Free Miss Landon and Aubranael (Tales of Aylfenhame Book 1) by Charlotte E. English Page B

speak with them at all.’
    She studied the approaching gentlemen as she spoke, concluding that—as unlikely as it may seem—Anne had not exaggerated. They were uncommonly handsome. Mr. Green was slightly the shorter of the two, with fine red hair and a coat as green as his name. Mr. Stanton was even more handsome than his friend, with dark hair worn in a fashionable style and a fine figure. Both were clothed in the first stare of fashion, with every possible accoutrement that could suggest wealth. Both bore themselves like men of consequence, and smiled upon the world with the complacency of gentlemen who knew themselves to be entitled to anything they could wish for.
    Sophy observed their approach with misgiving.
    ‘I am not acquainted with them,’ Anne said in tones of despair. ‘Still, it is a great deal only to see them. How fine they are!’
    Sophy shushed her, for they were rapidly drawing within earshot of the two young men. She expected them to pass by, and so they did; but they slowed as they did so, and Mr. Stanton’s gaze turned upon her in a manner she did not at all like. He not only looked at her; he stared.
    Young men did not stare at Sophy out of admiration. Indeed, they never had; not even in her first youth and bloom. At the age of eight-and-twenty she was fully resigned to this, and was not especially cast down to see no obvious signs of admiration in Mr. Stanton’s fine dark eyes. What she did not expect to see was a kind of intensity, as though her presence mattered to him in some strange way.
    She supposed that some aspect of her appearance offended him. Well, with her uninteresting face and shabby attire it was hardly surprising; but as she could do nothing about either disadvantage, it was remarkably rude of him to stare at her so.
    To her horror he actually slowed down further—hesitated—seemed about to address her! What could he possibly find to say? She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the insult, when his friend intervened.
    ‘Stanton! Do hurry up, or we shall be awfully late.’ Mr. Green cast one swift, intent glance at Sophy—giving her time to observe his very startlingly green eyes—and touched his hat. In a trice both young men were gone, vanishing around a turn in the street.
    ‘Well!’ breathed Anne. ‘Gracious, Sophy, how Mr. Stanton did stare! He must be pleased with you.’
    Sophy thought her tone was slightly piqued; Anne was certainly more used to attracting attention than Sophy.
    ‘I hardly think so,’ she replied, concealing her mortification behind a smile. ‘Nothing in his looks or his manner suggested that he was the slightest bit pleased .’
    Anne appeared to regret her momentary lack of graciousness, for she linked her arm through Sophy’s and squeezed it. ‘I shouldn’t wonder if he was pleased! But for my part, I think Mr. Green the handsomest and most agreeable gentleman anyone could wish to meet.’
    This statement announced her intention of falling in love with Mr. Green, with all due haste. Sophy did not object, choosing to satisfy her feelings with a private resolution of avoiding them both—especially Mr. Stanton.
     
    ***
     
    In most respects, Aubranael and Grunewald’s descent upon Tilby could only be described as a complete success. Being so well-supplied in all the most important blessings (principally wealth and beauty, and with more than a little charm besides), the two gentlemen found themselves in high demand almost from the very first moment of their arrival. Their various merits were instantly perceived by the local community, and instantly categorised as deserving of the highest position within Tilby society—alongside such luminaries as the Adairs and the Winbolts, even! It did not matter that the house in which they took up their abode was only hired, and not even a particularly good house at that. Tilby was even so good as to overlook the peculiarity of two gentlemen taking a house with no ladies present to do the honours.