B006DTZ3FY EBOK by Diane Farr

not strike me as important. ”
    “I t strikes me as important. ” Her tone had a definite edge to it. “Y ou are not the blacksmith ’ s daughter! Why did you not have a groom with you? Or a footman? ”
    “T his is not our home, Mama. We are guests. I thought it would be vastly inconsiderate, to take a servant away from his tasks merely to suit my whim. ”
    Her mother pounced on this. “I n that case, you should have asked Mr. Ellsworth to accompany you. He is a guest as well, with nothing better to do. I ’ m sure he would have been happy to oblige. ”
    “I t did not occur to me to ask him, ” said Cynthia truthfully.
    Lady Ballymere frowned in exasperation. “ Cynthia , when will you learn to consult me before you act? ” she exclaimed. “T here are so few situations where a lady may, with perfect propriety, spend time alone with a gentleman! Had you asked Mr. Ellsworth to ride out with you, you might have furthered your acquaintance without poor Hannah following you about like a tanthony pig. ”
    Cynthia felt herself tense. She did not like to hear her mother speak disparagingly of her one and only friend. Cynthia had many admirers, but friends, she had found, were harder to come by.
    “M ama, pray do not forget that we owe our presence here to Hannah ’ s invitation. ”
    “I do not forget it, ” said Lady Ballymere crossly. “I t ’ s just unfortunate that Lady Hannah demands so much of your attention. Attention that would be better bestowed elsewhere. ” This last was said in a significant whisper. “I merely point out that you squandered an opportunity today. ”
    “Y es, Mama, ” said Cynthia listlessly. “I will try to do better. ”
    Lady Ballymere seemed mollified by this. She patted her daughter ’ s arm and addressed her in a more affectionate tone. “T he truth, I suppose, is that you simply wanted to ride alone. You have ever been thus. ”
    This was a safer subject. Cynthia embraced it with gratitude. “I am fond of solitude, ” she admitted.
    “I daresay your father and I have indulged you overmuch. ” Lady Ballymere gave a regretful little sigh. “W e ought to have impressed upon you that a lady does not ride about the countryside unchaperoned. It is dangerous. ”
    A ripple of laughter escaped Cynthia . “D angerous? I am an excellent horsewoman. Papa saw to that. ”
    Her mother ’ s irritated frown returned. “I do not doubt your skill, Cynthia . But I ’ m afraid I must question your judgment. It adds nothing to your consequence, to be seen sharing a horse with a gentleman. I cannot imagine why you consented to do so. ” She pulled her shawl more closely round her shoulders, giving the fringe a sharp little tug. “A nd, to be sure, it says little for Mr. Whittaker ’ s judgment, ” she added tartly. “T aking you up before him, as if you were the veriest hoyden. Most ill-bred, upon my word! Far, far too familiar. But then, he seems a flippant, disrespectful young man. He should have given you his horse. You should have insisted upon it, my dear. ”
    Cynthia tried not to sound as annoyed as she felt. “M ama, that is unfair. Pray remember that he was just completing an arduous journey. How could I ask him to walk? ”
    But here they reached the drawing room and their privacy was, perforce, at an end. Cynthia was glad of it. She entered the lighted area with relief, joining Hannah on the settee. It was a refreshment to the spirit, she thought, just to be with Hannah. Hannah was so undemanding.
    Her friend gave her a shy, admiring smile. “H ow beautiful you look, ” she blurted. Hannah ’ s complete lack of envy was one of her most endearing qualities — and, Cynthia often suspected, the only thing that made their friendship possible. “D id you have that gown made up in London? ”
    “N o. It is Irish. ” Cynthia smoothed the gleaming folds of taffeta across her lap. “I would not admit that to another living soul, ” she said teasingly.
    Hannah