The Suitor List by Shirley Marks Read Free Book Online Page B

qualities."
    They both laughed. The corner of the Baroness's
eyes crinkled when she smiled. She had the most kindhearted manner about her, making conversation easy
and her company enjoyable.
    "Do you take sugar in your tea?"
    "No, thank you" Augusta looked around, wondering
about Sir Samuel's whereabouts. "Will your nephew
not be joining us?"
    "He has indicated that you are not to have tea without some sort of exquisite tidbits from a certain confectionary shop-of which the name completely escapes
me" Lady Vernon laughed at herself and poured a bit
of milk into each cup before pouring the tea. "He has
gone to fetch them himself. I have every confidence he
shall return shortly."

    "He shouldn't have gone to the bother." Augusta
could not imagine what had possessed him to deposit
her with his aunt and dash out for biscuits, no matter
how delectable.
    "Are you certain you are feeling quite well?" The
Baroness handed Augusta her cup and saucer.
    "I am-as Sir Samuel put it-transported. I assure
you." She sipped from the cup.
    "I do not mean to pry, but it has come to my notice that
my nephew holds you in great esteem. He has spoken
quite highly of you"
    "I cannot imagine what he could say. We only met at
the Sutherland's last night. And, unfortunately, we were
not able to converse"
    "Ah, so you do not know much about him." The
casual comment sounded anything but.
    "I'm afraid not" Augusta wondered what it was she
should know about him.
    "He is the eldest son of the Earl of Hampstead, grandson of the Duke of Cubberleigh, and is in line to inherit
both titles. He has two younger brothers, and a younger
sister."
    "I am the eldest of three sisters, and I have a younger
brother."
    Lady Vernon chuckled. "He understands that he will become duke one day and wishes to conduct himself
accordingly-to marry someone who will be a suitable
duchess." She glanced at Augusta from the corner of
her eye. "Before this morning he had not even mentioned any young lady of interest."

    "If by that you mean that he has taken notice of
me ... all I can say is ... I am deeply flattered" Augusta
considered that Sir Samuel might very well be vying
with Lord Fieldstone for the top of her list.
    "I would expect the daughter of a duke to be much
more forthright. At least as self-assured as a young man
who will come into such a title." Lady Vernon paused to
draw in a measured breath. "I do have one small reservation."
    Did the Baroness consider her family unsuitable? Or
their connections perhaps? Could she have an objection
to Augusta herself? She had been in Town not even a
week; even she needed more time than that to tarnish
her reputation.
    Augusta had thought she and the Baroness were getting along splendidly-only now to discover that Lady
Vernon did not like her at all?
    "Do not mistake me, it is not you I have my doubts
about. It is Samuel"
    "Sir Samuel has been all that is kind. I assure you my
aunt would never have permitted me to leave the house
with him unless his character was above reproach"
    "Yes, I completely agree" Lady Vernon's face relaxed, and Augusta got the feeling that this might not
be as serious as she had first feared. "I understand how
you might agree my nephew is suitable parti. He is handsome, intelligent, and very considerate-especially
to those of whom he is fond. All characteristics a woman
would wish in a husband."

    Then what was the difficulty? Augusta had no idea.
She looked upon Lady Vernon, waiting to be enlightened.
    "What concerns me is that Samuel is only sixteen."

     

    S ixteen years old? Augusta hoped she did not look as
astonished, as shocked, as she felt.
    "Only just sixteen, I might add, this last April," the
Baroness amended. "I realize that he might appear to be
a man of twenty years, but the fact remains, he is not.
And I cannot help but think that he may be a bit young
to marry. There are fortune hunters and women who
would take advantage of his situation." Lady