The Suitor List (6 page)

At the baritone timbre of his voice, an expression of
rapture spread across their faces and, most probably,
weakened their knees beneath their fashionable walking gowns.

"That was Viscount Fieldstone!" Lizzie said in a voice
that must have echoed off every residence of Hanover
Square. "Augusta is so very lucky that he has shown interest in her"

Augusta might have felt self-conscious about the
proclamation if it hadn't been true. She wasn't sure that
shouting in the middle of Town would have been her
method of alerting the inhabitants of the news.

Augusta drew them into the house by their arms,
skirts, sleeves, reticules-whatever she managed to get
ahold of-and closed the door.

Emily pressed her hand to her lips but she was far
from managing to suppress her laughter.

Miriam's gaze slid to Augusta before commenting, "Did you not think Gusta and Lord Fieldstone were the
most handsome couple on the floor last night?"

Emily closed her eyes and allowed her held breath to
escape with a sigh. "I have heard that he has managed
to successfully evade the marriage mart, holding out
for his perfect bride!"

"Lady Augusta, that could be you!" Lizzie shrilled.

Fieldstone's viscountess? Even Augusta thought it
too soon to travel down that path. After giving the sub ject a few moments of consideration, the notion had
some appeal, and she could not deny her attraction to
him.

Lord Fieldstone was most impressive-handsome,
well-mannered, and well-spoken. He could easily walk
away with Augusta's heart if she were to permit it. However, there were other gentlemen to consider before she
needed to choose a husband-and besides, he had yet
to ask her.

If the decision were left to Miriam, Lizzie, and
Emily, Lord Fieldstone was the most desirable and he
would be the man Augusta would marry.

Augusta might have agreed with them, but it was impossible for her to know if he were her choice until they
were better acquainted. She did not wish to wed a complete stranger.

How circumstances had changed. Miriam, Lizzie, and
Emily gossiped and giggled while Augusta felt the full
importance of her presence in Town. It was not to strictly
enjoy herself but to engage a gentleman through her flirtations. She needed to attract the right sort of gentleman,
one who would make an ideal husband. All of a sudden
she felt her girlish silliness fall by the wayside, replaced
by the notion that she was quite grown up.

Emily, Lizzie, and Miriam brought Augusta near,
into their confidential coze to discuss the recent gossip
they'd heard last night and that very morning from their
servants.

Augusta listened to how Miss Constance GreenfieldJones tried to catch the eye of the obscenely rich Lord
Arthur Masters and how Lord Crandall had begged off
his engagement to the lovely Lady Catherine Willows, who, by his estimation, was not as lovely as Lady
Augusta Worth. He gave the excuse that he could not,
in good conscience, shackle himself to her without first
offering himself for judgment to the Duke of Faraday's
daughter.

As if Augusta could be tempted by such a blackguard.
And if Lady Catherine possessed any self-respect or the
smallest amount of activity under her bonnet, she would
not even acknowledge him when he returned to beg her
forgiveness. Such behavior was not to be borne.

Augusta wasn't sure how long this grown-up-Augusta
would last, but the fun and frivolity of the girl-Augusta
seemed to ebb. She now felt quite serious in her pursuit
of a suitable man.

How she wished that she, too, could still believe life
could remain all fun and frolic.

That evening, Augusta, her cousin Miriam, and Mrs.
Parker attended a dinner party at Lord and Lady Sutherland's. Apparently, Lady Sutherland thought that Augusta's attendance would ensure a number of eligible
gentlemen for her own unattached daughter, Miss Emma
Sutherland.

Far more males than females attended, which appeared a bit odd especially if one considered that
Augusta's cousin Miriam and Earl Dawson were already engaged. The remaining gentlemen fell all over
themselves competing for time with the remaining two
unattached young ladies. Correction: they made absolute
cakes of themselves vying for Augusta's attention and
ignoring Miss Sutherland altogether.

At the conclusion of supper, Mr. Bertram Allendale
apparently had no interest in remaining with the gentlemen for an after-dinner port and turned to his right. "I
hear tell that the Sutherlands have a fine gallery, Lady
Augusta. Would you care to take a turn?"

Sir Benjamin Palfrey shot to his feet and tugged his
waistcoat taut, moving toward the head of the table
where Augusta sat. "Yes, I beg you to allow me to escort
you, Lady Augusta."

