Juliana

Part 5

The following week, the unusually warm weather that had been the root of Theodore's plan still prevailing, the party met at the Charwood´s house for the planned excursion to Richmond.

William Charwood, generally not the most compliant of brothers, was willing enough to escort his cousin and sister on their outing as he promised himself the opportunity of engaging Lord Langton in a lengthy and detailed discussion on the races at Newmarket.

He met his cousin at the bottom of the staircase that led to the upper parts of the house shortly before the appointed hour and was surprised to see her in riding dress.

"I thought you were to go in the phaeton? Lord knows Mother would not stop raving about it over breakfast." Mr. Charwood was not a morning person and the agitated chattering at the table had done nothing to lift his mood. "Well, I suppose as long as you keep your mare in check -"

"Are you concerned about my safety? You need not worry. I have become quite accustomed to London traffic and shall be on my guard, I promise you!"

Mr. Charwood waved an impatient hand. "Oh, fiddle. Only, it is Langton and not one of your mooncalves -"

Juliana's eyes twinkled. "Well, I have no precise notion of what you might mean by that, but I am fully aware that we shall have the honour of Lord Langton´s company, so -- his safety shall be of great importance to me as well, of course."

"Lord Langton is most obliged to you, Miss Leighton."

Juliana was momentarily startled upon hearing the Viscount's voice but even had she felt any embarrassment, she would not have been at all called upon to extract herself from it, as her cousin was before her, bent on monopolising his lordship and favouring him with his opinion on the subject of female relations and their incessant chattering.

"- and if it's not some shopping or other, it's the ball they have been to. Or the ball they shall be going to! Or the number of partners. And how many of them shall be in regimentals! Or in the Navy, come to think of it -"

"Not the Navy, cousin, if you please!" interjected his cousin, her eyes dancing.

"What?" Mr. Charwood was momentarily startled, given the vehemence in his cousin's tone and eyed her suspiciously. Then a thought occurred to him. "Oh, your grandfather!" He waved the thought away as quickly as it had come to his much tried mind. "And that puts me in mind of another thing - ", he continued. "Court dresses! Lord, what a fuss you make about them. A dashed nuisance I call them!"

"My dear sir, let me advise you not to lose another moment in joining my brother." Lord Langton, stoically unmoved by the ill used young gentleman's communication, had no qualms in foisting the same onto his sibling. "He will be overjoyed to learn you enter into all his feelings on the subject."

"Oh! Well, if you think -" William hesitated.

"I do."

Mr. Charwood eyed him speculatively. There was always time to talk about the races during their ride. Therefore -"Very well." He turned to his cousin. "Mind, Juliana, do not tardy about!" And with that, he made to join the party outdoors, firmly hurrying his sister, who had just come down the stairs and had hoped to be offered the Viscount's arm, outside.

After a brief silence, during which Juliana had moved towards the small table on which her riding gloves and hat had been laid, the Viscount spoke, both his eyebrows raised.

"I perceive my sisters - and Theodore - are to be pitied."

Juliana, finding herself incapable of following this train of thought, calmly put on a glove.

"It is, I own, a rather melancholy thought, but your enterprising cousin has made me aware what unhappy a fate the possession of an elder brother must be. Almost it makes me think it behoves me to make them reparations!"

She put on the other glove.

"Having neither brothers nor sisters, sir, I do not pretend to be an adequate judge."

"My dear Miss Leighton, while this does you credit, I cannot allow you to make one believe that your heart does not go out to either of us."

"I -"

"There you are! I came to see what was taking you so long". Theodore, not withstanding his bursting onto the scene, made his bow to Juliana and then added, a little impatiently - "It does not do to keep the horses waiting so long!"

"Thank you, Theodore", the Viscount replied gravely, then addressing Juliana. "No doubt you are now convinced of the great felicity of your not having any siblings, madam."

Theodore, not at all abashed by this tribute on his elder's part, grinned. "Oh, never mind that. But we really ought to set off, you know -- the greys!"

"Theodore." Lord Langton´s tone was all that was pained.

" Yes?"

"Out!"

Theodore´s grin grew even wider. "Yes, very well. But do make haste!" With that, the unperturbed young gentleman took himself off again, not unhopeful that his errand had been successful. He knew that his brother did care for his horses.

Lord Langton observed his brother's retreat before once again turning to Juliana.

"Well?"

"My lord?" She looked at him questioningly.

"I believe you owe me an answer still. Or is it too much to hope that this unaffected display of family interaction has influenced your opinion in a positive manner?"

"Oh, no." She adjusted her hat and smiled. "Your brother has all my sympathies, sir."

And with that, she followed the same outside.

Cassandra and Cecilia Hampton had taken their seats in his lordship's phaeton, to which his famous greys had been put. The former was ready to bask in the admiration by friends and acquaintances they should chance to pass during their journey out of town -- to be seen driven by The Viscount Langton would add enormously to her consequence and fill those so unfortunate as to not be able to excite his interest in their person with envy. She accepted the exquisite sunshade held out to her by Theodore with a smile and sat back in expectation of a thoroughly satisfying outing.

"You will not take a seat in the phaeton, Miss Leighton?" Cecilia's brother was rather more solicitous than William Charwood.

"No, thank you, I am going to ride."

"Your horse, madam?", inquired a well bred voice at her side.

"Yes".

The Viscount advanced towards the mare.

"Oh, my lord, do be careful!", cried Miss Charwood. "She will try to bite you!"

"Well, you should not have tried to -" her brother interjected unfeelingly.

"I did not - !" interpolated the beauty. "How can you be so unkind? You know how fond I am of horses -- and they always like me!"

"Always like - oh, that is good, by jove!" William Charwood was all bent on giving in to a fit of amusement.

"Oh!" Cassandra's eyes sparkled in anger. "How dare you -"

Her brother only laughed harder.

"William." Interjected the calm, firm voice of their cousin. "Will you hand Miss Hampton her shade, please."

Cecilia, uncomfortably positioned between her much admired friend and her brother, had been looking hopefully at the shade that was held in the hand of the afflicted gentleman, her eyes darting uncertainly between the two -- her courage not quite amounting to the required measurement.

"Oh. Well, here you are, my lady." He bowed and smiled at her at his most charming, which made her blush rosily.

"Thank you!" she uttered timidly.

His lordship, having paid no apparent heed to the ongoing family dispute, had meanwhile proved himself not at all intimidated by the warning. Indeed, the black mare seemed happy enough to have her nose stroked by the Viscount and indicated her wish for continuation of that pleasant pastime with a rather determined bump against his shoulder, when he stopped.

"Yes, thank you. I am much obliged to you, but do show a little conduct!" He stroked the offered nose once more and inquired after the mare's name.

"Duchess."

"Indeed."

Juliana felt herself inexplicably nettled. She was not altogether certain she approved of her generally much more fastidious mare's immediate affinity with the gentleman.

"Yes."

He smiled. "She is a very elegant lady."

"Well, shall we set off?"

Theodore, safe in the knowledge that he had done his utmost to make the ladies comfortable, was about to swing himself onto the saddle and found himself halted during the process.

"Really, Theodore, you shock me! Surely you are not suggesting what it would appear you are suggesting?!"

"Well, I cannot go on foot!"

"Certainly not. But why you should think it necessary to inform me of that I find myself quite unable to comprehend."

"What the dev- " Theodore broke off, laughed and shook his head. "I do wish you would not talk in riddles!"

Both of Lord Langton´s mobile eyebrows went up.

"But what have I said to inspire such an unjustified reproof?"

"Oh, never mind! Let us not leave the ladies waiting any longer." Theodore repeated his earlier attempt.

"By no means. But I see I shall have to repeat myself." His lordship heaved a sigh. "What are you doing?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?", exclaimed the harassed young gentleman.

