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Authors: Elizabeth Boyle
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assured to keep you in our utmost thoughts.”
Thatcher watched these volleys and felt like he was witnessing something more akin to an American privateer and a trio of English frigates happening upon each other at sea.
Miss Browne preened. “But of course you will, for I am received in all the finest circles, despite this ridiculous war. I daresay, you will be quite riveted when I relate the story of our return—Mother and I went through a terrible trial at sea…” She paused, her hand at her brow, obviously waiting for one of them to ask the question that should be rising to each of their tongues: Oh , do tell , Miss Browne , whatever happened to you?
But her audience remained mute, so eventually she had to give up her stance. “Well, I suppose it is too cold to share the awful details now, but soon we will have a good coze and catch up, now won’t we?”
“When hell freezes—” he heard Miss Thalia begin to mutter, until her sister gave her a less than delicate, albeit subtle, jab in the ribs.
Meanwhile, Miss Browne had taken in her surroundings and her pretty face wrinkled, especially as she looked up at the grand house behind them. “Whoever are you visiting?”
“Visiting?” Miss Langley glanced over her shoulder. “Hardly visiting. This is our house.”
For all Miss Browne’s obvious wealth, apparently in the world of London debutantes a Mayfair address trumped a matched set of horses and a new hat.
“Here?” Miss Browne’s statement was tinged with disbelief. “But Mother and I were told there were no houses to let for the Season…well, none so close to Grosvenor Square, that is.”
“You could say we quite happened upon this one,” Lady Thalia told her, rocking in her half boots and smiling like a cat before a bowl of cream.
“How fortuitous,” Miss Browne said, glancing again at the mansion behind them and then at the three of them in turn, looking none too convinced. “It’s just that we—I mean, Mother and I—had heard…well, that is to say everyone was speculating that you’ve had some difficulties…” She smiled, a feral narrow sort. “But happily I see I was misled. And you are here for the Season and the four of us will all shine together. Miss Emery will be so pleased when we all make splendid matches. Of course, I haven’t your little Bachelor Chronicles to help me—”
“Bachelor Chronicles?” Mrs. Browne quizzed.
Her daughter turned to her. “Haven’t I told you of them? No? Well, Miss Langley maintains the veriest encyclopedia of eligible men from which to find a husband. Has so for years .”
Mrs. Browne cast the same simpering smile down at Felicity, “Has it helped, dearie?”
“That remains to be seen,” Miss Langley replied.
“Now where are you off to?” Miss Browne asked, changing the subject and drawing all the attention back to herself. “If there was room I’d offer you a ride, but I can’t take all of you, so I fear you must fend for yourselves, but you Langleys have always been such resourceful creatures, tramping about as you do.”
It didn’t sound like a compliment to Thatcher’s ears, andfrom the look on Miss Langley’s face, her false smile had been replaced by a slow boil.
“We’ve calls to make this morning,” Miss Langley told her. “Important ones . ”
“Then we’re off to the Frost Fair,” Lady Philippa added, winding her arm into her cousin’s.
“To the Frost Fair?” Miss Browne repeated. “And you haven’t been yet? I’ve been thrice. So very quaint—though now I hear it is thronged with such common sorts. But I suppose your cousins are quite used to consorting with such people, Lady Philippa, having traveled so much of the world as they have, so you’ll be in good company.”
“No worse than your average Americans, I would venture,” Miss Thalia replied, her smile more teeth than lips.
Thatcher glanced at the two sisters. They’d traveled the world? How much more was there that he didn’t know
Thatcher watched these volleys and felt like he was witnessing something more akin to an American privateer and a trio of English frigates happening upon each other at sea.
Miss Browne preened. “But of course you will, for I am received in all the finest circles, despite this ridiculous war. I daresay, you will be quite riveted when I relate the story of our return—Mother and I went through a terrible trial at sea…” She paused, her hand at her brow, obviously waiting for one of them to ask the question that should be rising to each of their tongues: Oh , do tell , Miss Browne , whatever happened to you?
But her audience remained mute, so eventually she had to give up her stance. “Well, I suppose it is too cold to share the awful details now, but soon we will have a good coze and catch up, now won’t we?”
“When hell freezes—” he heard Miss Thalia begin to mutter, until her sister gave her a less than delicate, albeit subtle, jab in the ribs.
Meanwhile, Miss Browne had taken in her surroundings and her pretty face wrinkled, especially as she looked up at the grand house behind them. “Whoever are you visiting?”
“Visiting?” Miss Langley glanced over her shoulder. “Hardly visiting. This is our house.”
For all Miss Browne’s obvious wealth, apparently in the world of London debutantes a Mayfair address trumped a matched set of horses and a new hat.
“Here?” Miss Browne’s statement was tinged with disbelief. “But Mother and I were told there were no houses to let for the Season…well, none so close to Grosvenor Square, that is.”
“You could say we quite happened upon this one,” Lady Thalia told her, rocking in her half boots and smiling like a cat before a bowl of cream.
“How fortuitous,” Miss Browne said, glancing again at the mansion behind them and then at the three of them in turn, looking none too convinced. “It’s just that we—I mean, Mother and I—had heard…well, that is to say everyone was speculating that you’ve had some difficulties…” She smiled, a feral narrow sort. “But happily I see I was misled. And you are here for the Season and the four of us will all shine together. Miss Emery will be so pleased when we all make splendid matches. Of course, I haven’t your little Bachelor Chronicles to help me—”
“Bachelor Chronicles?” Mrs. Browne quizzed.
Her daughter turned to her. “Haven’t I told you of them? No? Well, Miss Langley maintains the veriest encyclopedia of eligible men from which to find a husband. Has so for years .”
Mrs. Browne cast the same simpering smile down at Felicity, “Has it helped, dearie?”
“That remains to be seen,” Miss Langley replied.
“Now where are you off to?” Miss Browne asked, changing the subject and drawing all the attention back to herself. “If there was room I’d offer you a ride, but I can’t take all of you, so I fear you must fend for yourselves, but you Langleys have always been such resourceful creatures, tramping about as you do.”
It didn’t sound like a compliment to Thatcher’s ears, andfrom the look on Miss Langley’s face, her false smile had been replaced by a slow boil.
“We’ve calls to make this morning,” Miss Langley told her. “Important ones . ”
“Then we’re off to the Frost Fair,” Lady Philippa added, winding her arm into her cousin’s.
“To the Frost Fair?” Miss Browne repeated. “And you haven’t been yet? I’ve been thrice. So very quaint—though now I hear it is thronged with such common sorts. But I suppose your cousins are quite used to consorting with such people, Lady Philippa, having traveled so much of the world as they have, so you’ll be in good company.”
“No worse than your average Americans, I would venture,” Miss Thalia replied, her smile more teeth than lips.
Thatcher glanced at the two sisters. They’d traveled the world? How much more was there that he didn’t know
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