Your Grace,” Lady Parker agreed with admirable
sang-froid, given the damage to her toilette. “We shall be honored to receive
your call at our residence on Half Moon Street.”
When the duke had continued down Bond Street on his business
and the women were safely seated in their carriage, Elisabeth turned to Lady
Parker with a teasing smile.
“I do believe you have made a conquest, Lady Parker.”
“I think not,” Lady Parker disagreed. “His grace was only
very well-bred and concerned about the mishap. I have no doubt the duke is
married and has several grown children. I should perhaps recognize him, but I
have been absent from London for so many years I do not recognize most of the
members of the bon ton any longer,” she admitted.
Back in the town house on Half Moon Street, Elisabeth
hovered around her hostess while the maid tended to her mistress’ scrapes. Lady
Parker submitted to the attention with good grace and then ordered tea to be
brought to the drawing room. Revati, seeming to sense her mistress needed
comfort, curled up at her side, purring.
“The Season will begin early this year, since Easter day is
early,” Lady Parker commented as she allowed Elisabeth to pour the tea. “We
must soon begin making calls and attending small entertainments. However, I
shall not be applying for vouchers to Almack’s. There really is no need, since
you are to be betrothed to my brother. I suspect we might not receive them if I
did apply, since I have been in India so long and your family keeps to the
country. I hope that will not disappoint you unduly?” she finished
interrogatively.
“It is of no consequence,” Elisabeth assured Lady Parker. “I
shall not miss attending Almack’s. Truly I had not even thought of it.”
The footman entered with a large basket, which he placed on
the low sofa table near his mistress. “This was just delivered, my lady.”
Lady Parker pulled a card from the basket.
“I shall call tomorrow to assure myself that you are
recovered from this morning’s mishap,” she read. “Meanwhile, I hope these
fruits from my hothouse will aid your recovery.”
“How thoughtful!” Elisabeth exclaimed as Lady Parker set the
card down and began to investigate the contents of the basket.
“Mmm, oranges! And a mango,” Lady Parker said in wonder.
“How I have missed mangos since I returned from India!”
“I have never tasted one,” Elisabeth admitted.
“Then you must try one now,” Lady Parker said. She rang for
the footman and ordered a fruit knife and plates be brought, after which she
then carefully peeled and sliced the mango, placing several slices on a plate
and handing it to Elisabeth.
“It has an unusual flavor,” Elisabeth commented after she
tried a bite. “But I think I like it.”
Lady Parker laughed at Elisabeth’s conditional recommendation
and finished the mango on her own plate with obvious relish.
“Hothouse fruits, sister? Do you intend to consume then all
or will you share with your hungry brother and his friend?” Sherbourne asked,
entering the drawing room with Earlywine, both clad in the standard morning
dress of frilled shirt with starched cravat, waistcoat, dark blue coats,
trousers and shining boots. Only in their waistcoats did their toilet differ,
Sherbourne’s being of plain buff while Earlywine’s was of more modish stripes.
“Please help yourselves,” Lady Parker invited. “But I must
confess that I already consumed the only mango.”
“Who do you know who is sending such delicacies?” Sherbourne
asked after he and Earlywine had exchanged greetings with Elisabeth.
“It is the Duke of Norland,” Elisabeth volunteered. “He and
Lady Parker collided in Bond Street this morning.”
“Dear sister, this will never do, making a spectacle of
yourself in Bond Street!” Lord Sherbourne teased as he and Earlywine each
selected a fruit from the basket.
“I thought he was quite taken with Lady Parker,” Elisabeth
continued, much
sang-froid, given the damage to her toilette. “We shall be honored to receive
your call at our residence on Half Moon Street.”
When the duke had continued down Bond Street on his business
and the women were safely seated in their carriage, Elisabeth turned to Lady
Parker with a teasing smile.
“I do believe you have made a conquest, Lady Parker.”
“I think not,” Lady Parker disagreed. “His grace was only
very well-bred and concerned about the mishap. I have no doubt the duke is
married and has several grown children. I should perhaps recognize him, but I
have been absent from London for so many years I do not recognize most of the
members of the bon ton any longer,” she admitted.
Back in the town house on Half Moon Street, Elisabeth
hovered around her hostess while the maid tended to her mistress’ scrapes. Lady
Parker submitted to the attention with good grace and then ordered tea to be
brought to the drawing room. Revati, seeming to sense her mistress needed
comfort, curled up at her side, purring.
“The Season will begin early this year, since Easter day is
early,” Lady Parker commented as she allowed Elisabeth to pour the tea. “We
must soon begin making calls and attending small entertainments. However, I
shall not be applying for vouchers to Almack’s. There really is no need, since
you are to be betrothed to my brother. I suspect we might not receive them if I
did apply, since I have been in India so long and your family keeps to the
country. I hope that will not disappoint you unduly?” she finished
interrogatively.
“It is of no consequence,” Elisabeth assured Lady Parker. “I
shall not miss attending Almack’s. Truly I had not even thought of it.”
The footman entered with a large basket, which he placed on
the low sofa table near his mistress. “This was just delivered, my lady.”
Lady Parker pulled a card from the basket.
“I shall call tomorrow to assure myself that you are
recovered from this morning’s mishap,” she read. “Meanwhile, I hope these
fruits from my hothouse will aid your recovery.”
“How thoughtful!” Elisabeth exclaimed as Lady Parker set the
card down and began to investigate the contents of the basket.
“Mmm, oranges! And a mango,” Lady Parker said in wonder.
“How I have missed mangos since I returned from India!”
“I have never tasted one,” Elisabeth admitted.
“Then you must try one now,” Lady Parker said. She rang for
the footman and ordered a fruit knife and plates be brought, after which she
then carefully peeled and sliced the mango, placing several slices on a plate
and handing it to Elisabeth.
“It has an unusual flavor,” Elisabeth commented after she
tried a bite. “But I think I like it.”
Lady Parker laughed at Elisabeth’s conditional recommendation
and finished the mango on her own plate with obvious relish.
“Hothouse fruits, sister? Do you intend to consume then all
or will you share with your hungry brother and his friend?” Sherbourne asked,
entering the drawing room with Earlywine, both clad in the standard morning
dress of frilled shirt with starched cravat, waistcoat, dark blue coats,
trousers and shining boots. Only in their waistcoats did their toilet differ,
Sherbourne’s being of plain buff while Earlywine’s was of more modish stripes.
“Please help yourselves,” Lady Parker invited. “But I must
confess that I already consumed the only mango.”
“Who do you know who is sending such delicacies?” Sherbourne
asked after he and Earlywine had exchanged greetings with Elisabeth.
“It is the Duke of Norland,” Elisabeth volunteered. “He and
Lady Parker collided in Bond Street this morning.”
“Dear sister, this will never do, making a spectacle of
yourself in Bond Street!” Lord Sherbourne teased as he and Earlywine each
selected a fruit from the basket.
“I thought he was quite taken with Lady Parker,” Elisabeth
continued, much
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