Earl from India by Oliver Marina

Author:Oliver, Marina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, business, london, regency, society, gambling, shropshire
Publisher: Marina Oliver

CHAPTER 8

Jane's wedding was over. Barbara was returning to her country home, and Amanda felt flat. She did not enjoy the Almack's Assemblies so much, even though the Patronesses had given her permission to waltz. Gerard was not there to hold her in his arms. Instead the man most likely to request her hand for the waltz was Sir Martin Carruthers. He was, it seemed, determined to forget the unfortunate manner in which his offer had been interrupted, and she was beginning to find his persistent compliments and invitations to drive with him annoying. Her cousin John had asked her to waltz on three evenings, and when she made some excuse had given her an inimical look which for some reason frightened her. Between the pair of them she felt beleaguered. When she refused either of them if they asked her to dance she could not accept anyone else, and had to sit out, fuming, with the girls who had not yet been given permission to waltz. It felt humiliating.

Lucien usually accompanied her and Fanny on their walks in the Park, and when for any reason he was unable to join them, or when they went shopping or to change library books, in fact anywhere they walked instead of riding in a carriage, Edgar, their biggest footman, was ordered to attend them. It made her uneasy. She declined all invitations from Sir Martin to drive with him, and when a man she had not known previously, Sir Humphrey Smithers, who attended Almack's Assemblies regularly, paid her lavish attentions she became uncharacteristically nervous. He was an older man too, a widower she had been told, with several children he had left in his country house.

'Are you tired, my love?' Aunt Charlotte asked. 'It has been a busy two months and you have not been used to so many late nights.'

'I'm not tired,' Amanda said. 'I don't know why I feel as though something dreadful is going to happen.'

Lady Charlotte laughed.

'My dear, you have no Scottish blood, so you cannot claim second sight! I received another application from a would-be suitor this morning. What shall I tell Sir Peter Lee?'

'Sir Peter Lee? Oh no! He's as old as John, a widower, and besides, I don't like him! And I've no wish to be a mother to a brood of his children, which is what he told me he is looking for. '

'He will be the fourth man to offer for you, my dear, and you have disliked all of them. Not that I blame you, They are either too old or callow youths.'

And the man I want to offer for me will not, Amanda thought. She had discussed with Fanny the problems of a marriage between the families of merchants and those of aristocrats. Fanny had been thinking of her own chances, but had said that if a girl had a large enough fortune, and the man were not from the highest ranks, it sometimes happened.

'Mama knows of two such marriages,' she said.

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