Read Online A Country Miss in Hanover Square by Anne Herries - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Herries
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the point of our drive this morning,’ Harry replied. ‘I am not able to make another arrangement for the time being, Toby, for I shall leave town this afternoon and may be away for a couple of days or so. However, we shall drive together when I get back. I believe Ravenshead means to stay in town for a while. He was undecided at the start and refused all invitations, but he told me that he thought he would attend a ball next week. If you prove yourself worthy, I may speak to him for you.’
Susannah paused outside the parlour door. She had returned home earlier from an expedition than expected and was about to join Amelia for tea when she heard voices and hesitated, un certain whether or not to go in.
‘I am glad to see you, John,’ Amelia was saying. ‘Shall I ring for wine or tea? I am alone, as you see. My friends went out…’
‘Father was put out when you invited them to stay with you,’ John Royston answered in a frank tone that carried easily to Susannah’s ears even as she lifted her hand to knock. She hesitated as he continued, ‘I must tell you that I think Miss Hampton charming. If she had fifty thousand, I should join the queue of hopefuls, but I do not think she could afford me.’
‘Susannah has too much sense to marry a man who cares only for her fortune, though she has some thing,’ Amelia told him. ‘Are you in trouble again, John?’
Susannah hesitated, knowing she ought to leave, but her feet re fused to move and she continued to listen.
‘Lord, no,’ he said. ‘I won a thousand from Carstairs last night, which will tide me over until next quarter if I am careful—which I shan’t be, of course. I wondered if you would speak to Father for me, Amelia?’
‘I have little influence with my brother,’ Amelia replied. ‘If you aren’t in debt, what is the matter?’
‘I have asked Father to buy me a pair of colours,’ John said. ‘He says I should settle down and take an interest in the estate, but he would hate it if I did. If I offered advice, he would soon tell me to take my nose out of his affairs. But he says he can’t afford to sup port me as an officer.’
‘Yes, he would,’ Amelia agreed. ‘Are you sure the army is for you?’
‘Father will live for years yet,’ John told her. ‘I have nothing but my allowance, which is barely enough to support the life I lead in town. I must either look for an heiress or take myself off for a few years. Of the two, I think I prefer life in the army.’
‘If I bought you the colours, and gave you an income of, say, two thousand a year, could you live within your means? Even in the army it is not cheap for an officer.’
At this point, Susannah decided that she had heard too much al ready and must either knock or move away. Just as she was deciding what to do, her mother called to her from the top of the stairs.
‘Are you waiting for me, my dear? Go in, Susannah. Amelia will send for tea and I am ready for mine.’
Susannah raised her hand, knocked and entered, feeling awkward. She was in time to see John Royston kiss his aunt’s cheek. He tucked some thing into his breast pocket, managing to look as if nothing unusual had happened.
‘Miss Hampton,’ he said and came to her, bowing elegantly. He took the hand she offered and kissed it. ‘I was just saying to Amelia that you are the toast of the town. I would offer my suit, but I have no fortune to recommend me.’
‘I would not accept a gentleman just for his fortune,’ Susannah replied, a little reserved. She was embarrassed at having heard some thing that ought to have remained private, feeling herself at fault for having listened. It was the second time she had done so and some thing she must correct! ‘I shall give my hand and heart only when I find love.’
‘Quite right too,’ he said, eyes twinkling. He was a handsome young man and Susannah thought him charming enough. However, it seemed that he had visited to ask for money, and she could not help thinking
Susannah paused outside the parlour door. She had returned home earlier from an expedition than expected and was about to join Amelia for tea when she heard voices and hesitated, un certain whether or not to go in.
‘I am glad to see you, John,’ Amelia was saying. ‘Shall I ring for wine or tea? I am alone, as you see. My friends went out…’
‘Father was put out when you invited them to stay with you,’ John Royston answered in a frank tone that carried easily to Susannah’s ears even as she lifted her hand to knock. She hesitated as he continued, ‘I must tell you that I think Miss Hampton charming. If she had fifty thousand, I should join the queue of hopefuls, but I do not think she could afford me.’
‘Susannah has too much sense to marry a man who cares only for her fortune, though she has some thing,’ Amelia told him. ‘Are you in trouble again, John?’
Susannah hesitated, knowing she ought to leave, but her feet re fused to move and she continued to listen.
‘Lord, no,’ he said. ‘I won a thousand from Carstairs last night, which will tide me over until next quarter if I am careful—which I shan’t be, of course. I wondered if you would speak to Father for me, Amelia?’
‘I have little influence with my brother,’ Amelia replied. ‘If you aren’t in debt, what is the matter?’
‘I have asked Father to buy me a pair of colours,’ John said. ‘He says I should settle down and take an interest in the estate, but he would hate it if I did. If I offered advice, he would soon tell me to take my nose out of his affairs. But he says he can’t afford to sup port me as an officer.’
‘Yes, he would,’ Amelia agreed. ‘Are you sure the army is for you?’
‘Father will live for years yet,’ John told her. ‘I have nothing but my allowance, which is barely enough to support the life I lead in town. I must either look for an heiress or take myself off for a few years. Of the two, I think I prefer life in the army.’
‘If I bought you the colours, and gave you an income of, say, two thousand a year, could you live within your means? Even in the army it is not cheap for an officer.’
At this point, Susannah decided that she had heard too much al ready and must either knock or move away. Just as she was deciding what to do, her mother called to her from the top of the stairs.
‘Are you waiting for me, my dear? Go in, Susannah. Amelia will send for tea and I am ready for mine.’
Susannah raised her hand, knocked and entered, feeling awkward. She was in time to see John Royston kiss his aunt’s cheek. He tucked some thing into his breast pocket, managing to look as if nothing unusual had happened.
‘Miss Hampton,’ he said and came to her, bowing elegantly. He took the hand she offered and kissed it. ‘I was just saying to Amelia that you are the toast of the town. I would offer my suit, but I have no fortune to recommend me.’
‘I would not accept a gentleman just for his fortune,’ Susannah replied, a little reserved. She was embarrassed at having heard some thing that ought to have remained private, feeling herself at fault for having listened. It was the second time she had done so and some thing she must correct! ‘I shall give my hand and heart only when I find love.’
‘Quite right too,’ he said, eyes twinkling. He was a handsome young man and Susannah thought him charming enough. However, it seemed that he had visited to ask for money, and she could not help thinking
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