Evelyn Richardson by The Education of Lady Frances Read Free Book Online Page B

Cassie there at the same time, when either one of you alone is a walking disaster. Together, I shudder to think!'' The twins grinned good-naturedly, but neither one could let such a remark pass without a spirited defense. These rather vociferous protests were cut short by the entrance of one of the footmen bringing tea and cakes. Neither Lady Streatham nor Kitty, looking forward to the forthcoming tea at the dowager Marchioness of Camberly's, was able to do more than nibble daintily, for which Cassie and Freddie not to mention their furry friends, were abundantly grateful.
    “Kitty tells me that you brought not only your entire household and stables, but your conservatory as well,” Lady Streatham commented with some awe. Looking at the twins, she felt that she would be unequal to anything greater than shepherding those two lively charges. Her esteem for Frances rose mightily when she saw how surprised she was that anyone should consider it an effort.
    “Oh, yes.” Frances laughed. “We have brought all the comforts of a country home, and then some.”
    Here, Freddie, who had barely finished his cake in time to enter the conversation, burst in eagerly, “Lady Streatham, does your son ride and does he have his own pony?” Assured on both counts, and having arranged to meet Nigel in the park very soon, he was satisfied, and the ladies were left to compare notes on the various unpleasantnesses encountered in removing to town for the season.
     This agreeable conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Higgins. “My Lord Mainwaring,” he announced, wondering as he did so whether milady and milord would wind up having another set-to. Certainly milord had looked rather forbidding as he strode up the steps, the wind whipping the folds of his many-caped driving coat.
    He had, however, underestimated Lady Elizabeth, who, deftly stepping over Nelson and Wellington's teatime tussle, extended both hands to Lord Mainwaring. “Thank you for coming to collect Kitty here. It has saved me taking her back to Mainwaring House, and I'm late for Nigel's tea as it is.” Then, plunging on with her irresistible smile, she added, “I know you've met Lady Frances before, but you two haven't been property introduced. I daresay if you had, each one of you would have been much more civil to the other and wouldn't be looking daggers at each other right now.” At this direct attack the two principals, who were both ramrod-stiff and eyeing each other warily, looked slightly sheepish.
    Appreciating the humor in the situation, and recognizing a master stroke when she saw one. Lady Frances extended her hand, saying in her frank way, “How do you do, my lord?” No proof against the lurking amusement in her eyes. Lord Mainwaring thawed slightly to extend his own.
    “There,” Lady Streatham chimed in gaily. “Now, if we're all to survive this Season and bring Kitty out in proper style, perhaps we'd best put country matters out of our minds.” She looked meaningfully from Kitty to the two who had established an uneasy truce.
    Frederick, who had been gazing with rapture out of the window at something in the street below, could bear it no longer. Pointing at Mainwaring's elegant equipage, he asked, “I say, sir, are those grays yours? What an absolutely bang-up pair! They look to be very sweet goers. You must drive to an inch if you can hold them. Do you, sir? How are their mouths? They look as though they'd respond to the lightest of hands. They must go like the very wind when you spring 'em!”
    The forthright speech and blatant admiration of a scrubby schoolboy were something totally beyond Lord Mainwaring's vast experience. He discovered, too late, that he was no proof against them. “Yes, they are mine. Would you care to have a look at them?”
    Frances noted with surprise that he spoke as casually as though her brother were one of his driving cronies. She had not thought to discover such sensitivity in one who had previously show