A Most Unsuitable Bride. Gail Whitiker

passed in amiable chatter about new gowns, current fashions and upcoming events. But as the three ladies set off for the shops, Diana couldn’t help but wonder if she should have stayed in Whitley and let Phoebe come on her own. After all, she had no reason to be here, other than to keep her aunt and cousin company, and, in truth, both of them had friends enough to do that.

      Had her returning to London with Phoebe now been a terrible mistake?

       Chapter Three

       D iana did not think it folly to ride in the park the next morning. Why would she, when she had absolutely no expectation of seeing Lord Garthdale again? Her aunt had already told her that he wasn’t given to encouraging single ladies, so for him to turn up strictly for the purposes of an assignation would have been entirely out of character for him. Diana was also sure that her declaration not to see him again had been firm enough to convince him of her earnestness. As such, it was with little concern that she set off for the leafy lanes of Hyde Park just before half past seven the next morning.

      Regrettably, her sore throat hadn’t improved. She had gargled with salt water before leaving the house, but it had done nothing to help, and her voice was once again the husky croak it had been yesterday. She also wore the heavy veil in front of her face to conceal her features from those who might recognise her. Though it wasn’t her intent to go looking for trouble, Diana knew it was quite possible she might encounter Lord Durling in the park. He used to like riding in the early hours of the day, and the last thing she wanted was to meet him here, with only the company of her groom for protection.

      It was just one more of the fears she had harboured about returning to London.

      Still, Diana had to admit that her first day in London had been a delightful surprise. Their visit to Madame Claremont had resulted not only in the ordering of new gowns and fripperies for Mrs Mitchell and Phoebe, but of several new ensembles for herself. Diana had been astonished at the wondrous array of fabrics presented to her, and startled by the degree to which fashion had changed. The cut of a sleeve, the fullness of a skirt, even the height of the waistline had rendered her existing wardrobe démodé.

      Her aunt had been right in saying that she would indeed have looked a poor country cousin had she ventured forth so attired!

      After that, they had seen to the ordering of new cards, paid the promised visit to the jewellers, and then returned home to spend a quiet afternoon occupied with individual pursuits. As a result, it wasn’t until after Phoebe had gone to bed that Diana had learned anything more about the intriguing Lord Garthdale—and why her aunt had not spoken of him the last time she had been in London.

      ‘Well, yes, dear, of course I would have introduced him to you, but as a result of his father’s death, Lord Garthdale was absent from society almost the entire time. In fact, he didn’t return to it until early the following year, by which time your relationship with Lord Durling had long since come to an end.’

      Her aunt’s explanation had certainly helped to explain why there had been no discussion of the Earl of Garthdale that year, Diana reflected now, though she couldn’t say with equal certainty that he was unaware of what had happened to her. He might well have heard something from his friends upon his return to society. Her aunt had told her there had been much talk of it at the time, and for some months afterwards.

      ‘So, the lady decided to risk another encounter with me after all,’ a familiar voice said from the path ahead. ‘I am honoured.’

      Roused from her thoughts, Diana looked up—and was astonished to see Lord Garthdale riding towards her. Surely he hadn’t come specifically to see her?

      ‘It is a beautiful morning,’ Diana said, determined to remain as cool as the circumstances would allow. ‘And I did not think the risk of an encounter was reason enough to stay home. After all, the park is large enough for us both to be here and not see each other, is it not?’

      His smile flashed, his teeth appearing very white against the warm brown of his skin. ‘I agree that the chances of running into one another were slight, but I also admit I came in the hopes of doing just that.’

      Glad for the veil that hid her blushes, Diana said, ‘You should be careful, Lord Garthdale. I’ve been told it is not your habit to offer words of encouragement to single ladies.’

      His look of surprise quickly changed to one of amusement. ‘So, the lady also took the time to become acquainted with my name? I must profess myself flattered on top of everything else.’

      Diana’s lips twitched. ‘Pray do not be too flattered. Upon returning home yesterday, my groom assured me that he would have come to my aid, had not Lord Garthdale already done so.’

      ‘Ah, so that was the way of it. Well, since you now have the advantage of knowing my name, I think it only fair that you tell me yours.’

      Diana had wondered how she would answer this, if she saw Lord Garthdale again and he should ask. Not only because she felt it would be rude to continue to deny him, but also because there was a good chance that they would meet in the social world to which they both belonged. But if she told him her name was Diana, it might be enough for him to make the association when she was eventually introduced to him, even though her veil prevented him from seeing her face, and the huskiness of her voice from recognising the sound of her real one. For that reason, she had decided to narrow the risk as much as possible. ‘You may call me Jenny,’ she told him.

      ‘Jenny?’ He looked at her. ‘Nothing more?’

      ‘Nothing more. Just Jenny.’

      ‘I assume there is a reason you don’t wish me to know your full name?’

      ‘There is, but it is nothing of import.’

      ‘I wonder,’ Lord Garthdale said. ‘I could think you a famous courtesan looking for a new protector, but I doubt you would trouble yourself with a groom if that were the case.’

      Diana’s cheeks warmed at the inference, but she didn’t look away. ‘A logical assumption, my lord, and correct since I am most certainly not a courtesan.’

      ‘Perhaps a widow, then, living away from London. One who, upon returning to it, wishes to take a lover and arranges it through discreet meetings with gentlemen in the park.’

      Diana felt her colour deepen. ‘You seem to think my motives for being in the park are all quite immoral.’

      ‘On the contrary, I am merely trying to ascertain why a young woman would ride in the park so heavily veiled that it makes it all but impossible to see her face, and be unwilling to reveal anything more than her first name.’

      ‘Perhaps I lead such a boring life that keeping gentlemen guessing as to my identity is my only source of entertainment.’

      He smiled, but shook his head. ‘I don’t presume to know you…Jenny, but I doubt you are easily bored. I suspect you are a woman of breeding and intelligence, and one who finds pleasure in whatever she does. But I do think you are hiding something.’

      For Diana, the pleasure abruptly went out of the game. ‘You may be right, Lord Garthdale. In which case, you will understand why I am reluctant to disclose my identity to you.’

      He glanced down at his hands, seemingly in thought. ‘If I gave you my word that I would not disclose your secret to anyone, would you answer me differently?’

      ‘No, because I would be a foolish woman indeed to trust a stranger with so important a matter.’

      ‘I do not go back on my promises.’

      Strangely enough, Diana believed him, but it made no difference. ‘You are able to say that now when you have no knowledge of who I am, but that is not to say that you wouldn’t be compelled to do so in order to honour a promise made to another. Now, if you will excuse me—’

      ‘Jenny!’

      The sound of her name on his lips made her stop. The way he said it made her tremble. ‘My lord?’

      ‘I