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Authors: Mary Balogh
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two. She remembered Edgar’s saying that some of the fops of the
ton
liked to appear as if they had been poured into their coats. Cora was reminded of those words as she looked at Lord Francis. And his pantaloons too. They were of fine gray leather and molded his form so tightly that she might have blushed if he had been anyone else. Certainly she was aware of splendid calf muscles—she had had the proof of their strength last evening when he had carried her all the way to the carriage. His Hessian boots were so glossy that she was convinced that if she bent over them she would be able to make sure that the bow of her hat was tied at just the right angle beneath her chin. And his neckcloth was as elaborately tied as the one he had worn last night. He carried his hat and whip in one hand.
His appearance, elegant and gorgeous, quite reassured her and made her joy complete. But the crowning glory was the high-perch phaeton into which he lifted her when he had escorted her outside. It was a splendid confection of a vehicle, all show and lack of practicality. It was painted a bright blue and yellow. How fortunate, she thought, that she had dressed to match it. Two almost identical chestnuts were harnessed to it.
“This,” she said later, as they were turning into the park, “is surely the most exciting afternoon of my life.” And then she turned her head in order to smile apologetically at him. “I am not to enthuse, am I? Lady Elizabeth has constantly to remind me of that. But no matter since it is only to you. I shall behave myself when we are among the crowds, I promise.” She opened her parasol since she had just become aware that they were very close to being among the crowds, and gave it a vigorous twirl above her head.
“Just so,” Lord Francis said, looking at her. “But why young ladies feel obliged to squash the natural exuberance of their spirits in order to appear
ton
nish escapes my understanding at the present moment.”
“I believe it appears gauche,” Cora said. “Or
rustic
. That is what Elizabeth says anyway. Oh, my!” Such a crush of vehicles and riders and walkers it had been impossible to imagine though she had been told about it. No one could possibly be out for the sole purpose of a drive or a ride. Or even a walk.
“It would be far more sensible,” she said to Lord Francis, “for everyone to leave their carriages and horses at the gate and merely stroll here. It is obvious that everyone has come here to talk.”
“Ah,” he said, “but how would we impress one another, Miss Downes, if we could not be outdoing one another in the splendor of our carriages and the superiority of our cattle? We can observe one another’s clothes and persons at any ball or concert. What would the day have to offer of novelty?”
“How absurd,” she said.
“Quite so,” he said agreeably. “Absurdity is amusing, Miss Downes. Endlessly entertaining.”
She wondered if he ever dressed out of any sense of the absurd and decided that he probably did not. But there was no more time for private reflection or even forconversation tête-à-tête. They were among the throng and they were not being ignored.
Whatever he might be, Lord Francis was no outcast with the
ton
, Cora discovered now even if she had not noticed it the evening before. Gentlemen hailed him and very often stopped to exchange civilities. Ladies, both old and young, had their carriages stopped in order to converse with him. Old and young tittered at his practiced and smoothly flattering gallantries. Some, particularly the older ladies, gave as good as they received. Cora guessed that ladies felt it safe to flirt with someone like Lord Francis.
But it soon became obvious to her that she herself was not invisible. Several people merely nodded pleasantly to her when Lord Francis presented them to her and then continued their remarks to him. But far more people seemed to have approached him with the intention of making her acquaintance and
ton
liked to appear as if they had been poured into their coats. Cora was reminded of those words as she looked at Lord Francis. And his pantaloons too. They were of fine gray leather and molded his form so tightly that she might have blushed if he had been anyone else. Certainly she was aware of splendid calf muscles—she had had the proof of their strength last evening when he had carried her all the way to the carriage. His Hessian boots were so glossy that she was convinced that if she bent over them she would be able to make sure that the bow of her hat was tied at just the right angle beneath her chin. And his neckcloth was as elaborately tied as the one he had worn last night. He carried his hat and whip in one hand.
His appearance, elegant and gorgeous, quite reassured her and made her joy complete. But the crowning glory was the high-perch phaeton into which he lifted her when he had escorted her outside. It was a splendid confection of a vehicle, all show and lack of practicality. It was painted a bright blue and yellow. How fortunate, she thought, that she had dressed to match it. Two almost identical chestnuts were harnessed to it.
“This,” she said later, as they were turning into the park, “is surely the most exciting afternoon of my life.” And then she turned her head in order to smile apologetically at him. “I am not to enthuse, am I? Lady Elizabeth has constantly to remind me of that. But no matter since it is only to you. I shall behave myself when we are among the crowds, I promise.” She opened her parasol since she had just become aware that they were very close to being among the crowds, and gave it a vigorous twirl above her head.
“Just so,” Lord Francis said, looking at her. “But why young ladies feel obliged to squash the natural exuberance of their spirits in order to appear
ton
nish escapes my understanding at the present moment.”
“I believe it appears gauche,” Cora said. “Or
rustic
. That is what Elizabeth says anyway. Oh, my!” Such a crush of vehicles and riders and walkers it had been impossible to imagine though she had been told about it. No one could possibly be out for the sole purpose of a drive or a ride. Or even a walk.
“It would be far more sensible,” she said to Lord Francis, “for everyone to leave their carriages and horses at the gate and merely stroll here. It is obvious that everyone has come here to talk.”
“Ah,” he said, “but how would we impress one another, Miss Downes, if we could not be outdoing one another in the splendor of our carriages and the superiority of our cattle? We can observe one another’s clothes and persons at any ball or concert. What would the day have to offer of novelty?”
“How absurd,” she said.
“Quite so,” he said agreeably. “Absurdity is amusing, Miss Downes. Endlessly entertaining.”
She wondered if he ever dressed out of any sense of the absurd and decided that he probably did not. But there was no more time for private reflection or even forconversation tête-à-tête. They were among the throng and they were not being ignored.
Whatever he might be, Lord Francis was no outcast with the
ton
, Cora discovered now even if she had not noticed it the evening before. Gentlemen hailed him and very often stopped to exchange civilities. Ladies, both old and young, had their carriages stopped in order to converse with him. Old and young tittered at his practiced and smoothly flattering gallantries. Some, particularly the older ladies, gave as good as they received. Cora guessed that ladies felt it safe to flirt with someone like Lord Francis.
But it soon became obvious to her that she herself was not invisible. Several people merely nodded pleasantly to her when Lord Francis presented them to her and then continued their remarks to him. But far more people seemed to have approached him with the intention of making her acquaintance and
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