"Sadly so. But I am positive in my conviction that you do not mean to leave the ladies unattended during our journey. So -" Lord Langton moved to turn his younger brother towards the phaeton and handed him his whip. "Now up with you!"

"Oh! You mean - ?!" A smile lit up Theodore's face.

"Do not fall into raptures, I beg you! I do not think I could take it." Lord Langton had already mounted Theodore's stallion, a fine chestnut, and given him the spurs.

Once they left the traffic and bustle of London behind them, the party proceeded to Richmond in good speed. They weather had turned out as promising as it had been suggested in the morning; a crisp, blue sky accompanied them on the way. The plan was to ride up Richmond Hill and to have the picnic within view of the River Thames. Many an artist had, and would undoubtedly do so in the future, found himself inspired to catch the breathtaking scenery on canvas for future generations to admire.

The horses that had the very great advantage of being able to give in into their inclination to gallop more freely during their exercise had, at one point, decided to persuade their riders to lead the way and so Lord Langton and Juliana were riding side by side for most part of the journey, with Juliana at one point having to duly accept her Duchess's protest at her not paying full attention to herself, which had been voiced by a vehement shake of the head, a very audible snort and pricked ears.

She lent forward to stroke her horse's flank by way of an apology, shaking her head in silent laughter. That her Duchess should be offended by her distraction did not surprise her -- she generally knew what was due to her faithful mare and hardly gave her reason to feel displeasure. But the look on the Viscount's face had been too much for her composure.

William Charwood had, from the moment they had left Hanover Square, attempted to monopolise the Viscount and if it had escaped his notice that the gentleman had been stoically unmoved by the incompetence of his man to obtain for him a horse whose shoulders would not be putting him to the blush, his criticism of the stakes accepted at his club and his amiable assurance that, should the Viscount wish to become acquainted with a highly selective institution whose members were not so chicken-hearted in their dealings, he would be most happy to furnish him with the address to a rather prestigious establishment; it had not been for lack of enthusiasm on his part.

When at last William remembered that there was something he had to share with his friend Hampton and reined his horse in so as to enable the phaeton and escorting rider to draw up, the Viscount addressed himself to Juliana.

"Miss Leighton, how can you laugh?", he demanded of her, his brows lifted incredulously. As no reply was forthcoming - "I see. You had no concern for my safety and only used my consequence in order to offer reassurance to your cousin."

Juliana shook her head, not able to answer him.

"Unjust, madam! When I think of what I endured merely to prevent your falling off your horse from --" One corner of his mouth went upwards - " -- boredom."

She choked and briefly pulled at the reins a little too sharply, which resulted in her mare's vehement protest.

Much to the faithful Duchess's satisfaction, the remainder of their ride passed without any other calamities.

Cassandra nipped at her glass, and surveyed the rest of the party. The particular spot in the vastness that was Richmond Park was undeniably lovely and had she been in a sunnier mood, she might even have appreciated the romantic atmosphere of the leaves and blossoms touched by the early spring sun, but as she felt herself rather ill used, such reflections were lost on the beauty. She had never been so mortified as when they had passed Lady Crawley and her horrible daughters in the street -- she would make sure that Lavinia especially would regret her haughtiness -- if she aimed to fix her interest with Lord Longford she would see that she was mistaken. She knew that his lordship had always admired herself, after all -- it really was too much to be borne. To be seen being driven in the Viscount's phaeton -- by his younger brother, while he himself rode next to her cousin most of the time! Theodore had, after all, promised he would come to drive them.

That Theodore had made no such promise and had only hopefully informed them that he had asked his brother to bring his famous phaeton did not spring to her mind. She had had her heart and mind set on being driven -- and being seen being driven -- by his lordship and had had to endure the most tiresome and vexing journey she had ever been party to. How the Crawleys must have laughed at her!

Still, there was always the journey back and if his lordship was bent on showing unwonted kindness to his brother, she would offer her place in the phaeton to Juliana and make her way back to Town on horseback. She had often been complimented on her elegant seat, after all, and Lavinia Crawley would see for herself what a charming couple she and the Viscount made.

On this happy thought, she took a bite of her cake.

"Yes, cousin, I mean to go back on horseback."

"So I see. But I think it best to postpone your exercise to another time. She is a little unsettled today and not at all used to strangers."

"I am not a stranger! And if I do not care for that, why should you?! You are determined to ruin everything - I knew you would!" Cassandra was in a fair way of talking herself into a black rage and her cousin's unfeeling obstinacy did nothing to placate her.

Juliana was too used to her cousin's wilfulness to feel unsettled by the tirade, she was only sorry that it should happen in full view of Theodore, who had been unusually quiet and withdrawn for the most part of the outing, and given her cousin's present mood, it had not been difficult for her to guess that he had, for the first time, seen a side to his angel that had left him a little subdued in his worship. She was sorry to think that he should be hurt, but she had hoped for some time that he would soon see her cousin for the spoiled beauty that she was rather than experiencing much greater distress on a later date. That the appearance of his own brother on the scene should be the catalyst was an unhappy twist of fate, but she was certain enough that the Viscount was too experienced to be drawn in by an ambitious mother and her wilful daughter -- which is what had made her ponder, on the outset, on his agreeing to accompany them on their outing. Thus far he had seemed bent on concentrating her cousin's attention on himself while at the same time almost brutally crushing her pretensions when he had succeeded in drawing her out.

And whilst she appreciated the reasoning she assumed to be behind his actions, she could not altogether approve of his methods.

Upon these reflections, she was not surprised when he came to her rescue.

"For the sake of my brother, madam, I must beg you to take your seat in the phaeton. Your mother will hold him to his promise of seeing to your safety and I positively cannot have him distracted whilst holding the reins!"

"If only I could be certain that you are concerned for my health, my very dear brother!" was Theodore´s half-affronted contribution. He offered his hand to Cassandra. "Allow me."

Thus she found herself seated side by side with Miss Hampton again, the thundercloud approaching on the horizon competing with the one that was beginning to cloud her beautiful countenance.

The post had been laid out on a table in the hall and Juliana searched through the letters and invitations for messages of her own. Her search bore fruit.

...... and so, my dear Miss Leighton, I look forward to your company in Brook Street tomorrow.

Augusta Farnborough

Part 6

"Well, Thompson?"

Thompson looked up and caught his master's enquiring gaze in the mirror.

"My lord?"

His lordship looked at his valet with a quizzical expression on his face.

"I do have my mother to answer to, you know. I -- or rather, you -- shall not hear the end of it, if I do not make my presence felt before the general lookout begins. Or worse -- I shall be presented to one of my cousin Isabel's simpering friends and forced to stand up with her for a whole set, pretending that I find their constant blushing and general agreement with all my excellent opinions all that is gratifying." He tugged at his neckcloth. "I would have thought you had more sympathy than that, Thompson."

Thompson barely suppressed a shudder.

"Quite so." The Viscount smiled and stepped back from the mirror. "Well, that will do. Do not wait up for me."

Juliana stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her shining hair had been adorned with a few tiny flowers, the light blue colour of her gown suited her complexion very well -- the altogether image she presented was that of elegant loveliness.

The house had been in a flutter all day, Lady Charwood and her daughter brimming with excitement at the prospect of the Denham House ball that was to take place that evening. The invitation to the same had been understood as a signal honour to the daughter of the house, and the past days had been spent in delightful anticipation of the evening.

