Read Online Rhonda Woodward by White Rosesand Starlight - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: White Rosesand Starlight
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Comfortable now seemed deadly dull.
The chief flaw in her character—which was often, yet kindly, pointed out to her—was her tendency to be too independent in her thoughts and words. However, this propensity did not seem to distress Papa as much as it did Mama.
In response to these frequent checks, Marina had come to realize that she had developed a kind of conflict within herself—she would swing from being too forthright, too willing to speak her mind, to feeling guilt at the disappointment she saw in others. Then she would try very hard to be perfect and obliging to make up for it, which of course never really worked. Because of this curious bent, she sometimes felt she hardly knew herself at all. Sometimes she found it a strain to “always behave as Lord Buckleigh’s daughter should,” as Mama put it.
Last night, she had allowed herself to be caught up in circumstances that easily could have landed her in a good deal of trouble.
It would not do.
Dora returned with the midnight blue habit and draped it across the foot of her bed. “Here we are, miss.”
“Thank you, Dora.”
From this moment on, she would take herself in hand and behave as the daughter of Lord and Lady Buckleigh ought.
Even as she made this vow, she was aware of a deep feeling of excitement at the thought of seeing Sefton again, for it had been much too disappointing not to see him again after the dancing had resumed after supper.
She had wondered where he had gone, but knew instinctively that his absence must be directly connected to the odious Lord Cortland.
Chapter Six
An hour and a half later, Marina and Deirdre rode away from Northam Hall, with Thomas the groom trailing behind.
To Deirdre’s complete dismay, they had arrived to learn that Lydia was off visiting Jane Willingham. As the Willingham estate lay in the opposite direction, Marina had refused to turn back.
“I am most put out,” Deirdre complained when they reached the lane. “I do not know how I could have been confused about who was going to call on whom today. What is worse is having wasted an hour visiting with Mrs. Hollings. I have never felt so dull in my life.”
Marina sent her disgruntled sister an indulgent smile.
“Consider that you have done your good deed of the day. I shall purchase a pretty geegaw for you from Marshes for your good behavior.”
This tease elicited a laugh from her sister and for a little while they cantered through the cool, bright day in companionable silence.
“May I ask you something, Marina?”
Marina stifled a sigh. Companionable silence was not Deirdre’s strong suit. “If you must.”
“Do you truly wish to marry Henry Willingham?”
Marina startled, causing her horse to shy. “Goodness, what kind of question is that?”
Deirdre glanced at her sideways from beneath the pointed brim of her dashing tricorn riding hat. “Everyone speaks of it as if it were a done thing. Even last night, when you were dancing with Henry, Mrs. Hollings, as bold as brass, said that she would lay odds against her best bonnet that this time next year there will be a ball in honor of your wedding.”
They cantered along and Marina thought about this for a moment or two. Considering the direction of her thoughts that morning, it struck her as odd that her sister would bring up the subject.
“Well, I suppose it’s what’s always been expected. After all, Henry and I are near in age, our families are well connected, and I would never have to leave Parsley Hay and everyone I love.”
A few days ago, she would have been able to make this speech with conviction, but after last night . . .
“I wouldn’t mind leaving Parsley Hay in the least,” Deirdre stated. “Oh, not forever because I would miss you and Mama and Papa too much. But I should like to marry someone and travel. I would love to go to the Continent and visit all the beautiful, romantic places we’ve read about and have wonderful adventures.”
Marina looked over to her
The chief flaw in her character—which was often, yet kindly, pointed out to her—was her tendency to be too independent in her thoughts and words. However, this propensity did not seem to distress Papa as much as it did Mama.
In response to these frequent checks, Marina had come to realize that she had developed a kind of conflict within herself—she would swing from being too forthright, too willing to speak her mind, to feeling guilt at the disappointment she saw in others. Then she would try very hard to be perfect and obliging to make up for it, which of course never really worked. Because of this curious bent, she sometimes felt she hardly knew herself at all. Sometimes she found it a strain to “always behave as Lord Buckleigh’s daughter should,” as Mama put it.
Last night, she had allowed herself to be caught up in circumstances that easily could have landed her in a good deal of trouble.
It would not do.
Dora returned with the midnight blue habit and draped it across the foot of her bed. “Here we are, miss.”
“Thank you, Dora.”
From this moment on, she would take herself in hand and behave as the daughter of Lord and Lady Buckleigh ought.
Even as she made this vow, she was aware of a deep feeling of excitement at the thought of seeing Sefton again, for it had been much too disappointing not to see him again after the dancing had resumed after supper.
She had wondered where he had gone, but knew instinctively that his absence must be directly connected to the odious Lord Cortland.
Chapter Six
An hour and a half later, Marina and Deirdre rode away from Northam Hall, with Thomas the groom trailing behind.
To Deirdre’s complete dismay, they had arrived to learn that Lydia was off visiting Jane Willingham. As the Willingham estate lay in the opposite direction, Marina had refused to turn back.
“I am most put out,” Deirdre complained when they reached the lane. “I do not know how I could have been confused about who was going to call on whom today. What is worse is having wasted an hour visiting with Mrs. Hollings. I have never felt so dull in my life.”
Marina sent her disgruntled sister an indulgent smile.
“Consider that you have done your good deed of the day. I shall purchase a pretty geegaw for you from Marshes for your good behavior.”
This tease elicited a laugh from her sister and for a little while they cantered through the cool, bright day in companionable silence.
“May I ask you something, Marina?”
Marina stifled a sigh. Companionable silence was not Deirdre’s strong suit. “If you must.”
“Do you truly wish to marry Henry Willingham?”
Marina startled, causing her horse to shy. “Goodness, what kind of question is that?”
Deirdre glanced at her sideways from beneath the pointed brim of her dashing tricorn riding hat. “Everyone speaks of it as if it were a done thing. Even last night, when you were dancing with Henry, Mrs. Hollings, as bold as brass, said that she would lay odds against her best bonnet that this time next year there will be a ball in honor of your wedding.”
They cantered along and Marina thought about this for a moment or two. Considering the direction of her thoughts that morning, it struck her as odd that her sister would bring up the subject.
“Well, I suppose it’s what’s always been expected. After all, Henry and I are near in age, our families are well connected, and I would never have to leave Parsley Hay and everyone I love.”
A few days ago, she would have been able to make this speech with conviction, but after last night . . .
“I wouldn’t mind leaving Parsley Hay in the least,” Deirdre stated. “Oh, not forever because I would miss you and Mama and Papa too much. But I should like to marry someone and travel. I would love to go to the Continent and visit all the beautiful, romantic places we’ve read about and have wonderful adventures.”
Marina looked over to her
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