Page 7 of Married to the Lord

“Well,” Mama said, “perhaps he shall attend the next event. You can speak to him then.”

Augusta said nothing. If she could avoid him again, she would. Growing up, there had been few people she had admired more than Miles. He had always seemed so dashing and grown-up. How embarrassing it was for him to know Henry had no interest in her.

“Augusta?”

Augusta and her mother turned to find Joanna and Chloe approaching. Augusta allowed herself a little smile. Though her friends had expressed an interest in coming to view the new horse, she had not really expected them to come. Especially so soon.

Mama pressed a hand to Augusta’s arm. “I shall leave you ladies to it.”

Smiling her thanks, Augusta nodded to her mother. They had a close enough relationship that her mother understood how lonely and frustrated she was becoming, especially with all her friends marrying. Her fairly new friendship with Joanna and Chloe had made the Season in London all the more tolerable.

“I did not expect you to come so soon.” Augusta joined the two ladies, dipping in greeting.

Joanna unlinked her arm from Chloe’s. “It was my idea. I ran into Chloe at the tearoom and we decided we should make a day of it.”

“And because Joanna is here, we need no escort.” Chloe wagged her eyebrows.

“Can you show us the new horse?” Joanna asked.

“Of course.” Augusta glanced at the paddock. “I think Mr. Jones has taken the horse back to the stables.”

“I’m afraid I know next to nothing about horses,” confessed Chloe. “My mother always despaired that I showed no interest in them as a child.”

“Well you do not need to know anything about them to appreciate them.” Augusta led them toward the stables. “Our horses are extremely friendly. I am sure you shall like them.”

They finished a tour around the stables and strolled out toward the thin stream that cut across much of the estates in the area and would eventually lead to the River Wey. After a fall into a lake years ago, it was about the only body of water she minded being near.

The three of them sank onto the grass and Chloe fished a pebble out of the stream and flung it back into the water. “The Lord Ashwick asked after you last night,” she said.

“And Chloe scolded him heartily for scaring you away,” Joanna added with a smile.

Augusta pressed her lips together. “I must have looked a fool.”

“Not at all,” Joanna assured her.

Augusta was not so sure. Scurrying away from her fiancé’s brother had not been her cleverest of moves and was entirely unnecessary. She swallowed. “I suspect that he wishes to tell me that Henry has broken off the engagement.”

Chloe gasped. “No!” “

“He’s a damned scoundrel if he does.” Joanna shook her head. “He shall ruin you.”

Augusta bit down on her bottom lip, it was true. None would want to touch her after a broken engagement. She would most certainly be a spinster for the rest of her days. And yet, a vague sense of relief washed over her when she thought of the agony of waiting would be put to an end.

“There is little I can do about what Henry decides,” she said more calmly than she felt. “But I can assure that I will come out of this with my head held high.”

“You have nothing of which to be ashamed,” Joanna said determinedly.

“I know. But…” Augusta twined her fingers together in her lap.

“But?” Chloe pressed.

“But there is this part of me, this part very deep down I suppose. That thinks I should come away from this…I do not know…somehow different.” She untangled her fingers. “You know how we spoke of showing Henry what he was missing. Well, perhaps I can still show him. He might not just change his mind but I would rather show the world that I am not shamed by his actions.” She blew out a breath. “I’m so very tired of their pity.”

Joanna nodded. “I understand, but what do you want from us?”

“I thought perhaps you might be able to help me be… Well, different.”

Chloe narrowed her gaze. “You keep saying different, but what do you mean by that?”

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