Free Carola Dunn by The Fortune-Hunters

curricle.”
    “I hoped to drive a certain young lady, ma’am. Failing that, I hope to show her the sights of Sydney Gardens. Have you yet climbed the hill as far as the canal? Then allow me, pray, to escort you thither.”
    She glanced at Nathan and Miss Pearson. Her brother shrugged and raised his eyes to heaven, then offered the timid young lady his arm. Jessica turned to the chaperons. They professed themselves perfectly content to await their charges on a nearby bench, so she took Matthew’s arm and they started up the hill.
    Following behind, Nathan was disgruntled. When he agreed to go with Walsingham to the gardens, he had not expected to be left to entertain the silent Miss Pearson. He had danced with her once, but it was easy to dance without talking. A speechless stroll in the park was ridiculous.
    “Are you enjoying the entertainments of Bath, ma’am?” he enquired, making a conscientious effort.
    “Oh yes, sir. At least, I shall now that I have met your sister. I believe she is the kindest person in the world.”
    Nathan blinked at the unexpectedly enthusiastic reply. “She’s a great gun,” he said vaguely, “and deuced clever, too. Did you know she managed my estate for me while I was in the army?”
    The girl’s face filled with awe, but not, it turned out, at Jessica’s accomplishment. “You were in the army? How very brave you must be!”
    “Well, I don’t know about that,” he demurred with becoming modesty. She was a taking little thing after all, with those big brown eyes and that soft brown hair. It was a pity she was dressed with such excruciating vulgarity. “One does what one has to.”
    “To save us all from Boney.”
    “Actually, I was in America.”
    “Fighting Red Indians?” She was breathless at the thought, hanging on his arm as if she were afraid a horde of savages lurked in ambush behind the next tree.
    “Most of them were on our side, as a matter of fact. We were fighting ordinary American soldiers. Actually, I think the war was quite unnecessary,” he confessed, wondering even as he spoke why he was revealing to Miss Pearson what he had not even told Jess. “They are our brothers and ought to be our friends. The last battle I was in, at New Orleans, took place after the peace treaty had been signed—can you think of anything stupider? I wish I had been in the Peninsula!”
    “A soldier cannot choose where to go,” she consoled him, with an oddly enchanting air of mingled wisdom and anxiety. “You did your duty, and wherever you were, it was very brave of you.”
    They had reached one of the bridges over the Kennet-Avon Canal. Jessica and Walsingham were waiting for them, leaning on the ornamental iron railing to watch a string of barges pass underneath. Nathan was struck by how comfortable they were with each other. Perhaps his sister’s plan was not so outrageous after all, if it meant she was going to marry Walsingham. He could not think of anyone he had rather have for a brother-in-law.
    “Miss Franklin has agreed to entrust herself to me in a boat on the canal one of these days,” Walsingham greeted them. “Are you brave enough to join us, Franklin?”
    “Sir Nathan is brave enough for anything,’’ said Miss Pearson, shy but firm.
    “I am indeed, ma’am,” he said, smiling down at her, “if you will venture with me.”
    She blushed and nodded. After settling on a day for the outing, they all turned to admire the view of the town, then started back down the hill.
    Nathan was racking his brains. Miss Pearson was far too charming a young lady to be allowed to continue wearing gowns garish—if not décolleté—enough for an actress. As a gentleman, he could not decently make any suggestions, but perhaps Jess could manage something.
    As they approached Tibby and Mrs. Woodcock, he said in a low voice, “Miss Pearson, if you wish to repay my sister for any kindness she has done you, perhaps you would go shopping with her. My aunt has not the least