The Suitor List (3 page)

Augusta giggled at the silly notion.

Richard faced her, his expression all that was serious.
"I'm sure there will be more than one young man who'll
regret his circumstance once you've made your appearance. Eldest daughter of the Duke of Faraday with a
tremendous"-his gaze swept over her-"dowry, a very
favorable prospect of a sizeable fortune, as well as an
unparalleled beauty. You, my dear Gusta," Richard continued, "are not one to be ignored."

"What was Moo's excuse this time?" Augusta strode
into the Blue Parlor as if she were perfectly punctual and
anyone who arrived after her should be considered tardy. She and Richard approached Charlotte and Emily, who
were already seated on either side of the tea tray.

"Our dear little sister said she was writing the headmaster, petitioning, yet again, to attend Eton as the first
female student," Charlotte answered. "This time she is
arguing that her enrollment would illustrate the modern
evolution and progressive nature of the establishment."

Richard took the seat next to Emily. Augusta gave an
exasperated sigh and sat next to Charlotte, who poured
two additional cups for the new arrivals.

"It is simply the most horrid thing, I tell you." Emily's
face screwed up in a most unattractive way. "How could
it possibly be the best for you? Why would your aunt
and father insist Gusta miss the beginning of the Season?"

"Em, will you leave well enough alone!" Richard
scolded his sister. "The Duke has made up his mind and
I daresay he will not be changing it on your account"

"I can imagine Papa's reasoning very well" Charlotte
handed a cup to Richard.

"Do you?" Emily might have been the only other person who understood what Augusta felt.

"If there is a man out there waiting for someone with a
fortune, then they would settle on the first lady to come
along with a substantial dowry." Charlotte handed a cup
to Richard. "It would never occur to them to wait until
the end of the Season for our dear Augusta to arrive"

"When one is a fortune hunter, one must secure the
fortune at hand" Richard agreed with her.

"Only a man with particular character would wait for
just the right woman to come along." Charlotte turned to hand a plate of biscuits to Augusta. "Just as you should
wait for the perfect gentleman, my dear sister."

"Must you always be so accommodating?" Augusta
snapped, snatching the plate before her. The biscuits
nearly slid onto her lap.

"I am sorry if my temperament disturbs you as it is
apt to do. There is nothing I can do, for it is my disposition." Sweet-natured Charlotte passed a second plate of
small cakes to Emily, who offered them to Richard on
her right.

"Do not allow Augusta to vex you, Char-Char."
Richard removed one of the cakes for himself. "You are
truly an angel and believe me, every man in London will
be more than willing to drop at your feet. Perhaps that is
what your sister truly fears."

"Oh, dear. I do not want anyone falling before
me" Charlotte gasped with genuine fright.

"Do not worry, dear, they'll all enjoy it immensely."
Richard's smile reassured her.

"Is that not talk you should save for your betrothed?"
Augusta couldn't help but dig into Richard's own
unfortunate circumstances. He might like everyone to
believe he was content with his arranged marriage, but
Augusta thought differently. How could one be satisfied
with a match not of one's choosing?

"Miss Skeffington and I are well suited, and I am
more than willing to proceed with our marriage."

"When will the nuptials take place?" Charlotte appeared greatly interested in Richard's affairs and did
not seem to have an adverse opinion of his situation.

"After the Season, I expect. We are allowed our last bit of freedom before we succumb to the Parson's mouse„
trap.

"And how would you compare your Miss Skeffington
to .. " Augusta glanced in Emily's and Charlotte's direction and shrugged. "Let us say, Char-Char?"

Richard glanced over to Augusta's very lovely sister,
who blushed attractively at his casual inspection. "I cannot imagine anyone could hold a candle to our delightful
Char-Char, but I can with certainty say that Olivia is all
that is agreeable."

"How gratifying for you" Augusta displayed a tight
smile of her own.

"I count myself a most fortunate man." Richard laid
his hand over his heart and bowed his head.

Only time would indeed tell if he were correct.

Time crawled by at a snail's pace. Sitting at Faraday
Hall with increased bad humor, Augusta was not to be
trifled with. Muriel, whose usual taunts caused arguments that could last for days, found that a mere glance
in her elder sister's direction would cause the same outcome. Even Charlotte dared not irritate her older sibling just by being pleasant and polite.

The ensuing absence of Augusta's best friend Emily
and her brother Richard did nothing but remind her of
how she had been left in the country while they were
having a grand time in London.

Emily did not allow a single day to go by without taking up her pen and jotting a lengthy correspondence of
the party she attended the night before and the going-ons
about Town.

Augusta's cousin Miss Miriam Kimball, also out for her first Season, wrote her daily. After the end of the
third week, Miriam was delighted to announce her engagement to possibly the catch of the Season, Earl
Dawson.

Indeed, Augusta felt certain that by the time she arrived in Town, the excitement would have faded, the
parties would be thin, and, above all, no single gentlemen would remain.

When the time arrived for her and her aunt to leave,
Augusta began to wonder why they should even bother.

June 1811-London

Augusta and Mrs. Parker arrived in Town three days
prior to attending their first assembly. Presently, Augusta
rode next to her aunt, across from the Duke, in the
Faraday-crested carriage, wearing the most beautiful
embroidered white silk gown and matching slippers. A
string of pearls intertwined with her auburn hair made
a particular striking contrast ... at least that is what her
aunt had told her.

What occupied Augusta's thoughts were the Season's
remainders-the not-so handsome and not-so young
gentlemen who were ignored or refused by other ladies.
Upon reflection, she decided the attention of such suitors did not appeal to her in the least.

