Louise Gouge - A Lady of Quality

A footman was sent for Catherine’s bonnet and parasol, another for Lord Winston’s hat and cane. Once Catherine had donned her bonnet, Lady Blakemore eyed her critically.

“That will do very nicely. Now run along, my dears. I must return to my guests.” The countess walked back toward the drawing room, the footman opened the door and her ladyship disappeared within.

“Shall we go, Miss Hart?” A hint of doubt colored Lord Winston’s tone, but she refused to look at him as she took his arm again. His well-formed face and superior height were all too alluring, and she must not fall for his charms. Curiously, one of those charms was his apparent oblivion to his own handsomeness. She would have to find a way to use that.

“Yes, my lord.” She forced a subservient tone into her voice.

To her surprise, he sighed as he led her to the stairway down to the ground floor. There he waved to his driver, who steered Mrs. Parton’s horses out of the line of carriages circling the fountain in front of the mansion. Without a word, Lord Winston handed Catherine into the pristine white carriage with tooled leather upholstery. She chose the seat with her back to the driver.

“Miss Hart, I insist upon your taking the opposite place.” The firmness in his voice sent an odd sensation skittering across her shoulder.

“Yes, my lord.” She moved to the seat facing front, considered the right of those of a superior rank. By giving it to her, the baron showed extraordinary courtesy.

Once in place opposite her, he said, “To Mr. Lambert’s on Duke Street, Toby.”

“Yes, my lord.” The driver echoed Catherine’s very tone, and she hid a smile.

Lord Winston sighed again, this time with a hint of annoyance.

As they rode from the grounds, Catherine viewed the estate’s many beautiful flower beds, noting that Lady Blakemore might easily have provided her own bouquets for tonight’s supper. Catherine could only conclude that God was smiling down on her plot against Lord Winston. Otherwise, why would such a reputable couple work so hard to provide her with opportunities to be in the baron’s company?

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, then hid again, and a fine mist sprinkled over the carriage and its inhabitants. Although Catherine raised her parasol, the humidity quickly began to wilt her muslin gown. She reached up to touch her hair, but not a curl had appeared in the few strands she had left free from her bonnet. The baron, on the other hand, seemed to sprout curls from beneath his tall black hat even as she watched.

“Shall I put the top up, milord?” The moment the driver asked the question, the rain ceased, and the sun reemerged, shining its warmth upon the travelers.

“It seems that we may leave it down.” Lord Winston eyed Catherine. “That is, if the lady has no objection.”

“None, my lord.” Brushing dampness from her skirt, she stared down at her lap and bit her lower lip to hide a smirk. She could hear his huff of annoyance.

“Miss Hart, it is not necessary for you to address me in that manner.” His eyes blazed, and his lips thinned. “Furthermore, I think you know it. Last night we enjoyed an agreeable supper together, and unless I have offended you in some way, your subservient demeanor is nothing short of insulting.”

Now Catherine permitted him to see her smirk. “Yes, my lord.”

He tilted his head to the side and stared at her, disbelief registering in his intense green eyes. Then his jaw dropped, and a smile formed on those sculpted lips. “Ah. I see.” He returned a smirk and relaxed against the back of his seat. “If that’s the way you wish to play, I am game. En garde, my lady.”

Her heart stilled. Had he guessed that she was the “young man” who had crossed swords with him only yesterday? But his eyes twinkled with mirth, and she knew she had him. They would not engage in swordplay, but rather wordplay. And she had every intention of winning.

* * *

Whatever her pedigree, the lady possessed an amusing wit. To his disadvantage, Winston had never learned to exchange clever quips. Father had been a righteous but grave gentleman, and Winston had always tried to emulate him. Yet since receiving his writ of summons from the House of Lords and making his pilgrimage to London, he had discovered that one could find humor in certain situations without committing sin. With Lord and Lady Blakemore being above reproach, perhaps he could trust their Miss Hart to help him learn how to laugh more often.

“Why, Lord Winston, I am shocked.” Her sly grin suggested that shock was far from her thoughts. “Would you challenge a lady to a duel?”

“Only if it is a duel of wits, madam.” He could see she would be a worthy opponent. If anything, he would be the student in this match.

As she appeared to consider his proposal, she idly grasped a wisp of hair that had escaped her bonnet and curled it around her forefinger to no avail. The moment she released the dark brown lock, it fell straight, emphasizing the graceful curve of her jawline. “Very well, then.” She gave him a smug grin. “I accept your challenge.”

Of course, they must keep their repartee above reproach, so he considered how to address that issue. “Perhaps we should devise some rules so as not to give one another any offense.”

“Humph. That very suggestion is an offense.” She waved her fan and stared toward the tall, elegant town houses of Hanover Square as they passed. “If you think yourself unable to maintain propriety, perhaps you should rescind your challenge.”

Annoyance shot through him. Yet how could he respond? By suggesting that she might be the one to breach the bounds of propriety? Perhaps this game was not a wise idea. What did Proverbs advise about humor and jesting other than to say a merry heart did a man good, like medicine? But if nothing else, Miss Hart’s hauteur suggested excellent breeding. Only a pure-hearted lady would bristle at any hint that she might do something improper.

The landau turned onto Oxford Street, and Miss Hart continued to watch the scenery, her chin lifted and a slightly wounded expression filling her lovely dark eyes. He stared out the other side of the carriage, taking in the scents of mowed grass and rain-washed gardens. And wondering how to repair the damage. Where did one go to learn the art of tasteful jesting?

A phaeton passed by, driven by a much older peer—Lord Morgan, if Winston remembered correctly—whose pretty young companion laughed raucously, no doubt at some great witticism from her protector. From the lecherous way the gentleman regarded the girl, Winston would hardly consider him a good source of information.

By the time they reached Duke Street, crowds of people from every class filled the narrow thoroughfare. The driver skillfully wove the landau in and out among carts, hackneys and pedestrians, reaching Lambert’s Floristry without incident.

“Wait here, Toby,” Winston ordered as he stepped down to the cobblestones. “Miss Hart.” He reached out to her, and she placed a gloved hand in his to disembark, then breezed past him to wait at the door of the establishment.

Before Winston could reach her, the door swung open. “Ah, Miss Hart, welcome.” The clerk, or perhaps the proprietor, welcomed her with a bow, then gave Winston a quizzing look.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Lambert.” She gave the middle-aged man a charming smile that Winston suddenly coveted for himself. “Lady Blakemore sent me to choose some flowers for a last-minute supper she is hosting tonight. Do tell me that Lord Winston and I are not too late to find three or four arrangements of delphiniums or perhaps gladioli.”

“Ah, Lord Winston, welcome.” Mr. Lambert gave him a bow that was neither too low nor too shallow for his station. “Please permit me to assure you that even this late in the day, we still have a vast array of exquisite blooms in a variety of colors and can deliver them straightaway. Please come this way.” He beckoned them to follow deep into the broad building containing every variety of summer flower and plant Winston had ever encountered and some he had not.