would be interested.”
“When he is bored enough he might change his mind,” she replied seriously. “Oh, he might like to fence with you or me. I seldom have anyone as an opponent with you away so often.”
“I have not taken care of you as I ought,” George admitted, “But since you do not wish to go to London..."
“Don’t be absurd. I am not complaining of your absence. I would no more keep you here than allow you to carry me off to town. There is no sense in my going to London when I would only pine for the Park. I have my friends and my interests here, George, and you have yours elsewhere, though I know you love the Park as dearly as I do.”
Her brother watched the dusk gathering outside the dining parlor window, softening the shapes of the trees until they blended with the sky. He was of average height, where Diana was very small, but they had the same brown hair. His countenance, with a straight nose and calm brown eyes, rarely varied from easy good humor. “I am thinking of marrying, Diana.”
Her hazel eyes met his, unwavering and calm. “I have expected that you would some day. Do I know the lady?”
“No, for I only met her in town in the fall. I have not approached her as yet. She’s Lord Franston’s youngest, Alonna. Several things have come up which have kept me from town, so I have not seen her as often as I would have liked.” George made an impatient gesture with his fork. "It may be that she will not have me, of course."
“Nonsense. Tell me about her.” Diana indicated to the footman that she had finished her meal and sat back in her chair with an interested expression on her countenance. Her brown hair gleamed in the candlelight and her high cheekbones accentuated the delicacy of her features. She was a tiny woman, plainly dressed, but glowing with health from outdoor living.
George contemplated the glass of wine in his hand and attempted to describe Alonna. “She is taller than you, and a few years younger, with blond hair and blue eyes. Rather pretty, I think, but she would never be the season’s beauty. She dances well and has the usual accomplishments.” He shrugged helplessly. “Lord, I don’t know how to describe her, Diana."
“Does she share your interests? Can you talk to her easily? Does she prefer life in the country or in town?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment, fingering a gold fob absently. “I think the reason I have considered marrying her is because I can talk to her. She doesn’t want for sense. I have not visited her in Hampshire as yet, but she speaks of the country fondly. Yet she is at home in the city as well, though she is inexperienced in society. I think you will like her.”
“I am sure I shall. But, George, you must remember what we decided long ago in the event of your marrying. I shall move into the Dower House so that you may have the Park to yourselves.” There was no trace of sadness or anger in her voice or countenance.
“Hardly something we decided. You have always proclaimed that you would do so, and I have never seen the least need. Besides, everything is far from being settled.”
“I see what it is,” she taunted. “You wish for me to make a scene so that you may reconsider your decision and martyr yourself to your sister!”
His brown eyes lit with appreciative mockery. “What it is, Diana, is that I fear I am too old to marry such a child. She is very trusting and open, and I am not sure that I should not offer for someone a little more...experienced. Alonna is not just out of the schoolroom you understand. She must be close on twenty. Lady Franston died a year ago and had been ill for some time before that, so Alonna has only recently been brought to town.”
“You are only five-and-thirty, George. Would you like for me to come to town with you to meet her?”
“Heaven forbid! Though I had thought of it,” he said sheepishly, “and I had intended to leave for town with Ellis in a few days.” He frowned
“When he is bored enough he might change his mind,” she replied seriously. “Oh, he might like to fence with you or me. I seldom have anyone as an opponent with you away so often.”
“I have not taken care of you as I ought,” George admitted, “But since you do not wish to go to London..."
“Don’t be absurd. I am not complaining of your absence. I would no more keep you here than allow you to carry me off to town. There is no sense in my going to London when I would only pine for the Park. I have my friends and my interests here, George, and you have yours elsewhere, though I know you love the Park as dearly as I do.”
Her brother watched the dusk gathering outside the dining parlor window, softening the shapes of the trees until they blended with the sky. He was of average height, where Diana was very small, but they had the same brown hair. His countenance, with a straight nose and calm brown eyes, rarely varied from easy good humor. “I am thinking of marrying, Diana.”
Her hazel eyes met his, unwavering and calm. “I have expected that you would some day. Do I know the lady?”
“No, for I only met her in town in the fall. I have not approached her as yet. She’s Lord Franston’s youngest, Alonna. Several things have come up which have kept me from town, so I have not seen her as often as I would have liked.” George made an impatient gesture with his fork. "It may be that she will not have me, of course."
“Nonsense. Tell me about her.” Diana indicated to the footman that she had finished her meal and sat back in her chair with an interested expression on her countenance. Her brown hair gleamed in the candlelight and her high cheekbones accentuated the delicacy of her features. She was a tiny woman, plainly dressed, but glowing with health from outdoor living.
George contemplated the glass of wine in his hand and attempted to describe Alonna. “She is taller than you, and a few years younger, with blond hair and blue eyes. Rather pretty, I think, but she would never be the season’s beauty. She dances well and has the usual accomplishments.” He shrugged helplessly. “Lord, I don’t know how to describe her, Diana."
“Does she share your interests? Can you talk to her easily? Does she prefer life in the country or in town?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment, fingering a gold fob absently. “I think the reason I have considered marrying her is because I can talk to her. She doesn’t want for sense. I have not visited her in Hampshire as yet, but she speaks of the country fondly. Yet she is at home in the city as well, though she is inexperienced in society. I think you will like her.”
“I am sure I shall. But, George, you must remember what we decided long ago in the event of your marrying. I shall move into the Dower House so that you may have the Park to yourselves.” There was no trace of sadness or anger in her voice or countenance.
“Hardly something we decided. You have always proclaimed that you would do so, and I have never seen the least need. Besides, everything is far from being settled.”
“I see what it is,” she taunted. “You wish for me to make a scene so that you may reconsider your decision and martyr yourself to your sister!”
His brown eyes lit with appreciative mockery. “What it is, Diana, is that I fear I am too old to marry such a child. She is very trusting and open, and I am not sure that I should not offer for someone a little more...experienced. Alonna is not just out of the schoolroom you understand. She must be close on twenty. Lady Franston died a year ago and had been ill for some time before that, so Alonna has only recently been brought to town.”
“You are only five-and-thirty, George. Would you like for me to come to town with you to meet her?”
“Heaven forbid! Though I had thought of it,” he said sheepishly, “and I had intended to leave for town with Ellis in a few days.” He frowned
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