Chapter 7

"He's going to be there, Mother – whether you like it or not," Aurelia said as she and the rest of her family rode in their carriage towards the home of Eliza and her parents at Highbourne.

Silas had written to her, telling her he would be at the dinner and how much he was looking forward to seeing her. Aurelia had told her parents, hoping they might – on meeting him again – change their minds, but the fact had only served to reinforce their absolute opposition to the match.

"You should tell him there's to be no match, Aurelia," her mother said.

"Yes, or I will," her father interjected.

Aurelia scowled at them, and Letitia turned to her with a smirk.

"Or I could tell him. I wonder what he'll think when he hears you've been rescued from the river by the Earl of Wimbourne. He won't want to marry you then," Letitia said, and Aurelia glared at her.

Arriving home in her wet and dishevelled state, Aurelia had been unable to avoid explanations. She had told the truth – that Chestnut had slipped, throwing her into the water, and that the Earl of Wimbourne had rescued her.

Her parents had listened to the tale in astonishment, and Letitia had mocked her mercilessly. But Aurelia knew she had done nothing wrong – there was nothing improper about her actions or those of the earl. Her father had gone to thank him, and Aurelia now considered the matter finished with.

"I didn't have a choice, Letitia. Would you prefer it if I'd drowned? There was no scandal, and Silas will know that, too," Aurelia replied.

Letitia smirked at her, and her mother tutted.

"It doesn't matter what he thinks. You're not going to marry him, Aurelia. And certainly not a mere month after meeting him. But there we are. We're here now," she said as their carriage pulled up outside Highbourne.

It was not an attractive house – only recently built and somewhat gaudy in its appearance, all white marble, and arched windows. Liveried footmen stood at attention on either side of the steps leading up to the doors, and Aurelia recognized the Earl of Wimbourne's carriage parked in front of their own.

The thought of seeing Dawson again was strangely appealing – despite her initial reaction to him, Aurelia had been pleasantly surprised at the way he had hand handled the horse in the aftermath of the accident, and she had to admit she was grateful to him for having rescued her from the river …

"Remember what I said, Aurelia," her father said, raising his eyebrows as Aurelia scowled.

One of the footmen opened the carriage door, and Letitia pushed past Aurelia, wanting to be the first to climb out and make her presence known. But as Aurelia climbed out, she spotted Dawson himself, arm in arm with his cousin, making their way up the steps. As she watched, he turned, smiling at her and nodding.

"Look, Aurelia – your saviour's here," Letitia said as Aurelia blushed under the earl's gaze.

"Don't be so foolish, Letitia," she hissed, and Letitia smirked at her.

Entering the hallway, they were greeted by the chatter and laughter of guests coming from a room across the marbled floor, and now Eliza's father, Sanderton Beresford appeared to greet them, having just welcomed Dawson and his cousin and shown them into the room beyond.

"Ah, My Lord, and young Mr Banks. How good to see you and your charming wife and daughters," he said, holding out his hand to them each in turn.

"It's always such a pleasure to come to Highbourne," Aurelia's father said, and Aurelia smiled to herself, knowing he was lying.

But as Eliza's father turned to her, he laughed.

"Oh, Miss Banks – you're dry now, I see. Eliza told me about your accident. How terrible for you. But how thankful you must've been to have had our new Kentucky earl on hand to rescue you," he said.

Aurelia forced a smile to her face, though she had no doubt Eliza had made it her business to spread the story far and wide.

"Yes, and if Eliza had been but a few moments earlier, perhaps she'd have come swimming, too," Aurelia replied.

Her mother glared at her, and Mr Beresford smiled awkwardly.

"Yes … well, do enjoy the evening," he said, turning to greet the next guests who had just arrived.

Letitia smirked at Aurelia, who glared back at her as her mother caught her by the arm.

"Aurelia, I won't have you causing a scene tonight. Try to … be polite," she said as they entered the salon where the evening was to take place.

