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Authors: Ella Quinn
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fish.”
“I take it Capability Brown did not design it?”
Lord Stanstead gave a dramatic shudder. “Gad no. Although my grandfather did have a few follies built in order to please my grandmother. She was too fond of her gardens to allow Mr. Brown to remove them. Some of my grandest memories are listening to her tell me about her plants. She had a story for each one.”
Vivian hadn’t known her grandmothers, and she had always missed what she never had. “She sounds like a wonderful lady.”
“She was.” He came out of his reverie and smiled. “I’m fortunate to still have my grandmother Beaumont. She is a pistol.”
Lord Stanstead’s good humor was infectious, making Vivian laugh. “I would love to meet her.”
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. “I think you and she would get along well.”
As they danced, Vivian could almost imagine herself in a fairy world. Yet she must remember she was no longer a young girl, and she was definitely not desirable. Was it fair to take up his lordship’s attentions when some other lady would be his wife? Or could she simply enjoy this, the dance, their conversation, even though it would not last? She knew enough of the world to understand that in order to make a political career Lord Stanstead must marry, but if he was not ready to make the commitment, what was the harm in her spending time with him? After all, it had only been two sets. He was all that was charming, but it probably meant nothing to him.
Miss Cressida Banks stood with her closest friend from childhood, Miss Emily Woolerton, the daughter of Sir Bertin Woolerton, Member of Parliament. Having grown up on neighboring estates, as girls they had attended the same schools. Having a mutual interest in hunting and politics, their fathers were thick as thieves, and Emily was already betrothed to Cressida’s brother, Hector. Fortunately, they got on well and would wed when he returned from the Levant, which should be in the next few weeks.
“Doesn’t Lord Stanstead dance divinely?” Emily commented. “Not as well as Hector, of course.”
As far as Cressida was concerned, his lordship was a much better dancer, but Emily was besotted and loyal. No one was as good as Hector. “Did I tell you he asked me to dance with him?”
“He did?” Emily’s eyes widened only for a moment. “I mean, of course he would. You are beautiful. Any gentleman would be lucky to stand up with you.”
Not if Cressida hadn’t pushed him. “I practically had to force him into it.” She gave a frustrated huff. “Why didn’t Lord Stanstead ask me to dance again? I did my best to be encouraging. Instead he’s dancing with that older lady.”
“Perhaps because of your father?” Emily ventured.
“But Mama told him what she’d heard about him being more mature than his age, and made him promise not to interfere if Lord Stanstead took an interest in me.”
“It would not surprise me if your father has another match in mind.”
“Well, if he does, he hasn’t said anything to either Mama or me. I just think he’s being difficult.” A horrific thought came to Cressida’s mind. “I will not agree to wed an old man.”
“I doubt he would expect you to marry someone elderly. Give it some time,” Emily advised sagely. “If not Lord Stanstead, I’m sure another gentleman will come along. Besides, your dance card is almost full.”
“I’ve already had one Season with no offers at all! And he is so handsome.” She swung her fan around by the ribbon and stared at Lord Stanstead. He really was the best-looking gentleman at the ball.
“It could be he is wary of your father and does not wish to antagonize him. I’ve heard he is trying to make a name for himself in the Lords.”
Politics! Is that the only thing gentlemen are interested in? “If that is the case, then I must somehow make it easy for him to approach me.” After all, he was single and Cressida was single. With her dark hair and his blond
“I take it Capability Brown did not design it?”
Lord Stanstead gave a dramatic shudder. “Gad no. Although my grandfather did have a few follies built in order to please my grandmother. She was too fond of her gardens to allow Mr. Brown to remove them. Some of my grandest memories are listening to her tell me about her plants. She had a story for each one.”
Vivian hadn’t known her grandmothers, and she had always missed what she never had. “She sounds like a wonderful lady.”
“She was.” He came out of his reverie and smiled. “I’m fortunate to still have my grandmother Beaumont. She is a pistol.”
Lord Stanstead’s good humor was infectious, making Vivian laugh. “I would love to meet her.”
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. “I think you and she would get along well.”
As they danced, Vivian could almost imagine herself in a fairy world. Yet she must remember she was no longer a young girl, and she was definitely not desirable. Was it fair to take up his lordship’s attentions when some other lady would be his wife? Or could she simply enjoy this, the dance, their conversation, even though it would not last? She knew enough of the world to understand that in order to make a political career Lord Stanstead must marry, but if he was not ready to make the commitment, what was the harm in her spending time with him? After all, it had only been two sets. He was all that was charming, but it probably meant nothing to him.
Miss Cressida Banks stood with her closest friend from childhood, Miss Emily Woolerton, the daughter of Sir Bertin Woolerton, Member of Parliament. Having grown up on neighboring estates, as girls they had attended the same schools. Having a mutual interest in hunting and politics, their fathers were thick as thieves, and Emily was already betrothed to Cressida’s brother, Hector. Fortunately, they got on well and would wed when he returned from the Levant, which should be in the next few weeks.
“Doesn’t Lord Stanstead dance divinely?” Emily commented. “Not as well as Hector, of course.”
As far as Cressida was concerned, his lordship was a much better dancer, but Emily was besotted and loyal. No one was as good as Hector. “Did I tell you he asked me to dance with him?”
“He did?” Emily’s eyes widened only for a moment. “I mean, of course he would. You are beautiful. Any gentleman would be lucky to stand up with you.”
Not if Cressida hadn’t pushed him. “I practically had to force him into it.” She gave a frustrated huff. “Why didn’t Lord Stanstead ask me to dance again? I did my best to be encouraging. Instead he’s dancing with that older lady.”
“Perhaps because of your father?” Emily ventured.
“But Mama told him what she’d heard about him being more mature than his age, and made him promise not to interfere if Lord Stanstead took an interest in me.”
“It would not surprise me if your father has another match in mind.”
“Well, if he does, he hasn’t said anything to either Mama or me. I just think he’s being difficult.” A horrific thought came to Cressida’s mind. “I will not agree to wed an old man.”
“I doubt he would expect you to marry someone elderly. Give it some time,” Emily advised sagely. “If not Lord Stanstead, I’m sure another gentleman will come along. Besides, your dance card is almost full.”
“I’ve already had one Season with no offers at all! And he is so handsome.” She swung her fan around by the ribbon and stared at Lord Stanstead. He really was the best-looking gentleman at the ball.
“It could be he is wary of your father and does not wish to antagonize him. I’ve heard he is trying to make a name for himself in the Lords.”
Politics! Is that the only thing gentlemen are interested in? “If that is the case, then I must somehow make it easy for him to approach me.” After all, he was single and Cressida was single. With her dark hair and his blond
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