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had accepted an offer of marriage on her behalf, Augusta paced the library. She was
ablaze with a furious energy and she scowled fiercely as she tried to think her way clear
of the dreadful situation.
She had just come in from an afternoon ride in the park and was still wearing a
dashing new ruby-colored riding habit trimmed in gold braid à la militaire. The matching
confection of a hat with its perky red feather was still perched on her hair and she was
still wearing her gray leather boots. A servant had told her that Sir Thomas had a message
for her and she had breezed straight into the library.
Only to be met with the shock of her life.
"How could you have done such a thing, Uncle Thomas? How could you have made
such a mistake?"
"Don't think there was any mistake," Sir Thomas said vaguely. Having delivered his
announcement from his armchair, he had immediately plunged back into the book he had
been reading before Augusta had arrived. "Graystone appeared to know exactly what he
was doing."
"But there must have been a mistake. Graystone would never offer for me." Augusta
pondered the problem furiously as she paced back and forth. " 'Tis obvious what
happened. He offered for Claudia and you misunderstood."
"Don't believe so." Sir Thomas buried himself deeper in his book.
"Come, now, Uncle Thomas. You know you get quite absentminded on occasion. You
have frequently confused Claudia's name with mine, especially when you are working on
one of your books, as you are now."
"What do you expect? You were both named after Roman emperors," Sir Thomas said
by way of excuse. "Bound to be the occasional mistake."
Augusta groaned. She knew her uncle. When he was concentrating on old Greeks and
Romans it was impossible to get his full attention. He had no doubt been just as
preoccupied earlier when Graystone had called. No wonder matters had gotten confused.
"I cannot believe you have done something that will affect my future so drastically
without even consulting me."
"He'll make you a sound husband, Augusta."
"I do not want a sound husband. I do not particularly want any sort of husband at all,
least of all a sound one. What the devil does that mean, anyway? Sound. A horse is
sound."
"The thing is, my girl, you are not likely to get a better offer."
"Very likely not. But don't you see, Uncle Thomas, the offer was not for me. I am
quite certain of it." Augusta whirled about, the ruby skirts of her habit pooling around her
boots. "Oh, Uncle Thomas, I do not mean to be short with you. Heaven knows you have
been all that is kind and generous to me and I shall be forever grateful, you must know
that."
"Just as I am grateful to you, my dear, for all you have done for Claudia this Season.
You have brought her out of her shell and turned her from a shy little mouse into a
sensation. Her mother would have been proud."
" 'Twas nothing, Uncle Thomas. Claudia is a beautiful, accomplished woman. She
merely needed advice on her clothes and on the proper ways of conducting herself in
Society."
"All of which you could provide."
Augusta shrugged. "A legacy from my mother. She entertained frequently and taught
me much. I have also had the assistance of Lady Arbuthnott, who knows everyone. So
you must not hand me all the credit. I am well aware you gave me the task of launching
Claudia as a remedy for my melancholy. And it was kind of you. Truly it was."
Sir Thomas grunted in surprise. "As I recall, I merely asked you to accompany
Claudia to a soiree one evening. You took charge from there. You made her one of your
projects. And whenever you are involved in a project, my dear, things have a way of
happening."
"Thank you, Uncle Thomas. But about Graystone. I must insist "
"Now, don't you worry about Graystone. As I said, he'll make you a sound husband.
Man's solid as a rock. Got brains and a fortune. What more could a woman want?"
"Uncle Thomas, you don't understand."
"You're just feeling a bit emotional at the moment, that's all. The Northumberland side
of the family always was emotional."
Augusta stared at her uncle in seething frustration and then she rushed from the room
before she burst into tears.
Augusta was still simmering with frustration later that evening as she dressed for the
night's array of soirees and parties. But at least she was no longer on the point of tears,
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