Gentleman's Trade: A Regency Gentleman Abroad by Holly Newman

Author:Holly Newman [Newman, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2021-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Saturday morning dawned clear and rain-washed fresh. The Friday night rain, which had been feared would leave the roads a sloppy, muddy morass, lasted only long enough to settle the dry dust and dampen the earth. The very air seemed to sparkle, and the light breezes were redolent with the scent of fruit and flowers from heavily laden trees, bushes, and plants along the Bayou Road.

Vanessa Mannion inhaled deeply and smiled, a wide smile that set her eyes twinkling, brightening her face. She laughed delightedly as she rode her high-stepping chestnut mare between Hugh Talverton and Russell Wilmot. Both gentlemen looked at her in silent inquiry, but she only laughed again and shook her head. She didn’t think she could share her heady feeling of exuberance at the day. Not even Mr. Wilmot’s presence could dampen her spirits, though in truth, this day he was the epitome of gentlemanly regard. She felt gloriously alive and therefore generous with her forgiveness.

The disfiguring bruise, which she had used to such good advantage all week, was now no more than a tiny dark spot high on her cheek, almost hidden in the shadow cast by the rakish tilt of her blue riding hat with its gray plumes curling down the side of her face. She was elegantly attired in a pearl-gray cloth riding habit, ornamented and frogged with blue velvet. Though her countenance was not beautiful to a critical objective eye, her vivacity of manner, her delight in the world around her, gave her an aura of comeliness to rival any studied image of female pulchritude.

Hugh Talverton was enchanted with her lively manner, her aspect of prim propriety left farther and farther behind in the city with each passing mile. This was a part of Vanessa he knew was always lurking behind her formal mien. He’d love to see her in London. More likely, she’d take the city by storm and turn society on its ear if she allowed herself to follow her natural inclinations. He was amazed that Mannion had been able to keep her heart-whole and retired from society for so long.

He glanced over at Wilmot, nodding to that gentleman, an artificial social smile on his face. Hugh admitted Wilmot was on excellent behavior this morning. He was neither demanding Miss Mannion’s attention nor scowling when she turned to speak to him. Wilmot was suspiciously mellow, an odd aspect for a man of his dark temperament.

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