Anna and Dorothy had been to Marlborough, shopped for the day, and were back just in time for tea. They were in Anna’s chambers with their purchases strewn across her bed for further examination.

“Do you like my peach-colored gloves?” Dorothy asked, as she laid them across her new dress. “You do not think there is too much yellow in them to go with the rose color in the dress?”

“They are lovely together, my dear. But I hope you did not go overboard with your expenditures?” Anna said, as she flopped down in her most comfortable chair awaiting the arrival of their tea.

“I was prudent,” Dorothy insisted. “But you bought hardly anything. What happed to that lovely blue dress you were ogling?”

Anna sighed. “It was quite pretty, but I did not think I would have occasion to wear it soon again, so I decided against it.”

“Oh, Sister, you hardly ever pamper yourself. You are far too severe.”

“It is not that. But I may be too practical at times. I do not like waste or frivolity.”

“Like I do, I suppose?” Dorothy said with a slight pout.

“Not at all, dear. You are always just your true exuberant self and it is charming.”

Warrick came in with the tea tray, set it on the table and poured the first cups for them. The sisters went to the table and sat.

“Thank you, we will be fine now,” Anna said to the butler.

“Ladies,” he said and left.

Dorothy leaned over the plate of tea cakes, picked one up, bit into it, but did not like it, and put it back on the plate. Then she did it a second time with another cake.

“Dorothy, what are you doing? That is disgusting. I hope you will be better behaved at the dance dinner.”

“But they are stale,” she complained.

“That may be, but do not put them back on the serving plate. You know better than that.”

“But it is just us. It doesn’t matter.”

“Nevertheless…”

Dorothy found a cake she liked and sat back in her chair and gazed at her sister with a smile.

“Tell me about your Mr. Christopher Stewart.”

“He is not my Mr. Stewart. He is a pleasant gentleman, and for some unknown reason, he seems to have taken a fancy to me and…”

“And what?” Dorothy pried.

“He wants us to dance on the evening and he might have suggested a correspondence when he returns home.”

Dorothy leaned forward with a salacious grin. “He wants to write you? Already? He hardly knows you.”

“Exactly. It is a ridiculous notion.”

“I think he is dreamy,” Dorothy said. She sat back in her chair again and extended her arms out to her side as though to embrace the whole world.

“He is pleasant,” was all Anna would admit to.

“He said he wants to dance with me as well.”

“Then I expect he shall.”

“But I will not if he is to be your beau,” Dorothy said pouring another cup of tea.

“Really, Dorothy, he is not my beau. You really are too romantic sometimes. And I cannot even imagine that anything will come of it. He lives in Dorset and that might as well be China for all the good it will do anyone who lives in Wiltshire. I am quite certain that, once he returns home, we shall never hear from him again.”

“Does he have a handsome brother that looks like him?”

“He has a younger brother, but I have no idea what he looks like. He may be ten-years-old for all I know.”

“I shall find out. Would that not be splendid if you and I married a pair of brothers? We would be sisters and sisters-in-law at the same time. I think that would be both delicious and hilarious.”

Harry and Christopher were out riding through the estate’s herd. Harry was showing off his prize animals to his friend. They came upon one of the newly-born calves that looked sickly. Harry pulled up his horse and dismounted.

“Looks like we have a problem here.” He went to inspect the wobbly calf and said, “I think the mother is refusing to nurse him. I’ll take him back to the barn and have him handfed there.”

Christopher dismounted, and after Harry remounted, he handed the calf to Harry which he slung in front of him over the neck of the horse.

They began to ride leisurely toward the barn.

“What can you tell me about Miss Anna Hoskins?” Christopher asked.

Harry felt a brief twinge of jealousy but said, “What do you want to know?”

“Do you know if she is sweet on anyone in particular?”

Harry was not about to admit his feelings for her as she had never expressed any interest in him—ever. They were close friends and had great regard for each other but no words of tenderness were ever exchanged.

“Not that I know of. I believe my sister might have mentioned a fondness for my friend Percy, but I do not believe it amounts to anything serious. Why do you ask?”

“I think she is a fine young lady, and she has promised to dance with me at your upcoming evening.”

“And her sister, what do you think of her?” Harry asked.

Christopher gave a sharp nod. “Very fine, as well. But she seems to be rather young. Is there much difference in their ages?”

“Only a few years, I believe.”

“She is very pretty.”

“Many of the local gentlemen believe so and she is considered a great prize.” Harry could not help himself. He found he was trying to steer his friend’s interest away from Anna and onto her sister.

“It might be as you say, but there is a mysterious quality to Anna that intrigues me. She may not be quite as beautiful as her sister… but there is something…”

“There should be any number of fine ladies at the dance. You might find many that attract you.”

“We shall see,” Christopher said as they were nearing the barn.

“And are there no local beauties in Dorset?”

“A few, but I grew up near most of them and know them far too well. Believe me, they are nothing to write home about,” he said with a laugh.

“What will you do if you marry, Christopher? You live at the family home. Will you buy your own property to raise your family?”

“I am the heir, so I think not. It is too early for my sisters to marry and my brother is but fifteen. But the house is large and there is a wing I could use for my family. And besides, there is a lot of land and it is perfect for grazing our cattle.”

Harry could not help himself and he said before they reached the barn, “I really think you might want to give a second look at Miss Dorothy. She really is very charming and would make someone an excellent wife.”

Christopher turned to Harry and said, “Why, Harry, I do believe you have feelings for Miss Anna yourself.”

“And just where are you going all dressed up like that?” the Duke asked his son while he was tying his cravat in front of his bedroom mirror.

“There is to be a dance at Creassey Manor this evening, Father,” Percy replied.

“But that is hours away. I want you to ride into Marlborough first and find Dirk. I want to know what is happening with the deadbeat tenants.”

“Certainly, that can wait until tomorrow. I was going over early to see Harry and Maria. It is always nice to have a drink or two with Harry before the dance gets underway.”

“No. I want you to go now. Damn lazy, no-good. Make yourself useful to your father.”

“But I shall end up smelling like a horse, riding all the way into town.”

“Then change your damn clothes first. You have plenty of time. It will not hurt you to be a few moments late in any case.”

Percy walked over to his father, took his arm, and said, “But what if I find a nice eligible young lady with a fine living attached. Would that not help matters? If I am all worn out and scruffy who will want to dance with me?”

The Duke saw the reasoning in that and said, “Very well, then you will go to Marlborough first thing tomorrow morning.”

“After I get up,” Percy said, turning back to his mirror. “It might be a rather late night, Father. And if I should find someone special I might need to pay a call on a young lady later in the afternoon.”

“You lazy good-for-nothing! I should horse whip you and kick you out of this house. You are useless! Worthless! A disgrace to this family.” And he stormed out of Percy’s bedroom.

Percy had heard all of this before and paid it little mind. He stood before the mirror admiring himself. He turned his head left and then right—catching his profile and checking his cravat. He was satisfied. Then he went to his dresser and applied a few splashes of his eau de cologne. Yes, he was ready to have a most pleasant evening.