Miss Dower's Paragon by Gayle Buck Read Free Book Online Page A

Evelyn sighed. “Yes, I most certainly do.”
    It was an incredibly lowering reflection.
     

Chapter Five
     
    The Pump Room was well crowded when Evelyn and her mother entered through its august portals. The elegant columned room was a gathering point for Bath society, even for those who did not take the healthful waters. An orchestra played in the balcony, providing a nice counterpoint to the myriad conversations going on all sides.
    Evelyn had always enjoyed accompanying her mother to the Pump Room. It was a pleasant excursion into the society that she had not yet entered, and invariably she heard or saw something that interested her.
    As usual, Mrs. Dower saw several acquaintances, and she paused many times to exchange greetings and small conversation. She made a point of bringing Evelyn to the attention of all they met, to that young lady’s astonishment. The dowagers and matrons responded with a friendly scrutiny of Evelyn and issued kind invitations to the Dower ladies for whatever functions that they were getting up.
    Evelyn snatched at a quiet lull in their social progress to say in a low voice, “Must you put me forward in such a way, Mama? I have known most of these people all my life, after all.”
    “But you are coming out now, Evelyn, and this is simply one way of notifying everyone of the fact,” said Mrs. Dower. Her gaze traveled beyond Evelyn and she smiled and put out her gloved hand. “Oh, Mr. Hawkins. Good morning, sir.”
    Evelyn turned her head and met the gentleman’s gaze. There was an expression of approval in his eyes as his glance swept her appearance before returning to her face. Knowing that she looked her best in a new straw bonnet and a blue morning dress trimmed in satin ribbons, Evelyn responded without thought to his obvious admiration. She smiled shyly at him, thinking how well he looked in a morning coat with plated buttons and pantaloon trousers.
    Then she abruptly recalled that he had offered for her because he had been told to do so. Her smile faded to little more than a polite expression.
    Mr. Hawkins was not unaware of the sudden clouding of the warmth in her eyes, but he pretended otherwise. He bowed over each of their hands in turn. “Mrs. Dower, Miss Dower.”
    Evelyn murmured a greeting, very much on her dignity now that she had remembered the insult he had dealt her. She was prepared to pull her hand free if he took the slightest liberty. But he did not, instead letting go of her fingers immediately so that she had nothing to object to in his attentions. The gentleman was impossibly infuriating, she thought crossly.
    “Have you come to take the waters?” Mr. Hawkins asked.
    “Oh, no. I fear that I cannot like the stuff, you see. It quite escapes me why everything that one is supposed to take for one’s health is always so foul-tasting,” said Mrs. Dower.
    Mr. Hawkins smiled and agreed. “I personally would not willingly choose to drink something tasting of sulphur, but many are convinced that but adds to its healthful properties. I am on the point of fetching a glass for Lady Pomerancy. However much she detests the water, she still reluctantly follows her physician’s orders.”
    “Quite admirable for her ladyship, I am sure,” said Mrs. Dower. “Oh, there is Lady Pomerancy, sitting close to the hearth. It is terribly drafty in this high room, is it not? I myself never come without a shawl—she has seen us.” The last was said with a strong overtone of consternation.
    “We must go over and pay our respects, Mama,” Evelyn said. She smiled again at Mr. Hawkins, discreetly nudging her mother’s elbow.
    “Oh yes. Of course we must.” Mrs. Dower did not sound particularly enthusiastic, and in fact there was such an expression of dismay in her eyes that Evelyn could not but feel sorry for her.
    “I shall join you presently,” said Mr. Hawkins. He sauntered off in the direction of the pump where there was a short line of the fashionable waiting to receive