“My Dot will be in her element with those brilliant men,” Mr. Pankhurst said. “You will never find a more clever female.”
“Papa! I beg you to cease praising me. It’s most mortifying.”
Mr. Pankhurst shrugged. “I shall try, but it’s difficult. I only speak the truth.”
“Stop!”
It wasn’t Jonathan’s wife who accompanied Pixie into the chamber. It was Jonathan’s mother.
After the introductions were made, Glee Blankenship flung herself on the Turkey carpet in order to play with the cats. What was it about these stealthy creatures that so excited those of the opposite gender? Perhaps Sir Elvin should have come. They might be on to something here. The way to a lady’s heart might be through her cat.
Appleton reached down to pet Lover Boy. He might feign affection for the beast, but he would draw the line at calling it by that ridiculous name.
“I can just see Little Gregory with a kitten of his own,” the elder Mrs. Blankenship said, smiling at her daughter-in-law.
Glee’s eyes narrowed. “Pray, Mama, you must curb your partiality for our son. I’m sure Joy would enjoy a kitty just as much as her brother.”
“Forgive me. You know how much I adore Joy even if she is more rambunctious than half a dozen unruly lads! It’s just that little boys have always held the key to my heart.”
Glee rolled her eyes. “I will own, Little Gregory is possessed of the sweetest nature imaginable. He’s very easy to spoil.” She eyed her hostess. “I would love to own cats. Unfortunately, my husband does not share my enthusiasm. Perhaps one day you’d allow me to bring my children to play with these little fellows.”
Appleton and Blanks had another thing in common: a dislike of felines.
“I should be thrilled. But only one of my kitties is actually a fellow,” Miss Pankhurst answered.
Appleton stopped himself from thinking about playing a jest on Blanks. He’d always been a great lover of practical jokes, but he must conduct himself with more maturity now that he was thirty and head of the house. Therefore, he decided not to encourage Miss Pankhurst to trot through Bath with her bevy of cats or take them to the Blankenships’ house on Queen Square.
Besides, if he were going to ask for the young woman’s hand in marriage, he’d as lief she not make herself a laughingstock by parading about the city with her cats.
“So, Mrs. Blankenship,” Miss Pankhurst said to Glee, “you have a son and a daughter?”
Glee’s pretty face brightened. “Indeed we do.”
“And those are your only grandchildren?” Mr. Pankhurst asked the elder Mrs. Blankenship.
“Yes. My son Jonathan has not been married long, and there are just the two Blankenship sons.”
“You are indeed blessed,” Mr. Pankhurst said to the elder lady. “Two sons and two grandchildren.”
The woman’s lashes lowered coyly at being addressed by a man of her own age. Had the elder woman learned of Mr. Pankhurst’s vast wealth? Was the widow hoping to snag another wealthy husband? “Indeed I am, Mr. Pankhurst. I do wish you could see my little darlings.”
“You must bring them to see my daughter’s cats.”
“Depend upon it.”
Appleton stood. “I must be off.” His gaze went to Miss Pankhurst, who stood and faced him. “Will you allow me to collect you this afternoon for a visit to the Pump Room?” he asked.
She looked to her father, who almost imperceptivity nodded.
“Will Miss Appleton come, too?” Miss Pankhurst asked.
“Yes, of course.”
Chapter 5
After all their guests had departed, her papa acted like the barnyard rooster who’d turned into a peacock. “I declare, Dot, that lord means to court you! Can you credit it? The daughter of Westmoreland Pankhurst, country squire, Lady Appleton!” He quite forgot his gouty foot as he began to waltz about the drawing room, a smile stretching across his face.
The very notion that Lord Appleton would bestow his affections upon her stole Dot’s breath away and caused a rumbling to her insides. She dared not allow herself to contemplate a match that was so improbable—and so unequal. No peer of the realm would be interested in the exceedingly unfashionable Miss Dorothea Pankhurst who had never before traveled beyond the borders of rural Lincolnshire. “No, Papa, I cannot credit it. The man is merely being agreeable.”
“I beg to differ. He’s possessed of very discerning taste. One has only to look at him to know what a keen eye he has. That trained eye enabled him to detect your beauty beneath what I’ve come to understand was hideously outdated clothing.”
“But I am not beautiful. It’s only because you are so partial to me that you find me possessed of such qualities.”
He shook his head emphatically. “Even Miss Appleton agrees that you are quite lovely.”
“Then she’s even kinder than her brother.”
“You exasperate me! It’s as plain as the nose on my face that Lord Appleton is besotted over my daughter.”
“You, my dear father, are blinded by your paternal partiality.” Then a terrifying thought occurred to her. What if Lord Appleton was only feigning attraction to her in order to get his hands on her dowry?
Having lived all her life away from Society, Dot had never had to concern herself with fortune hunters. Even in Bath, the prospect of attracting such mercenary men had never entered her mind. Truth to tell, she had not even considered that she’d meet any men at all. She’d come here in the singular hope of restoring her father’s health.
Then she had met Lord Appleton and been dazzled by everything about him: his good looks, his amiable ways, the tasteful manner in which he dressed, and most of all, his attentions to her.
Was he genuine? He had to be. No one in Bath could have known how exceedingly wealthy her father was. After all, until her shopping foray, they had not flaunted their wealth. God knows, the clothes she had worn when she met