Lady Charwood was correct in her assumption insofar as that Lord Langton had been the dominating force behind the invitation, but she would have found it unworthy of contemplation had anyone had the audacity to claim it had been meant in any other way but for him to further his acquaintance with her darling. She had found it strange at first that Lady Farnborough should have asked her niece to call on her -- surely there must have been a mistake -- but she soon after was happy enough to understand that this piece of flattering, if indeed undeserved, attention by her ladyship was in no way connected to her grand-nephew but to the fact that her own deceased brother-in-law had been the lady's godson and that her ladyship had wished, when she had learned of his only daughter's presence in Town, to make her acquaintance. Her niece seemed to make little enough of the fact, which she found not altogether displeasing. However, it would not do to snub the old lady in any way, given her connection to the Viscount, and so she had made sure that Juliana showed her every attention that was due to her rank and graciously permitted her daughter to accompany her cousin on her visit - doing all that was possible to ensure her ladyship's comfort when the same returned the visit a few days later -- from the use of her best china when tea was brought in to flattering her on the excellence of her dress and thanking her for her kindness in taking an interest in her poor, orphaned niece, whom she would be sorry to lose again as soon as her grandfather should return from the Continent.

"Indeed", had been her ladyship's only contribution to the conversation, followed by a look of such haughty condescension that it had made Juliana smile to herself.

She had been surprised to receive the note by Lady Farnborough, having no real recollection of her father's connection with the lady, since he had passed away when she herself had been a little girl. She certainly could not remember that she had initially made her acquaintance when she had still been in her cradle -- which had been the one and last occasion of their meeting thus far. So it was all the more surprising to her that her ladyship should now, after so many years, remember her existence and express the wish to get reacquainted, as she had phrased it.

The visit had not taken long since her ladyship had been expected at her nephew's house for dinner, but it had been enough for the old lady to be satisfied that her plan would prove to work out very well for all parties concerned - and with that pleasant thought in mind, she had offered her powdered cheek to be kissed when the young ladies had taken their leave (she had, at first, intimidated Cassandra, wholly unused to such behaviour towards her person; by looking her up and down on being told her name and subjecting her to the scrutiny of her piercing blue eyes - then ignoring her for the most part of the visit), promising to have them conveyed invitations to the Event of the Season that was to be the Denham's ball, only being a little irritated when Cassandra had ingeniously blurted out that they had already received one by special messenger from Denham House.

"Have you indeed?" Her eyes had snapped together briefly. "I see." She had quickly resumed her smile. "Well, I shall call on your Aunt, my dear Juliana, within the next days. Good day, my dear."

"Well?"

"Father."

"Your mother sends me."

"Ah."

"Precisely. Not that it would not have come to my own attention. You do realise that this is a ball?"

"I do", replied the Viscount amicably.

The Earl straightened his posture.

"Then have the goodness to enlighten me as to why you are standing here like an oak and, more interestingly, why your brother looks like a forlorn sheep!"

"Dear me. I must make Mother my apologies."

"And do assure your sister that you are enjoying yourself! Very much, if you please." Lord Denham looked into the direction of the couples that were performing in the latest set, a not altogether unmelancholy expression on his face. "As she seems to do.... Which reminds me -- go and find yourself a partner!"

His uncooperative son looked rather pained.

"And I will have none of your looks, my boy!", added the Earl, brooking no resistance.

Lord Langton sighed.

"Very well. We all have to make our sacrifices. Or so my mother informs me."

The Viscount strode off, presenting a striking, if a little dangerous, figure in his black evening coat and crisp white shirt -- to the excitement of some hopeful mamas and even more hopeful daughters which he passed on his way; holding their breaths in anticipation ... surely Caroline's shapely figure or Mariah's lovely smile must induce him to ask her hand for the next set ?

They were to be disappointed.

"Good evening, Miss Leighton."

"You perceive, my dear Eleanor, that I have been right."

Lady Farnborough was not above being congratulated, nor beneath congratulating herself.

"I beg your pardon?" Lady Denham had made a timely escape from the duties of a hostess -- it was safe to say that Georgina's come out ball was turning out to be a great success -- to rescue her spouse from her Aunt's eloquence. Or it might have been rescuing her Aunt from her husband. That matter was open to debate. Lord Denham had responded with alacrity to her diplomatic intervention and had retreated to an adjoining room, where the gentlemen were enjoying a few hands of cards and all sorts of energetic -- or sedate, depending on the speakers - discussions on topics in general not deemed suitable for a lady's tender sensibilities.

Her eyes followed the route Lady Farnborough's had taken. She perceived her first born on the dance floor with a young lady she could not remember having been introduced to.

"Do you know who she might be, Aunt? I am so shatter-brained, I do not seem to be able to recall her name!"

"That would be like you, Eleanor." Lady Farnborough smiled condescendingly and continued. "That, my dear niece, is poor William Leighton's daughter. His only child."

"Then I am very sorry for her. And yet - she does not seem to have an aura of sadness about her." The Countess inspected her more closely. "No, the lack of siblings does not seem to have her done any harm. It might, perhaps, even have been a blessing. When I consider how frequently my eldest has bemoaned his fate - " The expression on her face was almost comical.

"She could have been YOUR daughter!" interrupted the elder lady fiercely.

"Dear Aunt, pray do be serious!" The Countess linked her arm with that of her Aunt´s and led her away towards a little group consisting of formidable dames, one of whom sported a turban on her head. "That would hardly have been likely. Besides, I consider myself quite fortunate in the success of my own nursery, so let us not dwell on the past. Now, have you met Lady Louisa Convington? I know she has been looking forward to obtaining your advice on some crucial matter ... Lady Louisa, I hope you are enjoying the ball?"

Satisfied with the fruit of her labour, Lady Denham took her leave of the group and went in search of her husband.

Halfway down the set, Juliana saw Theodore standing all by himself at one side of the room, a half empty glass in one hand and a somewhat pensive expression on his youthful face. It needed no particular talent of observation to come to the conclusion that he was following her cousin's movements, which the same was performing with enthusiasm a little further down the line. In itself, that was not exceptional, for the young lady was very fond of dancing -- but Juliana had been present when Theodore had requested the honour of leading her cousin down the very same set and had been informed that the lady meant to sit out that particular dance as she was positively exhausted from having stood up for every single one thus far.

Neither was it difficult to come to the conclusion that it was Lord Langton´s unnecessary gallantry to herself that had been the chief motivation behind the rapid change of heart -- and she would have been amused by the quick succession of confident anticipation, undisguised astonishment and disbelieving wrath on the beautiful face as well as the alacrity of its owner in accepting as a partner a dashing young man in regimentals -- had it not happened in Theodore´s full view, who, having accepted the lady's refusal with great dignity, had gone to procure her some refreshment; returning the moment when the acceptance was confirmed with every sign of pleasure - and none at all of fatigue.

They had reached the end of the set and as the next movement required for her to turn she was obliged to focus her attention on her partner again. And she really should make conversation. She sighed and looked up at the Viscount -- and caught his eye. How dark they seemed in the candlelight. But she could hardly comment on that -- so....

"It was most kind of your mother to invite us to the ball."

He looked at her quizzically.

"But not kind in me to ask you to dance?"

Her eyes flew to his face, surprise at this unexpected observation. The disturbing truth was that her thoughts had taken a similar turn -- she saw in his asking her to dance a means to suppress her cousin's unfortunately all too obvious aspirations rather than any preference for her person, and was not pleased to be -- as she assumed -- embroiled in his unscrupulous tactics to discourage his brother from an unacceptable suit. She was prevented from answering him as they were separated through the next movement, but as soon as they were brought together again she was ready to respond to his enquiry.

"I was honoured to receive your request, sir."

"Now why would I think that I have just been the recipient of a set-down?", pondered the Viscount.

Juliana lifted her chin a little.

"Why would I think that you merely asked me to dance because it complemented your plan to detach your brother from my cousin?"

He did not seem at all shocked by the forthright accusation.

"No, is that what you think? But what can have given you such a notion as that?", he inquired unperturbedly.

