Underestimating Miss Cecilia by Carolyn Miller

Author:Carolyn Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2019-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

On reading the name of the correspondent his jaw had sagged. Save for a few letters it could have been Cecilia’s name. Had she dared to write such a thing? He knew she cared about the situation in the north, yet could not quite see her blatantly disregarding her mother’s sensibilities. It had to have been someone else.

But still, such letters renewed hope that one day people might, as the author of that letter believed, seek true justice for the victims of what was now being described as Peterloo, in reference to the Battle of Waterloo four years earlier.

His days resumed their tedium, his efforts to show himself approved leading to the long hours of before, but—obeying his uncle’s wishes—he was making more of an effort to engage in social events seen key to promoting his cause. Thus it was that when an invitation to dine at Lord Fearnley’s came his way, Lionel urged him to accept, saying Mr. Whittaker would be in attendance, and Ned’s presence would be sure to show his candidature as worthy.

Ned glanced around the drawing room of the Portman Square town house. Lord Fearnley, one of Uncle Lionel’s acquaintances, had encouraged him to bring the son of “that rascal Rovingham,” whom he remembered from Cambridge days, so Ned was here on a rare night out, trying to converse and smile as he once remembered.

As the footman announced the guests, Ned found himself bracing, listening through the hubbub of conversation for the names of those of London society whom he may wish to avoid. He’d attempted a gentle enquiry of his host, but had been near instantly steered to another topic, and he’d not the fortitude to ask again. He strove to calm himself under the older man’s perusal as Fearnley commented on how alike Ned was to his father, right down to the shape of his nose, before recalling several incidents from university days that Ned would never have suspected from his quietly straitlaced father.

“It seems I surprise you,” Lord Fearnley said, a jovial expression reddening his face. “But it was all harmless fun. Did he ever tell you about the horse I once rode up the steps into Balliol?” He chortled.

Ned’s smile remained fixed, but his thoughts had flown west and 130 miles away. The story reminded him of one concerning young Verity Hatherleigh, who had been persuaded by Stephen Heathcote to ride her horse up the back stairs of Aynsley Manor. He frowned, wondering how easily her sister would be open to persuasion …

“… and then he went to the King’s Head Tavern and became as merry as a grig. I say, Amherst, you don’t appear as vastly amused as I thought you would.”

He collected himself, pushed his cheeks into a smile. “I assure you, such stories are vastly diverting.”

The footman called: “Lord and Lady Featherington, Lord Asquith, Lord Winthrop.”

Ned’s breath suspended at the last name. No. He glanced at the door, past the young couple and the older portly gentleman, to the tall blond man behind.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.