A Curious Courting Read Online Free Page B

pillows.
    Lady Southwood sighed. “Such a dear girl. A pity she does not go out in Society anymore, but there, I fear she has become a trifle…unusual in her dress. She and Maria were the greatest of friends many years ago, and certainly Selina showed no sign of such eccentricity then. Two hoydens they were, though,” she chuckled. “Forever following Penrith about when he had become far too conscious of his dignity to bear it. Many were the times when he would come stomping in to say, ‘Really, Mother, it is too much! Can you not keep better track of Maria and her friend? I was driving Miss Sotherby about the lanes near her home, and what should I find but the two of them up an apple tree giggling at us.’” Lady Southwood seemed to recall herself abruptly. “But that was years ago, Mr. Rushton, and I have no doubt my reminiscences are the greatest bore to you.”
    “No, no, not at all,” he swiftly replied. “How old were the girls then?”
    “Oh, I should think eight or ten, but it was years before they behaved properly,” she admitted with a rueful shake of her head. “And to think of Maria with two children of her own now.”
    Cassandra turned her merry blue eyes from her mother to Mr. Rushton. “Does she wear that awful brown dress at home? And the religious-type cap?”
    He laughed. “Yes, indeed, with a scarlet shawl and the sturdiest walking shoes I have laid eyes on, I promise you.”
    “Well, that is going a bit far,” Cassandra said cryptically. “One would think that at least in her own home she might dress as she pleased.”
    Her mother turned startled eyes to her. “Whatever do you mean, Cassandra?”
    Confused, Miss Southwood waved an airy hand. “Not a thing, Mama. It is rather chilly weather for a muslin dress, though, is it not?”
    “I dare say she has them in wool, too,” her mother replied shortly with a reproachful look at her youngest.
    When no more information on Miss Easterly-Cummings appeared to be forthcoming, Mr. Rushton excused himself to find the master of the house. He had a few choice words to say to Sir Penrith.
     

Chapter Three
     
    “I did not find it at all amusing to look such an idiot, my dear Pen,” Rushton explained to his friend, who was regarding him with innocent eyes. “At first I took Miss Easterly-Cummings for some sort of companion. After all, who would dream that an excessively wealthy young woman would dress as she does?”
    “Did you think a companion would dress like that?”
    “Frankly, I have not the least idea how companions dress, and I have no desire to learn. She was dowdy, Pen; no, more than that—she was absurd.”
    “Well, I did hint that she was unusual, did I not?”
    “You allowed me to think she was an old dragon,” Rushton said grimly. “What chance was I to have of buying her land after such a faux pas?”
    “You had no chance from the start, Gareth,” Sir Penrith told him patiently. “I tried to warn you. Benedict has been after the land for years to tie it in with his estates, and Selina will have none of it.”
    “You did not precisely tell me that.”
    “Well, perhaps not, but I told you it wasn’t for sale, didn’t I? You were not in a mood to listen to me yesterday, if I recall correctly.”
    A wide grin eased the gloom of Mr. Rushton’s face. “So that is what you were paying me back for. I wondered about it most of the way home.” His face became serious as he stretched out his legs. “You must not think that I do not value your advice, my friend. I do. But in this matter I shall have to take my own counsel. Can you bear with me?”
    “Why, of course. You know I have only your best interests at heart. We won’t discuss the matter again.”
    “Thank you.” Rushton draped one leg over the other and stared thoughtfully at the grate. “What I would like your advice on is how to convince the eccentric Miss Easterly-Cummings to sell me that piece of land.”
    “Devil take you, Gareth! I thought we had just