Page 13 of To Catch a Husband
‘There now, your hands will be all fishy,’ admonished Cook. ‘Molly, bring Miss Mary a slice of lemon to rub on her hands.’
A youthful maid brought the lemon, and bobbed a curtsey as she handed it over.
‘Thank you. Now, are they not fine fishes?’ Mary was very pleased with the fish, if not their erstwhile owner.
‘They are indeed, miss. From the lake?’
‘Of course.’
‘I hope as the new gentleman there does not take offence at you a-fishing, though the fishes ought to be yours, indeed.’
‘Well, he has given his blessing to this meal at the least, so I do not think he will take umbrage.’
‘That is nice, miss. I will bake these with a gratin of celery hearts and a cheese tart and cherry compote.’
‘I look forward to it. Now I must go and change.’
Cook beamed at her in a motherly way as she gave a crooked smile and went up the back stairs to the hall, where Atlow, who had been winding the clocks, shook his head at her.
‘I was taking the results of my successful fishing to Cook, Atlow. You know I like to see her to find out what she wishes to do with my catches.’
‘Yes, Miss Mary. Her ladyship asked after you a while back, and I said as you had gone fishing, for I70observed you with your equipment crossing the lawn.’
‘I will go to her and assure her I have returned, triumphant, and not at all damp at the edges.’
‘She is in the drawing room, miss.’
‘Thank you, Atlow.’ Mary went directly to the drawing room. Lady Damerham looked at her garb and gave a barely perceptible wince. Fishing attire was practical but not such that it showed off her daughter’s face and figure to advantage.
‘Atlow said you had gone fishing. You did not tell me, though.’
‘Well, Mama, it was an impulse of the moment. The sunshine was not too bright, and I knew there would be shade where I wanted to cast. I caught two very nice trout, and Cook is preparing them for dinner.’
‘Oh good.’ Secretly, Lady Damerham did not find the taste of any fish thrilled her, but she was not going to admit it to her daughter.
‘What is more, Mama, I met Sir Rowland Kempsey, who has a young brother with him.’
‘Sir Rowland? The man who got you all wet? You met him before.’ Lady Damerham sat very straight in her chair, wondering at such an encounter.
‘Well, yes and no. It was definitely Sir Rowland, for he gave his name, but it seems the man who thoughtlessly splashed me with his curricle was not Sir Rowland, despite me seeing him leave the grounds of Tapley End.’
‘How curious.’
‘And how infuriating. Sir Rowland let me speak very71freely about my dislike of “Sir Rowland Kempsey”, all the time knowing that I was talking about somebody completely different, and clearly enjoyed my ensuing discomfiture.’
‘But what is he like?’
‘As I said, infuriating.’
‘No, really, dearest, I mean what does he look like?’
‘Better than the curricle driver. He is tall, quite pleasant features, good voice. Annoying.’
‘Is that all you have to say about him?’
‘Not quite, Mama, because unless he is already taken, I am going to get him to marry me.’ With which Miss Mary Lound left the room, head in the air, as her parent stared after her in horrified amazement.
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