<strong>Hugh, Baron Covington</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/03/Geraint_Baron_Hugh_Covington_Av.jpg)</div>For just a moment, his intended seems to quail at his mother's too clever words, and Hugh has  the urge to stomp on the instep of the woman who bore him.   But the unease seems to disappear as quickly as it arrived, and she answers quite gamely.<br/><br/><em>“I look forward to adding my own touches, though there is little I could do to improve upon your own selections. I already feel as though I am home.”</em><br/><br/>Indeed, Lady Katherine's reply seems to please all of them in one way or another, and the idea occurs to him that she may just be cut from a different cloth than either of their mothers.  In that she becomes even more intriguing than before, and he is dying to learn more about this woman who is to share his home and life, as well as bear his children.  So he takes her by the hand (the only intimacy allowed them at this point, by current social custom), and draws her away from the crowd.  She seems pleased that he does so.<br/><br/><em>“That is most kind, Lord Covington. It would hardly do for the future lady of the house to find herself lost among the rooms.”</em><br/><br/>He likes that way her smile forms on the corners of her lips and slowly creeps it's way inward, as if a bit hesitant about revealing itself at first.  Her cheeks are pinkened a bit at the intimacy of it, though that blush seems to war with the mirth in her eyes.  Lady Katherine seems quite prepared to be led upon an adventure, and he quite intent upon doing so.<br/><br/>"Well we could always have you learn them in the customary fashion ... by hide and seek ..."<br/><br/>There is a bit of a roguish glint in his eye.<br/><br/>"Of course, that might better await a quieter house."<br/><br/>For the immediate future, a garden tour is likely to be the greatest adventure that they dare.  His experience is that city women of the gentry tend to rise late, and pay little attention to the morning, so that seems to be the best opportunity to avoid parental supervision at least ... other than waiting until after the wedding of course.  So he is pleased no end that lady Katherine seems excited by the pospect.<br/><br/><em>“It would be a pleasure, sir. I simply adore gardens. I can think of none other that I would prefer as a guide, Lord Covington.”</em><br/><br/>He smiles.<br/><br/>"And I can't think of a more charming lady to escort.  I think you will like our gardens here, as they are most expansive, something that is possible only in public spaces in the city.  Here it is all our own."<br/><br/>That draws a question from her lips, one that he had been expecting from a woman who has led a whirlwind social life these past few years.<br/><br/><em>“Do you find you enjoy the solitude of living in the country? It will be quite the change from London ..."</em><br/><br/>Again he smiles, as he leads her momentarily behind a column that offers a moment of privacy even in the midst of a crowd.<br/><br/>"I enjoy the country immensely, personally; there is certainly solitude to be found, and privacy when one wants it.  There is something to be said for not having the Ton look over one's shoulder night and day.<br/><br/>"But we are hardly isolated.  The Estate employs nearly a hundred in productive endeavors of various sorts.  In that, it serves as a traditional Baronial manor, with a community and economy of it's own.  It actually makes a tidy annual profit.<br/><br/>"In London, you are Lady Katherine, soon to be Lady Covington, one among many, if a lovely one.  Here you will be The Lady, on the estate, and in the nearby village.  People will look to you for wisdom and guidance, as well as offer their loyalty and respect.  And you will feel a sense of responsibility for them.  It is the kind of nobility that the Ton has forgotten.  And to me it's as heady as the clean air and the dark starry sky at night ..."<br/><br/>He pauses, realizing that he is going on about something that might not be of interest to her at all.  There is no guarantee, of course, that she will want what he wants, or even find it attractive, though there is perhaps a bit of promise in her next words.<br/><br/><em>“... Though I must confess, the constant dances were starting to grow wearying. Watching the balloons take off in Hyde Park was rather thrilling. I've dreamed of being so daring as to attempt a turn in the basket.”</em><br/><br/>They move onward to a more visible position, as he continues to slowly lead her.<br/><br/>"That does sound exciting; I shall have to take you to the city for the spectacle again some time.  We did have a single balloon land here last year, when he got blown off of course.  The large open space was apparently an attractive target, and I told the operator that he was welcome to land here any time.  So perhaps he will come again, and tempt your daring more directly."<br/><br/>She does seem to have a sense of adventure about her, even though she is blushing.  And as they move into another bit of sanctuary, he stops and turns back to her ... his face very close to hers as his voice lowers.<br/><br/>"And is my lady betrothed daring so daring that she might have wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by her husband to be?  Surely the thought has occurred to him that her ruby lips look most inviting."<br/><br/>There is no menace in his words or stance, however scandalous they might be.  But there is quite a bit of sudden intimacy in the gesture, with his lips all but brushing hers.  And he is most definitely curious.<br/>