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studies, he pays no attention to household matters. Yet he believes himself to be in
command."
"I rather think we can say the tendency is a common trait of men in general. And I
have come to the conclusion that women do not disabuse their men of the notion because
men appear to be more accommodating when they believe themselves to be in charge of
even small matters."
"Quite a fascinating observation, Augusta."
"Yes, it is, is it not?" Augusta was warming to her topic now. "Another trait I have
discovered in husbands is that they have a rather limited notion of what constitutes proper
female behavior. They tend to worry excessively about the cut of a neckline or whether
one has gone riding without a groom or how much one has spent on even bare essentials
such as new bonnets."
"Augusta "
"Furthermore, I would advise any female considering marriage to give careful thought
to the matter of another common masculine characteristic I have discovered. That is their
inclination to be astonishingly stubborn once they have formed an opinion. And that is
another thing: Men are never loath to form opinions very quickly. Then one must "
"Uh, Augusta "
Augusta ignored the interruption. "Then one must set about the annoying business of
getting them to see reason. Do you know, Claudia, were I to be in a position of advising a
woman on what to look for in a husband, I would ask her to consider the qualities she
would look for were she to be in the mood to purchase a horse, instead."
"Augusta."
Augusta held up her gloved hand and began to enumerate crisply. "Look for good
blood, strong teeth, and sound limbs. Avoid the creature that shows any inclination to
kick or bite. Pass up one which exhibits a tendency toward laziness. Avoid the beast
which displays excessive stubbornness. Some thickheadedness is unavoidable and no
doubt to be expected, but too much probably indicates genuine stupidity. In short, search
out a willing specimen who is amenable to training."
Claudia clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes brimming with something that
might have been either shock or laughter. "Augusta, for heaven's sake, look behind you."
An ominous sense of impending disaster settled on Augusta. She turned slowly around
and saw Harry and Peter Sheldrake standing less than five feet away from her. Peter
appeared to be having a great deal of difficulty swallowing his amusement.
Harry, one hand braced negligently against a tree limb, wore an expression of polite
curiosity. There was, however, a suspicious glint in his eyes.
"Good evening, my dear," Harry said softly. "Please feel free to carry on. Do not let us
interrupt your conversation with your cousin."
"Not at all," Augusta said with an aplomb she felt would have done credit to Cleopatra
greeting Caesar. "We were just conversing about the qualities one looks for in a good
horse, were we not, Claudia?"
"Yes," Claudia agreed quickly. "Horses. We were talking about horses. Augusta has
become quite an authority on the subject. She was telling me the most fascinating details
about managing them."
Harry nodded. "Augusta never ceases to amaze me with the breadth and scope of her
knowledge about the most unusual subjects." He extended his arm to his wife. "I
understand they are just about to play a waltz, madam. I trust you will honor me with a
dance?"
It was a command, not a request, and Augusta had no difficulty recognizing it as such.
Wordlessly she tucked her hand under Harry's arm and allowed him to lead her back into
the house.
15
« ^ »
"Forgive me, my dear, but I had no idea you were such an expert on horses." Harry
fitted his hand to the small of Augusta's back and swung her into the waltz.
It occurred to him in a flash of insight that she came to him here on the dance floor
with the same sweet, willing sensuality that she displayed when she came to him in bed.
She was light and graceful and enticingly feminine here, just as she was in the
bedchamber. And he experienced a surge of desire that was very much akin to the feeling
he got when he saw her lying against white pillows with her hair loose and her eyes full
of womanly welcome.
Harry suddenly realized that until lately he had never particularly enjoyed dancing. It
had simply been one more necessary accomplishment a man was obliged to learn in order
to go about in society. But with Augusta, it was different.
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