention, he recovered to produce a smile. "If you are that determined, let me offer to tutor you. A high-perch phaeton is a gentleman's vehicle and, without wishing to appear a braggart, I expect I have more experience at handling one than a coachman.
My vehicle is better maintained, my horses of higher quality, than any you might hire."
Helena slid him a laughing glance. "But, Mr. Dixon, you just said you could not allow a female at the ribbons."
"A female in general, no, but a serious student would be an entirely different matter," he replied promptly.
"Ah, but I would not wish to risk your superior horses or vehicle at the hands of a clumsy, inexperienced driver."
"With my guidance, your handling would not be clumsy."
The debate continued until they reached Hyde Park, Helena
maintaining she could not impose upon his time and would feel more comfortable learning in a hired vehicle, Mr. Dixon insisting she would learn better and more quickly with him as her instructor.
As they entered the park, Helena exclaimed at the beauty of the large open expanse with its tended carriageways and verdaqt greenery. Taking his place in the long line of vehicles, between greeting acquaintances, Mr. Dixon pointed out various styles of carriages.
After a half hour of slow progress, Helena's initial enthusiasm began to dissipate. '"Tis very well to look at thoroughbreds, Mr.
Dixon, but if this is the only
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place in London one can ride, I shall need nothing more spirited than a plodding old pony."
He smiled at the exasperation in her tone. "One doesn't come to the park during the promenade hour to ride, but to see and be seen."
"There is better riding to be had at other times?" Helena inquired hopefully. "Tis truly a waste of fine carriage trail to dawdle about in this fashion."
"You prefer galloping ventre à terre, I suppose?"
"Is there any other way?" she returned with a grin.
Mr. Dixon laughed. "I suppose not. Early morning is best, I understand, if you wish the park to yourself."
"So I shall come only then. Do you prefer your phaeton to riding—or are you not an early riser?"
He turned to gaze into her eyes, his own darkening with something of the look Darnell's had possessed as he'd stared at her in his library. "I could be...if the spectacle were sufficiently arousing. Do you keep country hours?"
