Snippet #1536357

Isobel woke the next day feeling surprisingly refreshed even though her night had been disturbed by strange dreams of Damien Roskin. She felt heat rise in her cheeks as she remembered the content of one of the dreams. It was certainly not the sort of dream a virgin debutantue such as herself was supposed to have and she knew her mother would have an appolexy if she ever discovered them. But Isobel had decided long ago that she was different from most other young women in her way of thinking and in this matter it was the same. She was of the opinion that you could not control what you dreamed and so could not be judged as impure for any scandolous events depicted in them. Besides she admitted to herself that she had enjoyed them even if they had left her feeling a strange mixture of frustration and fear, she had woken after the particularly intimate dream to feel her whole body tingling. She had ached for something though for what she, in her innocence, did not know. It had been frightening and very disconcerting. She decided that it would be for the best if she put all thoughts of the man from her mind as the likelihood of seeing him again was slim, especially given her parents opintion of him. Though she knew she should heed their warnings and stay away from him all she wanted to do was be in his presence again and see for herself whether there was any truths to the rumors about him.

She spent the morning reading or working on her embroidery under her mothers watchful gaze and chafed at every moment of it. She had always preferred to be out riding or visiting friends rather than sitting doing embroidery. She hated it and had never been particularly skilled at the task, she scowled through most of the morning after pricking her thumb many times with the needle. Eventually the day wore on to afternoon and Isobel visibly brightened as she and Caroline had arranged a jaunt in the park and Isobel wanted to hear what she thought on Damien Roskin. They would be chaperoned by Caroline's older brother Edward who was in town visiting friends. He usually rode ahead though giving the two women plenty of space to discuss women's business as he called it. Isobel retired to her room to change and with the aid of her maid hetty she changed into a dark green riding habit. Hetty brushed her silken locks and twisted them into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck and then placed her riding bonnet over the top.

Caroline had already arrived and was seated in the receiving room taking tea with her mother, Caroline was well liked by her mother as she felt she was appropriate company for her wayward daughter. It was why she had not objected to the two riding together as she was sure Caroline would prevent her daughter from getting into too much mischief.
"We are off mother." Isobel said as she entered the room. "Have you plans for the afternoon?"
"Yes my dear, Lady Rotherham is coming for tea. We have much to discuss you see."
Isobel winced as she remembered that Lady Rotherham had a son slightly older than she was, if she remembered him correctly he was a pleasant enough young man if a little dull.
"Well I am sure you two will have a most enjoyable time." She said brightly as she tugged Caroline towards the door.

"Honestly sometimes I wonder if a stork brought me to her, how can we possibly be related!" Isobel said with exasperation some time later as they rode through the park. Caroline smiled patiently used to her friends frustrations with her parents. She patted the neck of her chesnut mare as she listened to her friend rant. Caroline looked very feching in a pale blue riding habit and matching bonnet and she caught many admiring glances from gentlemen also frequenting the park. Isobel finally fell silent stroking her own grey mare's neck.
"She only wants what is best for you, you know." Caroline finally said.
"I know but that does not make it any less irritating." She replied.