Mary Crawford’s new
riding habit, with gold epaulettes on rich dark blue cloth, was attracting a
lot of attention in the Park. She smiled
to herself as she trotted along on her new mare, a gift from Henry. He had sent the horse on her last birthday, but
had not visited her. Because of the scandal, she had been parted from the
person she loved most. The business of
his affair with Maria Rushworth had affected her, as well as the two lovers
involved.
Soon after the public
scandal, she had moved to the home of an elderly cousin. Cousin Deborah was not an ideal chaperone.
The old lady did not enjoy going into society, but she was extremely respectable; her
father had been a judge.
She was an elderly bible-
quoting spinster, and Henry had always disliked her.
Mary had begged him
to visit her privately, but he rarely called, and had never been a very
frequent letter writer.
She loved her brother
dearly, but he was selfish.
She did not
blame him for the affair with Maria; she felt that it had been Mrs Rushworth’s
own fault. Yet Henry had seemed to use
the liaison as an excuse to avoid any social duties or even family duties that
he didn’t enjoy.
Mary's horse was fresh
and required her to pay attention, in the first part of her ride. Black Bess was a frisky mare, who hadn’t been
out for a few days.
When she had become
quieter, Mary noticed her friend Emily, who was in her first season, out walking
in the park with her governess. The
younger girl hurried over to the riding path, and called out to her….
“Miss Crawford... Mary ! How well you look...”
Mary drew rein, and
leaned down to give the girl her hand.
“Why Emily. I haven’t seen you for a week. Will
you be at the duchess’s ball tonight?”
“We are invited. My aunt Cecilia is a friend of the Duchess. It will be a sad crush though.”
“We are invited. My aunt Cecilia is a friend of the Duchess. It will be a sad crush though.”
She smiled down at
the pretty blonde, amused at how the girl was learning the “sophisticated
attitude” of a bored society lady… But Emily was only just seventeen, and was
not jaded. She had great admiration for Mary.
“What will you be wearing,
Emily, my love? White, I suppose?”
“Oh yes. A white muslin gown, with a contrasting pale
pink bodice. And lace of course.”
“Will you be wearing
your pearl necklace?”
Emily nodded. She was looking forward to wearing “real” jewels
at last.
“Oh yes. My pearls and a bracelet that papa has given
to me... My gown has a lace flounce
around the hem... I hope you will like
it, Mary, I think it’s beautiful…”
Mary resumed her
staid ride, wishing that she could go out to Richmond – where she could have a
gallop. One could not gallop ventre a terre In the London parks.