Juliana felt her temper rise. Of all the insufferable...

"Lord Langton, can you deny that you only asked me to dance to punish my cousin ?"

"Most empathically, I can."

"Why, I - "

She was obliged to swallow her retort as the dance required their parting once more. Soon enough, the Viscount reached for her hand again. And worse - he smiled at her in a thoroughly infuriating - and disconcerting - manner...

"My dear Miss Leighton, surely you cannot suppose that I would inconvenience myself merely to suppress the pretensions of one of the most intolerable flirts it has been my misfortune to meet!"

She did not find this at all reassuring. And she would certainly not give him the satisfaction of acknowledging what an impartial observer might no doubt have claimed to be a compliment. Instead of answering him, she decided to preserve a dignified silence*.

It was not to last.

"Do smile!"

"Oh! I wish I could - "

"You wish you could quarrel with me. Quite understandable. "The Viscount was at his most solicitous. "But ballrooms, in general, do not provide an adequate field for battle." The dance had come to its end and he was leading Juliana from the set. "We must trust, therefore, that we shall meet again in the not so distant future."

He smiled, bowed and took his leave.

Much against her will, Juliana felt amusement bubbling up inside herself.

"Juliana!"

"Yes, Aunt -"

She shook her head. How absurd...

"Well, George? Shall it be required of me to inspect one of your admirers through my quizzing glass? I did remember not to leave the house without it!"

Lady Georgina, radiant with pleasure from all the delights of the evening, peeped up at her brother.

"You are not so very old, Tristan!"

"Oh my God!" The Viscount paused for a painful moment, then continued in a voice of extreme foreboding. "No, I won't thank you for the compliment! Who knows what next you will try to reassure me about."

"But I didn't -" Georgina was about to protest her innocence when a smiling voice interrupted her.

"Well, Langton, you cannot blame Georgina for supposing you to have aged somewhat prematurely. At the very least, somewhere between your arrival and the unusual spectacle we have all been privileged to witness. I was quite shocked myself! Pray what have you to say in your defence? Forgetfulness is, generally, the treasured possession of only those infinitely more advanced in age." The Colonel smiled at his young sister-in-law. "But-" he continued a little more gravely, " - let us not torment your brother on this subject any longer. It is a rather sensitive topic, after all."

" Feeling your years, Charles?" inquired the Viscount pleasantly.

"You have no idea!" replied the Colonel with a rueful twinkle. "But - I am not here to bemoan my fate, so -"

"No?"

"No." affirmed the Colonel vehemently. "I am merely the advance guard. My wife means to interrogate you presently -- and I am to hold you prisoner." Colonel Lord Albury, mindful of what was due to himself, his wife, and his profession -- if not precisely in that order - had presented himself in full regimentals and, true to the heroic images this created in the minds of some of the female delegation at the ball, he did not seem at all shaken by his lady's command that he should position himself before his brother-in-law and thus prevent the same gentleman's retreat before she herself should have had the opportunity to inquire further into the subject.

"Dear me. Far be it - "

"My lord?"

Both gentlemen turned at this, but it was the Viscount who found himself addressed by a somewhat pale young man of unknown name and origins, who had materialised at his sister's side. He was quick to live up to the expectations.

"Well?" He demanded of the newcomer, an eyebrow raised in question. It shook the poor young man not inconsiderably but he bravely stood his ground.

"I ... I wished to ... engage ... Lady Georgina for the next dance."

"So I apprehend. I have long learned to repress my vanity in that respect." His lordship was at his most accommodating. "And yet -- you must excuse my stupidity-- what does your aspiration have to do with me?"

"Oh! But I thought I had better - "

"Do not trouble yourself on that head!" the Viscount reassured the young gentleman, favouring him with one of his most charming smiles. "If you insist on preserving antiquated rules - and I find your resolution all that is admirable! - you had much better apply to my father. He will be most happy to oblige you."

The young gentleman was visibly shaken.

"I ... I see..." He had witnessed enough of Lord Denham's frowns that evening to last him through the Season.

He swallowed.

Georgina eventually took pity on him, sending her brother such an entreating glance that his lordship obligingly retired behind his aloof aristocratic façade, raising his glass a little as if in toast to her.

"I shall be happy to dance with you, Mr. Reed." She accepted the offered arm and smiled. "Excuse us, please, gentlemen."

With the youngest of the family gone to join the dancing once more, Colonel Albury was moved to share the following with his brother-in-law.

"Do you know, my dear Tristan," mused the Colonel thoughtfully, "sometimes I almost feel it to be a shame that a man of your military thinking should be lost to my profession."

"Console yourself with the knowledge that I should never present a red coat at such advantage as yourself."

"How true! And besides, I have quite enough on my hands preventing the boys from following into their father's heroic footsteps whenever Lady Amberton pays us a visit." Lady Sophia had now joined them, addressing her spouse. "For some reason or other, they seem to think that their mama needs to be protected from the dragon that threatens to abduct her - " Her husband's expression suggested that he found the idea quite unfathomable himself. Lady Sophia raised an eyebrow as if to state that she had a very clear idea of who might be the culprit and then linked her arm with that of her brother's. "They do not need more male encouragement. Now, dear Tristan, I have come to tell you that you need not fear my unbecoming curiosity -"

"Almost I allow myself to hope -"

" - for it has already been satisfied."

"Has it."

Lord Langton, inexplicably, seemed not to put his confidence in the information.

"Yes, well, I had to make allowances, of course, but our Aunt was most forthcoming."

"One moment, Sophia!" demanded the Viscount with a frown. "What has my esteemed Aunt to do with it?"

"Why, everything -- or so it seems!" His sister's eyes danced. "She seems to congratulate herself on the excellence of the match. Poor Miss Leighton, to have won the approval of her ladyship..."

"Sophia." Lord Albury, observing the deepening of the frown on the Viscount's face, attempted to check his high spirited wife with gentle firmness.

"Tristan knows I am only funning, Charles! Even my Aunt must realise that she cannot possibly credit herself with the choice of my brother's partner -- and it was only one dance! - merely because she is pleased with her appearance. It would be highly absurd!"

"Undoubtedly." Lord Langton put his glass on a little table at his side. "Edifying as your communication has been, Sophia, I have yet to finish my role as dutiful son and heir and must descend onto the, err, forlorn sheep of the family." He favoured her with his blandest smile at her attempt at protestation and nodded to the Colonel. "Charles."

* Shamelessly stolen from Oscar Wilde ;).

Part 7

"So. Have you finally decided to rejoin your family? I wonder you should lower yourself so much. But I suppose it is of greater importance to mix with your newly acquired high connections than to make yourself useful to your less fortunately placed Aunt -- who, if I may remind you, Juliana, out of charity and good will, opened her home to you and saw to it that you were able to go into good Society!" Lady Charwood´s voice was an emotional mix of reproof, haughtiness and heartfelt envy. She would have to try very hard indeed to be able to forgive her niece for stealing her daughter's place in the set.

"Dear Aunt, even if my cousin the Duke, whom I imagine you must be referring to -- or indeed any of his family - were present, I would hardly have newly acquired them! We do not meet very often, of course, but I cannot pretend to be unaware of their existence." Juliana's eyes twinkled. "Not even if I wished to."

Her ladyship closed her fan with a snap, not at all diverted by her niece's apparent lack of understanding.

"Your cousin the Duke, indeed! What, pray, does he have to do with it? I have not seen him anywhere tonight." She paused in her train of thought. "Are they not on intimate terms with the Denhams ... well, that is neither here nor there."

"No indeed," offered her niece, seemingly quite undisturbed by the thought.

