Page 6 of The Undaunted
Once she’d had time to really consider her father’s plan, she did begin to appreciate all its many advantages. She’d never been to the seaside, so that was thrilling. She’d traveled with her father often, and sometimes got a glimpse of the sea out of a carriage window, but she’d never walked along it.
Further, she supposed there would be single gentlemen falling out of the trees and that was lovely to think about. And, as much as she adored her father’s horses, it might be nice to attend entertainments that were not in the stables. Of course, she had attended her share of local assemblies, but they were such a small neighborhood that they never had more than a dozen couples dancing. This would be a town of some size! There might be thirty or forty couples taking the floor at a ball. More, perhaps.
And then, it would be an adventure, would it not? It would be the first time she had gone anywhere without her father. She would have a chaperone, and a strict one, by way of Lady Easton, but that was not the same as a parent. It would be her first trip as a grown woman coming out from under the wings of her mother and father.
She had frowned while she considered what to pack, on account of her dresses being out of date. They generally were out of date until modifications could be made after perusing the periodicals. She and Lady Dunn’s maid had freshened up her wardrobe as well as they could, a new ribbon here, and pinched-in bodice there, and it would have to do.
Now, as the sun set over London, the carriage turned onto the avenue of Portland Place. It made its way down the surprisingly wide street and stopped outside a very handsome town house of white stone.
She was helped out of the carriage and one footman had taken her trunk while another led her up the steps. Now that she was actually here, she did feel a bit of trepidation over meeting the woman who was to be in charge of her days and nights for the foreseeable future.
Caroline took a deep breath and followed him in.
Chapter Two
Caroline was ledinto an elegant drawing room and a middle-aged lady dressed impeccably and sporting a rather serious expression rose and said, “Miss Upton, I am Lady Easton. Forgive our disarray—my butler, Mr. Bramley, and my housekeeper, Mrs. Wooton, have already departed for Brighton.”
Caroline curtsied and made it deeper than it need be. Those sorts of little courtesies would often soothe her own neighborhood’s dragon, Lady Marie, and so she thought it might have a good effect on Lady Easton.
“You are very kind, my lady,” Caroline said, “in agreeing to take me in.”
“I willsponsoryou,” Lady Easton corrected. “Taking you in sounds too much like you were a street urchin in need of shelter.”
Caroline nodded and suppressed a giggle. Her father had named Lady Easton the stickiest of sticks and that seemed not far wrong. Even her choice of phrase was to be corrected.
“Now, you must be tired by your journey and will wish to rest. I will take you to your room. Mrs. Belle will arrive in the next hour to take your measurements before dinner. An awkward moment for an appointment, I grant, but we have so little time to attend to anything. I have been informed by the duchess that Mrs. Belle is the only one who will do regarding seaside attire.”
Caroline was rather pleased that she would get new clothes. She had not the faintest idea of what seaside attire might entail, but it seemed all confidence had been placed in a certain Mrs. Belle.
“We dine at eight o’clock. It is always eight o’clock, Miss Upton.”
Caroline nodded and committed it to memory. A lady did not go so far as to inform one that dinner wasalways eight o’clockunless she had very strict ideas about time. It would be quite the change from her own house, as dinner very much depended upon when her father might manage to drag himself from the stables.
As they went up the stairs, Lady Easton said, “My nephew, Lord Bertridge, will join us for dinner. He will arrive at seven forty-five and we will convene in the drawing room. He’s never late, as he lives not two houses down on the other side of the avenue. We do prefer Portland Place on account of the impressive width of the street, we do not feel hemmed in as so many others surely must feel. Lord Bertridge will accompany us to Brighton as well.”
Caroline nodded at each new piece of information. She supposed Lord Bertridge would not dare be late, as Lady Easton would frown upon it. Her frowns were very frowny indeed. But it might be a lively dinner after all, especially if the lord turned out to be handsome and gay.
She would put on one of her best dresses just in case.
*
Richard arrived athis aunt’s house at precisely seven forty-four. He greeted his aunt in the drawing room at precisely seven forty-five and they both looked expectantly toward the door for Miss Upton’s arrival.
At seven forty-six, Richard said, “You did inform her that it was seven forty-five?”
Lady Easton nodded gravely. Richard did not think that the lady being late on the very first evening was at all promising.
At seven forty-seven, they heard a clatter upon the stairs. Miss Upton was running down them at full speed. Richard wondered if Lady Easton had ever before had somebody run down her stairs. It seemed unlikely.
Miss Upton tripped into the room; all smiles as if she was unaware that she was late.
Lady Easton glanced accusingly at the clock on the mantle and said, “Miss Upton, allow me to present my nephew, Lord Bertridge.”
Richard bowed to her curtsy which he had to admit was prettily done by the lady. In truth, everything about Miss Upton was rather pretty. Her hair was the richest of browns with subtle tints of gold, done up in a simple style. Her eyes were large and dark and there was something very lively about them. Her smile was ready, and he got the impression that she was more prone to smiling than otherwise.
Miss Upton’s dress was simple, and he was certain there had not been an exorbitant cost sunk into it, but it was rather charming in its simplicity—a plain white muslin with a blue ribbon round the waist.
Aside from her lateness, Miss Upton seemed every inch a lady and Richard began to believe that perhaps his aunt’s fears were unfounded. She did not seem as if she would be difficult to manage and she was exceedingly pleasant to look at. Certainly, it would be no trouble at all to marry her off.
