pouring out the tea with the airs of a duchess. Her good intentions lasted until the next morning when the gentlemen arrived with two mares in tow, begging the honor of a ride.
Carinne could do just fine at a walk, Lord Podell assured her. He wouldn’t leave her side, the mare was perfectly behaved, and Miss Martin was exquisite in her sapphire blue riding habit.
Audrina was dowdier than ever in her cut-down, threadbare, washed-out brown relic of a riding outfit. It didn’t matter. She threw her arms around the dainty mare, then almost embraced the earl in her delight. Instead of that outré behavior, she mounted and set off at a gallop, her bright curls streaming behind her. Max let her lead him and his stallion on a bruising ride through woods and over streams, content to listen to her merry laughter. The others could have been in the next county for all they knew or cared.
After that they rode out or drove—for Carinne’s sake—every nice day, sometimes taking the rest of the Halbershams’ guests along sightseeing, where Audrina’s knowledge of the old abbeys and Roman fortresses impressed even young Warden. In the evenings they all often met at one neighbor’s or another’s for cards, music, charades, or dancing.
Carinne was in alt, floating on Lord Podell’s arm. Audrina was resigned to the match, convinced it was more than cream-pot affection. And Uncle Augustus was so puffed up with success, he even gave Audrina a twenty-pound bonus, for matchmaking. The solicitors were already meeting, and the engagement would be announced at Lady Halbersham’s Valentine’s Day ball, two days hence.
“So buy yourself some gewgaw or other, missy. Maybe you can hook one of the blacksmith’s boys.”
With twenty pounds her papa could feed a lot of poor mouths. And she didn’t want any of Jed Smith’s hairy, dirty, illiterate sons. But Dree folded the note and smiled at her uncle.
“You’d do well to think on it, gal, for that’s the last you’ll have of me. My girl gets married and moves off, I’ll not support you and that nodcock father of yours. Foxed yourself, you did, cutting out old Prendergast. If the chit had wed him, you could have moved in there and still been near your da. Old Prendergast would never have noticed. Now? My Lord and Lady Podell are going on a long bride trip to introduce Carinne to his fancy relatives. He’ll see she makes her bows to royalty in the spring, too, see if he don’t. I promised him another pile of blunt if it’s done right. That leaves you out in the cold, missy.”
Audrina straightened her back. “Carrie has invited me to London when they get there.”
“What, you’d play dogsberry to a pair of newly-weds?” he goaded.
“And they do intend to settle at Podell Hall,” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken, or hadn’t said anything she hadn’t thought of for herself.
“After the place is renovated. My wedding present, don’t you know. But aye, I suppose they’ll be needing you when they start filling the nursery. Someone has to look after the brats, I suppose. Can’t expect my daughter, the baroness, to change nappies. She’ll be too busy entertaining the nobs at house parties and such. You still pleased with the match?”
“Carrie’s happiness is the only thing that matters.”
He snorted. “That and getting a grandson who’ll be a baron. I hope that deuced caper-merchant Podell don’t take as long about begetting me an heir as he does tying his neckcloths.”
Chapter Eight
She could be a governess, Dree thought as she trudged back from the vicarage after giving her father ten of Uncle Augustus’s pounds. Or a companion. Either would be preferable to being the perpetual poor relation. Dear Carrie would never make her feel like a drudge, but Audrina was well aware that Lord Podell was already wishing her to the devil. Of course, he wanted privacy with his new betrothed; of course, Uncle Augustus ordered her to cling to them like sticking plaster.
Carinne could do just fine at a walk, Lord Podell assured her. He wouldn’t leave her side, the mare was perfectly behaved, and Miss Martin was exquisite in her sapphire blue riding habit.
Audrina was dowdier than ever in her cut-down, threadbare, washed-out brown relic of a riding outfit. It didn’t matter. She threw her arms around the dainty mare, then almost embraced the earl in her delight. Instead of that outré behavior, she mounted and set off at a gallop, her bright curls streaming behind her. Max let her lead him and his stallion on a bruising ride through woods and over streams, content to listen to her merry laughter. The others could have been in the next county for all they knew or cared.
After that they rode out or drove—for Carinne’s sake—every nice day, sometimes taking the rest of the Halbershams’ guests along sightseeing, where Audrina’s knowledge of the old abbeys and Roman fortresses impressed even young Warden. In the evenings they all often met at one neighbor’s or another’s for cards, music, charades, or dancing.
Carinne was in alt, floating on Lord Podell’s arm. Audrina was resigned to the match, convinced it was more than cream-pot affection. And Uncle Augustus was so puffed up with success, he even gave Audrina a twenty-pound bonus, for matchmaking. The solicitors were already meeting, and the engagement would be announced at Lady Halbersham’s Valentine’s Day ball, two days hence.
“So buy yourself some gewgaw or other, missy. Maybe you can hook one of the blacksmith’s boys.”
With twenty pounds her papa could feed a lot of poor mouths. And she didn’t want any of Jed Smith’s hairy, dirty, illiterate sons. But Dree folded the note and smiled at her uncle.
“You’d do well to think on it, gal, for that’s the last you’ll have of me. My girl gets married and moves off, I’ll not support you and that nodcock father of yours. Foxed yourself, you did, cutting out old Prendergast. If the chit had wed him, you could have moved in there and still been near your da. Old Prendergast would never have noticed. Now? My Lord and Lady Podell are going on a long bride trip to introduce Carinne to his fancy relatives. He’ll see she makes her bows to royalty in the spring, too, see if he don’t. I promised him another pile of blunt if it’s done right. That leaves you out in the cold, missy.”
Audrina straightened her back. “Carrie has invited me to London when they get there.”
“What, you’d play dogsberry to a pair of newly-weds?” he goaded.
“And they do intend to settle at Podell Hall,” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken, or hadn’t said anything she hadn’t thought of for herself.
“After the place is renovated. My wedding present, don’t you know. But aye, I suppose they’ll be needing you when they start filling the nursery. Someone has to look after the brats, I suppose. Can’t expect my daughter, the baroness, to change nappies. She’ll be too busy entertaining the nobs at house parties and such. You still pleased with the match?”
“Carrie’s happiness is the only thing that matters.”
He snorted. “That and getting a grandson who’ll be a baron. I hope that deuced caper-merchant Podell don’t take as long about begetting me an heir as he does tying his neckcloths.”
Chapter Eight
She could be a governess, Dree thought as she trudged back from the vicarage after giving her father ten of Uncle Augustus’s pounds. Or a companion. Either would be preferable to being the perpetual poor relation. Dear Carrie would never make her feel like a drudge, but Audrina was well aware that Lord Podell was already wishing her to the devil. Of course, he wanted privacy with his new betrothed; of course, Uncle Augustus ordered her to cling to them like sticking plaster.
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