‘Ah, good morning, my dear,’ Mrs Mitchell said, looking up as Diana entered. ‘I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. Did you enjoy your ride?’
‘Very much, Aunt,’ Diana said, happy to be diverted from her thoughts. ‘Juliet suits me very well.’
‘I thought she might. I feared her being a bit rambunctious to start, as she’s not had much exercise of late, but I knew that wouldn’t be a problem for you. You have your mother’s skill when it comes to riding. But, my poor girl, whatever has happened to your voice?’
Diana grimaced. ‘I wish I knew. I woke up feeling rather muzzy this morning.’
‘Yet you still went riding?’
‘I thought it might help.’
‘Obviously it did not.’
Diana picked up a plate. ‘It did clear my head a little, but I fear it has done nothing for my throat.’
‘Probably this vile London air,’ Mrs Mitchell said as Diana perused the array of dishes set out on the sideboard. ‘I always notice it when I return from the country. But I do hope it clears up soon. You have such a lovely clear voice, and it is all but unrecognisable now.’
‘I’m sure I shall be fine in a day or two.’ Not feeling particularly hungry and wanting something easy on her throat, Diana helped herself to a small portion of eggs. ‘So, what have you planned for Phoebe’s first day in London?’
‘Oh, there are several things we have to do. The child will certainly need clothes, and I suspect you will, too. I doubt you’ve had anything new made up during the last four years.’
Diana lifted her shoulders. ‘I had no need of new gowns. Those I had were sufficient for my purposes.’
‘Sufficient for the country, perhaps, but not for going about in London now,’ Mrs Mitchell said. ‘Fashions change by the month, Diana, never mind by the year, and I won’t have you looking like a country mouse when you set foot in society again. You are far too lovely for that. So, we shall call on Madame Claremont and make her a happy woman, then we shall go to the stationers for cards. After that, we shall visit the jewellers. I am having my old pearl necklace reset for Phoebe. She’s always admired it, and pearls are eminently suitable for a young girl entering society.’
‘Speaking of society, I met an interesting gentleman in the park this morning,’ Diana said, having decided, after much thought, to share news of the encounter with her aunt.
‘Really? Did he tell you his name?’
‘No, but your groom did.’
Mrs Mitchell laughed. ‘Of course. Tupper knows everyone, and everything about them. Well, who was he?’
‘Lord Garthdale.’
‘Lord Garthdale!’ Mrs Mitchell nearly dropped her fork. ‘Good heavens!’
Diana glanced up in amusement. ‘Why so surprised, Aunt? Do not most gentlemen ride in Hyde Park in the morning?’
‘Well, yes, but Lord Garthdale is hardly like most men! Apart from being one of the most eligible gentlemen in London, he is also one of the most elusive. He rarely attends society events, and, when he does, he seldom offers encouragement to any of the young ladies present. Still, he is a handsome gentleman, is he not?’
‘I thought him very handsome indeed, and extremely gallant,’ Diana admitted, explaining how the mare had shied and how Lord Garthdale had come to her aid.
‘Obviously he didn’t realise how little you were in need of it,’ Mrs Mitchell said, chuckling. ‘But I’m surprised he did not ride off immediately after seeing Juliet settled, for that would certainly have been more his style. Did he enquire after your name?’
‘He did, but I did not make it known to him. I feared he might recognise it.’
‘And what if he did?’ Mrs Mitchell said. ‘Your life isn’t over because you refused to marry Lord Durling.’
‘It would be if Lord Durling had his way.’
‘Nonsense. The man went on with his life. Why should you not go on with yours?’
‘Because I am the one who jilted him, Aunt Isabel, and I doubt he has forgiven me for it,’ Diana said. ‘Remember how angry he was at the time? Remember all the hateful things he said? He did everything he could to ruin my reputation and to make me look guilty.’
‘Well of course he would try to make you look guilty. The man has an enormous ego, and since you were the one who refused to go through with the marriage, he had to make it sound as though your reasons for rejecting him were entirely self-serving.
We know they were not, of course, but no one else did. And by not saying anything, you allowed society to draw their own conclusions.’
‘You know why I refused to say anything,’ Diana mumbled.
‘Yes, I do, though I still think you were wrong. I’m sure that if you had spoken to someone in authority—’
‘Lord Durling is a member of the House of Lords!’
‘Be that as it may, he is not above the law.’
‘He is beyond reproach in the eyes of society,’ Diana said. ‘And because we must concern ourselves with Phoebe making a good impression on society, we cannot afford to be careless.’
‘But Diana, it has been four years.’
‘I know. But I do not trust Lord Durling any more now than I did then,’ Diana said quietly. ‘He is a man who holds a grudge and I would not put it past him to try to make trouble for Phoebe if he thought it might be a way of striking back at me.’
‘Which is why I wish you would tell people the truth of the matter,’ Mrs Mitchell said in exasperation. ‘The man struck you, Diana. He raised his hand without thought or provocation, and dealt you a blow hard enough to knock you to the ground. As far as I am concerned, such behaviour is unpardonable. Any man who would treat a lady like that deserves to be exposed for the wicked creature he is!’
‘And I don’t disagree with you, Aunt, but who would believe me if I were to tell them?’ Diana said. ‘It would always be my word against his, and society is hardly like to rally behind me. Lord Durling is a respected member of the aristocracy and an extremely charming man.’
On the outside, Diana reminded herself. On the inside, it was a very different matter.
‘Well, I shall respect your wishes, just as I did four years ago, but that doesn’t mean I agree with them,’ Mrs Mitchell said tersely. ‘Lord knows, I would take issue with the man myself, but, like you, I cannot suppose to trust him, and I should hate to see his vindictiveness turned against Phoebe.’
Diana returned her attention to her breakfast. ‘Exactly. Lord Durling effectively destroyed my reputation when I refused to marry him, and I must do everything I can to guard Phoebe’s against him. But now we must say no more about it for I hear her coming.’
Nothing more was said over breakfast, and the rest of the meal passed in amiable chatter about new gowns, current fashions and upcoming events. But as the three ladies set off for the shops, Diana couldn’t help but wonder if she should have stayed in Whitley and let Phoebe come on her own. After all, she had no reason to be here, other than to keep her aunt and cousin company, and, in truth, both of them had friends enough to do that.
Had her returning to London with Phoebe now been a terrible mistake?
Chapter Three
D iana did not think it folly to ride in the park the next morning. Why would she, when she had absolutely no expectation of seeing Lord Garthdale again? Her aunt had already told her that he wasn’t given to encouraging single ladies, so for him