Free Laura Matthews by A Baronets Wife

me to him when he stops here on his way to Newmarket.”
    “Perhaps he will some day. My brother is engaged for several matches at the Spring Meetings,” Olivia remarked.
    “I have met your brothers Charles and Samuel in London—very good fellows,” Alexander said enthusiastically as he speared a morsel of baked carp. “Had the most famous time with them one afternoon when we all dressed as postillions and took some carriages for a merry ride. Very nearly overturned one of them. Lord, you would not have believed the language the vicar used on that occasion.” He laughed heartily as he placed the fish in his mouth.
    Olivia could not share his enthusiasm for such a prank, since she had suffered the consequences of similar devilment for too many years. What she had to accept in her brothers she would not willingly condone in someone who was no relation of hers. Mr. Cutler was old enough, she thought, to be past being amused by childish high spirits which involved possible harm to other people, and Olivia was surprised that Julianna found him an admirable young man.
    But such was obviously the case. When the dancing began, Julianna flushed cheerfully as Alexander asked her to stand up with him for the first set. The young men and women were of an equal number, due to Lady Lawrence’s careful planning, so there was never a lack of partners for anyone. Olivia dismissed her concerns for Julianna during the dancing and thoroughly enjoyed the evening, which was not brought to an early close by any maturer discretion of its young members or any worsening of the weather. When the last of the guests had departed, Julianna urged Olivia to come to her bedroom for a chat about the evening.
    “Was it not delightful?” Julianna asked, her eyes sparkling, when she had curled up in a chair by the fire.
    “I have never had such a fine time,” Olivia replied truthfully. “You have such charming neighbors, and they were so very kind to me.”
    “And did you think Alexander Cutler handsome?” Julianna asked anxiously.
    “Very, but he told me of an adventure with two of my brothers which was not so pleasing to me,” Olivia remarked cautiously.
    Julianna frowned slightly. “Oh, you must not judge him on one action, Olivia. And certainly not if he was with your brothers,” she giggled. “He is the most charming of all the men who were here, I think, and he is always so attentive to Mother. She is never softened by him, though, and it upsets me that you can so easily see that she does not hold him in high regard.” Julianna tapped her fingers against the upholstered chair arm and gazed out into the black night thoughtfully.
    “Does your brother like Mr. Cutler?”
    “He has never said anything, exactly, but he is not one of Alexander’s friends. Alexander has told me several times that he wishes Noah would accept an invitation to visit his home so that they might get to know each other better.” Julianna colored slightly and did not meet Olivia’s eyes.
    “I had a chance to speak with his sister Norissa and the Pugh sisters during the evening,” Olivia said in an effort to turn the conversation. “I understand they’ll all be going to London in the spring, except Lorraine, who confided to me that she was too young. She seemed a bit put out about it, for Mr. Brownley refused to admit that it was much jollier in the countryside in any case. Obviously he intends to make the trek to the metropolis himself.”
    “Loraine has been trying to attract Mr. Brownley’s attention for the past two years. It was amusing when she was fifteen, but her mother has become annoyed recently and is forever urging more becoming behavior on her. Poor Lorraine.” Julianna gave a sympathetic shrug, and appeared lost in her own thoughts.
    “I’ll leave you now to get some sleep. I am indebted to you and your mother for such an enjoyable evening.” Olivia hugged her friend before making her way to her own room.
    The room she had been given had