‘There is nothing to tell,’ replied Natalya. ‘Freddie Erwin is a pleasant young man and we danced together several times. He and Mr Conyer joined one or two of the outings got up by the Grishams, but there were plenty of other young ladies present besides Jane Grisham and myself. Verena Summerton and Laura Spinhurst, to name but two of them.’
‘Then why should Lord Dalmorren be asking about you?’
Natalya put down her cup. The old lady was too shrewd to believe any prevarication.
She said, ‘He saw a drawing I had done of Mr Erwin. Not a good one, but...flattering. He thinks it shows I have formed a...a tendre for his nephew but it is nothing of the kind. I merely kept it because it was better than most of the portraits I have attempted.’ She gave a tiny shrug. ‘It is true that Freddie and I became friends, but you will not be surprised to know that my aunt and uncle did everything they could to discourage him from calling.’
‘In my opinion, there is nothing more likely to aid a love affair than opposition.’
The old lady was watching her closely, but Natalya merely smiled and said with perfect sincerity, ‘Not in this case, ma’am. When Mr Erwin left Bath, we parted with nary a pang. At least,’ she added, her brow furrowed, ‘not on my side.’
‘And if the young man has formed an attachment, do you think you could return his regard?’
Natalya hesitated.
‘Marriage to an agreeable man would be a way of escaping the stifling care of the Pridhams,’ she said slowly. ‘But it is not to be considered. They will never agree to it.’
‘In a few weeks you will be one-and-twenty, Natalya. You will not need their consent.’
‘True.’ Natalya stared at her hands for a long moment. ‘I wish I knew why my aunt and uncle are so protective. Why they discourage every gentleman who even looks at me! They insist I am a lady, there is no curb on the amount they spend on my clothes and my education, and yet...’ She fixed her eyes on Mrs Ancrum. ‘We have never spoken of it, but I think, I believe, you know something of my parents, ma’am. I pray you will tell me!’
The old lady threw up her hands. ‘Do not ask me, my love, I do not know anything. The Pridhams are good, respectable people, if a little Puritan in their outlook. Have they not promised they will explain everything to you on your birthday?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘There you are then! In the meantime, if young Mr Erwin is indeed serious in his intentions, if he loves you, then your lineage will not matter in the least.’
Natalya shook her head. ‘I wish I could believe you, ma’am, but I know it is not the case. Every book, every guide on genteel living I have ever read says differently. If I should turn out to be, to be a—’
‘Do not even think of it!’ Mrs Ancrum interrupted quickly. ‘I cannot believe the Pridhams would have introduced you into Bath society if there was anything amiss with your birth. They are merely being over-diligent in their protection of you. No, this Mr Erwin would be a good match for any young lady and you would be wise not to discourage him. And to that end, you should not antagonise his uncle!’
At the mention of Lord Dalmorren, Natalya gave a long sigh.
‘I am afraid it is too late for that, ma’am. Our last encounter ended very badly. He can have no wish to continue the acquaintance now.’
Mrs Ancrum chuckled. ‘Then you have an opportunity to make it up with him, for he is coming here for dinner tonight!’
Mrs Ancrum’s maid showed Natalya up to the guest room, where she washed her face and hands and sat down at the mirror to tidy her hair before dinner.
‘I should have gone home,’ she told her reflection. ‘When she told me she had invited Lord Dalmorren to dinner, I should have left the house immediately.’
Instead she had allowed herself to be persuaded to remain. Mrs Ancrum had told her the Grishams were coming, too, together with their son and daughter.
‘You know I enjoy the company of young people,’ she had said. ‘It is just a little party, with my old friend Colonel Yatton invited to make us an even number at dinner, but nothing to displease your aunt and uncle. No dancing, of course, although I hope I might persuade you and Jane to play for us. You are such a clever puss, your accomplishments alone should convince Lord Dalmorren that you are an eligible match for his nevvy!’
Natalya put down her hairbrush and stared into the mirror—she did not want to be an eligible match for Freddie Erwin. She knew Freddie was not the reason she had decided to stay. It was Tristan. She berated herself for using his name, even in her thoughts, but she could not stop the dizzying swoop of her insides at the prospect of seeing him again.
‘It is merely because our last meeting ended so unsatisfactorily,’ she told herself as she pinched her cheeks to provide a little more colour. ‘One should never part on a quarrel.’
She sat back, turning her head this way and that to study her reflection. If she had known there were to be guests, she would have worn something a little more dashing than her periwinkle-blue sprigged muslin.
‘But if Mrs Ancrum’s note had mentioned that there would be guests,’ she told her reflection, ‘Aunt Pridham would have refused to let me come!’
There was a knock on the door and Mrs Ancrum’s maid peeped in.
‘The mistress says to tell you she has gone down to the drawing room, miss.’
‘Thank you.’
Natalya rose and shook out her skirts, then, with a final glance at her reflection, she straightened her shoulders and hurried down the stairs.
Mrs Ancrum’s oldest friend, Colonel Yatton, arrived first, followed by the Grishams,
