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Authors: Jennifer Connors
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have overheard many of my guests commenting that your behavior could lead to servants getting ideas of being better than they are.”
“Really. How shocking! I will be honest with you, Colin. I don't think you are a better person because you're an earl and Pearce is a butler. He works very hard. Is, as far as I can tell, always available, day or night. Runs the other servants like a drill sergeant and maintains order in your household. I know I couldn't do his job. Wouldn't that make him better than me?”
Colin considered her argument and replied, “What of education and breeding?”
“Ah, yes, breeding.” She was going to say “inbreeding” but decided against it. “If Pearce was born in your place instead of you, had the same advantages, do you think then he would be up to society's standards?”
“His parents would then be part of society and therefore he would have the breeding.”
“What if he were accidentally switched at birth. Or if someone of society found a baby on their doorstep and decided to raise him or her as their own. You wouldn't know the parents. Would that make a difference? Or even better, if some society woman got pregnant, without her husband's knowledge, by say... the footman, do you think you would be able to tell the difference if you were never told?”
He eyed her with suspicion. It didn't matter what he said, he knew she would have an answer. He was somewhat shocked by her brutal honesty. She seemed to know all too well the inner workings of male/female relationships. The truth was he felt the same way. It was the reason he paid his staff well and treated them with respect. “You may have a point, Bethany.”
“Good. Then I have won one as well.”
“What do you mean?” he looked at her again with suspicion.
“The first night we were here. Our talk about 'inappropriate topics.' I conceded to you that causing a scandal would be unfair to you as my host.”
Colin burst out laughing, nearly falling off his horse. “And yet, here we are having one inappropriate conversation after another. I fear, Miss Hamilton, you have conceded nothing.”
“Very well. I will let you win the next argument. Alright?”
“I should say I look forward to winning any argument with you, Miss Hamilton. I imagine it is not an experience I will savor often.”
“Surely not, Colin. Now, do you want to talk about women's rights?”
They rode on together, heading back to the stables. Ginny's face alight with her passions, Colin's with wonderment over someone so young having so many opinions. Most of which, he was certain, her parents would be aghast over.
Chapter 7
The next few days flew by before her eyes. Every morning she spent with Colin, discussing the news, or arguing over social injustices. He was nearly delirious after their discussion of women's rights. Ginny couldn't believe how set he was in his ways, that women should be cared for and sheltered. It goaded her more than anything when he said that she was special because she could discuss certain topics without fainting.
Many of the afternoons were spent with Miles. Although she never sought out his attention, he always managed to show up everywhere she went. They had taken several long walks around the estate, discussing their families, their responsibilities and why he needed to get married. It wasn't terribly romantic, but marriage in their class was not about love. It was about good breeding and raising oneself up advantageously. In the case of Bethany and Miles, she would be elevated to new heights, marrying the son of a duke.
After all the hub bub of the past few days, Ginny was relieved to learn that the men had planned a morning outing to shoot. She would have peace and quiet for a few hours, until the giggling horde of marriage desperate girls got up and going. After her breakfast, she found a book and walked down to the lake. Whitmore had set up a gazebo, with seating that looked like Adirondack chairs. In the shade
“Really. How shocking! I will be honest with you, Colin. I don't think you are a better person because you're an earl and Pearce is a butler. He works very hard. Is, as far as I can tell, always available, day or night. Runs the other servants like a drill sergeant and maintains order in your household. I know I couldn't do his job. Wouldn't that make him better than me?”
Colin considered her argument and replied, “What of education and breeding?”
“Ah, yes, breeding.” She was going to say “inbreeding” but decided against it. “If Pearce was born in your place instead of you, had the same advantages, do you think then he would be up to society's standards?”
“His parents would then be part of society and therefore he would have the breeding.”
“What if he were accidentally switched at birth. Or if someone of society found a baby on their doorstep and decided to raise him or her as their own. You wouldn't know the parents. Would that make a difference? Or even better, if some society woman got pregnant, without her husband's knowledge, by say... the footman, do you think you would be able to tell the difference if you were never told?”
He eyed her with suspicion. It didn't matter what he said, he knew she would have an answer. He was somewhat shocked by her brutal honesty. She seemed to know all too well the inner workings of male/female relationships. The truth was he felt the same way. It was the reason he paid his staff well and treated them with respect. “You may have a point, Bethany.”
“Good. Then I have won one as well.”
“What do you mean?” he looked at her again with suspicion.
“The first night we were here. Our talk about 'inappropriate topics.' I conceded to you that causing a scandal would be unfair to you as my host.”
Colin burst out laughing, nearly falling off his horse. “And yet, here we are having one inappropriate conversation after another. I fear, Miss Hamilton, you have conceded nothing.”
“Very well. I will let you win the next argument. Alright?”
“I should say I look forward to winning any argument with you, Miss Hamilton. I imagine it is not an experience I will savor often.”
“Surely not, Colin. Now, do you want to talk about women's rights?”
They rode on together, heading back to the stables. Ginny's face alight with her passions, Colin's with wonderment over someone so young having so many opinions. Most of which, he was certain, her parents would be aghast over.
Chapter 7
The next few days flew by before her eyes. Every morning she spent with Colin, discussing the news, or arguing over social injustices. He was nearly delirious after their discussion of women's rights. Ginny couldn't believe how set he was in his ways, that women should be cared for and sheltered. It goaded her more than anything when he said that she was special because she could discuss certain topics without fainting.
Many of the afternoons were spent with Miles. Although she never sought out his attention, he always managed to show up everywhere she went. They had taken several long walks around the estate, discussing their families, their responsibilities and why he needed to get married. It wasn't terribly romantic, but marriage in their class was not about love. It was about good breeding and raising oneself up advantageously. In the case of Bethany and Miles, she would be elevated to new heights, marrying the son of a duke.
After all the hub bub of the past few days, Ginny was relieved to learn that the men had planned a morning outing to shoot. She would have peace and quiet for a few hours, until the giggling horde of marriage desperate girls got up and going. After her breakfast, she found a book and walked down to the lake. Whitmore had set up a gazebo, with seating that looked like Adirondack chairs. In the shade
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