Free A Particular Circumstance by Shirley Smith Page A

eligible marriage, she will end up at her last prayers.’
    ‘What fustian,’ he said reassuringly. ‘But still, do not concern yourself, Kitty. He cannot force you to marry if you do not wish it.’
    ‘He can wear down my determination, though, and I may run out of reasons for resisting.’
    ‘Have no fear,’ he said, patting her hand reassuringly. ‘I shall think of a resolution to the problem.’
    ‘Will you indeed, Matthew?’ She looked up at him tremulously and he saw her eyes were filled with tears. Quickly she turned away and dabbed her eyes with her lace handkerchief. In the past year, since he had been friendly with the Grayson family, he had never known Kitty to cry and he was surprised at the compassion she aroused in him. He patted her hand awkwardly, searching for words of comfort for her, and with a visible effort Kitty tried to smile.
    ‘I am so sorry to be a watering pot, Matthew. I expect you hate missish girls who cry?’
    Kitty was such an appealing little thing, he thought, and although he had never before felt any attraction for her in that way, when he had seen her tears, he’d felt a keen desire to help her.
    But thinking along those lines was not going to provide him with an answer to the problem of Mr Preston and Uncle Bertram’s desire to see Kitty safely married. He must try andcalm her and not let her become agitated by the pressures which were being forced on her. He set himself out to be gently amusing and chatted to Kitty of the various clients that he had dealt with lately, all of whom were characters he found entertaining. Before Annie came to offer them both some tea, Matthew had succeeded in calming her and Kitty had regained her composure long before it was time for the Graysons to leave.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The day of the riding party started with exceptionally splendid sunshine, even for an Indian summer.
    ‘I know that this weather cannot last,’ Jane Grayson sighed. ‘Make the most of it, my dears, because tomorrow is removal day and we shall be too busy to think of such fripperies as riding parties for days to come.’
    Both her daughters smiled at this, knowing that their mama’s consummate organizing ability would make the removal almost painless, and then they continued with their preparations for the picnic. John Dean had brought the horses from Felbrook Manor and by two o’clock, both Charlotte and Kitty were dressed in smart velvet riding habits and were ready to go.
    Augusta Casterton was a widow and her only daughter, Aurelia, was her life. Tall, commanding, with advanced social aspirations and very wealthy, Augusta’s most burning ambition was to see Aurelia well married. She privately despised Ann West’s parents for allowing their daughter to accept an offer of marriage from Robert Thorpe, who in her opinion was but a modest country squire. True, he was wealthy but he would never be a member of the ton and Ann would never be accepted in the top echelons of society. Aurelia, on the other hand, would never be allowed to throw herself away on such as he. Since the return of Sir Benjamin and his heir, she’d decided that Hugo Westbury would fulfil the role of herfuture son-in-law to perfection.
    He had graciously accepted her invitation to join the other young people of the neighbourhood for a ride round Mrs Casterton’s estate, followed by a lavish and luxurious alfresco meal, but she had seen his acceptance as nothing to signify. Augusta Casterton was a very astute woman of the world. She knew that Mr Westbury would be accepting many invitations and mixing socially with Felbrook society, especially once he was settled at the family home and able to return such hospitality. She guessed that with Sir Benjamin in frail health, Hugo Westbury would soon be seeking a wife. But not just yet, she thought cynically. He would give himself time to survey the possibilities and to play the field.
    Perhaps none of the young damsels in the area would please him. Except