Free The Aim of a Lady by Laura Matthews

concluded. Frank appeared reluctant to relinquish his sport, since he felt that he had showed to excellent advantage. Alma gladly lowered his foil and removed his mask; he refused to acknowledge his pain and exhaustion, but he had seldom greeted the announcement of tea with such alacrity.
    Mrs. Lewis fluttered over the teapot with enthusiastic comments on the fencing skills of the young men. Frank was as susceptible to flattery as he was handy at delivering it, and repaid her enthusiasm by devoting some minutes in conversation with her. Alma took the opportunity to tell Diana that he would be retiring to his room to take care of some correspondence. “And I wish you will not allow that young man to ride Crusader,” he muttered darkly.
    “No," she replied thoughtfully, “I think you are right. I fear he would do some mischief.”
    Although Diana did not really want to be alone with Frank, she felt it was inevitable. He had entertained her friend for her and she owed him the drive he soon requested. His ornate phaeton was at the stables and she wrapped a shawl about her to accompany him there.
    “I dare say you noticed how much better a fencer I am than your guest, Diana,” he remarked as they settled :themselves in the carriage.
    “What I noticed, Frank, was that you did not call a halt to the bout when you could see that Lord Alma was flagging,” she replied with asperity.
    “And why should I?” he asked indignantly. “I wore him down."
    “I believe I mentioned in my note that he had recently suffered an injury. You might have realized that he has not as yet recovered his strength.”
    “You refine too much on it, Diana,” he said crossly. “Come now, it’s a beautiful day. Let us forget all that and enjoy our drive.”
    They tooled along the lanes around the neighborhood while Frank disclosed to Diana his latest accomplishments in amateur dramatics, boxing, driving four-in-hand, gambling, and women. This last was only an inducement to her to understand how desirable he really was and what a bargain she would be passing up if she refused his renewed addresses to her. As they approached the Park again, but were still out of sight of the stables, he stopped his pair and turned to her.
    “Do say you will marry me, Diana. You cannot be interested in that clodhopper Dodge. What a dull life you would lead with him! Marry me and you will see some excitement.” He attempted to kiss her but she pushed him away. Chagrined he said, “Do not be so prudish, Diana. If you would let me kiss you, you would understand how it could be with us.” Convinced that this was true, he grasped her wrists and pinned them behind her so that he was able to bestow on her a passionate kiss. She bit him.
    Her voice was cold and angry when he abruptly released her. “Drive me home this minute, Frank, or I will get out and walk the rest of the way. I do not wish to see you again.”
    Since it was incomprehensible to Frank that his advances should be repulsed, he was genuinely dumbfounded. When he did not urge the horses to motion immediately, Diana jumped down from the high phaeton and, ignoring the pain in the ankle she twisted as she struck the ground, stalked up the lane without a backward glance.
    Alma, watching this episode from his window, decided that all the men in the neighborhood must be lunatics, and felt very little sympathy for Diana when she began to limp once Frank (in a snit) took himself off in the other direction.
    * * * *
    While George Savile read a book at The Bush in Staines and the rain continued, and his sister stormed about her bedchamber in an excess of anger at Frank for attempting to kiss her, Lord Vallert arrived at Trafford Hall. Vallert was not an early riser, especially after an evening when he had entertained his friends—a bachelor celebration of his engagement, he had informed them. It was, therefore, late in the afternoon when he arrived at Trafford Hall, and he was shown into the Red Parlor by a footman