AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She had answered me straight away and added a tidbit of her own? I felt like I had been blessed by this woman for so many words when any were rare from her lips. I shook the sarcastic thought away. I needed to focus. I had a mission here.
“From what I witnessed on Sunday, local Society is both large and deeply connected. I would assume the majority of families have been here a long while.”
“Most of them, yes. Which has proved both a blessing and a curse.”
“In what way?”
Her gaze flicked to me before focusing again on the path we walked. “I do not converse easily with strangers, you see, so the blessing lies in that most of our neighbors are not strangers.”
“The curse?”
Her nose wrinkled. “That each neighbor, having claim on such long acquaintances, feels themselves owed a degree of intimacy which I do not easily give to anyone.”
I had to admit that I agreed with her regarding the overwhelming nature of such a Society. Since delivering my cards and making Sunday’s introductions, I had received an endless number of callers over the course of the week.
This was where Miss Whitstone and I were similar. “I cannot bear to be in social functions when I do not know the people well, and even when I know them well, too great a number will destroy my poor nerves.”
Miss Whitstone stopped walking and looked at me. “Truly?”
Had I given the impression otherwise? “Yes. I struggle immensely in any social situation. The crowds themselves do not bother me so much as the attention does. So dancing or anything requiring me to step in front of a group is inordinately challenging.”
“That is difficult to believe, Mrs. Bradwell. You comport yourself with such dignity and grace.”
A very undignified and ungraceful laugh tore from my throat. “Only wait until the ball my mother-in-law is holding at the end of the month. If I do not faint by the end of the first set, it will be a miracle. I far prefer reading and drawing to any situation that requires me to put forth physical effort or speak to someone I do not know well.”
Miss Whitstone narrowed her gaze above a bland smile. “Perhaps we should have escaped to the library instead of the gardens. Then we could both sit in the silence we clearly prefer.”
I tried not to feel the slice of her unintended cut. The honesty of her barb sharpened its point, but it did not feel as though the woman intended to hurt me—only to speak the truth. “You enjoy reading, then?”
“No, but I enjoy the quiet and not being forced into conversation with a stranger.”
I had been correct then, and Miss Whitstone lacked both an affection for books and an active imagination. Evidently, she was void of tact as well.
“Perhaps we can circle the garden once more in silence before we return to the drawing room, then?” I suggested.
“That would be pleasant.”
We continued down the pathway, and I allowed my shawl to slip down my shoulders and drag low behind my back, the warmth of the sun providing more than enough heat. We passed the shallow fountain in the center of the gardens, and my heart jumped, recalling the escapade from earlier in the week.
James had been nothing but kind and attentive, regardless of how unappealing his idea of courting could be. Since the archery activity, he had taken me for a long ride in his curricle and offered to teach me to shoot, which I politely declined. I was certain he would soon propose a game of cricket or fencing lessons. Henry’s advice to find an activity we both enjoyed was becoming increasingly attractive, but less and less likely.
Except, of course, for kissing. An activity I completely enjoyed, but had only partaken in once.
I supposed the entire lack of it made our courting feel all the more authentic. For if we were unmarried, we certainly would not kiss.
A shadow passed over the path above us, and I looked up to find Henry striding our direction. Miss Whitstone stopped suddenly, intaking a quiet breath.
“Good day, Felicity. Miss Whitstone,” Henry said, bowing to us. He turned his attention on our guest. “I have been sent to fetch you to the drawing room. Your mother is ready to leave.”
Miss Whitstone nodded, her cheeks blooming with color that I wagered had nothing to do with the warmth of the day. Did she carry an affection for Henry? Perhaps that explained why James did not believe himself to be the correct match for this quiet woman.
We stood in uncomfortable silence a beat longer before I swept my arm toward Chelton. “Shall we?”
Henry walked by my side, Miss Whitstone on the other, and we made our way quietly toward the house. When we at last reached the drawing room I had never been so glad and relieved to rid myself of a caller—and I hardly ever enjoyed when people came to call.
As the Whitstones were taking their leave, a footman presented me with a letter upon a silver salver. I took it, thanking him, and waited for the women to be escorted away before crossing toward the window to open the missive in the sunlight.
The direction on the front was written in my mother’s familiar hand, and I was both anxious and excited for whatever it could hold. I had not been parted from my parents for this length of time in my entire life, and these last few weeks had been something of a challenge in navigating my new roles alone. I needed my mama’s guiding hand now more than ever.
