"Such as the beautiful love poems by Sappho," Augusta put in cheerfully.
Harry gave her a sharp glance. "I did not know you read that sort of thing, my dear."
"Yes, well, you know my frivolous nature, sir."
"Yes, but Sappho?"
"She wrote most charmingly of the feelings love produces in a person."
"Damn it, as far as we know she wrote most of those poems to other women—" Harry broke off, aware of Meredith's fascinated gaze.
"I suspect the feelings engendered by true love are universal," Augusta said thoughtfully. "Both men and women can succumb to them. Don't you agree, my lord?"
Harry scowled. "I think," he said grimly, "that is quite enough on the subject for now."
"Of course, my lord." Augusta's attention was diverted by the sight of a newcomer in the doorway. "Oh, look, there is Miss Fleming. Does she not appear quite stunning this evening?"
Everyone automatically glanced around to where Clarissa stood gazing uneasily into the crowded drawing room. She was wearing the deep amethyst satin gown that Augusta had chosen for her and her hair was done in a classical chignon secured by a fillet. She held herself proudly, shoulders back, chin outthrust, as she prepared to face the uncomfortable social situation.
"Good God," Harry muttered, and took a swallow of his claret. "Never saw Aunt Clarissa looking quite like that before."
Sir Thomas was riveted. He stared at the figure in the doorway. "I say, Augusta, who did you say this was?"
"One of Graystone's relations. A most intelligent female, Uncle. You will find her extremely interesting. She has been doing some research on the very subject we were just discussing."
"Has she, indeed? I say, I should like to talk more about the matter with her."
Augusta smiled, satisfied with the reaction. "Yes. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall go and fetch her."
"By all means," Sir Thomas said hastily.
Augusta detached herself from the group and headed toward the door to catch hold of Clarissa before the older woman lost her nerve and dashed back up the stairs.
"I must say, Augusta, this is turning out to be a most entertaining house party," Claudia declared the following evening as she and Augusta stepped out of the crowded ballroom for some fresh air and privacy. "The trip to the seaside at Weymouth today was great fun."
"Thank you."
Back in the ballroom the musicians struck up a country dance and the guests took the floor enthusiastically. In addition to the elegantly dressed visitors from London, the colorfully garbed local gentry were out in full force. Every Graystone neighbor for miles around had been invited to the ball. Augusta had laid on a lavish buffet, including plenty of champagne.
Well aware that it was the first time in many years that such an event had been held at the great house, Augusta had wanted everything to be perfect and she was secretly delighted with the results. It was obvious that a talent for entertaining ran in the blood of her branch of the Ballinger family.
"I am delighted you and Uncle Thomas were able to come down to Dorset." Augusta paused beside a circular stone fountain and took a deep breath of the cool night air. "For so long I have wanted to be able to thank you properly for all you have done for me since Richard was killed."
"Really, Augusta. No thanks are necessary."
"You and your father were very good to me in London, Claudia. I fear I sometimes did not always express my gratitude properly, nor was I able to repay you."
Claudia gazed into the shadowed pool of the fountain. "You repaid us in ways that you did not even guess, Augusta. I realize that now."
Augusta looked up quickly. "That is very kind of you, cousin, but we both know I was something of a nuisance in your household."
"Never that." Claudia smiled gently. "Unconventional and unpredictable and sometimes extremely unsettling, but never a nuisance. You rather brightened things up, you know. I would never have gone out into Society if it had not been for you. I would never have experienced Pompeia's or had an opportunity to get to know Lady Arbuthnott." She paused. "I would never have met Peter Sheldrake."
"Ah, yes, Mr. Sheldrake. I must say he appears quite enchanted by you, Claudia. How do you feel about him?"
Claudia studied the satin tips of her dancing slippers and then raised her eyes to meet Augusta's inquiring gaze. "I fear I find him most charming, Augusta, although I do not understand why. His compliments are frequently too warm to be quite proper and he sometimes infuriates me with his teasing. But I am convinced that beneath that devil-may-care exterior that he presents to the world, he is really quite intelligent. I sense a serious side to his nature that he is careful to conceal."
"I do not doubt it. He is, after all, a close friend of Graystone's. I like Mr. Sheldrake, Claudia. Indeed, I have always liked him. I feel he would be good for you. And you would be good for him. He needs a stable and calming influence."
Claudia's mouth curved in a rueful smile. "Are you going on the theory that opposites may attract?"
"Certainly. Only consider my own situation." Augusta wrinkled her nose. "No two people could be as opposite as Graystone and I."
"It would appear so on the surface." Claudia shot her a quick searching glance. "Are you happy in your marriage, cousin?"
Augusta hesitated, unwilling to launch into a detailed discussion of how she actually felt about Harry and her marriage. It was all still too complex, still too new, and there was still so much she longed for in the dark hours before dawn. She did not know if she would ever have everything she desired from Harry. She did not know if he could learn to love her the way she loved him.
She did not know how long he would silently watch and wait to see if she was going to prove as lacking in virtue as the other countesses of Graystone.
"Augusta?"
"I have everything a woman could hope for in a marriage, Claudia." Augusta smiled brightly. "What more could I possibly want?"
Claudia frowned intently. "That is quite true, of course. The earl is all that one could wish for in a husband." She paused, cleared her throat delicately, and then added in a tentative tone, "I wonder, cousin, if you have had an opportunity to make any observations yet about husbands in general."
"Observations about husbands? Good grief, Claudia. Does this mean you are seriously interested in Sheldrake? Is marriage in the offing?"
In the shadows it was impossible to see Claudia blush, but there was no doubt she was doing so. Her normally cool, calm tone of voice was clearly strained. "There has been no mention of marriage and I would naturally expect Mr. Sheldrake to approach Papa first if he intended to make an offer."
"The way Graystone did when he offered for me? I would not count on that." Augusta laughed softly. "Mr. Sheldrake is not nearly so given to old-fashioned proprieties. My guess is he will ask you first. Then he will go to Papa."
"Do you think so?"
"Definitely. Now, then, you want to know my observations on managing a husband, is that the question?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that is what I am asking," Claudia admitted.
"The first thing one must learn about the proper management of husbands," Augusta said in her best lecturing tone, "is that they prefer to think themselves in command of the household. They quite enjoy the illusion that they are the field marshals and that their wives are the captains who carry out orders, if you see what I mean."
"I see. Is it not rather annoying?"
"On occasion, yes. Without doubt. However, men are a bit slow-witted in some things and that rather makes up for the problems caused by their tendency to believe they are in charge."