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 to turn up strictly for the purposes of an assignation would have been entirely out of character for him. Diana was also sure that her declaration not to see him again had been firm enough to convince him of her earnestness. As such, it was with little concern that she set off for the leafy lanes of Hyde Park just before half past seven the next morning.
Regrettably, her sore throat hadn’t improved. She had gargled with salt water before leaving the house, but it had done nothing to help, and her voice was once again the husky croak it had been yesterday. She also wore the heavy veil in front of her face to conceal her features from those who might recognise her. Though it wasn’t her intent to go looking for trouble, Diana knew it was quite possible she might encounter Lord Durling in the park. He used to like riding in the early hours of the day, and the last thing she wanted was to meet him here, with only the company of her groom for protection.
It was just one more of the fears she had harboured about returning to London.
Still, Diana had to admit that her first day in London had been a delightful surprise. Their visit to Madame Claremont had resulted not only in the ordering of new gowns and fripperies for Mrs Mitchell and Phoebe, but of several new ensembles for herself. Diana had been astonished at the wondrous array of fabrics presented to her, and startled by the degree to which fashion had changed. The cut of a sleeve, the fullness of a skirt, even the height of the waistline had rendered her existing wardrobe démodé.
Her aunt had been right in saying that she would indeed have looked a poor country cousin had she ventured forth so attired!
After that, they had seen to the ordering of new cards, paid the promised visit to the jewellers, and then returned home to spend a quiet afternoon occupied with individual pursuits. As a result, it wasn’t until after Phoebe had gone to bed that Diana had learned anything more about the intriguing Lord Garthdale—and why her aunt had not spoken of him the last time she had been in London.
‘Well, yes, dear, of course I would have introduced him to you, but as a result of his father’s death, Lord Garthdale was absent from society almost the entire time. In fact, he didn’t return to it until early the following year, by which time your relationship with Lord Durling had long since come to an end.’
Her aunt’s explanation had certainly helped to explain why there had been no discussion of the Earl of Garthdale that year, Diana reflected now, though she couldn’t say with equal certainty that he was unaware of what had happened to her. He might well have heard something from his friends upon
