Harlequin Historical May 2020--Box Set 2 of 2 by Harper St. George

Author:Harper St. George
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Natalya spent the rest of the morning helping her aunt with the arrangements for the party, but when Mrs Pridham suggested she should spend the afternoon resting she begged to be allowed to go out.

‘I am far too excited to sleep,’ she explained. ‘It is such a lovely day that I am sure a walk in Sydney Gardens would do me no harm. I shall take Aggie with me, for propriety.’

It took her a little while to persuade her aunt to agree, but finally she was allowed to fetch her wrap and her parasol and to sally forth with her maid in attendance. However, after strolling under the trees for a few minutes, Natalya left the gardens and set off at a brisk pace along Great Pulteney Street, much to the consternation of her maid.

‘Miss, miss wherever are you going?’ cried Aggie, hurrying along beside Natalya. ‘The mistress won’t like it.’

‘My aunt will never know,’ declared Natalya, ‘unless you tell her.’ She heard the maid’s frightened gasp and added reassuringly, ‘We are going to call upon Mrs Ancrum. There can be no objections to such a visit.’

Her maid continued to lament all the way to Pulteney Bridge, where Natalya stopped and turned on her.

‘If you are so set against it, you may go back if you wish, Aggie, but I am going on to see Mrs Ancrum.’

‘But what if the mistress asks me where you’ve been?’

‘There is no reason why she should do so,’ replied Natalya. ‘And if she does, you may tell her you could not prevent me.’

‘Which is true enough,’ muttered her maid. She looked at Natalya’s determined face and heaved a loud sigh. ‘The mistress has told me often and often that I am not to let you go out alone.’

‘There you are then.’ Natalya set off again. ‘Come along!’

* * *

She arrived at the Paragon just as Mrs Ancrum was returning from the Pump Room in a chair. When she saw Natalya hovering on the pavement, she called out to her.

‘Miss Fairchild, what a pleasant surprise! Go on into the house, my dear and these capital fellows will follow.’

Natalya went indoors and watched as the carriers brought the chair up the steps and into the hall. One of them carefully helped their passenger to alight and she rewarded them generously for their efforts.

After the ladies had divested themselves of their coats, Natalya followed her hostess to the drawing room while Aggie was despatched to the nether regions of the house, where she could while away the time drinking tea and gossiping with Mrs Ancrum’s servants.

When they were both settled comfortably in the drawing room with the tea tray and a plate of small fancy cakes before them, Mrs Ancrum gave her young friend a wide smile.

‘Well, this is a pleasure I did not expect today! How are you enjoying your day, my dear?’

‘It has been sadly disappointing,’ Natalya told her bluntly. ‘I had hoped that I would learn something of my family, but my uncle says I must wait even longer.

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