Loving Protector Read Free Page B

known that Colonel Windebank had
thought of him when looking for an architect. More than that, she wished he had
lived long enough to be able to do it. He was very talented, regardless of what
he said about his age.
    Evelyn stroked her hair and said in a
quiet voice, “I understand, dearest. I love my daughter, but sometimes, may God
forgive me, I do not like her very much. She frightens me sometimes. I believe
that she will stop at nothing to get her own way and is willing to tread on
anyone who gets in her path.”
    Half an hour later, strolling out in the
sunshine, even Blanche could not spoil Calista’s enjoyment. They were going to
Bond Street to order their new dresses, and whilst Calista would normally
insist she did not care about finery, even she could not deny a sense of
excitement at the thought of owning a fine new ball gown.
    “Lady Bedlington said that Bond Street
was built by a syndicate,” said Calista. “It used to overlook open fields. Now
it has many of the fine arts houses, including Sotheby’s.”
    “Fascinating,” said Blanche in her usual
bored manner. “But we are going to buy dresses, not antiques. Of course, when I
am married to a rich man, I am sure I shall want to furnish my house
accordingly, and then I’ll worry about fine arts.”
    “Do not give your heart to the first person
you meet,” said Evelyn. “You have not appeared in society yet. You may fall in
love with someone without a title, dearest.”
    “I do not think so. Lady Bedlington told
me that Colonel Windebank is very rich. Probably one of the richest men in
England. I cannot find a better catch.”
    “Perhaps you should let him be the one
to catch you,” Evelyn suggested. “Men do not approve of women who pursue them.
It is not the way a lady should behave.”
    “Well of course, Mama, what do you take
me for? However, I noticed that he could not keep his eyes off me in the
carriage yesterday. I believe a proposal will be forthcoming.”
    Sometimes Calista wished she had
Blanche’s confidence. Evelyn was quite right about her daughter. She would have
what she wanted and not care who she stepped upon to get it. Given that young
ladies of their time were not allowed to earn money any other way, perhaps
Blanche was more realistic than most. Calista longed to marry someone who loved
her, and whom she loved in return.  Sadly the cold hard truth was if she
did not find a husband, if Evelyn did marry again, she would be left penniless
and alone in the world. That would inevitably happen when Evelyn died, even
though she had many years left yet.
    Suddenly the idea of the new dresses
seemed less exciting, because they could be seen as a means of luring a man
into marriage and Calista did not wish to do that. If Evelyn remarried, she
would find some way to support herself. She was good at needlework, so she
could make dresses for the local gentry who were not as well off and could not
afford London fashion prices.
    Not one to stay glum for long, Calista
soon became caught up in the excitement of ordering new clothes. Even Blanche
could not spoil it with her barbed comments. “I do not think that colour suits
you,” Blanche said more than once. “You should wear grey to suit your
personality.”
    “Blanche…” Evelyn cut in mildly. “You
look very pretty, Calista. That shade of blue suits your eyes.” Then as if she
thought she was being unkind to her daughter, “You look magnificent, Blanche. I
am sure you will break lots of hearts before the season is over.” Blanche did
indeed look very beautiful in a dress of dark red, which contrasted well with
her dark hair and eyes.
    “The first heart I shall break will be
the Colonel’s,” Blanche said, loftily. “He is a very handsome man, and I hear
very rich, but whilst we were walking it occurred to me that he does not have a
title. However, I shall find him interesting to practice upon and it will make
other, more important men jealous when they see him making love to