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Lady Josephine was not offended. Were it not for etiquette and for the cumbersome side saddle, she knew she could easily have jumped on horseback by herself.
Lady Josephine was in a good mood that afternoon, despite the gloomy visit the prior day from her prospective in-laws. The sun was shining, there was just a hint of warmth in the early March breeze, and there were touches of green beginning to show among the tree branches.
The Earl bade her good afternoon, and then was silent.
Trying to inject a little of her own happy feelings into the conversation, she said, “Is it not a lovely day, my lord? I do believe spring is on its way.”
“It would appear so,” said the Earl noncommittally.
Perhaps an attempt to flirt might energize him into some more spirited exchange than this. I must make someeffort with this unpleasant man, so at least I can tell Papa I tried. Oh, if only it were Ace I was riding with on such a beautiful spring day!
“And does your lordship like my new riding habit? ‘Tis the first time I’ve worn it!” said Lady Josephine lightheartedly. She knew that the garment suited her well, with its cinched-in waist and its flowing skirts, its olive color that brought out the flashing green in her hazel eyes and drew hidden highlights from her light brown hair.
The Earl was silent for a moment. Then he turned to her sternly. “Lady Josephine. I admire simple, artless girls who do not fish for praise, not little connivers who angle for compliments from men. Please keep that in mind.”
Lady Josephine sat back in her saddle, flummoxed. Never in her life had she been spoken to so rudely by a man.
The couple remained silent for several minutes, as the horses matched their strides around Rotten Row.
“Nor do I like girls who sulk,” said the Earl, breaking the long silence.
“I was not—” Lady Josephine began to protest.
“Do not interrupt your elders when they are attempting to teach you something,” the Earl said. “You are young—I am five-and-twenty years your senior—and by paying attention, you may be better shaped by my worldly experience.
“You could take a beneficial example from my lady mother. My lord father, the 5thEarl, was, like myself, a Navy man, and he ran his household like a tight ship. He frequently reprimanded my lady mother over little things, yet never once did I see her respond with anything but an affectionate smile.”
“She sounds like a paragon of virtue,” Lady Josephine said.
Missing the sarcasm in her tone, the Earl agreed. “Yes, she was. And is. But does your own father not criticize you from time to time, in order to guide you into adulthood?”
“Mylordfather,” said Lady Josephine, emphasizing His Grace’s rank, “is a teacher, not a scold. And you, my lord, are not my lord father.”
Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. She bit her lower lip hard to stay in control. Looking over, the Earl noticed that and smiled, shaking his head a little. “And now we have the tantrums. My, my. You are still very much a child, my dear.
“We are near the gate that will lead us back to Clover House. Shall I signal the coachman behind us that we are done for the afternoon? Yes? Good.” They rode in silence the rest of the way.
* * *
“’Phina, that was the worst half hour of my life,” Lady Josephine said.
They were back in the Clover House library, sipping tea.
“Surely you exaggerate, cousin. From the carriage, it looked like you were having a pleasant enough time.”
“He said I was fishing for compliments, just because I asked if he liked my new riding habit. When I tried to explain myself, he told me not to interrupt my elders! He said his father used to reprimand his mother, and she always responded with a smile. When I got tears in my eyes—I didn’t shed them, honestly, ’Phina—he called me a child and said I was having a tantrum.”
Lady Seraphina made light of the story. “Just based on that one conversation, I don’t think he’s necessarily a bad man, my dear! He may be correct—the age difference between you may be too great for a true understanding, right at the beginning. Youareinclined to get upset over things,” Lady Seraphina said sagely. “But in many marriages, the bond deepens as the younger party matures.”
“So you’re saying our incompatibility is my fault! Lady Seraphina, why are youpushingso hard for this marriage?”
Lady Seraphina burst out with her true feelings. “Because, Lady Josephine, you have no idea how lucky you are. One of the most respected men in the kingdom wants to marry you. You’ll continue to have a title as lofty as the one you were born with. Your children will never want for anything financially. Compare that tomysituation as a dependent widow with a fatherless boy.”
“My children will never want, simply because the Earl will take all my lord Papa’s estate, my entire inheritance, when Papa dies. I will have no power over one shilling of my own. And yet I must carry on, and smile and smile at this rude man, and pretend he is doing me the favor by marrying me!”
At this point, Lady Josephine dissolved into sobs. “That man, that old woman and the sisters, they will be my jailers, once they have the rights to my inheritance. You’ll see—I’ll be lucky if they even let you or Hermie visit me except once in a while.” Her tears flowed even harder.
Lady Seraphina shook her head. “This future scenario is all in your imagination, cousin. I don’t know what to make of you. I will send a note over to the Glaston Arms—perhaps Lady Hermione will know how to talk sense into you. I certainly don’t.”
