Free The Lady Next Door by Laura Matthews

and the only one to encourage his attention was Mrs. Tremaine herself, who, looking to the future (her husband being seventy-five to her youthful fifty-eight) thought to provide herself with a splendid match in the event of Mr. Tremaine’s timely death.
    “One could tire very quickly of this pursuit,” the earl remarked as he stepped once more into his carriage, having successfully disengaged his hand from the hopeful widow-to-be. “I have the most lowering feeling that the Hortons are abstainers from intoxicating beverages. Shall we stop at an inn on the way?”
    “We would likely be unable to avoid dining with them if we arrive after two, sir."
    "Then by all means let us press on.”
    When the requisite time had been spent with the Hortons, Miss Clare Horton had not as yet presented herself, being above stairs dressing for the weighty occasion. As it turned out, her toilette was well worth the effort, and she floated into the great drawing room much as a goddess might, trailed by the poor cousin who lived with the Hortons in a rather servile capacity. The cousin’s cheeks were aflame from the abuse Miss Horton had heaped upon her during the delicate operation of dressing for his lordship’s presence, and the earl found that the family considered the girl of so little notice that they did not even bother to introduce her. Annoyed with such vulgar behavior, he performed the service for himself and his secretary, grimly pleased at the baronet’s discomposure.
    Miss Horton was oblivious to the entire proceeding. Standing where the light caught her profile and silver-blonde hair to her best advantage, she smiled on the assembled party and said graciously, “Lord Latteridge must stay to dine. I have had no opportunity to speak with him yet.”
    The earl avoided his secretary’s speaking eyes and declared his willingness to comply with the lady’s command. The expedition had degenerated to such depths that he may have had in mind to amuse himself, or his purpose might have been to gain an acquaintance with the silent cousin, but if it was the latter, he was doomed to failure. Sir Joseph placed the girl beside William and proceeded to ignore both of them, while encouraging his only child to demonstrate her accomplishments in the art of conversation.
    “You will find, Lord Latteridge,” she announced, “that the county families have deteriorated during your long absence from Yorkshire. You must accept my condolences on your father’s death, of course. It is the greatest pity that you both should have spent lengthy periods on the continent, as your presence here might have added a very necessary tone to the county. I must tell you that the manners one sees displayed in York are anything but pleasing. That is lemonade, my lord. We are of the opinion that intoxicating beverages are at the root of the demoralization of our society.”
    “An interesting theory.” The earl pushed his glass far enough away that he would not mechanically reach for and imbibe of it since, although he had no violent objection to the beverage itself, it did not accompany the boiled tench, roast beef, and broiled blade bone of veal to perfection. “Have you considered serving coffee or tea with meals?”
    A pained expression contorted Miss Horton’s lovely countenance. “Coffee and tea are ruinous to the body. Although they are not intoxicating, one’s health is as surely destroyed by partaking of them as of spirituous liquors. One’s body is a temple, my lord, and must not be abused.”
    “You must have a difficult time keeping servants.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “On principle I suppose you would not make a beer allowance, nor one for tea. Our servants at Ackton Towers would be sorely put out under such hardships.” Finding himself automatically reaching for his glass, the earl let his hand fall motionless to the table.
    Miss Horton looked perplexed; she had not the slightest interest in servants and had no idea whether those at