Treacherous Temptations(25)

“There is no avoiding it. Sir Richard even now seeks a gentleman for your hand.”

“So soon?” Mary asked in mounting disquietude.

“I know, my dear.” The countess gave Mary’s cheek a sympathetic pat with her folded fan. “But it matters not what you wish. It would be far better for you to accept the fact now that as a woman, you will rarely have any say in your life.” She gifted Mary a benign smile. “And as a wife you will have none at all.”

…

“I don’t see how you can avoid it, miss,” Jenny said. “Besides, how many commoners ever get the chance to see the king and queen like that? And not just riding by and waving from inside their carriage, but sitting right there in plain view in an opera box.”

“But I so detest the crowds, Jenny. And the thought of being under everyone’s scrutiny makes me positively ill. I will never comprehend the fashionable people. They resemble nothing more than a muster of peacocks—preening, strutting, and gawking at one another. They smile and croon but few of them ever have a kind or sincere word.”

“But what of his lordship?” Jenny said with a sly look.

“No,” Mary confessed. “He’s not like them. Lord Hadley is different somehow.”

“You just need to accustom yourself to this life, miss. After all, we’ve only been in London a few weeks. And look at all the sights there are—so much to see and do compared to Leicestershire. Surely you enjoyed this afternoon?”

“Yes, I did. It was a lovely day.” The remembrance of stolen kisses flooded Mary’s cheeks with heat.

“Are you alright, Miss Molly?” Jenny asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Mary answered a bit too hastily. “Why do you ask?”

“You look a bit flushed is all. And you was unusually quiet after our return today.”

Because he had kissed her witless.

Jenny eyed her curiously, and looked like she would say more, but a knock sounding on the door prevented any further probing. The maid rose to answer it and returned with another wax-sealed missive. “The footman awaits an answer, Miss.”

This time Mary knew exactly who the message was from, knowledge that made her fumble with the letter opener. She finally broke the seal and unfolded the foolscap.

My Dearest Miss Edwardes,

Words will never express the delight I experienced in your company this afternoon. Since you have expressed such a yearning for the bucolic, I thought you might enjoy a day trip by barge to Richmond to visit one of my own boyhood haunts. I await your pleasure as your most humble servant – H

Mary stared at the note a bit dazed and equally confused. He had been so quiet in the coach that she had thought him displeased with her, but surely he wasn’t if he wished to spend an entire day in her company.

Was it only friendship he offered, or did he mean to pay his address? If it was only friendship he had in mind, surely he would not have kissed her. The thought made her heart flutter. But then she checked herself. It was only a kiss. Still, she had been so profoundly affected that he was becoming an obsession.

Perhaps she had succumbed so easily that he thought to take advantage. Although little acquainted with the ways of fashionable gentlemen, she had heard enough to be wary. Indeed, Lord Hadley himself had warned her that men were not to be trusted.

She wondered how she should respond to his invitation. Perhaps it was all moot, for the countess might not approve of such an excursion. “Jenny, pray ask the footman if he knows how long it takes to Richmond by barge.”

“Aye, miss.” Jenny bobbed and returned a moment later with a curious look. “He says it be nigh on four hours and two more to return by coach. He says his lordship would fain depart early to be back by supper.”

With a proper chaperone, Mary could see no reason for the countess to object. She sat at her escritoire and chewed on the nub of the quill as she considered her reply.

My dear Lord Hadley, she scrawled in her very best hand. I am honored by your generous offer, and with her ladyship’s permission, would be delighted to accept your invitation. You have my sincerest regards. Miss Mary Elizabeth Edwardes

Satisfied, Mary sanded and waxed her missive closed. “Here,” she handed it to Jenny. “Pray have the footman give this to his lordship.” And with eagerness she dared not show, Mary sought out the countess to ask permission for the outing.

She found Lady Blanchard in her boudoir, in the midst of preparations for her evening out. Having never seen cosmetics before, Mary was dumfounded to realize the lovely unblemished alabaster of her ladyship’s visage and deep rosy colored lips were largely achieved by artifice.

She watched in fascination as the French maid, Nanette, mixed a small amount of liquid with a white powder, which she applied with a deft touch to her mistress’ face. She then added a bit of rouge from another pot to the white to achieve the effect of a flawless maidenly blush, topping all was a light touch of powder applied with a hare’s foot to set the mask.

Nanette opened a delicate enameled box, offering it to her mistress. Curious, Mary peered inside. “Les mouches.” The maid answered Mary’s unspoken question. “Lequel, Madame le comtesse?”

?Le c?ur,? the countess replied. ?Je desire la galante.?

?Oui, Madame,” the maid answered and then applied a tiny silk heart to the countess’ left cheek. Lady Blanchard turned her face from side to side in the looking glass and then took up her fan to admire herself from both angles before nodding her satisfaction, and finally turning her attention to Mary. She regarded her in the looking glass. “You say Lord Hadley has proposed another outing?”