Prejudice in Regency Society: An Impulsive Debutante / A Question of Impropriety. Michelle Styles

time she ran a hand down the horsehair seats. ‘It was very kind of him to lend us his carriage and driver. Most unexpected and done with such grace. Does he do this sort of thing often?’

      ‘Kindness had nothing to do with it.’ Tristan lifted his hat and peered at her. His dark eyes flashed with some barely suppressed emotion, but then he leant forward and touched her hand briefly. The tiniest of touches, but one that made her heart pound slightly faster. ‘Lottie, my cousin Peter has never done anything for the benefit of others. It is part of his creed.’

      ‘I suppose you are right. You have known him longer than I have.’ Lottie resisted the urge to put her glove to her cheek and savour the lingering imprint of his fingers. ‘He must have been pleased that you were finally going to settle down.’

      ‘I expect he was.’ There was a note of surprise in Tristan’s voice. ‘I had not considered it. He is probably pleased to see me gone from Shaw’s. I was not adding to his general state of well being. Destroying his ambiance, as he put it to me before we came down to dinner. I believe he rather wished I had stayed on the Continent.’

      ‘I am certain you are wrong.’

      ‘I know I am right.’

      Lottie shifted, sliding slightly on the horsehair seats. He was not making this easy for her. All she wanted was some reassurance that he would make his peace with his cousin. And maybe, one day, when Tristan and she had children, his cousin would ease their way in society. Lottie drew in a breath. Children. Babies. Lying in Tristan’s arms. Suddenly the carriage appeared to shrink, to push her closer to his chest, his lips. This topic was supposed to keep her mind off such things, not bring it back to his kisses.

      ‘The carriage is very new,’ she said, searching for another topic, one which did not lead her thoughts on such dangerous paths. ‘He obviously thought enough of you to lend it. He trusts you.’

      Tristan’s hands tightened on his cane. ‘You are very observant, but your conclusions are wrong. Neither of us trusts the other further than he can toss him. There is much that lies between my cousin and me. He wished me gone with all speed.’

      ‘I try to be observant.’ Lottie cleared her throat, pleased that she had found a subject they could converse on, a chance to show off her social skills without suddenly blurting out that she wanted to be kissed or held. Already, she could imagine introducing him to her friends: my husband—not only is he handsome but also a cousin to a lord. Martha, Caroline and the rest would forgive the elopement once they had met him. ‘It makes it easier when I go calling. Fifteen minutes is barely any time and the hostess is often tired of repeating the same story over and over again. It saves idle chit-chat or speaking about the weather. Some days it seems I never speak about anything but the weather. There is only so much one can say about the rain.’

      ‘Is there? I never participate in At Homes if at all possible.’ A shudder went through him. ‘On point of principle.’

      A sudden pain coursed through Lottie as her future plans crumbled to dust. Not participate. But the After the Marriage calls were some of the most significant calls a woman could ever make. She might not be having the wedding of her dreams, but she thought she’d at least have the calls and the attention. She had dreamt of making such calls ever since she had first been allowed to participate in At Homes.

      ‘But you will have to.’ Lottie leant forward, placing her hands on her knees to keep them from trembling. ‘We will need to make calls when we get back to Newcastle. The After the Marriage calls are a necessity, or how else will anyone know that we will continue to see them socially? And all of my friends will be anxious to meet you. I dare say they will be quite green with envy. Pea green.’

      ‘We won’t be living in Newcastle.’ Tristan regarded the woman sitting opposite him. Her head was full of society and outward appearances. At Homes. Dances. Positions. Furthering her status at the expense of others. She had to be made to realise that there was more to life than such things. He wanted to glimpse again the woman who had berated him for not looking after his parents’ graves.

      ‘Where? London? Or on the Continent? Paris, maybe? I do think I would quite like Paris and its salons.’

      ‘Not there,’ Tristan said firmly, gritting his teeth. He would test her, and she would learn the lesson. He would reach the woman from the cemetery.

      ‘Where will we be living?’

      ‘My uncle left me an estate—Gortner Hall. I have a fancy to settle down. It is up in the North Tyne Valley, about fifteen miles from Haydon Bridge.’

      ‘Then I will be expected to make calls on the various ladies who live near there.’ Lottie folded her hands in her lap with maddening complacency. ‘It will be expected. You will have to go calling with me. There must be someone I know from Newcastle who could smooth our way…’

      ‘No one of any consequence lives near.’ Tristan paused. ‘It will not be expected. It is the country, not the town.’

      ‘Aunt Alice and Cousin Frances are bound to know several.’ Lottie waved a dismissive hand. ‘Aunt Alice knows positively everyone in the Tyne Valley. She can offer introductions. It may be the country, but there is always somebody. Calling and socialising is what makes the world go around.’ Lottie sat up straighter. She shook out the folds of her dress. ‘It is the lifeblood of the community. I plan to play my part as your wife. I will show them the right and proper way to behave.’

      ‘I have been on the Continent for years. And as your cousin quite rightly pointed out to you, I led a somewhat scandalous life in my youth.’ Tristan struggled to maintain his temper. He would give her one more chance. ‘I am uncertain how many might wish to acknowledge me.’

      ‘Oh. How truly thoughtless and terrible of me.’ Lottie sat back against the hard seat and her face crumpled. She reached out and touched his hand. ‘No doubt we shall meet them in due course and convince them of our worthiness to be befriended.’

      ‘It may take some time.’

      ‘But working together, we will convince them in the end. For our children’s sake.’ Her cheek flushed scarlet. ‘You have proved your worth to me. You have saved me from ruin.’

      ‘It was something any gentleman would have done.’ Tristan shifted slightly. His plan would be harsh, but it should work. She had a good heart.

      Lottie drew a shaking breath. Why was he making it so difficult? Tears pricked at her eyelids. He had to understand what she was attempting to do and why. He had to accept her apology. She would try much harder in the future, truly she would, but right now she needed reassurance— reassurance he appeared reluctant to give.

      ‘Not anyone. I can name a half-dozen officers who would not have done what you did. They would have left me to my fate.’

      ‘I kissed you. It very nearly went much further, Lottie.’

      ‘You saved me from a life of cats and skirts being subtly drawn away. I do not think I would care for being my mother’s companion either—fetching and carrying all the time. We would have driven each other mad within a fortnight.’

      She stuffed her hand against her mouth and looked out of the window at the grey landscape. Yesterday on the train coming to Gilsland Spa everything had seemed so fresh and new. She had never imagined that she would be sitting here, facing an almost complete stranger on her way to be married.

      ‘Yes, in due course, we will encounter the neighbours.’ Tristan reached forward and caught her hand with his, interlaced his fingers with hers. The slight pressure sent tremors along her arm. ‘Try to sleep now, Lottie. It has been a long day and we won’t be in Gretna Green for a few more hours.’

      ‘As long as that?’

      ‘Would it be easier if I came over and sat next to you? You may put your head on my shoulder.’