It was to be neither a dinner nor a ball but an evening of music and refreshments, with tables set out in an anteroom where the guests could help themselves to all manner of delicious-looking food and drink. Aurelia now caught sight of Dawson and his sister, standing talking by the window. She wondered if she should approach him and thank him again for having helped her, but as she was about to do so, a hand touched her arm, and turning, she found herself face to face with Silas. Her heart skipped a beat, and he smiled at her, leading her to one side, away from the rest of her family.

"I didn't think you were coming. You didn't answer my letter," he said, sounding somewhat hurt.

"Oh … I'm sorry. I … it slipped my mind. I've been so very much looking forward to seeing you, though," Aurelia replied.

He had a way of looking at her – intense and staring. He was handsome, terribly so, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and simply being in his presence was enough to overwhelm her.

"I was hoping you'd come right to me – I was waiting for you to do so," Silas said, and Aurelia blushed.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to … well, it slipped my mind," she said, and Silas nodded.

"The accident?" he said, and Aurelia's heart sank.

She had not wanted everyone to know what had happened, and certainly not from the account given by Eliza. Aurelia could only imagine what Eliza's account of the events had sounded like, and now she nodded, fearing Silas would be angry.

"I fell off the horse. It was a foolish thing to do. I thought the river was shallower than it was. Luckily, the Earl of Wimbourne was there to rescue me," she said, and Silas nodded.

"He just … happened to be there, did he?" he asked, and Aurelia blushed again.

That was how it had happened, yet Aurelia knew how the matter must have looked to Eliza …

"Yes, that's right. And if he hadn't been … well, I dread to think what might've happened," Aurelia replied.

There was a tinge of jealousy in Silas' voice – no concern for the fact she had almost drowned. It seemed unnecessary. It was unnecessary.

"You were lucky then," Silas replied, glancing over to where the earl and his sister were still talking by the window.

Aurelia reached out and took Silas' hand in hers. She did not want to argue with him, but his words had created a decided atmosphere between them, one she found uncomfortable. It was a side of him she had not seen before – far removed from the quotation of Shakespeare and his ardent words of love and affection in his letters.

"Shall we walk in the garden? I hear they're very beautiful at Highbourne. The terrace doors are open – I don't think anyone would object," Aurelia said, but Silas shook his head.

"I'm going to get a drink. I'll be back shortly," he said, and without offering to get her a drink, he made his way towards the anteroom, nodding to others as he passed.

Aurelia's lip trembled – she did not know what she had done wrong. She had not done anything wrong, yet now he was blaming her for … nothing.

"Did you tell him?" her mother asked, appearing at Aurelia's side a moment later.

Aurelia brushed the tears from her eyes and shook her head.

"No, Mother. And I'm not going to," she replied, even as Aurelia herself began to doubt Silas and what he had said to her.

There was no doubt in Aurelia's mind about Silas' jealousy of Dawson, yet there was no reason to be so. Aurelia knew she had been rude to Dawson on their first encounter and at the beginning of their second, but now she wanted only to be civil and make amends for the things she had said and thought. But there was no scandal in that – whatever Eliza Beresford might think.

"And you're certain he's the right man for you, are you, Aurelia?" her mother asked.

Aurelia was stubborn, and she was certainly not about to share her fears with her mother, who would only say she and Aurelia's father had been proved right. But neither did Aurelia intend to apologize to Silas – the very thought of it was ridiculous. There was nothing to apologize for, and now she decided it was better to draw a line under the matter.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore, Mother," she said as a gong rang and the master of ceremonies announced the meal would now be served.

The guests filed through to the ante-room, where various small tables had been set up and laid to allow some guests to sit down. Aurelia was watching Dawson from a distance. It was clear he did not know what to do – attempting to serve himself from a dish held by a footman, who drew it away from him in surprise.

The tables were now occupied by the older women – including Aurelia's mother – and the other guests milled around, served by the footmen. Aurelia felt sorry for the earl – he looked uncomfortable surrounded by the judgemental society he was now part of, and whereas before, she might have mocked him, the fact of his having rescued her from the river had softened her attitude towards him.