"Might we all be allowed to share in Lady Augusta's
company?" Lord Carlton huffed, sounding wholly unsatisfied that mention of the other guests had been
omitted.

I shall need an escort"-Mrs. Parker glanced from
one side of her to the other, looking for gentlemen to volunteer, and offering them kind smiles if they were to
oblige-"or two"

"I would be delighted, Mrs. Parker. If you would do
me the honor?" A dashing Lord Stanton stood and
helped her from her seat. Lord Carlton Wingate reluctantly accepted and took her other arm.

"Oh, I say this is far more agreeable than lying about
the dining room partaking spirits without the enjoyment of the ladies' company," Lord Carlton enunciated
in a rather loudish manner.

Augusta had heard him but was already in conversation with the two men on either side of her. Sir Benjamin
wasted no time and offered to accompany her for an
afternoon visit to Kew Gardens. She was delighted to accept.

No sooner had she agreed to Sir Benjamin's afternoon diversion than Mr. Allendale, who would not be outdone,
suggested she might care for a far more adventurous
journey-a trip to the Exeter Exchange!

Cousin Miriam's fiance, Earl Dawson, happily escorted her, and Sir Samuel Pruitt offered her his arm as
well. The remaining two gentlemen, Lord Perkins and
Lord Bancroft, escorted Miss Emma Sutherland. The
four groups of three headed out of the dining room for
their stroll through the gallery.

The next afternoon, Penny could not keep Miriam,
Lizzie, and Emily from peering out the double-sash
windows facing the front of Worth House. They stood
on tiptoes, watching for Augusta to return from her
drive in Sir Warren's green high-perched phaeton.

Penny approached the girls. "Come away from there"
They huddled closer and appeared completely intrigued
with the arrival of the vehicle rolling up the street.

"Watch out, they'll see us!" Miriam cried out.

Penny drew the three away. "Into the parlor, we shall
wait for Gusta there" She urged the girls down the
corridor but she could not resist a quick glance out the
window herself before following them.

"Is Sir Warren not handsome?" Miriam looked to
Lizzie and Emily for their thoughts. "I think he must find
Gusta very agreeable. This is her second drive with him
in his new phaeton"

"Do you think she cares for him as well?" Lizzie
wondered.

"I'm afraid I would be terrified out of my wits to
climb aboard such a vehicle," Emily confessed, sounding
timid. "It is very high."

"But he is ever so handsome"

"Miriam, I am not about to marry anyone because he
is handsome," Emily remarked in a stern tone.

"Nor would I turn one away because he owns a highperched transport," Lizzie confessed.

"I thank you for your company, Lady Augusta," Sir
Warren's voice echoed in from the marble entryway.
"Might we share another drive through the park in a few
days?"

The occupants of the cerulean blue parlor went quiet
as they waited for Augusta's answer. There was a reply
but much too soft for any of them to decipher.

"Very well, then," he said. The answer must not have
been the one he wanted. "Until we meet again-and I
pray that it may be soon. Good day to you"

Penny and the girls all looked at one another wideeyed, completely silent, still, waiting for something
to-

Augusta strolled into the room, extremely slowly.
When she saw them perched upon the sofa unnaturally
motionless, she inquired, "What are you lot doing?"

"We did not wish to disturb you" Penny seemed to
be quite shocked at Augusta's somber demeanor.

"I ... I need to sit ... ," Augusta began, "... on something that does not move"

Miriam, Lizzie, and Emily giggled.

"And someplace where my feet can touch the solid
floor."

Miriam and Emily laughed again.

"Let me fetch you some tea, dear. You don't look
very well at all." Penny stood and headed out the door.

"Thank you, Aunt Penny," Augusta called after her.

"What happened? Was it thrilling?" Emily's excitement could not be contained.

"Is he as famous a whip as I have heard?" Lizzie
begged her to answer.

Augusta managed to look at her best friend, but she
quite felt that her expression might have given away her
lackluster opinion. "I really can't speak of it now. I
need to recover from the ordeal."

Emily gasped. "Oh, dear."

"And while we wait, Em"-Miriam turned to her
left-"allow me to tell you and Lizzie what happened
after dinner at the Sutherland's last night."

