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Barbara. That lady seemed to think there was no one
superior to Sir Marcus. He seemed to epitomize all that
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was the cream of Society as far as Barbara was
concerned. Pity she didn't know the other side of the
bewildering creature.
At that moment Lady Alicia came into view, superbly
mounted on a fine chestnut that she controlled with
ease. Charis had to admit she looked dashing as she
rode up to join them.
"What a lovely day," she said in her most lofty
manner.
"Undeniably true," Charis replied. "It has been."
Lady Alicia shot Charis a look that was as kind as
one she might bestow upon that green snake should
she see it again. Clearly, no love was lost between the
two ladies which suited Charis right down to her
toes.
"Sir Marcus, surely you find strolling along the lane
a trifle tame. Will you not join me for a little run?"
Lady Alicia coaxed.
Charis watched her cousin with care, and thought
she detected a slight hint of annoyance on his face
before he turned to face Lady Alicia. "With great
pleasure, my lady," he replied politely.
Tossing a triumphant look at Charis and ignoring
the other young women completely, she wheeled her
horse about and began to ride away, obviously
expecting Marcus to join her at once.
"I shall talk with you later about that project,"
Marcus announced to a mystified Charis.
"Project? How intriguing," Lady Alicia said, turning
back to join them at once. "And what manner of
project could you have with your little cousin?" There
was a sneer in her voice that was undoubtedly
calculated to annoy Charis. It did.
Charis counted to ten and waited to see what
Marcus might say to this.
"Why, it is an excellent scheme to start a school on
the estates in the country," he said while watching
both women. "We have to discuss the size of the
school, the type of building, qualifications for a
teacher, and so forth."
"Good show," Lord Pilkington said. "My mater
started a dame school in the village, and it has done
no end of good."
"Well, I think it a pack of nonsense!" scoffed Lady
Alicia. "What good can come of teaching the peasants
to read or write? Gives them ideas, that's what it does.
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It is a complete waste of good money."
"What would you have them learn. Lady Alicia?"
Charis inquired.
"Nothing!" her ladyship snapped.
"Other than the job they are intended to perform?"
Charis said with an innocent look at her regal
ladyship. "It would be a pity if a worker put poison
where it should not go, simply because he could not
read a label."
"They know what is what," her ladyship sputtered.
"Come, Sir Marcus, let us be off."
"When you have no good reply, it is best to retreat,"
Charis said quietly. However, she spoke loud enough
so that Lady Alicia heard her and sent Charis a nasty
look.
"Until later, Charis," Marcus called, giving her a rue-
ful smile.
Lord Pilkington made his adieus as well and took off
in another direction.
"Forgive me, but I truly dislike that woman,"
Barbara said, sending a gloomy look after the pair of
riders.
"What a pity you do not ride, Charis. I have no
doubt that you would prove to be vastly superior to her
high and mightiness." Harriet giggled.
"It would be lovely," Charis admitted. "But I fear I
am too old to learn now. I waited too long."
"Is it ever too late to learn something you want to
do?" Barbara inquired as they caught sight of two
more gentlemen wending their way in their direction.
"Lady Icicle would laugh at any attempts to do what
she does so well," Harriet said with a grin.
"Oh, Harriet, what a deliciously wicked thing to say!"
Barbara replied, laughing.
"I wonder," Charis mused, then stopped when Lord
Egerton and Lord Portchester rode up to greet them.
"I say," Harriet said to Lord Egerton, "do you think it
is ever too late to learn how to ride a horse?"
"Who needs to learn?" he inquired with a glance at
Charis.
"My sister. Unlike many people, she didn't get right
back on the horse when it tossed her. Although to be
sure, it would have been difficult for she broke her
arm and sprained her ankle."
"That must have been painful," Lord Egerton said to
Charis, sympathy clear in his voice and on his face.
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"But perhaps you might try?"
He showed a nice regard for her being, Charis
thought. He would likely make a fine husband, and no
doubt she ought to consider him an excellent prospect.
"Never do," Lord Portchester contradicted. "Take
someone like Lady Alicia Dartry . . . nearly born in the
saddle. Raised to ride. It would be humiliating for any
woman to barely hang onto a mount when in public."
Charis decided that Lord Portchester was beyond
consideration as a prospective husband. Again, the
thought occurred to her that he would be an excellent
mate for the thoughtless Lady Alicia.
"Perhaps there is a school for riding? I thought I
heard someone say there is one here in Hyde Park?"
Charis asked politely, not because she truly wanted to
learn, but she did not want to appear fainthearted.
"Opposite Gloucestershire House on the east side of
the park, there is the Gloucestershire Riding House,"
Lord Egerton said. "Captain Fozard is the name of the
chap who runs it. Takes private pupils, and I believe
the fee is about a half guinea unless you take a course
of lessons from him when I think it is less."
"Thank you," Charis said, smiling up at Lord
Egerton. He truly seemed nice. "I shall have to think
about it."
"Wise thing to do," his lordship said.
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