"Upon my word! I wish you were not so nonsensical. It is one of the faults in your character I most deplore. But that is not for me to rectify. Although I cannot account for it that your grandfather should -" She opened her fan again and adopted a different tone of voice. "Now, of course you are on no account to snub Lady Farnborough, given her connection to the Viscount and how that might affect Cassandra..."

Juliana, on whose forbearance the late frequency of these remonstrations were becoming increasingly strenuous, summoned all her resolution and thus was capable of politely refraining from pointing out the more obvious reason that was the lady's connection to her deceased father.

"....but I will tell you, Juliana, how very dangerous it is in a young woman to be considered forward and -- fast. It is disastrous to a lady's reputation, not to mention her marital chances! It is my duty to reprimand you for what I would not tolerate in my own daughter." Having relieved herself of this heavy burden, her ladyship was able to arrange her features into one of smiling condescension. "Think what you are doing, my dear niece. My good standing in Society will not be able to protect you from the results of your thoughtlessness!"

Lady Charwood was about to learn that she had mistaken her niece's character in more than one way. Juliana, well accustomed to her Aunt's misguided notions where her own son and daughter were concerned, could tolerate her whims and be occasionally diverted by the lady's follies, but when her Aunt went so far as to lay such accusations at her door as any rational human being could only consider ridiculous in the face of the same Aunt's own machinations, her patience eventually met its limits. Her ladyship would have found herself confronted by a resolute young woman rather than the niece that might occasionally be impertinent, but which she still considered to be a manageable girl, had not the timely appearance of her son shielded her from this experience at that very moment.

William Charwood was in high spirits.

"By Jove, that was famous! Quite put Cassie´s nose out of joint!"

Lady Charwood was aghast - and yet her motherly affection was not unwilling to make allowances for her son's misconceptions.

"My dear, Cassandra is far too well bred and sweet tempered to begrudge her cousin the undue compliment of one dance, however..."

"Well, it did!", her ladyship's unfeeling son continued uncompromisingly, "and I hope it will do her much good! She can't be such a goose as to imagine that she will fix her interest with him." The thought seemed to offer him much amusement. "As if Langton couldn't have his pick among the greatest prizes!"

Her ladyship took a sharp breath.

"William!"

"Come now, mother, and what if he has a preference for my cousin? I would sooner stand up with her than with such a ninny as my sister, that is for sure!"

"Cousin, please..." Juliana, her own anger in view of the earlier attacks on her person having not yet subsided, still made the attempt of intervention so as to unruffle the ruffled feathers and spare herself any more part in such a ridiculous scene. It was not to be, as her Aunt was only too willing to unburden herself even more, with added fuel to her emotions, due to her own son's reminisces.

"Oh, so you have found your voice again? I wonder you should not have done so sooner, if only to defend your poor cousin!" Her bosom swelled, Lady Charwood´s voice had dropped to one of suggestive contempt. "But that is what jealousy does to people, I suppose..."

Juliana found that her forbearance had come to an end. She would not be able to make allowances for her tongue any longer, were she to remain part of this farce, and therefore turned and was gone, without more than a short parting syllable. She made her way across the ballroom, leaving behind her Aunt and cousin, the latter not particularly caring whether he might have said anything amiss and the former, though full of disapproval for her niece's demeanour, finding solace in the conviction that she had done her utmost to make her niece's stay in her house as pleasant as possible and that she would be able to bemoan the deficiencies in her upbringing to the General upon his hopefully eminent return to Town. The altogether tone of her mind and capabilities of her understanding were such that she was able to banish the uncharitable thoughts towards her niece to one far corner of her mind, as well as letting herself be coaxed into humour once more by her son, and thus enable herself to enjoy the remainder of the evening, finding satisfaction in the observation that her daughter was most admired and that her own gown had cost infinitely more than that of Mrs. Gordon.

"Well, my tulip? Why the long face? Is my waistcoat not to your taste after all?" His lordship seemed to inspect his brother's tailoring more closely. "I did fear that it might hang rather loosely on you, but I am happy to see I was mistaken. Or have you and my valet entered into conspiracy at long last?"

The Viscount's musings only brought a tight smile onto his younger sibling's face.

"Dear me. Matters appear to be at a grave state indeed." As no reply was forthcoming.... "Come and join me in the library."

"Why?"

"But what am I to answer to that? If I tell you that I have a great desire for your company, it will make you odiously conceited." The smile relaxed a little. "And should I be fool enough to offer you a glimpse into our mother's newest acquisition within her hearing -- and before she has even turned a page herself! - she would be justified to renounce me once and for all!"

"What do you know about novels?" inquired Theodore, with a little more natural interest.

"My dear Theodore! I cannot possibly answer you without harming my position in the family." His lordship smiled. "Now come."

"On the desk. No, you need not stay. I will see to it."

"Very good, my lord." The servant, whom the Viscount had ambushed on their way to the library, was prompt to obey the command; relieving himself of his burden that was a bottle of brandy and the respective glasses, and retired from the room.

Lord Langton filled a glass and offered it to his brother.

"No, I don't want it." Theodore had seated himself in one of the armchairs and eyed his senior in impatient expectation. "Well? What did you drag me in here for? This is a ball, you know."

"That everyone in this family seems to consider it incumbent on them to put this fact before me is something I find increasingly tedious." The Viscount was still holding the glass out to Theodore.

"Oh, very well." Theodore eventually accepted it, but not without looking daggers at his brother from under his brows. Then he delivered a blow. "Perhaps you should live up to its object more often then!"

"Perhaps I should." His lordship did not seem at all shaken by this attack on his defences. "Even if my tastes forbid it. Still, I am trying to better myself! I stood up on the floor for half an hour altogether without feeling an inexplicable urge to free myself of my partner. Almost I think there is hope for me yet." He smiled.

"Oh, you mean Miss Leighton, I suppose. Yes, I saw that! I must say, Tristan-" He paused as if to reconsider his train of thought, his brows knitted, and then seemed to have come to a decision. He looked up at his brother. "Why did you ask her?"

His lordship studied his younger sibling across the rim of his glass for an unnerving moment.

"What you meant to ask me, of course, is why did I not ask her cousin?"

"Well -- why didn't you?" Theodore, somewhat nettled, enquired. "It seems to me you have been bent on showering your attention on her for some time now. Why make an exception tonight?!" His voice had taken a more resentful shade.

The Viscount was unusually mellow in his response.

"Theodore, you may accuse me of many things -- some of them even justified, I dare say -- but in all seriousness, when have I ever, during the course of our brief acquaintance, shown any marked preference for the lady's company?"

"Oh, I knew you would not admit it!" his brother replied bitterly. "On our trip to Richmond..."

"...when it was you, and not I, who held the reins to my phaeton ... which went much against my sense of preservation, I will have you know!" His lordship's voice had become a shade lower upon reflection. "When I consider what our mother would have to say on the subject..."

Theodore, having made his resolution once, was not to be deterred.

"...you saw to Miss Charwood´s refreshments! You kept her talking ... And you danced with her at Almack´s. You knew what my intentions were!"

"It would be useless of me, I presume, to state that I have no romantic -- or indeed any - interest in Miss Charwood, other than preventing my addle-brained young brother's suffering from disappointment on the hands of a vain, ambitious, albeit beautiful little minx!"

"I will have you know, my lord, that I find your implication resentful!" Theodore was on his feet.

"I dare say you do, but I promise I won't hold it against you." , replied his brother with his habitable cool assurance. "Now, sit down and let us discuss this in a more rational manner."

"Much obliged to you, but I shall go back and join our guests. I at least know what I owe to my sister!" He crossed the room in a few strides, only to pause at the door, with his gaze directed at its frame, his hand on the handle. He sighed and spoke again in a more subdued manner. "Good intentions do not always excuse the means."

