Tempted by Folly: A Traditional Regency Romance by Christina Dudley

Author:Christina Dudley [Dudley, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780983072195
Amazon: 0983072191
Publisher: BellaVita Press
Published: 2022-09-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Alack a day, Cousin Biddy, these Idle Romances have quite turn'd your Head.

—Richard Steele, The tender husband: or, The accomplish'd fools (1705)

“Let’s go for a walk,” said Lily. “A very long walk.”

Florence glanced at the clock. It was nearly the time when callers might be expected. Given the choice, she would have preferred to be alone with her thoughts, rather than facing her sister’s curiosity and interference, but that would mean remaining at Hollowgate where she was too easily found.

“What about Beatrice?”

“I already told Boots to help her draw paper dolls and cut them out. Come on, then. We will walk Teg Down.”

Teg Down being the highest point close to Hollowgate, the girls saved their breath for the climb, but when they stood on the modest height, surveying the surrounding downs and the town, Lily looped her arm through her sister’s and rested her chin on Florence’s shoulder.

“How do you think you will like living at the rectory?”

They could see Florence’s future home at the base of Chapel Hill, a grey stone house with painted cream-and-blue trim, smoke rising from the chimneys.

“I don’t know,” said Florence. “Miss Gregory asked for my opinions on repapering the morning room and a little dressing room that will be mine.”

“And what did you choose?”

Florence sighed. “I chose blue paper—scrolls and peacocks—for the dressing room and yellow roses for the morning room.”

“Why—those are the colors of your dressing room and the east morning room at Hollowgate, which my grandmother chose. Did you not want something new? Something your very own?”

Hearing Lily put it that way, Florence’s shoulders sagged. “You’re right. They are the same colors.” They were very nearly the same patterns.

“You see,” said Lily, and Florence could hear the note of danger rising in her voice. “You don’t want to leave home. At least, you don’t want to leave home and marry Mr. Gregory.”

“Oh, Lily, not this again.”

“Not what again? I have not mentioned it for months,” declared Lily. “I told myself I would keep my mouth shut and let you realize for yourself that he is not the match for you. Too old, too loud, too stuffy, too dull. No—don’t pull away, Flossie. Just listen to me, for once. I thought surely he would be so disappointing as a lover that you—even you—would grow impatient with him. You’re such a darling, darling Flossie that you ought to be loved by someone more…loveable!”

“I won’t listen to this, Lily—”

“No—that’s not right,” her sister went on, determined to speak her mind. “It’s not only that Mr. Gregory isn’t loveable himself, it’s that he doesn’t even truly love you!”

“Lily!”

“He doesn’t! Has he ever said he does?”

Florence’s silence and compressed lips answered for her.

“I knew it,” said Lily, more quiet than triumphant. “But then what about the kissing?” When Florence covered her face with her hands, Lily snorted. “It was quite obvious what you two had been doing when you came in. Mr. Fairchild even noticed.”

“No!” wailed Florence into her hands.

“How could he not? Anyone with eyes

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