Lady Violet Says I Do by Grace Burrowes

Author:Grace Burrowes [Burrowes, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781956975383
Publisher: Grace Burrowes

Chapter Nine

Violet

I made the mistake of pausing on my way to the stable to enjoy the cricket tableau. Several young swains in shirt-sleeves and waistcoats jogged about, two others manfully swung bats at nothing, and the bowler conferred with an older fellow, tossing the ball from hand to hand as he did.

The spectators occupied blankets, benches, and—in the case of Sir Miniver—a shooting stick pressed into service as a temporary chair. The ladies wore wide straw hats and pale colors, the footmen in their livery a dark, and likely sweltering, contrast to the guests in repose.

Monsieur Leo Fontaine also stood out because of his darker complexion and the exquisite peacock embroidery of his waistcoat.

Young Lord Cranston’s distinction—other than shoulders of considerably lesser breadth than when he wore his coats and jackets—was an overly hearty laugh and hair so blond as to be nearly white.

Off to one side, Miss Gillespie stood arm in arm with Mr. Nicholson, who cut a dash in his riding attire. They, along with the solitary Sir Miniver, looked at ease rather than on display, unlike the rest of the guests.

Mademoiselle Fontaine was holding Mr. Dinwiddie’s coat and gazing up at him raptly, while a few yards away, lanky Lord Jasper was guzzling from an ale mug and trying to turn that exercise into posturing worthy of an ancient Athenian athlete.

The grass stain on the seat of his breeches rather ruined that aspiration.

Cricket was a game, but no female with four brothers would mistake any public athletic undertaking for mere entertainment. While the guests were generally occupied with displaying prowess and appreciating such displays, Sebastian and I could execute a thorough examination of the stable.

“Do they not make the most attractive couple?” Mrs. Gillespie accosted me just as I started back toward the path leading away from the park.

I considered Mademoiselle Fontaine and Mr. Dinwiddie. “They are young, innocent, and in great good health. Anybody would find them lovely to behold.” I certainly did, though I wasn’t much older than either party.

“We mothers see things differently, don’t we, my lady?” Mrs. Gillespie said, slipping her arm through mine. “I must tell you how much I appreciate the effort you made to accompany his lordship to our little gathering. I honestly did not expect either of you to attend, but the courtesies are to be observed, and we are neighbors—and here you are!”

Her eyes sparkled, and her air was that of a pleased confidante. A talented hostess had this ability to make every guest feel honored, and Mrs. Gillespie was accounted a very skilled hostess.

“We came by sea,” I said, “a new experience for me and, for the most part, enjoyable.”

We fell silent as Mr. Dinwiddie took up a bat, swung a few times, and stepped up to the crease. He handled the bat as if he knew what he was about.

“Who is the bowler?” I asked, because he, too, seemed well suited to his job. Blond, trim, slightly above medium height, with a quality of being at home in his body that the strutting specimens lacked.

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.