"Theodore -" The Viscount had put an appeasing hand on his brother's arm, only to have it shaken off.

"No, leave me to it!" They had by this time entered the hall. "Oh." Theodore quickly summoned a smile that did not quite reach his eyes and executed a bow. "Miss Leighton! Have you lost your way?"

"Not at all, I -"

Juliana, having taken refuge in the silence of the hallway to sort her thoughts and calm her mind -- leaning against a niche in the wall below the grand staircase - had quickly removed herself from her solitary position when she realised that she was no longer on her own. She was witness to Theodore´s late action but had the presence of mind to follow into his footsteps and pretend that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

The Viscount, his face betraying surprise only for the briefest moment, seemed the most prosaic in his handling of the situation.

"My dear Miss Leighton, if your object was to escape from the commotion, I beg you will not let yourself be deterred! I only wish such means were available to myself, but as my uncompromising relative has so painfully reminded me -" He broke off, his grey eyes regarding her rather more intensely, an action on his part which did nothing for her present state of mind. She longed to acquaint his lordship with some of her thoughts on the subject of his high handedness, yet even if she had not been in the possession of the least bit of sense, good manners would still have forbidden her to accost him when she herself was guest in his parental home, and in the presence of his brother. She therefore resigned herself to fate, the sigh that preceded her reply almost inaudible.

"Oh, no! I was just - I became a little overheated." She smiled. "But I was just going to return." Still his penetrating gaze was upon her, but then it vanished, to give way to one that had all the appearance of cool courtesy.

"Then allow me."

The Viscount offered his arm, which she found herself obliged to take.

"My dear nephew! How delightful!"

Juliana, her arm still on that of the Viscount's, with Theodore at their side, immediately perceived a stiffening on the former´s part, upon finding himself addressed by his Aunt.

Lady Farnborough, her professed rapture aside, subjected her other nephew to a dismissing nod, which clearly suggested he might have business elsewhere. Theodore was only to happy to comply with the suggestion and took his leave, grateful for his escape from his formidable Aunt, who had spent some good part of the afternoon -- she had taken it upon herself to arrive at Denham House unfashionably early as to be able to offer her advice on the arrangements up to the last minute -- in the pursuit of talking sense into him, as the general term went. At one point he had taken refuge in his youngest sister's chambers, under the pretence of supervising her choice of adornments to her dress. If her ladyship believed young Theodore capable of anything, it was of making certain that no red ribbon would be used on a pink dress or no green gloves to complement a yellow gown. Her ladyship was not to know that Lady Georgina was quite sensible of these restrictions herself and merely most willing to assist her much loved brother at escaping the lectures she herself had learned to dread.

The Viscount merely inclined his head.

"Well, my dear Juliana, I see you have made my nephew's acquaintance. And you must allow me to compliment you on your choice of dress." She smiled and turned once more to the Viscount. "Most becoming. Do you not agree, nephew?"

"I do not pretend to be an expert on the matter, madam", replied his lordship coolly.

Her ladyship's smile froze a little on her powdered face, yet she was not to be deterred.

"Nonsense, nephew. She looks very pretty tonight. And she has elegance. Quite unlike some of the other young ladies present."

She did not meet with a reply to her efforts, a fact that was in danger of putting her out of temper, yet she cajoled her features into some of smiling condescension.

"Of course it is all a question of superior upbringing and of being of a good family." There her ladyship seemed to reconsider a little. "On the important side, that is. But I always say a girl has to be brought up in a manner that will only compliment her chances later in life. She must possess all the usual accomplishments." Here she addressed herself to Juliana again. "I remember your grandmother was most accomplished at the harp, my dear. I am certain you have inherited that talent from her."

"I would not wish to disappoint your ladyship --" there was a smile in her voice " - but I am afraid I have not."

Juliana hardly knew how to react -- that Lady Farnborough appeared to be discussing her suggested merits in her presence without giving thought to any embarrassment she might cause to her person appealed to her sense of the ridiculous; and that her nephew seemed bent on ignoring her elaborations even more so.

"How singular." Her ladyship could not conceal that she was a little disappointed. "But you must have a musical turn. Do you play the piano?"

"Only when I am forced."

One corner of the Viscount's mouth twitched.

"Not play the piano -!? Well, I dare say it is of no great impact." She turned to her nephew once more, her smile relaxing a little. "You have never been fond of music, as I recall."

"But what can have given your ladyship such an idea?", inquired Lord Langton, his eyebrows raised in astonishment. "As it happens, I have, lately, been thinking of retiring to Bath for a longer period of time."

"Retire to Bath? What nonsense is this?" demanded her ladyship. "You appear to be in excellent health, nephew!"

"Thank you." The Viscount favoured his Aunt with one of his most infuriating smiles. Or so Juliana had come to think of it.

"Well upon my word...!" Lady Farnborough hardly knew what to make of her nephew's mood and was vexed that he should prove himself more difficult than she had anticipated. Granted, their late interview had not been all that was promising, but she had not seriously considered the possibility of his refusal to oblige her being of definite proportion. And yet she was wise enough not to tempt him into further obstinacy.

"Bath does, of course, have its merits -- and more than once have I recommended the waters to an acquaintance. Why, only some weeks ago Lady Mary Chessington thanked me profusely for my excellent advice. It quite took away the childish complaint her husband was foolish enough to succumb to." Her ladyship's disapproval of the gentleman's effrontery to do so was evident in the curl of her mouth. "I have no patience with such stupidity; he must have known that he had more important business than falling ill at that time!"

The look on the Viscount face was almost too much for Juliana's self-control. The unconcerned absurdity of his relative's musings seemed to strongly shake at his forbearance. An irresistible bubble of mirth had to be quelled, so she strove to redirect her ladyship's thoughts onto safer grounds.

"I think, ma´am, that Lord Langton was alluding to the concerts in the rooms-"

" - and the musical soirees - " his lordship contributed promptly.

She chose to ignore his frivolity, her voice quivering only slightly when she continued. "I have heard that the music is indeed most excellent."

"Nonsense. London is far superior to Bath in that respect. Nephew, you will take Miss Leighton to the opera one evening." Her ladyship tapped Juliana's arm with her fan. "We shall make a true musician of you yet."

"Indeed, your ladyship, I am quite certain that Lord Langton has other obligations-" Juliana looked up fleetingly at the Viscount, convinced that he found the prospect as little appealing as she did. Unfortunately, he seemed to be in an unusually accommodating mood. Or, an explanation which she considered much more probable, her speaking look, which should have made her own feelings rather evident, had inspired him to be provocative. She was not at all fooled by the barely apparent inquiring lift of his eyebrows.

Opposition or not, Lady Farnborough was not at all used to tolerating it.

"Fiddle-di-dee. He can well sacrifice one evening at his club for your benefit. And now I will leave you to yourselves -- you young people do not need the ramblings of an old woman such as myself." She called out to a couple that had just come within her sight. "Lord Holby, Clarissa! How do you do?" She gave Juliana's arm one final pat. "I shall call on you presently, my child, to determine how to best proceed."

And on that ominous note, she disappeared into the crowd once more.

"Oh...!" Juliana would have dearly liked to stomp her foot in frustration but restricted herself to a more uncompromising statement - with feeling.

"Quite so."

Well, there was at least one opportunity of unburdening herself of some of her more pressing thoughts.

"I am so much obliged to you, my lord!"

"Not at all, Miss Leighton." His lordship was at his most solicitous.

"To think that such a prestigious person as yourself should take it upon himself to contribute to my musical enlightenment."

"Thank you."

"I meant it as no compliment! Oh...! I did not mean to...." She was vexed with herself for letting her temper make her forget where she was. "I beg your pardon."

"No, don't apologise! You were doing so well until now."