"Please, Gusta, do try and enjoy yourself," her father
chided her. "This is everything you've wished for-your
first appearance at Almack's ! You will be the toast of the
Town before the night is out"

"Your Grace, you are being far too modest," Mrs.
Parker amended. Even though they were to attend the as sembly, her aunt wore a cap and a gray round gown. "I
vow there will not be a young man who would not wish
to pay court to our dear Gusta"

Augusta felt thankful that neither her aunt nor her
father were pressuring her into making a match, and she
would do her best to endure the long hours of the evening that stretched out before her.

Her father smiled and his attention moved from his
sister-in-law to his daughter. "I was attempting not to
make her feel more important than she ought"

It had been a very long time since Augusta had seen
her father in evening dress. He looked fine enough to
make a successful match himself in his white knee
breeches, black jacket, snowy white cravat, and black and
red striped waistcoat.

The carriage came to a halt. The three occupants alit
from the transport and entered the building. They stopped
on the first floor landing, entering though the front doors
and shedding their outerwear before heading to the main
rooms.

"This may not be the most opulent of places, mind.
However, nowhere will you find a more notable collection of guests" Augusta's father leaned in closer. "I will
caution you to behave yourself"

"I understand, Papa" It was all Augusta could do not
to straighten the skirts of her gown or check the condition of her hair. She merely gazed at the brise fan in her
gloved hand and replied, "I realize I am not the angel
Charlotte is"-she whispered more softly-"nor am I
near as difficult as Moo"

"Rightly so," he agreed, then escorted Augusta through
the assembly doors.

The music stopped, leaving silence hanging in the
air. The dancers froze mid-step, and the remaining occupants of the brightly lit room came to a standstill.

A hushed ". . . Duke of Faraday" swept through the
room, without certainty of origin.

Everyone turned toward them and beheld the Duke of
Faraday's eldest daughter. Penny had never seen such a
reaction at Almack's.

The orchestra conductor was the first to regain his
wits, striking up the musicians and continuing where
they had left off. The dancers resumed their progression and the guests returned to their companions. Whispers replaced the normal hums of conversation; the once
casual glances grew sharper and more obtrusive.

A woman came toward them. Penny recognized one
of the Almack's patronesses, Lady Castlereagh, even
though it had been more than a few years since they'd
last met.

"Your Grace" Lady Castlereagh bowed her turbaned
head and dipped into a curtsy. Her gaze took in not only
the Duke but his party. "What an honor to have you join
us"

"The pleasure is mine, madam" The Duke turned to
Augusta. "May I present Lady Castlereagh? My lady, my
daughter Lady Augusta"

Lady Castlereagh's expression showed much interest
but very little surprise. "Ah-you are fortunate to have
the beauty of the legendary Darling sisters." Her attention drifted from Augusta to Penny.

Augusta's mother, Sarah, and Sarah's two sisters,
Mary and Penelope, were renowned for their beauty in
their day.

"My dear Duke, Penelope, and my dear niece
Augusta-what a delight to see you all." Lady Mary
Kimball approached her family. "It has been an age since
I've seen you, my beloved sister, and you, Augusta ...
you quite take my breath away. Your cousin Miriam is
present and I'm sure the two of you will find ways to
amuse yourselves as always. She has spoken of nothing
but seeing you this entire day!"

"Allow me to make a few introductions, will you,
Your Grace?" Lady Castlereagh interrupted their family
reunion, getting back to the business of Almack's, and
ushered Augusta away.

Ten minutes later, not one of Augusta's dances remained free.

Augusta gazed upon her dance partner, Sir Albert,
and stepped back into the ladies' line, waiting for the
music to end. She thanked him and bid him farewell,
hoping she'd have more than a few moments to catch
her breath before the next set began.

Within the hour of her arrival at Almack's, she had
completely changed her mind about coming to Town.
Augusta did not know she could enjoy herself this much.
The music, the gaiety, and most particularly, the gentlemen were far more enjoyable than she could have
imagined.

With her fan in one fist and a handful of her ivorycolored crepe skirt in the other, Augusta's cousin Miriam
Kimball rushed to her side.

"You cannot dance with Sir Albert Stephenson-he is
just engaged to Miss Barbara Leigh this last evening."

"But I have just completed a set with him, Mimi." Augusta stood very still, wondering if she had made a
faux pas. "Is it because he is engaged?"

"He should be dancing with his fiancee," Miriam told
Augusta in a scolding tone and sent Sir Albert a dark
look across the room.

"Does that mean he cannot dance with any other female?" If that were true Augusta had much to learn.
Surely the protocol for such things must be the same here
as it was in the country.

"The majority of his time should be spent attending
to Miss Leigh, not to you."

"I do apologize." Augusta didn't know what else to
say. "Need I express my regrets to Miss Leigh as well?"

"No! Oh, no," Miriam said more quietly and glanced
across the way at a very unhappy brunet who sported a
delightful band of small white roses in her hair. "That
should be even more scandalous."

Augusta sighed. "How is it possible to undo what I
have already done?"

"You cannot. There is nothing for it." Miriam exhaled as if all her ministrations and council to her countrified cousin had failed. "I'm afraid there will be talk"

Although quite fond of her cousin, she knew Miriam
to love dramatics, and Augusta would not allow herself
to become involved. She would try, in any case.

"I shan't listen. You cannot possibly blame me for his
behavior. I had no idea he was attached to anyone-and I
certainly will decline if he should wish another dance"

"Another dance! He cannot help himself, I suppose"
Miriam shrugged and added a sigh.

"Cannot help himself? Whatever do you mean?"

"You are a veritable polished jewel compared to Miss Leigh." Miriam lifted her hand to stop Augusta's
next question. "No, no-there is truly no comparison. I
daresay he is past regretting their engagement."