Page 56 of A Winter’s Romance

J ames had been forced to acknowledge Anthea when she drew up next to them. He wanted nothing more than to see his phaeton safely in the workshop and get back to Elisabeth, but manners obliged him to talk with her for a few moments, and find some convincing explanation why he didn’t wish to be taken up in her gig.

“I, er, I want to make sure the wheelwright knows what he’s doing,” he said, “and I’m, er, expected for dinner with Miss Wilberforce and her father.”

He had no idea if this were true, but it seemed plausible. Elisabeth had said they ate their main meal in the middle of the day.

“Oh, pish-posh,” said Anthea, airily. “You’ll get a much better meal with us. I know for a fact cook has a nice haunch of venison on the spit. Father always likes to keep one for Christmas Day. Ride with me to the wheelwright’s and I’ll wait for you. Amy can walk.” She turned to her maid. “Get down, Amy, Lord Northney is getting up with me. You can walk home. It’ll do you good.”

Not wanting to cause any sort of scene with so many interested observers, James reluctantly did as he was bid. It was probably just as well. Once they were out of earshot he could tell Anthea plainly what his intentions were towards her. He had had a flirtation with her a couple of months back but had avoided her recently. She was a lovely girl but, as he had found out, spoiled and unlikeable. He should have set her straight before but had been too lazy to do so. He thought she’d get the message. She hadn’t. Evidently, she rated her charms too high.

“This is kind of you, Anthea,” he said, turning to look at her, and in spite of what he knew about her, admiring her straight back and calm mastery over the horse, “but I shall have to leave you once we get to the wheelwright’s.”

“Why, darling? I don’t mind waiting for you!” She smiled brilliantly at him.

“As I said, I’m expected back at the Wilberforces’. Besides, Anthea, I have to tell you…”

But before he could continue, Anthea interrupted. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! I don’t suppose they’ll even notice you’re not there! I spoke to that girl. She didn’t even know who you were! When I asked for the Earl of Northney she looked all at sea. I believe she may be a little simple. And what a sight she presented! Her dress had to be twenty years old and her hair was in a positive shambles!”

The Earl could not let this pass. “They are not people of fortune,” he said without the glimmer of a smile, “and Miss Wilberforce is not accustomed to going into society, but I assure you, she is as sensible as you or I. More so, in fact. If she did not know me by my title, the fault is mine. I’m afraid I did not inform her of it. ”

“I can understand why! People like that are bound to be so encroaching! Anyway, if they are not people of fortune, they will be glad not to have to have an extra mouth to feed. You would be doing them a favor by coming with me.”

“Enough!” The Earl’s patience was at an end. “Look, Anthea, whether they have no fortune or are as rich as Croesus, whether they go into society or not, whether Miss Wilberforce’s gown is from the Ark and her hair like a bird’s nest, I am going to have dinner with them. I am going because I want to. I am going because I admire Miss Wilberforce. I may even be in love with her. I’m sure she thinks I am a good-for-nothing, useless sort of a man. And she is right. But I hope to do better. With her help, perhaps I will.”

There was complete silence. The Earl was astonished to have said what he did. He had only wanted to inform Anthea tactfully that he was not interested in her. He had no intention of baring his soul. He had no idea what had come over him.

Anthea looked as if someone had struck her in the face, but she was the first to recover. “If that is the case,” she said coldly, “you had better descend now. We are just in front of her door.” She drew the horse to a halt and waited, her face averted.

“Thank you, Anthea,” said the Earl. “I hope we my continue to meet on friendly terms.”

“I doubt it,” said the lady, and, barely waiting for him to step down, whipped up her horse into a gallop.