"Why -- ". An involuntary laugh escaped her. She had to smile. "Yes. But however immune you are to the accepted social conventions, I should not forget that I am a guest in your father's house. Therefore I must beg your pardon for my incivility and --"

"My dear Miss Leighton, don't give it another thought!" His grey eyes were full of appreciation. "I give you leave to abuse me at your leisure."

"You are -- no. " She shook her head and adopted a more moderate tone. "I must return to my family now. Excuse me."

A curtsey and she was gone.

A slow smile crept into the Viscount's face as he regarded her retreat. Then he beheld his brother approaching the very lady that had been the subject of their unproductive debate in the library earlier that evening. The smile gave way to a more pensive expression as he watched the proceedings.

Part 8

"Oh, look! It is Miss Brandford! I simply must speak to her - she has only just returned from Paris...."

Cassandra, having glimpsed her acquaintance in the distance, took possession of the hand to her right and hurried across the path to express her delight upon the lady's eventual return from the Continent -- how they all had missed dear Miss Brandford! -. The young lady in her tow saw nothing to protest against in the admirable sentiment and consequent action; it needed no persuasion to yield to Miss Charwood´s plan on the part of one whose head was primarily, according to the male members of her family, full of ribbons, bonnets and all such fripperies Miss Kilmore was only too happy to add her compliments to the young lady on the same´s safe return and soon after expressed the hope that they might be, at a not too distant date, allowed a glimpse of the treasures she had brought home from her sojourn.

It was left to Juliana to follow them at a more sedate pace, however disinclined she might have been to fall into raptures over a recital of the elegance of the latest Parisian fashions. Yet, it had to be considered an accomplishment already that they three ladies found themselves in the park that morning.

Following the ball at Denham House, Miss Charwood, conscious, even if most reluctantly, and for the first time in her life, that neither a dazzling smile nor an inviting look had brought her her reward, had succumbed to a severe attack of what her brother had not hesitated to refer to as sulking. Which had enraged the ill used beauty even more and only the timely good sense of her mama, who wisely pointed out to her that the Viscount would hardly be able to present himself in Hanover Square to offer his apologies -- if not his hand! -- if she remained in her chambers for the rest of the week, eventually provoked her to return to the drawing room. Indeed, her first appearance at the dinner table after the forgettable evening was all that was dignified ... she presented the assembled company with an excellent view of her profile; her posture most rigid, her manners all that were cold politeness; barely lifting her spoon and not partaking of more than a morsel of chicken. Her mother entered into all her feelings on the unjust occasion and blamed her niece's unfeeling selfishness for her daughter's lack of appetite. That her daughter managed to devour quite a number of sweetmeats her fond parent was happy to forgo in her musings.

As for her ungrateful niece; her ladyship had been on the brink of reprimanding her the moment the carriage door had been closed on them, but as this would have spoiled the effect of her daughter's chosen method of punishment -- Cassandra had, from that moment onwards, taken it upon herself to take no notice of her cousin whatsoever; to the point of leaving the room, her chin held high, when she happened to enter one in which she found her cousin alone -- or the reverse -- Lady Charwood felt herself obliged to bundle up her wrath until it should be less impolitic of her to unburden herself. As the week progressed, and since she was too busy undoing the injury to her darling's pride, the onslaught only happened in installments here and there; as if her ladyship had to remind herself first of how grossly mistaken she had been in her niece's character. To think she should have had entertained hopes that ... no, her William deserved better than that. But then there was the not inconsiderable fortune.... Well, there might be hope for improvement yet.

To Juliana, neither the determined coldness on her cousin's part, nor the routinely assessments of her character at the hands of her Aunt, were of great impact. She had attempted to reason with the latter when the first accusations had been laid at her door, but as her Aunt had made it clear that nothing she could have said would have been of interest to her, nor that she had any intention of applying common sense to the situation, she had resolved on dealing with these recurring lectures in the only manner they could be dealt with -- by only lending them half an ear, and therefore being able to listen to them with all the appearance of complaisance, and finding consolation in the knowledge that the folly was not on her side. If she permitted herself a quick roll of her eyes when her cousin, once more, had made a point of leaving the room in which she had found herself over a book, she was quite able to negotiate it with her conscience.

The Viscount did not call in Hanover Square, nor did he, as it was customary for admirers to do, send flowers to Miss Charwood, or indeed any other token that might have supported her mother's hope that all was not yet lost. Her daughter did not even pretend that the post each morning was not at all of interest to her; she betook herself of the lot as soon as it had been delivered, sometimes even snatching a letter from her brother's hand, scrutinised the handwriting and direction on each with newly found optimism each day, only for her displeasure to rise -- until one morning, when she stomped her elegantly shod food in the middle of the hall, a militant sparkle in her eyes.

Well, if Lord Langton thought she cared for his company, he was soon to learn that he was mistaken. There were other, even more eligible, gentlemen who would only be too happy to bestow the attention she was due on her person. She had made up her mind.

What was a Viscount to a Duke, after all!

With that happy thought in mind, she surprised her mother with a cheerful appearance at the breakfast table the following morning. She was most willing to share her plans for her future with the assembled company and her temper even remained sunny upon the undignified snort from the general direction of her brother. As for her ever supportive mother - even if Lady Charwood´s optimism eventually met with its limits, she was wise enough to not conjure up another thunderstorm when a crisis had just been survived. And on second thought... had there not been some poor Irish girls who each of them married into the first circles some decades ago ... and did not one of them catch a Duke? Neither Miss Gunning could have been as beautiful as her own child!

She was interrupted in her musings by her daughter, who expressed the wish to take a turn in the Park that afternoon and to invite not only her friend Miss Kilmore but her cousin to join her.

Juliana, having exhibited masterful control over her countenance during that edifying communication -- how useful a teacup could be ! - not even betraying surprise at finding herself addressed by her cousin in the most coaxing of manners, readily agreed to the suggestion as it offered her escape from the confinement of the house, safe in the knowledge that with Miss Kilmore at her cousin's side, she would not be called upon to contribute much to her entertainment and would be able to enjoy the fresh air.

"Felix! Felix! Come back this instant!"

Nurse Brooke, as fond as she was of her charges, could not but deplore their inexhaustible energy at times. She was not one of those missish creatures who became insistently worn out when obliged to chase the young master of the house across the park at a rather brisk pace; nor was she such a poor creature as to shrink from the task that was climbing over a stile in pursuit of the same and landing with her feet in a puddle of mud, she was not that particular; but the hour had so much advanced that they would soon be called upon to return to the Albury´s townhouse to be just in time for the boys´ nuncheon, and if Nurse had one failing in the eyes of her charges, it was her inexplicable affinity with punctuality.

Master Felix suffered under no such affliction and had, when his Nurse had been engaged in debating with his twin the disadvantages of presenting their paternal grandmother with a happily croaking frog by way of a welcoming present on her eminent visit, taken himself off towards an impressive array of trees and had quickly diminished among them.

Felix, the elder of the twins, had apparently taken a more dignified view of the subject of a present to his grandmother and had gone off in pursuit of a squirrel which had caught his attentive eye. And since he was of strong constitution and - as he was generally most ready to point out -- full of pluck, the obstacle that presented itself in the form of the bushy animal's retreat up into somewhere between the leaves and twigs of a formidable oak, was not one that he gave a moment's thought to. He did not hesitate and climbed after it as swiftly as his small hands and feet allowed. He had made it as far as what appeared to be a rather strong branch, his legs on either side of it, eye to eye with the squirrel, which had evidently decided that such obstinate pursuit had to be rewarded with some mustering of one's pursuer. The bushy tail to one side, it sat a few inches away from Felix and regarded him with interest, not unhopeful of perhaps winning a nut for its trouble.