"Oh, yes, do tell us, Mimi." Lizzie shifted so as to
look squarely upon the speaker.

"After dinner we all lined up, three abreast-two
men for each female, one on each of the ladies' armsand we made our way down through the long gallery."

"So the men outnumbered the women? Was that not
awkward? Were not some of the men left out?" Emily
wanted to know, and she leaned forward, showing great
interest.

"Actually, some of the women"-Miriam turned toward Emily and whispered-"Miss Sutherland, poor
dear"-then spoke at her normal volume-"did not
manage to engage any of the gentlemen."

That wasn't entirely true but Augusta felt too out of
sorts to correct her cousin.

"You should have seen Lord Carlton." Miriam
glanced heavenward and exhaled, displaying her full exasperation. "He nearly came to tears when he could not
take Gusta's arm on our return trip through Sutherland's
gallery."

August had to speak up. "The gentlemen insisted
that .. " How was she to explain without sounding conceited?

There was no need, for Miriam continued, "The ladies
had to exchange gentlemen escorts once we'd arrived and
there were some who nearly came to blows-for there
were seven eligible gentlemen, and Augusta was limited
to two arms. She could not accommodate them all"

Lizzie let out a cry of laughter while Emily tried to
stifle hers.

"It was not as horrible as that" Augusta tried to downplay the event, but even she had to admit that it was a
truly frightening scene-and she was enormously relieved it had not come down to fisticuffs.

"I believe I did see Lord Carlton's eyes welling up
with tears during our return to the drawing room when
Gusta announced that she could not accept any more offers for afternoon outings. She said they were all welcome to call, when it was convenient for them, and she
would be most delighted to see them if they were to
catch her at home"

There was a knock at the open door before Ralston
entered and offered her a card upon a salver. "Pardon
me, Lady Augusta, Sir Samuel Pruitt has arrived. Shall
I show him in?"

"No, I'll-" Augusta thought it best she shield Sir
Samuel from the prying eyes of her friends, or perhaps
worse, their gossiping tongues.

"Excuse me" Augusta rose and stood for a moment
to make certain she could stand upright without losing
her balance. She headed out the door, turned to the right,
and walked down the corridor.

"Lady Augusta-" Sir Samuel stood just beyond Mrs.
Parker in the marble entryway with his hat and walking
stick in hand. "I feared I would be denied the pleasure of
calling on you this afternoon, so I thought I might chance
an intrusion by stopping by a bit early." He made a shallow bow. "Mrs. Parker tells me you are-" Sir Samuel
stepped forward and spoke very softly. "I can see for myself that you look a bit pale." His eyes narrowed and he
observed her with a tilt of his head. "You do not seem as
if you are feeling the thing."

"I believe I need-" Augusta wasn't quite sure what
she needed, but no, she did not feel the thing at all.

Today's drive, unquestionably, had not agreed with
her.

She wasn't sure which put her off the most, the precarious height of the phaeton or the baronet attempting
to break a land record of a particular peer's, accounting
for today's accelerated speed.

"Was it Sir Warren and that ridiculous green monstrosity of his?" Sir Samuel guessed, raising one of his
well-formed eyebrows, but he did not wait for her to answer and continued, "It is obvious you have been through
somewhat of a shock. Your nerves are quite overwrought" He paused. "Might I suggest something ...
more soothing, calming?"

She glanced at her aunt, who had stepped back from
the couple out of sight, just around the corner. Augusta
did not need to wonder how much her relative had heard.
She guessed her aunt had witnessed everything.

"A stroll through a lovely garden, perhaps?" He
watched Augusta's reaction as if to measure her approval.
"If I may, I will take you to a place where there are beautiful, exquisite flowers to gaze upon. It will remind
you of your sorely missed gardens at Faraday Hall."

Truly, could he do such a thing in the middle of Town?

"It shall restore you and you'll feel quite ...
transported, I promise you." A wondrous smile crossed
his face that convinced her that every word he spoke
was to be believed.

Augusta found herself returning his sentiment. Her
glance to her aunt did not go unnoticed by Sir Samuel.
He stepped to Mrs. Parker's side and they had a short,
quiet conversation. She smiled and apparently gave her
consent to whatever it was he had proposed.