Mistress Of Madderlea. Mary Nichols

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      Charlotte raised an enquiring eyebrow. ‘Oh, is that all?’

      ‘No, he must be considerate and tenderhearted and not haughty or domineering. But not soft. Oh, no, definitely not soft.’

      ‘Goodness, Sophie, where are you going to find such a paragon? You ask too much.’

      Sophie sighed. ‘I know, but I can dream, can I not? Don’t you ever dream?’

      ‘Yes, but only of Freddie.’

      ‘Mr Harfield, ah, yes, I had almost forgot him. You will be able to enjoy your Season, safe in the knowledge that you have him to come back to.’

      ‘I am not so sure, Sophie. Freddie told me that his father wants him to marry someone with a substantial dowry; you know I don’t have that.’

      Sophie laughed. ‘I have not heard that Mr Harfield is making any push to obey his papa. He has never so much as looked at anyone else.’

      ‘No, but Sir Mortimer is the squire of Upper Corbury, which I own is nothing compared to Madderlea, but in our little pool, he is a big fish, and no doubt Freddie will have to give in in the end.’

      ‘Then he is not the man I took him for,’ Sophie said.

      They had come out of the woods on to a lane which wound up and over Corbury Hill. The dark fields, here and there showing the tips of winter wheat, stretched on either side of them. On the skyline, they could see the hunt, galloping behind the yelping hounds.

      ‘Do you think they’ve found the scent?’ Charlotte asked, as the sound of the hunting horn drifted across to them.

      ‘I hope not. I feel for the poor fox.’

      ‘Oh, Sophie, and you a country girl!’ She stopped. ‘There’s Freddie. Don’t you think he is handsome, the way he sits his horse?’

      Sophie smiled. ‘I am persuaded that you do.’

      The young man had spotted them and turned his horse to meet them, pulling it up in a shower of damp earth, almost at their feet.

      ‘Freddie!’ Charlotte said, brushing down her cape. ‘You have made us all muddy.’

      He grinned, doffing his hat to reveal blond curls. Two years older than they were, he still had the slim figure and round face of a youth, but had been rapidly maturing over the previous two years and would soon have all the mamas for miles around looking at him with an acquisitive eye.

      ‘I beg your pardon, Miss Hundon.’ Then, to Sophie, ‘Miss Roswell.’

      Sophie smiled. ‘Mr Harfield.’

      ‘It is so pleasant to be out after all the rain,’ Charlotte said, teasing him. ‘And we might not be able to do so much longer.’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘We are both going to London for a Season. What do you think of that?’

      ‘Season?’ he echoed in dismay. ‘You mean you are to have a come-out and mix with all the eligibles?’

      ‘I mean exactly that,’ she said, laughing.

      He dismounted and walked over to grab both her hands, a gesture which Sophie knew she ought to discourage as being highly improper, but she had no heart to do it.

      ‘Charlie,’ he said, using the familiar name of childhood. ‘You wouldn’t…Would you?’

      ‘Now, who’s to say? I might…’

      ‘Oh, no, please say you are only teasing…’

      ‘I am only teasing.’ She looked at him with her head on one side, while Sophie pretended to examine something in the hedgerow. ‘But you know, Freddie, if your papa has his way, I should be holding myself back in vain.’

      ‘I will bring him round. Promise me you will be patient.’ He could hear the hunt fading in the distance. ‘I must go.’ He put her hands to his lips and reluctantly released them. The next minute he was astride his horse and galloping away.

      ‘You know, that was highly indecorous conduct,’ Sophie said, as they resumed their walk. ‘If anyone had seen you…’

      ‘But they didn’t, did they?’ Charlotte was smiling at the memory of her swain.

      ‘No, but it will be very different in London, you know. What might be acceptable behaviour in Upper Corbury would be enough to ruin your reputation in the capital. Do remember that, Charlie.’

      ‘There is no need to ring a peal over me, Sophie, I know I must be prim and proper when we go to London. Besides, Freddie will not be there and I shall not be tempted to stray.’

      Sophie was not so sure. Temptations there would be, she was certain, not only for Charlotte but for her too—she must not allow herself to forget Madderlea and why she was there.

      Three weeks later, they set off for London in the family coach, accompanied by Anne, who had been promoted from parlour maid to ladies’ maid, and escorted by Joseph, Mr Hundon’s groom, riding Sophie’s grey stallion. Joseph’s nineteen-year-old son, Luke, was riding Charlotte’s smaller horse. Joseph and the coachman were to return with the carriage immediately because William needed it, but Luke was to stay in London to look after their mounts. They would be relying on their hostess’s equipage to convey them around town.

      ‘Her name is Lady Fitzpatrick,’ William had told them on his return. ‘She is a distant cousin on my mother’s side. You have not met her because she moved to Ireland on her marriage and we did not correspond. She was widowed some years ago and returned to live in London. I went to ask her advice and she offered to sponsor you herself, which is very agreeable of her and saved me a great deal of time and trouble. She has a town house in Holles Street, not a top-of-the-trees area, but respectable enough.’

      ‘Some years ago,’ Charlotte echoed. ‘Does that mean she is old, Papa?’

      ‘No, I would not say old,’ he told them. ‘Mature and well able to deal with high-spirited girls.’

      ‘A dragon.’

      ‘Certainly not. In fact, she is a sympathetic sort and will stand well in loco parentis. I believe she might be a little short-sighted, for she uses a quizzing glass all the time, but that is of no account. I am sure you will like her; she impressed me very much with her sensibility and knowledge of what is right and proper.’

      This description hardly filled the girls with rapture, but it could not have been easy for him, a country gentleman not used to the haute monde. They were going to London for the Season and that was all that mattered.

      ‘Now, Sophie, you will have a care, will you not?’ he had said the day before, when they were in the throes of last-minute packing. ‘There will be unscrupulous men about and I do not want you to be gulled. Be guided by Lady Fitzpatrick and, whatever you do, do not commit yourself to anyone until I have seen and approved him. You do understand?’

      ‘Of course, Uncle.’

      ‘And СКАЧАТЬ