there
permanently if it prevents him appearing at mutual social events and
distressing my sister.”
“And how is Miss Harrington?”
Benjamin grimaced. “I think my injury gave
her quite a shock. She will be well now, though. I believe Miss Daventry will
be calling later and she always cheers Lottie up.”
“Does that mean your family will be
attending Mrs McLeod’s ball tonight?”
“I imagine so. Will you be going?”
Fenbridge nodded and that was Benjamin’s
decision on the matter made. They sat drinking tea and discussed the running of
an estate for a while then somehow moved onto the subject of criminals, with
Benjamin promising to show Mr Fenbridge the place where the infamous masked thief
William Brodie had been hanged twelve years previously.
“We saw one poor fellow at the crossroads
on the way into Edinburgh, dead and in irons. I dislike seeing even criminals
treated in such a way.” His compassion made him even more appealing; Benjamin
had yet to discover anything that he did not admire about Mr Fenbridge and this
feeling was dangerous.
“They are normally used in anatomy class at
the College. I am not sure if that is a better fate, although at least it
serves to improve our physicians.”
“The College?”
“Edinburgh University,” Benjamin said. “The
city’s crowning glory.”
“I have heard that it has students from all
over the world.”
“That is true, not that learning is as
popular as it used to be, when all our best thinkers are accused of sedition
and sent off to Australia. But I should not criticise or I might be accused
myself.”
“I swear never to denounce you,” Mr
Fenbridge said and smiled as if they were sharing a secret. “But, if you are
right, at least you could be sure of good company in Australia.”
Benjamin laughed and agreed, but privately
thought that no company could be more enjoyable than that of his current
companion. He had a feeling he was going to get his heart broken again but the
lure was irresistible.
* * *
“What will you wear to the ball tonight?” Amelia
asked Lottie as they walked round the nearby park, a line of trees providing
some shade from the dazzling sunshine that had followed the earlier rain. The
grass smelt fresh and the colours of grass and flowers were richer after being
watered.
Lottie nodded to an acquaintance then
hesitated, a gloved hand brushing a leaf from her parasol. “I am not sure I
will go. The last couple of days have been so tiring…”
“You have to go,” Amelia told her, afraid
that Lottie could retreat altogether from society given the chance. “Think how
Benjamin would feel. He would blame himself.”
“But that is nonsense.”
“He would think you were so embarrassed
over the duel that you refused to attend.”
“Then you are right: I must go.” Lottie was
clearly unhappy over the decision.
“Remember how pleasant Mr Brightford’s ball
was? You danced nearly every dance and with just about every eligible bachelor
in the room.” Indeed, Amelia had hopes that Lottie may soon have another
suitor.
Lottie smiled. “Hardly that but it was a
pleasant evening.”
“And there is no reason to think this will
be any less so.”
“You are right. My mother would say that I
am having a fit of the mopes and must get over it.”
Amelia could well imagine it: Mrs
Harrington was a stern, autocratic woman. “Is your brother going?”
“Oh, yes. I believe Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge
will be there.”
Amelia digested the underlying message with
interest. That took Mr Fenbridge off the list of eligible men for Lottie but
she was pleased for Mr Harrington’s sake. As long as it did not end badly. “Do
you believe Mr Fenbridge might be someone who could return his feelings?”
“I do not know. It is impossible to judge. They
have certainly struck up a strong friendship, though. He came to visit Benjy
just this morning and nothing could have aided Benjy’s recovery more.”
“I am glad. How is Mr
permanently if it prevents him appearing at mutual social events and
distressing my sister.”
“And how is Miss Harrington?”
Benjamin grimaced. “I think my injury gave
her quite a shock. She will be well now, though. I believe Miss Daventry will
be calling later and she always cheers Lottie up.”
“Does that mean your family will be
attending Mrs McLeod’s ball tonight?”
“I imagine so. Will you be going?”
Fenbridge nodded and that was Benjamin’s
decision on the matter made. They sat drinking tea and discussed the running of
an estate for a while then somehow moved onto the subject of criminals, with
Benjamin promising to show Mr Fenbridge the place where the infamous masked thief
William Brodie had been hanged twelve years previously.
“We saw one poor fellow at the crossroads
on the way into Edinburgh, dead and in irons. I dislike seeing even criminals
treated in such a way.” His compassion made him even more appealing; Benjamin
had yet to discover anything that he did not admire about Mr Fenbridge and this
feeling was dangerous.
“They are normally used in anatomy class at
the College. I am not sure if that is a better fate, although at least it
serves to improve our physicians.”
“The College?”
“Edinburgh University,” Benjamin said. “The
city’s crowning glory.”
“I have heard that it has students from all
over the world.”
“That is true, not that learning is as
popular as it used to be, when all our best thinkers are accused of sedition
and sent off to Australia. But I should not criticise or I might be accused
myself.”
“I swear never to denounce you,” Mr
Fenbridge said and smiled as if they were sharing a secret. “But, if you are
right, at least you could be sure of good company in Australia.”
Benjamin laughed and agreed, but privately
thought that no company could be more enjoyable than that of his current
companion. He had a feeling he was going to get his heart broken again but the
lure was irresistible.
* * *
“What will you wear to the ball tonight?” Amelia
asked Lottie as they walked round the nearby park, a line of trees providing
some shade from the dazzling sunshine that had followed the earlier rain. The
grass smelt fresh and the colours of grass and flowers were richer after being
watered.
Lottie nodded to an acquaintance then
hesitated, a gloved hand brushing a leaf from her parasol. “I am not sure I
will go. The last couple of days have been so tiring…”
“You have to go,” Amelia told her, afraid
that Lottie could retreat altogether from society given the chance. “Think how
Benjamin would feel. He would blame himself.”
“But that is nonsense.”
“He would think you were so embarrassed
over the duel that you refused to attend.”
“Then you are right: I must go.” Lottie was
clearly unhappy over the decision.
“Remember how pleasant Mr Brightford’s ball
was? You danced nearly every dance and with just about every eligible bachelor
in the room.” Indeed, Amelia had hopes that Lottie may soon have another
suitor.
Lottie smiled. “Hardly that but it was a
pleasant evening.”
“And there is no reason to think this will
be any less so.”
“You are right. My mother would say that I
am having a fit of the mopes and must get over it.”
Amelia could well imagine it: Mrs
Harrington was a stern, autocratic woman. “Is your brother going?”
“Oh, yes. I believe Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge
will be there.”
Amelia digested the underlying message with
interest. That took Mr Fenbridge off the list of eligible men for Lottie but
she was pleased for Mr Harrington’s sake. As long as it did not end badly. “Do
you believe Mr Fenbridge might be someone who could return his feelings?”
“I do not know. It is impossible to judge. They
have certainly struck up a strong friendship, though. He came to visit Benjy
just this morning and nothing could have aided Benjy’s recovery more.”
“I am glad. How is Mr
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