Read Online Amy (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 1) by Mary Kingswood - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Kingswood
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never hope to secure such a man, not even in her most outlandish dreams. And yet… he had sought her out several times now. That did seem very pointed. She would not dare to allow herself to hope, but—
“ Amy! ” Dulcie’s shrill voice cut through her reverie.
“I beg your pardon. I was concentrating on the holly hedge. What were you saying, Dulcie?”
“We were talking about a certain gentleman, whose name I need not mention, and how attentive he was to someone ,” she said teasingly.
Amy coloured at once. It was almost as if Dulcie had read her thoughts!
Connie giggled, and Dulcie clucked at her. “Oh, not you ! Why should you be thinking I spoke of you? No, I meant Connie, of course. Surely you marked it?”
That made Amy flush even more violently. How stupid of her to misunderstand, to imagine they were talking about her. She hung her head, quite unable to speak.
“I did not notice any particular attentions to Connie,” Belle said, and Amy blessed her calm tones. Belle was always so sensible.
“Oh, tush, Belle, then you must have been blind,” Dulcie said, and Connie giggled again. They had reached the gate into the lane, and they quite came to a stop as Dulcie ran round in front of Amy and Belle. “He saw her the very second he entered the room, and as soon as he had made his greetings to Lady Humbleforth, he came straight to Connie’s side, and engaged her in very deep conversation. It must have been deep, for he looked very earnest. What was it you talked of, sister?”
That brought another little laugh. “I hardly know,” Connie said, gazing at her feet. “I cannot tell you a word I said, at any rate, and whatever he said… I cannot say, I am sure.” She blushed rather prettily. Amy envied her that ability, to look so sweet and delicate and innocent when she blushed. Her own face turned to fire, she was sure.
“Who are you speaking about?” Belle said, in her straightforward way.
“Why Mr Ambleside, sister, for sure,” Dulcie said. “Did you not notice how long he talked to Connie?”
“Yes, and I also noticed how much he watched Amy, and that he chased away Sir Osborne Hardy to sit by her.”
But Connie and Dulcie both protested, and then Grace began to wonder aloud if perhaps Mr Ambleside still preferred Connie. “He was so particular in his attentions, you know. All those flowers he sent!”
“Perhaps we might let him decide whom he prefers,” Belle said crossly. “It is of no consequence, anyway, since Connie has already said that she feels no affection for him.”
In the silence that followed, Connie pulled her cloak tighter. “I did say that, I believe,” she said in a tiny voice. “I thought… I still think he is quite old, a lot older than me. I felt… that I admired and respected him, as a man of consequence in the neighbourhood, and no more than that, and if perhaps I did once have a little tendre for him, it was quite gone away. But today… the way he talked to me, so particular, as if he were trying to tell me something of significance… I do not think I am quite as indifferent as I believed.”
Amy’s heart sank to her boots. She had barely begun to hope, and now it was all snatched away. But no, there had never been any hope, since it seemed that Mr Ambleside had always preferred Connie, and his regard for her had never wavered. He had tried to offer for her, been rebuffed, and had gone away to the wilds of Northumberland to nurse his broken heart. As soon as word came that his suit might be received more favourably, he flew like the wind back to Connie’s side. It all made sense. She had only to regret her foolishness in allowing herself to think of him as a possible suitor.
The Allamont sisters walked the rest of the way home in silence, each sunk in her own thoughts, whether happy or sad.
~~~~~
Amy was very low for some days. It would not be the least bit surprising if Mr Ambleside had a preference for Connie, for what could be more natural?
“ Amy! ” Dulcie’s shrill voice cut through her reverie.
“I beg your pardon. I was concentrating on the holly hedge. What were you saying, Dulcie?”
“We were talking about a certain gentleman, whose name I need not mention, and how attentive he was to someone ,” she said teasingly.
Amy coloured at once. It was almost as if Dulcie had read her thoughts!
Connie giggled, and Dulcie clucked at her. “Oh, not you ! Why should you be thinking I spoke of you? No, I meant Connie, of course. Surely you marked it?”
That made Amy flush even more violently. How stupid of her to misunderstand, to imagine they were talking about her. She hung her head, quite unable to speak.
“I did not notice any particular attentions to Connie,” Belle said, and Amy blessed her calm tones. Belle was always so sensible.
“Oh, tush, Belle, then you must have been blind,” Dulcie said, and Connie giggled again. They had reached the gate into the lane, and they quite came to a stop as Dulcie ran round in front of Amy and Belle. “He saw her the very second he entered the room, and as soon as he had made his greetings to Lady Humbleforth, he came straight to Connie’s side, and engaged her in very deep conversation. It must have been deep, for he looked very earnest. What was it you talked of, sister?”
That brought another little laugh. “I hardly know,” Connie said, gazing at her feet. “I cannot tell you a word I said, at any rate, and whatever he said… I cannot say, I am sure.” She blushed rather prettily. Amy envied her that ability, to look so sweet and delicate and innocent when she blushed. Her own face turned to fire, she was sure.
“Who are you speaking about?” Belle said, in her straightforward way.
“Why Mr Ambleside, sister, for sure,” Dulcie said. “Did you not notice how long he talked to Connie?”
“Yes, and I also noticed how much he watched Amy, and that he chased away Sir Osborne Hardy to sit by her.”
But Connie and Dulcie both protested, and then Grace began to wonder aloud if perhaps Mr Ambleside still preferred Connie. “He was so particular in his attentions, you know. All those flowers he sent!”
“Perhaps we might let him decide whom he prefers,” Belle said crossly. “It is of no consequence, anyway, since Connie has already said that she feels no affection for him.”
In the silence that followed, Connie pulled her cloak tighter. “I did say that, I believe,” she said in a tiny voice. “I thought… I still think he is quite old, a lot older than me. I felt… that I admired and respected him, as a man of consequence in the neighbourhood, and no more than that, and if perhaps I did once have a little tendre for him, it was quite gone away. But today… the way he talked to me, so particular, as if he were trying to tell me something of significance… I do not think I am quite as indifferent as I believed.”
Amy’s heart sank to her boots. She had barely begun to hope, and now it was all snatched away. But no, there had never been any hope, since it seemed that Mr Ambleside had always preferred Connie, and his regard for her had never wavered. He had tried to offer for her, been rebuffed, and had gone away to the wilds of Northumberland to nurse his broken heart. As soon as word came that his suit might be received more favourably, he flew like the wind back to Connie’s side. It all made sense. She had only to regret her foolishness in allowing herself to think of him as a possible suitor.
The Allamont sisters walked the rest of the way home in silence, each sunk in her own thoughts, whether happy or sad.
~~~~~
Amy was very low for some days. It would not be the least bit surprising if Mr Ambleside had a preference for Connie, for what could be more natural?
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