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known as the finest goldsmith in Bury St Edmunds.’
    Lord Rothwell instantly went so rigid with hauteur that she thought he might topple over. To make matters worse, Louisa’s father greeted him far too effusively. He was an astute businessman and in general a man of great sense, except in his obsession with Louisa making a brilliant marriage. Caroline found herself hoping that Lord Rothwell would not depress his pretensions too severely.
    ‘… quiet, of course, my lord, but I flatter myself that we have several superior attractions here for a man of taste and fashion such as yourself. I very much hope, for instance, that we will have the pleasure of seeing you at our assembly next week?’
    Lord Rothwell gave the smallest of stiff inclinations of the head. ‘I shall certainly give the matter my consideration.’
    Alderman Taylor beamed. Caroline rushed into speech before he could expose himself even more. ‘Are you on your way home, Alderman? Will you give Louisa your arm? Then Harry may escort me back now instead of returning for me later as we had planned.’
    Louisa’s father looked from Harry to Lord Rothwell. ‘Oh, but surely….’
    Caroline kept the bright smile on her face. ‘Lord Rothwell plans to visit the ruins. If I have it correctly, he expressed the opinion that great architecture is best experienced in silence and solitude. And I believe the gentlemen have finished their discussion. Is that not so, Harry?’
    Her brother had barely opened his mouth to reply when Lord Rothwell cut in. ‘I certainly have no more to say. Good day, Miss Taylor, Alderman, Fortune.’
    Caroline bit her lip as he strode away. She had deserved the snub of his not taking leave of her, but she did hope his dislike would not extend itself to Harry.
    ‘The carriage is at the Angel Hotel, Louisa,’ her father was saying. ‘Well, well, the Duke of Abervale’s son, eh? I daresay there will be time enough before the assembly to have a new gown made up.’
    ‘Papa, you spoil me. Do you not think it is splendid that Mr Fortune has attracted such an illustrious patron?’
    ‘Yes, yes, now come along. We must get back to your aunt. Blue, do you think? Or pink? Your mama always looked very handsome in pink. Good day, Miss Caro. I am much obliged to you for walking in this direction with Louisa. Good day, Fortune.’
    Caroline and Harry were left on the path. Caroline tucked her arm in her brother’s as they moved towards the inn where he’d left the curricle. ‘He’ll come around, Harry.’
    Her brother gave a bitter laugh. ‘I can’t compete with a title, Caro.’
    ‘You don’t have to. Not in Louisa’s eyes.’
    ‘Two more years until she’s of age. Anything could happen. Wouldn’t blame her if it did. Dash it, you saw the way Rothwell looked at her.’
    ‘I have seen the way every gentleman of our acquaintance has looked at her since she was ten years old. She loves you .’
    ‘I wish he hadn’t happened to come by today even so. Whatwas that all about? You looked to be at daggers drawn.’
    ‘Lord Rothwell,’ said Caroline trenchantly, ‘did not consider it proper for me to be sitting alone on a bench in broad daylight in the most respectable thoroughfare in Suffolk!’
    ‘What a slow-top. Good thing he doesn’t know about you shinning down the ivy every morning and riding on the heath in my old clothes.’
    Caroline glared. ‘It would not signify if he did!’
    Harry wiped the grin from his face. ‘No, of course not. Wish the parents would consent to you living at Penfold Lodge all the time so you didn’t have to, though. It’s damned gloomy with only Bertrand’s mama there. Those knitting needles of hers are driving me to distraction.’
    ‘You can’t wish it more than me. I shall announce another visit soon, and perhaps they will reconsider entirely after next season when I have failed to take yet again.’
    Harry perked up. ‘Yes, very likely. For Selina is near as well-favoured as Honoria and is