Read Online Laura Matthews by A Baronets Wife - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A Baronets Wife
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arranged for a small dinner party for the young people to take place after Noah returned to Stolenhurst, since there was not time to plan it before he left. Olivia appreciated the time he spent with her and Julianna, making the morning calls and riding with them in the afternoon after she arrived, but she had only a twinge of regret when they saw him off the next morning.
Indoors the young women were often joined by Lady Lawrence in their pursuits of needlework, reading aloud and practice on the harpsichord, but she seldom accompanied them on their rides and drives about the estate. Julianna was fascinated by the accounts of life at Stolenhurst which she drew from Olivia, who had never felt so free in discussing her life there. Her brothers had rarely taken her on visits to London or the country estates of their friends, so most of her life had passed at Stolenhurst, for better or worse. Her friendships in the neighborhood were few, as the concerned parents of the young people were wont to view intercourse with those at Stolenhurst as highly dangerous to their offspring.
So it was that Olivia met Julianna’s friends with a great deal of pleasure and was drawn into their circle. Any rumors of her conduct which might have filtered back from Stolenhurst had no chance of acceptance in Lady Lawrence’s neighborhood. Lady Lawrence was respected, even revered, in her community, and the fact that she agreeably housed Olivia was refutation enough for her friends.
On the afternoon of the supper party Julianna watched with impatience the heavy snow falling. “I do not think it will deter the majority of our guests, but it’s a nuisance. It could have snowed tomorrow,” she chided.
“Yes, but then your guests could not boast of the obstacles they overcame to get here,” Olivia teased. She sat with some needlework near the blazing hearth with its steel grate and serpentine fender feeling the cozy warmth of the fire. “Are there guests coming whom I did not meet on our morning calls?”
“Only a few. Norissa’s brother Alexander was not at home when we called and Caroline Pugh’s youngest sister Lorraine. Mama says we may have some country dances later if we wish, and if our guests do not have to hurry home because of the weather. So you see, the snow really is a bother.”
“Perhaps it will cease after a while,” Olivia suggested hopefully, since she was even more intrigued with the idea of dancing than her friend, having only just reached the age where it was permitted her in company.
“Here are the Cutlers now,” Julianna cried with a flush of excitement as the sounds of an arrival could be heard without. She drew away from the window and seated herself by the fire, saying, “I think you will find Alexander quite handsome, you know. Mama does not precisely approve of him, I fear, for he is a bit wild, but he is ever so much more exciting than the other young men hereabouts.”
When Norissa and Alexander Cutler were shown into the room, Olivia had to agree that the tall blonde young man with his laughing blue eyes was indeed attractive. He wore his clothes with an elegance attained by few of the men she had met, and he had the faculty of making the people to whom he spoke believe they were especially important. But there was a particularity in the attention he paid to Julianna which Olivia realized was not unnoticed by either the recipient or her mother. Julianna blossomed under his regard and occasionally neglected her duties as hostess to remain within the radius of his charm.
The situation made Olivia slightly uneasy, but she shouldered whichever of Julianna’s burdens she was able so that Lady Lawrence would have nothing about which to complain. At the dinner table she found herself seated next to Alexander; Lady Lawrence had placed Julianna some distance away.
He bestowed a fascinated smile on her and remarked, “I understand you are Lord Bolenham’s sister. I’ve often wished that Noah would introduce
Indoors the young women were often joined by Lady Lawrence in their pursuits of needlework, reading aloud and practice on the harpsichord, but she seldom accompanied them on their rides and drives about the estate. Julianna was fascinated by the accounts of life at Stolenhurst which she drew from Olivia, who had never felt so free in discussing her life there. Her brothers had rarely taken her on visits to London or the country estates of their friends, so most of her life had passed at Stolenhurst, for better or worse. Her friendships in the neighborhood were few, as the concerned parents of the young people were wont to view intercourse with those at Stolenhurst as highly dangerous to their offspring.
So it was that Olivia met Julianna’s friends with a great deal of pleasure and was drawn into their circle. Any rumors of her conduct which might have filtered back from Stolenhurst had no chance of acceptance in Lady Lawrence’s neighborhood. Lady Lawrence was respected, even revered, in her community, and the fact that she agreeably housed Olivia was refutation enough for her friends.
On the afternoon of the supper party Julianna watched with impatience the heavy snow falling. “I do not think it will deter the majority of our guests, but it’s a nuisance. It could have snowed tomorrow,” she chided.
“Yes, but then your guests could not boast of the obstacles they overcame to get here,” Olivia teased. She sat with some needlework near the blazing hearth with its steel grate and serpentine fender feeling the cozy warmth of the fire. “Are there guests coming whom I did not meet on our morning calls?”
“Only a few. Norissa’s brother Alexander was not at home when we called and Caroline Pugh’s youngest sister Lorraine. Mama says we may have some country dances later if we wish, and if our guests do not have to hurry home because of the weather. So you see, the snow really is a bother.”
“Perhaps it will cease after a while,” Olivia suggested hopefully, since she was even more intrigued with the idea of dancing than her friend, having only just reached the age where it was permitted her in company.
“Here are the Cutlers now,” Julianna cried with a flush of excitement as the sounds of an arrival could be heard without. She drew away from the window and seated herself by the fire, saying, “I think you will find Alexander quite handsome, you know. Mama does not precisely approve of him, I fear, for he is a bit wild, but he is ever so much more exciting than the other young men hereabouts.”
When Norissa and Alexander Cutler were shown into the room, Olivia had to agree that the tall blonde young man with his laughing blue eyes was indeed attractive. He wore his clothes with an elegance attained by few of the men she had met, and he had the faculty of making the people to whom he spoke believe they were especially important. But there was a particularity in the attention he paid to Julianna which Olivia realized was not unnoticed by either the recipient or her mother. Julianna blossomed under his regard and occasionally neglected her duties as hostess to remain within the radius of his charm.
The situation made Olivia slightly uneasy, but she shouldered whichever of Julianna’s burdens she was able so that Lady Lawrence would have nothing about which to complain. At the dinner table she found herself seated next to Alexander; Lady Lawrence had placed Julianna some distance away.
He bestowed a fascinated smile on her and remarked, “I understand you are Lord Bolenham’s sister. I’ve often wished that Noah would introduce
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