Page 7 of A Lady of Conscience

“A lack of which will be amply offset by their happiness at being in your company,” James replied gallantly.

Her blush deepened. “That’s very kind of you to say.”

“It’s the truth, merely. When we visited your family last month, I saw for myself how fond your pets are of you.”

“They are very dear to me,” she said. “I was distressed at Christmas being away from them so long.”

James remembered. Indeed, he had reflected on her brief visit to Beasley Park with alarming frequency in the intervening months. He and Miss Heywood had waltzed together, then. They had talked together too, with surprising candor. And not in a drawing room. It had been late at night, in the Beasley Park stables.

Miss Heywood had come to look in on her horses and found James there, in his shirtsleeves, still seething after a bitter argument with Ivo. On encountering him, she had plainly wanted to flee. Instead, she’d remained and talked with him, quietly, sensibly.

James had already been interested in her, albeit against his will. By the time they’d parted, he’d been something else. He didn’t know how to define it. Whatever it was, it had been powerful enough to bring him to Bath.

“I trust you won’t be distressed on this occasion,” he said. “Not with your family and dogs in residence.”

“Not in that respect, no.”

He studied her face. “In other respects?”

Her eyes betrayed a glimmer of anxiety. “It’s natural to be apprehensive about one’s first season, is it not?”

“I couldn’t say. I’ve nothing to judge it by but my sister’s experience.” James didn’t expand on the remark. Little could be served by dredging up Kate’s many scandals.

Miss Heywood glanced at his sister. “Kate has promised to help me while she’s here.”

“Indeed?”

“I know it cannot be for long. She departs for London with your parents at the close of next week. They have the wedding plans to attend to.”

“I’m sure she would remain longer if she could.”

“It is enough that she’ll stay through my first ball. I’m resolved it will be a great success.”

Another gentleman might have suavely replied that it was certain to be one, but James couldn’t bring himself to lie, not even for politeness’s sake. Miss Heywood’s shyness was a liability. A potentially crippling one at that. If she intended to move in society with any degree of success, she would have to overcome it.

“You are to make your debut at Lord and Lady Carletons’?” he asked.

The elderly Lady Carleton was one of the foremost hostesses in Bath. She presided over many events during the season, from formal dinners and dances to picnic parties and musicales.

Miss Heywood nodded. “They’re old friends of my grandfather, the Earl of Gordon. Their ball promises to be a grand affair.”

“I would expect nothing less,” James replied. “Your brother is escorting you?”

“He is.” She hesitated for a long moment. “Will you be staying long in Bath?”

He looked at her, frowning. “That depends.”

“On what, sir?” she asked.

James didn’t answer.

Chapter Two

“Miss Heywood?” Miss Winthrop stood from her chair at the small table in the corner of Molland’s. A dark-haired girl with a solemn countenance, she was soberly and unostentatiously dressed in a round-brimmed bonnet and a gown of toffee brown wool. The light through the mullioned window glinted on the gold frames of her spectacles.

Any unease Hannah had felt entering the busy pastry shop receded at the sight of her long-time correspondent. She came forward to meet her through the crowd, the heavy skirts of her day dress brushing against people as she passed.

Hannah’s newly appointed lady’s maid, Ernsby, followed in her wake. At home Hannah had been accustomed to looking after herself, but such independent ways wouldn’t serve in Bath. Here, she must take care to observe every propriety. There could be no more outings unaccompanied. No more dressing herself or arranging her own hair. Her parents had hired Ernsby for that purpose. A superior-minded sort of creature, well-schooled in the rigors of her position, she had traveled down with them from Heywood House in the servants’ carriage.