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Authors: Karen Cogan
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available from the storerooms, Madame Marian lent her advice on the way they might be made up. They examined fashion plates until Caroline thought she should never be able to make up her mind.
Lady Aberly proved more than willing to assist and enjoyed adding her opinion to that of Madame Marian in advising the younger women of the best choice of color, style and material.
At last, the new ball gowns were chosen and measurements given to the assistants who were to have them ready in ample time for the anticipated affair. Caroline had nearly collected her nerve to request assistance with riding attire, when Lavenia saved her the necessity.
"Why, Caroline, we have nearly forgotten about your riding habit. You would look so lovely in royal blue velvet, don't you agree, Mother?"
Lady Aberly looked blank for a moment. "I did not know you enjoyed the sport, Caroline."
"I do, my lady. But I fear, in my packing, I neglected to include my attire." Her conscience pricked at the half-truth. She had packed her own wardrobe. Never, in her life, however, had she possessed riding attire.
Madame Marian commenced to produce rich velvets of such quality that Caroline could not choose between the various shades. At last, she settled on a deep blue that brought out the creamy color of her skin.
They left Madame Marian's shop and stepped into the bright sunshine of late morning. A look at Geoffrey, waiting with the coachman, told Caroline why she had taken more trouble with her riding habit than the choice of a gown for the ball. She flushed with embarrassment and told herself she had no interest in impressing the handsome groom.
So why did her heart tremble at his touch as he helped her into the carriage? She must collect her common sense and rid herself of this spell that had been cast over her. She forced her thoughts to the sensible plans she had made for the future. The ball was less than two weeks away. If she could manage without a terrible faux-pas, she might meet the man that Lady Eleanor had envisioned for her. She would settle comfortably on a country estate and forget both the danger of Lord Humphrey and Geoffrey's dangerous intrigue.
They took luncheon in a popular tearoom, then journeyed on to the milliner for a bonnet to match the deep velvet of the new riding habit. When Caroline had found just the thing, a top hat with a lovely gauze veil, she returned to the coach and ventured a covert glance at the groom. The boldness with which he returned the look flustered her and she hurried into the coach.
After a late afternoon stop for Sally Lunn rolls, they were again on their way, clattering out of the cobbled city and bound for the estate that Caroline had come to think of as home.
Caroline found herself dozing as the steady pace of the team lulled her. Her drowsiness was interrupted with the sound of a loud crack. It was immediately followed by a wild careening of the coach as the horses took their heads.
She peered out to see Geoffrey urging Victory along side the run-away coach. Moments later, a riderless Victory told her Geoffrey had mounted the coach and calmed the frightened horses. As they drew to a halt, she wondered what had happened to John Coachman.
She sprang from the coach, followed more sedately by a pale-faced Lavenia while Lady Aberly remained inside proclaiming that she was overcome by the megrims.
"What has happened? Was that a shot I heard?" Caroline asked.
Geoffrey spared her a brief look. "Yes. It caught your coachman in the arm. Nothing too serious I am glad to report, though it could have been a good deal worse."
While Lavenia hurried to impart news of the injury to Lady Aberly, Caroline watched Geoffery attend the coachman, marveling at his competence as he helped the man out of his coat and cut away the damaged sleeve. When the wound had been bound with John Coachman's clean cravat, Geoffrey tied Victory to the coach and assisted Caroline back to the carriage.
"We should be on our way before our
Lady Aberly proved more than willing to assist and enjoyed adding her opinion to that of Madame Marian in advising the younger women of the best choice of color, style and material.
At last, the new ball gowns were chosen and measurements given to the assistants who were to have them ready in ample time for the anticipated affair. Caroline had nearly collected her nerve to request assistance with riding attire, when Lavenia saved her the necessity.
"Why, Caroline, we have nearly forgotten about your riding habit. You would look so lovely in royal blue velvet, don't you agree, Mother?"
Lady Aberly looked blank for a moment. "I did not know you enjoyed the sport, Caroline."
"I do, my lady. But I fear, in my packing, I neglected to include my attire." Her conscience pricked at the half-truth. She had packed her own wardrobe. Never, in her life, however, had she possessed riding attire.
Madame Marian commenced to produce rich velvets of such quality that Caroline could not choose between the various shades. At last, she settled on a deep blue that brought out the creamy color of her skin.
They left Madame Marian's shop and stepped into the bright sunshine of late morning. A look at Geoffrey, waiting with the coachman, told Caroline why she had taken more trouble with her riding habit than the choice of a gown for the ball. She flushed with embarrassment and told herself she had no interest in impressing the handsome groom.
So why did her heart tremble at his touch as he helped her into the carriage? She must collect her common sense and rid herself of this spell that had been cast over her. She forced her thoughts to the sensible plans she had made for the future. The ball was less than two weeks away. If she could manage without a terrible faux-pas, she might meet the man that Lady Eleanor had envisioned for her. She would settle comfortably on a country estate and forget both the danger of Lord Humphrey and Geoffrey's dangerous intrigue.
They took luncheon in a popular tearoom, then journeyed on to the milliner for a bonnet to match the deep velvet of the new riding habit. When Caroline had found just the thing, a top hat with a lovely gauze veil, she returned to the coach and ventured a covert glance at the groom. The boldness with which he returned the look flustered her and she hurried into the coach.
After a late afternoon stop for Sally Lunn rolls, they were again on their way, clattering out of the cobbled city and bound for the estate that Caroline had come to think of as home.
Caroline found herself dozing as the steady pace of the team lulled her. Her drowsiness was interrupted with the sound of a loud crack. It was immediately followed by a wild careening of the coach as the horses took their heads.
She peered out to see Geoffrey urging Victory along side the run-away coach. Moments later, a riderless Victory told her Geoffrey had mounted the coach and calmed the frightened horses. As they drew to a halt, she wondered what had happened to John Coachman.
She sprang from the coach, followed more sedately by a pale-faced Lavenia while Lady Aberly remained inside proclaiming that she was overcome by the megrims.
"What has happened? Was that a shot I heard?" Caroline asked.
Geoffrey spared her a brief look. "Yes. It caught your coachman in the arm. Nothing too serious I am glad to report, though it could have been a good deal worse."
While Lavenia hurried to impart news of the injury to Lady Aberly, Caroline watched Geoffery attend the coachman, marveling at his competence as he helped the man out of his coat and cut away the damaged sleeve. When the wound had been bound with John Coachman's clean cravat, Geoffrey tied Victory to the coach and assisted Caroline back to the carriage.
"We should be on our way before our
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