back her head with a laugh like the tinkling of bells. “I wish sometimes that you could hear yourself speak, Margaret. To think that I should know a fisherman’s daughter merely because she lived in the same county in which I resided is appalling. If I didn’t know your good nature, I would be offended. No, dear. You may have occupied your time with the lower elements of society, but I’m afraid I was too busy keeping my mother and father happy with my societal advances to do so myself. I’m confident I’ve never met or heard of this Molly Smith. The resemblance must come from another area entirely.”
“I can’t imagine who else she reminds you of,” Margaret said with a frown. “She has a very distinctive look about herself, but primarily when I see her I see Molly.”
Amanda took a sip of tea and leaned back in her chair ever so slightly. It was as comfortable as a lady of her standing could risk getting in any sort of public sphere. “So,” she said grandly. “Tell me everything. That first ball was exciting, was it not? What new things have come into your life since then? I can only imagine you have had suitors at your door daily.”
Margaret tried to control her reaction, but Amanda picked up on it at once. “My, my,” she went on with a smile and a raised eyebrow. “There is someone after all, isn’t there? How very exciting.”
Margaret cleared her throat. “I was not planning on speaking of it so soon,” she began nervously.
“All the more reason to share,” Amanda interjected. “How juicy must your gossip be if you feel loathe to share about this gentleman? Is he a ruffian? Is he ridiculously rich and you’re afraid I’ll be jealous?” She spoke with all the lighthearted jest they had shared when they were young girls gossiping about boys, but Margaret winced. She had struck closer to home than desired with the first question.
“It is an arrangement between the gentleman and my father,” she said quietly.
Amanda sobered. “Then he must be rich,” she said slowly. “The connection must be very fine indeed if Lord Somerville would go through with it without consulting you.”
“He would tell you that he had consulted me,” Margaret said quietly. “But in truth, I had little say in the matter. He considers it to be a very fine connection indeed. The gentleman is of Cornwall, though his time is split between there and London. He is well-connected and has quite a lot of wealth to offer.”
“Is he an ogre?” Amanda asked with a strained smile. “Is he ancient?”
“He is ten years older than I, but I do not hold that against him. If he were a kind man I think I could do with an even greater age difference. But as it is, I worry about the situation. If I tell you his name, will you promise not to spare my feelings? You may tell me what your opinion is, unfiltered.”
“Perhaps you should tell me your concerns first,” Amanda said. “You know I am a bit of a gossip, don’t you? I will be telling you everything I’ve heard about this mystery man in a moment’s notice and without remorse.”
Margaret shook her head. “I have no strong opinions,” she lied, wanting Amanda’s unbiased thoughts. “I hardly know the man.”
Amanda nodded with interest. “Go on, then. Tell me his name. You have kept me in suspense long enough.”
“His name is Lord Reginald Waddington.”
The effect on Amanda’s face was instantaneous. “No!” she said with astonishment. “You cannot be serious.”
“What do you know of him?” Margaret asked, growing even more concerned.
Amanda leaned forward, her face sober. “You weren’t lying when you told me that he wasn’t an ogre. The man is thought to be one of the more handsome men in the county, whether or not he has a bit of grey on his temples or not. But, my dear, that is where my flattery of him must end. I have heard such things about him – I do not think it would suit in the least. He is a renowned womaniser, and the indictment against his behaviour has a long list of examples as supporting evidence.”
“Like what?” Margaret asked quietly. “It is hard for me to imagine him very popular with women. He did not present himself very elegantly to me. I found him manipulative and insulting.”
“Not all find him so, and I daresay he can make himself agreeable enough when the situation