Page 35 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Amanda whispered, “I think I could very much like that.”
“If that is the case, why did you send a messenger just this morning to that other suitor of yours? What’s his name – Oh, yes, Lord Allerton?”
“Fair question, yet I do not really know. I find Lord Allerton soothing as a companion. He is not nearly as exciting as Lord Stanhope, yet I could not bring myself to simply dismiss Lord Allerton, even if I think he might not seriously view me as a strong potential wife.”
“Why do you say such a thing? You are a young lady of means,” Katrina replied as if she was duly scandalised.
Amanda shrugged. “Means and funds do not always mean love and, believe it or not, some people genuinely marry for such things.”
“I doubt the man would pursue you so doggedly if he possessed no feelings for you,” Katrina said.
Perhaps that was true. Amanda could imagine the tall war hero was in love with her even if it were not true. Lord Stanhope had gone to the war as well. Besides, Amanda wagered that Lord Stanhope and herself had more in common than she and Lord Allerton.
“That may be, but perhaps I should align myself with someone who likes the same things I do,” Amanda said with a thoughtful smile. “Lord Stanhope and I are both young people who seem to enjoy the best of life.”
Katrina watched Amanda for a moment. “But did he not come here looking for someone else? Does that not set your teeth on edge?”
“It does not matter who he came looking for. It only matters who he found and, apparently, he liked me enough to ask to call upon me again.” Amanda shrugged.
Katrina shook her head. “You are an amazing woman. I would never have that kind of confidence.”
“Well, just do as I do and soon enough you will.” Amanda gave her maid a smile. “Besides, you have to know how to allow men to treat you and when to tell them that they are not welcome.”
Katrina nodded and enquired, “You have many suitors. Do you ever tell them to leave you alone?”
“I do,” Amanda said as they walked through the winding rows of roses and hedges. “There was a young man, a merchant, I believe. He was attempting to work up the nerve to court me, or to ask my brother at any rate. I put him out of his misery. There was no point in things dragging on and him getting embarrassed.”
Katrina frowned and whispered, “Do you think your brother would not have approved of him?”
“A merchant? I doubt even my brother would be that charitable. He was not a particularly wealthy merchant. I could make allowances if the man had made something of himself, but really he had not.” Amanda waved off the whole idea.
“Sometimes it is for the best to be blunt with people, Katrina. There are people who simply will not take notice of hints and nudges.”
“I am aware,” Katrina said with a soft sigh. “I do not mind Charlotte leaving, just so you know, Miss. I am curious though as to why she did choose to leave.”
Amanda huffed. “You would have to ask her and my brother. No doubt she thought I was treating her poorly and told my brother so. He, being a noble sort, set her up in Mrs. Lennox’s household. Seems to explain itself.”
“Here I thought that Charlotte had learnt her place in the world.” Katrina frowned.
Amanda sighed. “She was the vicar’s daughter. We played together, took lessons together. I, being a child, had no idea how different our worlds truly were.” Amanda turned to Katrina. “Do you think I treated her poorly?”
“I think you treated her as you would most any servant, Miss. That is the job she was hired for, was it not?” Katrina seemed altogether puzzled by the question and Amanda pushed the idea of her own wrongdoing away.
Amanda nodded. “Of course it was. Or at least that was what she wanted. I offered to let her stay as my guest, but she refused. What was I do to do but honour her wishes?”
“I do not see where she left you much choice,” Katrina said after a moment. Amanda wondered if that was truly what the maid thought or if Katrina was perhaps just saying what Amanda wanted to hear.
In the end, Amanda decided it did not matter. “Well, we shall just have to carry on with our lives. She’ll probably come back around once Mrs. Lennox gets tired of her nonsense.”
Chapter 6
Of all the idiocy that his household had been besotted with this season, the incorrigible Lord Stanhope was by far Graham’s most vexing problem. The man had been as good as his word about visiting Amanda. Twice he had come to call upon her, always well-announced this time at least.
It vexed Graham all the more because he genuinely wished he could come up with some reason to sweep the man’s existence aside, yet there was nothing that stood out enough that warranted such an action. Graham almost wished the man would do something offensive, yet he never seemed to do so. Of course, Amanda, would probably just laugh and banter on no matter what the man said or did.
It was truly frustrating to see his sister, who while she was no angel herself, did at least deserve a gentleman. Graham was unsure if Lord Stanhope was the man that Amanda deserved. There was something about him that did not sit right with Graham.
“You could always look into him,” Randolph said as he leaned against the wall of Graham’s study. Graham had been confiding in Randolph his misgivings about Amanda’s would-be suitor.
