Page 46 of Leap of Faith
She was certain it was of the latest stare, but she was unused to seeing gentlemen in such bright colours. He was handsome, once she looked beyond the clothes. “Who is that?” she leaned over and whispered to Hope.
“Sir Julian Wright. I was introduced to him last night. Is he not handsome?”
“If you do not mind being outshone by him,” Faith retorted.
“Come now, he is all the crack!”
Faith could only laugh and shake her head at her sister’s cant, then found herself the centre of his attention.
Lady Westwood beckoned to her. “Faith, my dear, there is someone who would like to be introduced to you.”
Faith could only hope her expression was polite, but she would much rather not entertain suitors. Once her sisters were married, she still had Joy to consider.
However, she did allow Sir Julian to be introduced to her. She could hardly refuse. Then Lady Westwood turned back to her friends.
“Miss Whitford.” He made her an extravagant leg. It was all she could do to keep her face straight. This was not a promising start.
“I had been hoping for an introduction last night, but you were positively swarmed! I was hoping I might beg you to take a turn around the park with me this afternoon before someone else has the opportunity to steal you away.”
Faith racked her brains quickly for an excuse—any excuse—but she could think of none. “I would be delighted. Thank you, sir.”
This seemed to satisfy him, and he left her to greet others.
However, when the time for morning calls was ending, he had not forgotten as she had hoped, and was standing by the door of the drawing room, waiting for her.
Once she had fetched her bonnet, she was unfortunately not surprised to discover his curricle was as obtrusive as his clothing. Not only was the vehicle a bright yellow, it was drawn by matched white horses with their own livery with yellow trim to coordinate.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if he changed the horses’ outfits to match his own, but she decided against it.
He assisted her into the vehicle and then set the horses in motion towards the park, tooling the ribbons with unconscious ease. One thing she could say for him was that he was no mere whipster. He handled the horses very well, and at least she need not worry herself on that score.
“How do you like London so far, Miss Whitford?”
“It has been diverting in its own way, sir.”
“But you prefer the country?” He sounded shocked.
“I confess I do. However, we were brought up just outside of Bath, so not completely devoid of amusements should we wish for them.”
He made a choking sound.
“I gather you think Bath is only for the infirm and elderly?”
“You must confess, ma’am, they do tend to congregate there.”
“I cannot argue it, but Bath does enjoy elegant assemblies and the theatre.” Not that Lady Halbury ever took them to such entertainments.
“I wish that I were so easily amused,” he said indulgently, as though she were a small child.
Had they continued on in this manner, she would have been fully disgusted and written Sir Julian off as a ridiculous nonentity. However, one of the first people they saw was Lord Westwood.
He did not look in the least bit pleased to see them when Sir Julian hailed him.
Lord Westwood pulled up alongside in his own elegant, but unassuming black curricle with matched bays, making the contrast between the two gentlemen all the more apparent.
He inclined his head to Sir Julian. “Miss Whitford. There appears to have been a misunderstanding.”
“And what is that?” Sir Julian asked.
