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“I would rather be run down by runaway horses.”
“Watch your tongue, young lady,” her mother chided. She opened the door to Ellen’s room and called the maid to go and fetch a basin and towels. “Simon will grow out of his tricks, Ellen. I assure you, all boys are like this at his age.”
“I do not want to hear it, Mama. Simon is the worst boy I have ever met. He is rude and wild and disrespectful.”
Her mother sighed and helped her climb out of her ruined white dress. “Well, perhaps school will help mellow him. His father has told us that he will be off to boarding school in a few weeks.”
Ellen breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, thatiswelcome news. At least we shall not see so much of him, except on holidays.” She turned and went to the vanity. Her maid had returned with fresh water and clean towels by this time. She dipped the corner of one towel in the water and began washing the mud off her face.
Her mother shook her head. “Someday, you will appreciate these times, Ellen. Perhaps Simon only treats you this way because he is trying to get your attention.”
“I do not care why he does it. I only want him to desist. It seems his father has solved my problem for me,” Ellen said, turning her attention back to her reflection. “With any luck, Simon will go away to school and forget all about me. Maybe then I shall finally get some peace.”
Chapter 1
July 1816
Simon Grant lifted the glass of Scotch to his lips and took a small sip. Looking about the room, he studied the young people, all having a marvellous time. All except him, it would seem.
“Why the long face, Simon?” his friend, Lord Everett Carlisle, called as he approached from the other side of the room. Simon pasted a smile on his face and greeted him. Behind his friend appeared his younger cousin, Lady Genevieve Gladstone.
“I did not know you would be here this evening,” he said with a genuine smile this time. “I thought I would have to suffer in this corner all alone.”
“And why should you suffer?” Everett asked, turning to Lady Genevieve. “My cousin practically begged me to bring her to this party, so you had better make it worth my while,” he teased.
“You know that we always have fun together, we three,” Simon said. He turned to Lady Genevieve and bowed. She curtsied, wearing a mischievous grin on her bright ruby lips. “I am indebted to you, Lady Genevieve, fordraggingyour cousin here, as he suggests you did.”
Lady Genevieve took his offered arm. “My cousin may be a twenty-year-old university graduate, but sometimes I wonder if a grumpy old man is trapped inside his body. He never seems to have time for fun since he graduated from law school.”
Simon laughed. “It is quite the feat considering he is only twenty.”
Everett flashed an annoyed glance at both of them. “You know that I am right here, do you not?”
Simon let go of Genevieve’s arm and walked over to his friend, clapping him on the back good-naturedly. “We are not making fun, Everett, old chap. We are proud of you, that is all. Are we not, Lady Genevieve?” he asked, turning to her.
“Vastly proud,” she agreed. “Now, where is the champagne? This is a celebration, is it not?”
Everett shook his head. “No champagne. You are not old enough yet,” he admonished.
“I am nineteen. I do not see the problem,” Lady Genevieve turned to Simon for help, but he was not about to get mixed up in the family quarrels.
“We had better celebrate while we can,” Simon said, changing the subject. “I have just received a letter from home.”
Everett and Lady Genevieve stilled, their faces drawn.
“What news from home?” Everett asked. Simon gave a sad smile, for Everett had travelled home to Montclair Castle nearly every holiday since they were twelve—ever since Everett’s father had passed away, leaving him an orphan. As they grew older, they had spent their summers in London with Lady Genevieve and her parents. It was strange to think that this was his last summer spent in the company of his two closest friends.
“News, I am afraid, has been coming for a long while. My father has ordered me to return home immediately,” Simon sighed. He paused for a moment before telling them the news. “I am going to be married.”
Everett’s face blossomed into a smile while Genevieve’s face blanched. He tried to laugh it off but was sure that she might faint by the way she swayed. He offered her his arm again and started toward the refreshment table. “Perhaps some punch will revive you, m’lady,” he said with a mockingly serious demeanour. She rested her free hand on his arm to steady herself.
“Married?” she asked. Her dark brown eyes flashed with alarm.
“Yes, I am afraid so. Father has asked me to come home straight away, but I am in no hurry to go home andtie the noose.”
“Do you not meanknot?” Everett asked with a laugh.
“No,noose,”Simon shot back in a teasing tone. However, he was much more nervous than he let on. His father had arranged for him to marry Lady Ellen Semple. He had had feelings for her since they were small children, but she had never seemed to notice him unless he played a trick on her or annoyed her in some way.
