Free Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard Page B

Miss Herley pronounced, knowingly. “Town home for all the blue bloods and anyone who is anyone.”
    “Do you also live there?”
    Miss Herley laughed and said, “No. We live on Burton Crescent, respectable to be sure, but too far from Mayfair to attract first sons, I assure you.” Her amiable manner and infectious laugh communicated that it did not ruin her composure to allow that it was so.
    “You, however, on Hanover Square, have much better prospects than I. Hanover Square is only a hop away from Grosvenor Square, and Grosvenor Square is just a skip away from Park Lane, whose inhabitants think they are royalty.”
    “I scarcely know my way around London,” Ariana conceded.
    “Park Lane is the most coveted address in the city—other than Carlton House, I suppose.”
    “I see,” Ariana said, still smiling.
    Miss Herley looked appraisingly at Ariana and then said, “You will not need a second season, as I have,” in so serious a tone that Ariana had to laugh.
    “I am not here to find a husband,” she said, “as much as escape one.” To her questioning look she explained about Mr. Hathaway the rector, and how her parents had not approved. They had sent her to London only to remove her from the situation.
    Miss Herley murmured, “Well, that is the most unusual reason I have ever heard for coming to London.” She paused. “But you will be glad you came, I am certain, and if you are not snatched up directly, I know nothing at all! Come, shall we walk?”
    The chestnut-haired girl took Ariana’s arm with easy warmth and Ariana silently thanked God for this newfound friend. Looking behind them, she saw her aunt immersed in conversation and decided it must be all right to explore. They passed two young men who looked interestedly at the girls, one giving a sudden impish wink in their direction. They pretended not to notice.
    “Rascals!” chided Miss Herley. “And of no consequence at all; how they got here, I’ll never know.” She gave Ariana a glance. “Are you apprehensive? I was. I wondered endlessly how I should answer if one of the gentlemen approached me. Thankfully, I am much less anxious this season.”
    “I am intent only upon female conversation today,” Ariana declared. “I must arm myself with friends before I even consider taking on the male population!”
    Miss Herley giggled and looked at Ariana appreciatively. She then confided, “Most gentleman avoid debutantes like the plague. Do not be dispirited if it seems so to you—though it may not. I feel certain you will not reach the season’s end without a betrothal.”
    “I am certain of no such thing,” Ariana said with assurance. They stopped as they came abreast of a large group of guests, and just stood, watching and sharing thoughts, admiring a gown here, a pelisse or bonnet, there. A brooch and matching necklace as it was paraded by on a large, busty woman brought exclamations, as did the pastries they decided to try from a nearby table heaped with tantalizing confections.
    They also admired finely dressed men, most sporting hats, dark jackets over colourful waistcoats, close-fitting pantaloons, and either shining black Hessians on their feet or dark slippers trimmed with buckles or other ornaments. Miss Herley giggled at the fops who were altogether too colourful, though Ariana more nearly pitied them, as she did the dandies who tried too hard at being fashionable. Some sported such stiffly starched high collars they had no freedom to turn their heads, but had to turn their entire body to speak or be spoken to.
    Ariana remembered Mr. Pellham’s remark about seeing “sights” among the
ton,
and had to concur that it was so. Astonishing, she thought, that to most of the people present, the extreme examples of fashion were perfectly ordinary.
    At length Miss Herley suggested they see more of the property. Wide-eyed, Ariana agreed. As they started off, she noticed a particularly fine gentleman who stood out from the midst of a