Debutante in the Regency Ballroom: A Country Miss in Hanover Square. Anne Herries

Realising what she had said, Susannah clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, forgive me! How very forward and rude of me! I ought not to have said it, but …’

      ‘You were thinking it,’ Amelia supplied as Susannah stared at her wide-eyed and anxious. ‘Come and sit down, dearest. I am going to tell you something so that perhaps you will understand and cease to be anxious about me, for I know that you have been—have you not?’

      Susannah nodded and sat down in a chair near the window. ‘You do not have to tell me, Amelia. I really should not have passed an opinion …’

      ‘Why—because you are younger and a guest?’ Amelia shook her head. ‘The difference is not so very great and I think of you as a friend. I shall tell you, because I think you will treat my confidence with respect.’

      ‘I promise,’ Susannah vowed fervently and Amelia smiled.

      ‘I told you that I loved someone, but the match was denied me?’ Susannah nodded. ‘Well, it caused a rift between Michael and myself, a rift that has never quite healed—and there was my aunt’s fortune. I stayed with her for more than two years before she died. She loved me and I loved her and she left almost everything to me. My brother resented the fact that he did not receive a share. He has tried to … persuade me to give him a substantial share, but it does not stop there. He wishes to rule my life. It was for precisely this reason that my aunt made me independent. Michael cannot touch my money, nor can I give him what he asks for, because it is tied up in property and trust funds. I should not even if I could—but I cannot give away large amounts of capital. However, my income is many times larger than I require and I am able to give smaller sums now and then. I am in no danger from my brother, for I am strong enough to resist … his arguments. It is sometimes unpleasant, but there is nothing more to cause you concern.’

      ‘I see …’ Susannah looked at her. ‘Thank you for telling me, Amelia. I am honoured by your trust. I have known that your brother is unkind to you and I know how generous you are … have been to me …’

      ‘I give what I wish to give. Both my nephews have had small incomes from me, which I can easily afford, but I shall do nothing for my brother, because he does not deserve it. Unfortunately, he believes he is entitled to control my fortune and that will cause friction at times.’

      ‘I wish you had someone to protect you,’ Susannah said. ‘If you were married, you would have a husband to care for you and look after your fortune.’

      ‘Yes, I should, but I have good friends. I have not asked them for help, because as yet I do not need it—but they are there if I should need them.’

      ‘I am so glad,’ Susannah said. ‘Forgive me if I am impertinent to ask—but is there no one you like enough to marry?’

      ‘Perhaps there may be one day,’ Amelia told her and smiled. ‘I hope your mind is at rest now, my love?’

      ‘Yes, it is,’ Susannah said. She stood up and went to kiss Amelia’s cheek. ‘It was good of you to tell me, for I know it was not easy for you.’

      ‘No, it is never easy to speak of these things, but I wanted to set your mind at rest, Susannah—and now we shall forget it. Tell me, is there a gentleman you feel you like more than the others?’

      ‘There might be,’ Susannah confessed. ‘I was not sure that I liked him, but of late I have begun to change my mind.’

      ‘I think I might guess,’ Amelia said. ‘But I shall not guess for you have not yet made up your mind and I do not wish to influence you—and now we really must ring for tea. Your mother should be home at any moment—she went to fetch something I needed …’ She smiled as the door opened and Mrs Hampton entered, as if to order. ‘We were just about to have tea. Susannah has some interesting news …’ She got up to ring the bell for tea.

      ‘You look so lovely this evening,’ Harry Pendleton said, taking Susannah’s hand and lifting it to his lips to kiss it when they met at a soirée that evening.

      Susannah blushed faintly but did not remove her hand from his grasp immediately. She had tried to avoid him when they met for the first time after that disastrous affair at the Duchess of Morland’s ball. However, he had made a point of seeking her out and was so charming that she had overcome her feeling of awkwardness. Since then they had met everywhere. He had formed a habit of seeking her out, and Susannah could not doubt that he liked her. She had believed he must have a disgust of her for her foolish behaviour, but it was not so. No one seemed any the wiser about the incident with the marquis and she suspected that she had Lord Pendleton to thank for it. The Marquis of Northaven had not been present at any of the affairs she had attended with her mother and Amelia, and someone had told her that he was out of town. Susannah could feel nothing but relief. She would be quite happy if she never saw him again!

      The knowledge that she might well have lost more than her reputation if Lord Pendleton had not come to her rescue that night was sobering. However, Susannah was an incurable romantic and she still had her dreams of a white knight on a charger. His face was indistinct, and she had begun to accept in her heart that her romantic ideas were nonsense. The Marquis of Northaven had frightened her and opened her eyes to the nature of certain types of men. She understood better now why both Amelia and her mother had warned her against being intimate with some of the gentlemen.

      ‘I was wondering how much longer you plan to stay in town,’ Lord Pendleton was saying to her. ‘And what you will do when you leave?’

      ‘Oh …’ Susannah’s thoughts had wandered a little, but she gave him all her attention. ‘I believe we are to stay for at least another two or three weeks. I have no idea what we shall do afterwards. I suppose we shall go home.’

      Susannah frowned at the idea. If she returned home in three weeks without having secured an offer, it would be the end of her dreams. She knew her mother had hoped that she would make a fortunate match, but as yet she did not think she wished to marry any of the gentlemen she knew. At least, there was only one she might feel able to accept, but she did not imagine he would ask her, for, despite his unfailing kindness, he must think her a foolish girl. A little sigh left her lips. She had hoped for so much and it might all come to nothing.

      ‘Does something trouble you, Miss Hampton? Or are you bored?’

      ‘Oh …’ Susannah blushed as Lord Pendleton looked at her in concern. ‘No, of course I am not bored, sir. Forgive me if I gave that impression. It is just that …’ She shook her head because it was impossible to explain. She did not even know herself what was making her feel restless and hastily turned the subject. ‘I heard of your race, sir. It must have been exciting.’

      ‘Yes, perhaps,’ Harry said, with what she thought a boyish grin on his lips. ‘It was quite mad, but we suggested it as a joke and people started to bet on the outcome and then we had to go through with the nonsense.’

      ‘I thought it was thrilling. I wish I had been there to see it.’

      ‘It would not have been suitable. I believe we attracted quite a rough crowd.’

      ‘Oh, then perhaps—’ She bit back her words of protest. ‘I like horses and I should enjoy watching them race—at a suitable venue, of course.’

      ‘Perhaps one day I could take you to the races, if your mama would make up one of the party.’

      ‘Yes, that would be interesting. I attended a balloon race with Amelia and some friends, you know. I found that great fun. We followed in the carriage and it was a great spectacle.’

      ‘Yes, I believe it is. You enjoy music and reading, I know,’ Harry said. ‘Tell me, what other pursuits please you?’

      ‘I love to walk with my dogs,’ Susannah told him, realising with a shock that she missed the freedom of the countryside here in town. ‘One can be so free in the country, do you not think so, sir? I am often scolded for traipsing all over the place like a hoyden but the air is so fresh …’

      ‘You enjoy the country.’ Harry smiled. ‘I like