Lady Yardley nodded, then shrugged.
“Lord Humphries is a worthy gentleman, certainly, although he is a little older.” Her lips pulled flat as though she were struggling not to say anything more than that, but Constance noticed the tight expression regardless.
“I should not like to determine a gentleman’s worth simply by his age, if that is what you mean.”
With a chuckle, Lady Yardley shook her head.
“No, indeed, and I congratulate you on your lack of judging… though you may change your mind when you see him.” Lady Yardley giggled, sounding a little like a young lady at the beginning of her first Season, who laughed and teased about the various gentlemen in London, and Constance too was caught up with laughter. Lady Yardley was so very pleasant, so easy to converse with, it was as though she spoke with a very dear friend whom she had known since childhood. “Here, then.” Handing her the next letter, Lady Yardley smiled. “This is from Lord Warrington. He is a Viscount, like your father. He has an excellent holding, although he does live in Scotland.”
“I do not think that would be any particular difficulty.” Constance lifted her shoulders. “If I find a gentleman who loves me, then why does it matter where he resides?”
“Precisely.”
Lady Yardley beamed as if she concurred exactly with everything Constance had said thus far. As she broke the seal and unfolded the letter, Constance blinked in surprise at the numerous lines which were written within. His writing was very small, so he could fit as many words in as possible, and it took her some minutes to take in everything which he expressed.
“He is a gentleman who likes to articulate each and every feeling, I think.”
“Oh?” Lady Yardley gestured to the maid who had just come in with the tea tray, to set it to one side so it would not go anywhere near the letters. Her eyes rounded when Constance held up the letter so that she could see the plentiful words. “I do not know if he is like that in conversation, though he is perfectly suitable.”
“Then it would be wise for me to consider him.” Constance murmured as she held the letter out. “Should you like to read it?”
Lady Yardley accepted the letter from her.
“I do not think I would have the time.” With a smile, she chuckled softly. “My goodness, Lord Warringtonhaswritten a great deal. Perhaps he is eager to express the fervency of his emotions.”
“Perhaps.” Taking up the third letter, Constance broke the seal and unfolded it carefully. She leaned towards Lady Yardley so that they might read the lines together, although this time, there were only a few. “And this from Lord Blayton. I am not acquainted with him.”
Lady Yardley nodded sagely.
“Another very suitable fellow. He has an excellent town house and a wonderful estate near London. He is also something of a dandy, but such things could change once he is wed. And mayhap such a thing would not provoke you in the least.”
“I could not say – not until I met him, I think, although I am sure it would not be so.”
Constance found her heart so thrilled that even the suggestion of some difficulty had her shaking her head. No, she would not allow herself to become overwhelmed by this. Whichever gentleman it was that wrote to her, she was glad for each of them. Living in Scotland or having a great many words with which to express himself, or being a little of a dandy did not cause her any real distress. If these gentlemen were all seeking love matches, then she would give each of them some of her time in the hope that she might find herself falling in love with one of them.
“And here we have the fourth.”
The fourth and the fifth letters presented no real difficulty in any way, and Constance was delighted to read them both. They expressed the same desire as she- a desire to find a marriage where love was at the center. She caught herself smiling so strongly, her cheeks began to hurt.
“Perhaps we have here, in one of these gentlemen, the one you shall marry.”
Constance nodded and made to say that, yes, she hoped so, only for a sudden face to come to her mind.
The face of Lord Seaton.
All at once, she frowned and looked away, rising to pour the tea, even though Lady Yardley had not asked her to do so. Whyever was she thinking of Lord Seaton? Yes, he was a gentleman of her acquaintance, and certainly, they had been in company a little more of late. She found him amiable, genteel and, given that he was a Marquess, his title held great standing, but that did not mean that she ought to be thinking of him at this present moment! It was very odd indeed.
“Are you quite well, Miss Millington?”
“A little overwhelmed.” Constance handed tea to Lady Yardley, who thanked her, and then took her cup back with her, resuming her seat. “This has proven a good deal more exciting than I imagined it would. And in addition, my father has stated that he has no other gentleman to introduce me to as yet.” Her eyebrow lifted as Lady Yardley grinned. “I am sure that I have you to thank for some of that. Did you say much to him?”
“I have been conversing with your mother – who I like enormously, I must say – and she informed me of your father’s next gentleman under consideration. His nexttwo, in fact. I was relieved to be able to state something disagreeable about them both, although I may have emphasized one a little more than was required.” With a laugh, Lady Yardley beamed, as if she were truly delighted with herself. “I am glad to know he has listened to your mother.”
“As am I.”
Constance smiled, just as Lady Yardley’s eyes went to the final letter on the table.
“We have not read this mysterious letter as yet. Do you wish to?”
