An Unlikely Suitor

Frances smoothed her skirts. ‘Forgive me, Miss Brabant. I am such a sad rattle! Tell me about yourself, and about Hewly Manor. It sounds a delightful place…’

‘Oh, I am a poor subject of conversation,’ Lavender said hastily, ‘but I am always happy to talk of Hewly! It is a beautiful house and I love to wander in the grounds and the countryside—’

‘By yourself?’ Frances looked struck halfway between incredulity and respect. ‘Only fancy!’

‘Oh yes, for there is no danger in the woods and lanes—’

Lavender broke off, remembering that sometimes one met with the unexpected in Steep Wood.

‘Fancy!’ Miss Covingham repeated vaguely. ‘Indeed, it sounds delightfully pastoral!’ Her brow wrinkled. ‘You will be sorry to leave Hewly when you marry then, Miss Brabant!’

Lavender frowned slightly at what seemed to be a non sequitur. ‘Oh! But there is no likelihood of that, Miss Covingham! I am well past my last prayers and do not intend to marry!’

It seemed she had uttered the unthinkable. Frances gave a little shriek and caught her arm. ‘Oh, Miss Brabant!’ Frances said breathlessly. ‘But that is impossible! Of course you must marry!’

Lavender raised her eyebrows, smiling. ‘Indeed! Must I? Why so, Miss Covingham?’

‘Well…’ Frances seemed quite taken aback at the challenge. Lavender waited confidently for her to say that all girls should hunt themselves a husband, but when Frances finally replied it literally took Lavender’s breath away.

‘Because you are so pretty!’ her new-found friend declared triumphantly. ‘Oh Miss Brabant, it would be such a waste otherwise!’

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.