Felix was about to stretch his hand towards the squirrel when their solitude was suddenly interrupted by a female voice almost shrieking in delight. He turned his head towards the unwelcome sound, his brows knitted in consternation. The squirrel had evidently felt disturbed by the noise as well, as it twitched and jumped a little further away.

"No!" Felix had no wish to lose his new acquaintance so soon and attempted to soothe it. "They are only girls!" That piece of information did seem to do nothing for the squirrel's peace of mind -- it jumped onto another twig. Felix was not one to admit defeat so quickly. He adopted a more determined tone of voice and made to reassure the animal once more. "Wait here! I will send them away!" And on that resolute notion, he moved backwards again, his eyes firmly fixed on the squirrel until it was necessary for even the most courageous young gentleman to focus on his surroundings. He then swung his left leg over to his right one and was about to climb downwards when he made out a bonnet below his feet. He needed no more encouragement.

"Shhhhhhhhh!"

Juliana looked around in search of the owner of the youthful voice that had addressed her thus unceremoniously and, when her search bore no fruit on the ground, looked upwards into the trees.

There she found herself inspected by a sturdy young boy, whose blue eyes were mustering her. She returned his look with a smiling question in her eyes.

"You must be quiet! Or it will not stay!" he shared with her in a reproachful whisper, his fair curls shaking as he put emphasis on his statement with a shake of his head.

"Of course", she promptly responded, her voice lowered. "Shall I go away again? I hope I have not offended your friend?"

Felix studied her in thoughtful concentration. Then he came to a conclusion.

"You didn't screech!"

"Well, I hope I never do something as undignified as that", Juliana pondered. "All my lessons with my governess would have been for naught in that case."

The little boy sensed when he had met with a fellow sufferer.

"Does she make you eat all your vegetables at dinner and send you to bed when you are not at all tired?"

"She used to. But I am quite grown now, you see, and never eat any vegetables when I do not care for them." Her eyes twinkled.

Felix leaned forward a little, still perched on his branch.

"I never eat them either -- ", he confided to her. "I give mine to Harry. He likes them." He grimaced in distaste.

"Take care I do not inform your Nurse of that!"

"It's my uncle! Look, Miss -- oh." Felix, apparently not at all shaken by the appearance of his uncle at the scene, suddenly remembered that introductions had not been made yet between himself and his new acquaintance. He smiled impishly at Juliana as if to suggest that they were past such commonplace civilities.

Lord Langton took one swift glance at his unperturbed nephew and then addressed Juliana, whose initial surprise at his sudden appearance -- and his connection with her new friend -- had almost provoked her to question the sense of timing of fate. Nevertheless, she accepted its lack of empathy with great composure.

"I see my nephew has been most remiss with the required formalities. I apologise for his conduct, madam." He lifted his eyebrows in mock trepidation. "You will think him most audacious, but I must ask you to consider his age! I assure you, we entertain considerable hopes that we may make a gentleman of him yet."

"Then I wish you will not succeed. It would only spoil the image!"

Felix had collapsed into giggles by that time; the squirrel, which had eventually given up on the remote possibility that the strange creature might supply itself with some nourishment, having long departed from the scene.

"I see he is fortunate to have found a champion in you," the Viscount responded. Then, in an ominous voice, he addressed himself to his wayward nephew again. "Felix, I will not even endeavour to inquire what possessed you to climb this to be pitied tree, but if you will not come down this instant, I shall come to get you!"

Almost Juliana would have ventured to suggest to the little boy to remain where he was... but she was able to resist the temptation, as great as it was. She only permitted herself a tiny smile in view of the irresistible mental image.

"It was a squirrel," offered Felix heroically, making his way downwards.

"Of course." The Viscount's tone suggested that no other explanation could have possibly occurred to him.

His nephew's confidences were not yet at an end.

"Harry has a frog!"

"Good God!"

Felix was about to collapse into giggles again, but was prevented from doing so by the long overdue introductions of the parties to each other.

Lord Langton, his hands on his nephew's shoulders, turned him towards Juliana and performed the required service.

"Miss Leighton, allow me to present my graceless nephew, Master Felix Albury." Felix, resolutely biting his lip so as to not give way to temptation again, made his bow with dedication, quite oblivious to the state of his shoes and the tear on one trouser leg. He smiled engagingly at Juliana, who dropped a deep curtsey in return, her eyes twinkling.

"Felix, this is Miss Leighton, who will be happy to learn that I have been dispatched to return you to the loving arms of your Nurse, who is, inexplicably, rather impatiently awaiting your return to her supervision."

Felix scowled.

"Yes, I dare say you had much rather escape from her tyranny, but I assure you, it is quite out of my power to prevent your reunion!"

The little boy cocked his head to one side as if considering this, then he looked up at his uncle.

"Well? What now?", demanded the Viscount, with a heavy sense of foreboding.

The mischievous tone belied the expression on the angelic face that was raised to his.

"Are you afraid, Uncle Tristan?"

The Viscount swooped upon his nephew, scooped him up and held him at arm's length, much to Felix´ delight, who had succumbed to another attack of giggling.

"Repellent brat!"

Two small arms made their way around his neck, holding on for life, as it would seem.

"Yes, very well. No, do not strangle me!" Lord Langton attempted to disengage himself from his youthful admirer's hold. "Not in front of witnesses Felix, I beg you."

Having extricated himself from this fervent embrace, Lord Langton, straightening his neck cloth to less restricting proportions, following the attack, observed a stain on his coat that looked suspiciously like mud.

He sighed deeply and then addressed Juliana once more, his brows lifted.

"Miss Leighton, I entreat you to bear witness that it was not I who was so careless. My valet has, I fear, very strict notions as to my appearance."

She did not disappoint him.

"But can the assurances of a stranger have any impact on his verdict, sir?", she enquired with adequate pensiveness.

"We can only hope for the best, madam."

Felix, his blue eyes looking doubtfully from one to the other, took siege of the lapel of his lordship's coat, subjecting it to a firm grip.

"I will explain to him!"

"You most certainly will not! What a notion." His nephew eventually let go of his coat. "Thank you. Now -- "The Viscount offered his arm to Juliana. "Allow me --" He caught his nephew's reproachful eye... "My apologies, Felix -- us ! - to escort you back to your friends."

Juliana, her shoulders shaking lightly, obediently accepted the arm and directed his lordship towards the lake in the centre of the Park, where Miss Charwood had first spotted her prey.

Felix walked silently at their side -- until a thought occurred to him.

"Have you come in your curr ... curri--something, sir?"

"No."

"Oh." Felix walked on, a rather soulful expression on his face. With both the twins´ father and their uncle being excellent horsemen and quite accomplished whips, it was not to be wondered at that the next generation should follow into their footsteps.

"But if you make haste -- " Lord Langton offered gravely, after a short pause, "- you will perhaps be able to convince your brother to relinquish his care of my horse before I shall require his services again."

Felix needed no more encouragement; he was off towards where he had left his Nurse and twin, fully intending to exercise his senior rights over his younger brother.

Juliana could not but smile at the little boy's enthusiasm, even if she was perhaps less convinced than him that his uncle's recommendation had to be attributed to merely the kindness of his heart. She ventured to steal a look at him -- and learned that she was correct in her suspicion.

"Just so." His lordship, looking down at her, smiled one of his most charming smiles, which she found rather infuriating, as it distracted her from her train of thought. "But I do believe that I have shown myself at my most forbearing. I assure you, I have every intention of braving my valet's displeasure, and none of using my newly found knowledge against my nephew. Even if I was forced to eat all my vegetables in my time."

She raised an eyebrow as if in question.

"He appears to be very fond of you, sir."

"Yes, but much against my will!" The Viscount's brows had reached exaggerated heights. "And now, Miss Leighton -"

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