"It's for fish," she said as Dawson peered down at a knife he had been given to eat a piece of trout in watercress sauce.

He looked up at her in surprise.

"Oh, Miss Banks … I didn't realize you were here. Roxanna's just gone to the powder room. Why can't we all sit down? I don't know how to eat standing up like this," he said, and Aurelia smiled.

"Neither do I – new money, you see. They have strange ideas about dining," Aurelia said, and the earl laughed.

"I'm new money, and I'd much rather sit at a table to eat," he said, and Aurelia smiled again.

There was something charming about his naivety – at least now she allowed herself to see it.

"You're not new money. You've inherited your fortune. You're part of the aristocracy. And I'm sure we'll all be properly seated when you host your first dinner at Wimbourne Hall," she said.

Dawson smiled and shook his head.

"I don't think I'll be hosting any dinners at Wimbourne Hall. I wouldn't know where to begin. All these people are looking at me – judging me. I tried to help myself just now, and I might as well have been trying to steal the crown jewels. I feel completely out of place," he said, and there was a note of sadness in his voice – far removed from the jovial character he had displayed by the river.

"Don't you like these sorts of occasions?" Aurelia asked, and the earl shook his head.

"Not really, no. Well … I suppose I'm not really used to them. Back in Kentucky, we didn't have balls, soirees, or entertainments like this. Earlier on, someone asked me if I was attending the riparian soirees by The Bourne tomorrow night. I asked if it was a kind of fruit? How was I supposed to know "riparian" meant riverside? Why not just say it? Barn dances – that's as much entertainment as we made for ourselves in Kentucky. Barn dances and potlucks, country fairs, and church bazaars. This is … very different," Dawson said, sighing and shaking his head.

Aurelia felt sorry for him. He was out of his depth – just as she had been out of her depth in the water. But Dawson had rescued her, and it seemed only right for Aurelia to do the same for him. It had been wrong of her to judge him – condemning him for the simple fact of being different.

"I'll help you. I know my father promised to do so, but that has more to do with the practicalities of your new position. But I'd like to help you with … well, things like this," Aurelia said, pointing to the fork.

Dawson looked at her curiously.

"Aren't I just a hopeless case? Do you really think I can be … refined?" he asked.

Aurelia blushed. She was not trying to change him, but she knew she could help him – if he would let her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant … well, you were kind enough to help me. You saved my life. The least I can do is help you with some of the finer points of social grace. Like it or not, this won't be the last occasion like this you attend – though I hope the next one won't be quite as dire as this new monied catastrophe," she said, glancing around her to where others were struggling to eat and stand at the same time.

Dawson nodded.

"Well, that's very kind of you," Dawson said, and Aurelia nodded.

"Well, it's the least I can do after what you did for me in the river," she replied.

But as she looked up, Aurelia found Silas watching her across the room, his face set in a look of the utmost anger. Aurelia bit her lip, fearing she had crossed a line, even as she knew she had no reason to be ashamed of her action. She had seen a different side to Silas that evening – a jealous side – which she did not like.

"But … do I really need to know these things?" Dawson asked, and Aurelia was brought back from her thoughts, looking back to him and nodding.

"Oh, yes, I think so. It's important you know how to behave in society. I don't mean that in a nasty way, but I wouldn't want you to be judged by … people like this," Aurelia replied.

Dawson smiled.

"You mean the way you judged me on that first day?" he replied.

Aurelia blushed. But she knew she had no right to deny what he was saying. She had acted in a judgemental manner, and had it not been for him rescuing her from the river, she would no doubt have gone on doing so, too.

"Well … I'm sorry for that. I had … other things on my mind," Aurelia said, glancing back towards Silas, who was still glaring at her, but Dawson only smiled.

"It's all right – I suppose I was judging all of you, too," he replied, smiling at her and winking.