“England must feel so tame, after all of your fascinating travels and discoveries. Will you and your countess be off again, before long?”
“We are settled here until my wife is released from her confinement.” His mouth quirked. “Chionne’s people insist this one is a boy. They were right about the first being a girl, so I put up no argument. And she insisted he should be born on English soil.”
“Congratulations to you both,” Charlotte said. She peered up at him hopefully. “Will your wife find time to write another installment in her thrilling series of adventures?”
He laughed. “Fear not, there will be at least one more. Chionne spent the voyage back here penning the latest book. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to read it.”
“That is good news, sir.” She grinned back. “Thank you.”
“Ah, Mr. Helden, good evening,” her aunt said as the gentleman approached. “My lord, do you know Mr. Helden?”
Introductions were performed and then the newcomer looked to Charlotte. “What good news are you remarking upon, Miss Mayne?”
“Lady Treyford’s next book is to be released soon.”
“Ah,” Mr. Helden said in bland response.
Lord Treyford grinned. “Not a fan of romantic, peril-filled tales, I take it?”
Mr. Helden made a face and shook his head.
“Oh, then perhaps you would enjoy Lord Treyford’s own book,” Charlotte told him. “It is filled with tales of his travels and of the artifacts he has uncovered.”
“I’m not a fan of reading in general,” Mr. Helden admitted with a shrug. “I prefer reality.”
Charlotte exchanged an alarmed glance with her aunt. Did the man not realize he might insult the earl? Did Mr. Helden think Lord Treyford had invented his travels and accomplishments?
And then she considered further, for she dearly loved to read, as did the rest of her household—her aunt and both of her siblings, too. What would it be like to live with a man who did not? Sighing, she brushed away her worries. Mr. Helden might not be ideal, but he was the only gentleman who had paid her any sort of marked attention. She couldn’t afford to be put off by such small concerns.
Except, they didn’t feel small.
“Do you travel much, Helden?” the earl asked.
“No, no. I like the comforts of home.” He brightened. “Unless, of course, I am after one of my birds. I once traveled all the way to a tiny isle off of Northumberland to obtain a roseate tern.”
Aunt Bernadine blinked. “What did you do with it, once you’d got it?”
“Why, I had it stuffed, of course. I took my own taxidermist with me, in fact, for I wanted it preserved right away and in the best condition.”
“Your own . . . taxidermist?” Charlotte asked weakly.
“Oh, yes. It takes a precise set of skills to do a truly good job of it, you see, and so many in the profession are lacking. When I found a really skilled man, I snapped him up. I hired him to work for me nearly exclusively and set him up with a workshop and a home on my lands.”
“Goodness,” Aunt Bernice said, pulling out her fan. “How do you keep him occupied?”
“Very easily, madam,” he assured her. “My collection has grown quite impressive.”
No one asked for clarification of his collection.
He started in anyway. “It’s birds, you see. Fascinating creatures. Except for the quick, odd, unpredictable way they have of moving.” He shuddered. “I much prefer them stuffed and posed. I have over two hundred specimens. I prefer them in lifelike poses and settings—”
“Oh, listen to that. The musicians are starting up again.” Lord Treyford bowed. “You must excuse me. I am promised to my sister-in-law for this set. So lovely to have met you, Miss Mayne.” He nodded. “Helden.”
The earl departed and Mr. Helden looked around at the set forming. Rubbing his hands together he lifted his brows at Charlotte. “Shall we, Miss Mayne?”
“Well, here you are, Charlotte!” Suddenly Harriett was at her elbow. “And Mr. Helden! I was afraid you would not arrive in time to claim your dance. You do recall asking, when we all met in the park?”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” He looked to Charlotte. “You’ll save me a set, Miss Mayne?”
