Chapter 1
“Oh, I can’t wait for this!” Frederica squealed, bouncing up and down on the cushions.
Sitting across from her, Dorothy couldn’t help laughing at her friend’s excitement.
“You need to be careful, Frederica. The carriage will lurch again, and you’ll end up on the floor.”
“No, I won’t!”
“The last time happened ten minutes ago! You were complaining about your knee hitting the edge of the seat.”
Frederica Colt shrugged.
“The pain is overshadowed by the excitement of knowing we’re going to a house party!”
“Isn’t overshadowed a bad word?”
“No, not at all. The delight is bigger than the throbbing in my knee, even if I’m sure I’ll be limping for a while.” Frederica shook her head, still grinning. “Why aren’t you jumping around? You were just as excited as I am when I told you that Aunt Annabelle had invited both of us.”
“But I know how to behave myself, especially in a swaying carriage.”
Frederica stuck her tongue out at her, and Dorothy rolled her eyes.
“Now that isn’t very ladylike.”
“Nobody’s here to say anything. When you’re alone, nobody is going to know or care that you’re behaving in a conduct that is unbecoming.”
Her words became more flamboyant towards the end of the sentence, and Dorothy had no idea how she was supposed to maintain her composure when her friend was making her laugh and groan all the time. She was far too amusing for her own good.
She leaned over and took Frederica’s hand.
“Well, you’d better take a deep breath and calm down before we get there. While your Aunt is a lovely lady, I do not think she would appreciate her niece practically bouncing off the walls.”
“Oh, Aunt Annabelle knows what I’m like.” Frederica giggled. “She tolerates me better than my own parents. You know that.”
“But she’s gotten married again. She’s going to want you to behave, isn’t she?”
“I’ve met my new uncle. He’s probably the nicest man you’re ever going to meet.” Frederica winked. “I have a feeling he and I are going to get along very well.”
Dorothy didn’t doubt it. Her friend of nearly twenty years could make friends with anyone. She was warm, outgoing, and fun. Of course, she stayed within the confines of what society dictated for women, but it still seeped out. It would be no surprise that her aunt’s new husband would be charmed by her as well.
She settled back and looked out of the window. The Derbyshire countryside rushed by, looking lush and green. All she could see were hills, a lot of them. Having lived in Bedford all her life, Dorothy wasn’t used to so many rolling hills. According to Frederica, they were higher than where they lived. It might explain why she was feeling a little light-headed.
Even with the dizziness, Dorothy was looking forward to this. After the disaster that had been last Season, she had wanted to have some freedom. Unfortunately, while the freedom was revitalising, it also brought some frustration. It hadn’t been as successful as she wanted it to be. London had failed her in more ways than one.
It would do her good to get away from all this for a while. A week in her friend’s aunt’s new home in the Peak District would be just what she needed to make herself feel better. Annabelle Samuels, formerly Annabelle Carter, had found love again after losing her husband when she was young. Dorothy was pleased for her; she was fond of the older woman.
And it felt like an honour to be invited to her new home so everyone could meet the new couple who couldn’t go to the wedding. Then again, they had eloped to Gretna Green, so that would be pretty much everyone.
“Dorothy?”
“Hmm?”
Frederica was dusting down her skirts with a brisk gesture that made Dorothy wonder if she would tug her skirt off completely.
“What are you thinking about? You have that pensive look on your face.”
“Oh.” Dorothy hadn’t realised. She smiled at her friend. “It’s nothing. I’m just getting used to the change in the air.”