“I do not know why you would think I am the better person to plan the fair, Oliver,” Theo complained. “I have no more experience at it than you.”
“You forget your assistance in planning the end-of-year fete at Oxford that one year.”
“An experience which hardly compares!”
“I confess, I agreed only because it would make Miss Greenbough and Miss Bingley happy. But think! If Miss Bingley is to assist with the planning, we shall often be in her company. Will it not be of benefit to have more time to study her character?”
“I suppose.” Theo sighed.
A letter was soon dispatched, inviting Miss Bingley and her sister to come to tea, to begin the plans for the fair. Miss Bingley wasted no time in sending her reply that they would be delighted to come.
At the appointed hour, Miss Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst joined the gentlemen on the garden lawn, where Mrs. Acker had set up a generous spread of scones, biscuits, and other treats for them. Mr. Hurst immediately began ladening his plate with some of everything. His wife scowled at him and took no more than two treats for herself.
Miss Bingley shared her ideas for the fair. A large stage, covered stalls for the vendors, and an area for dancing all figured into her plans.
“I say! These are good ideas, Miss Bingley,” Oliver commended. “You have put much thought into this. If this isn’t a good plan as ever, I’ll eat my hat! Hodge, hasn’t she formed an excellent plan?”
Mr. Hodge nodded. “Undoubtedly.”
Miss Bingley blushed, and was forming her reply, when they were interrupted by the butler’s informing them that Mrs. Bird and her niece had come to call.
“By all means, send them over,” Oliver directed, his eyes brightening.
“How good of you to admit us, Lord Connally, when you already have company,” Mrs. Bird said as they came over.
“Nonsense, we are all friends. Mrs. Bird, Miss Greenbough, you must join us.”
“Well, if you insist!”
A servant brought over additional chairs, and the others shifted their position to make room.
“Miss Greenbough, we were just discussing the fair, and Miss Bingley has presented her ideas.”
Miss Bingley repeated her plan.
“What an excellent notion, having covered stalls!” Miss Greenbough exclaimed. “I think, if you do not mind my saying, you ought to have the dancing area covered as well, if it can be managed. The summer sun does grow warm at times.”
Miss Bingley looked a trifle peeved, but replied graciously. “Of course, I always welcome suggestions, and yours is a good one. But I fear it may be too much work to construct such a large covered area in such a short time.”
Theo spoke. “I do not think it will be as difficult as you suspect, Miss Bingley. A tent would do, for such a purpose, and a large one can be installed easily, and torn down the same day. I constructed such a one for a fete at Oxford, my final year.”
“I did not know you were so involved in your university’s festivities, Mr. Hodge,” Caroline remarked.
“Normally, I was not, but a colleague pressed me into service. The fete committee needed someone to head it up, and I was the one they chose, at his recommendation.”
“Then you are already experienced in the planning of these sorts of things. How marvelous!” Mrs. Hurst exclaimed. “His Lordship must be lucky to have you to assist him.”
Oliver nodded. “Precisely why I asked Th–Mr. Hodge to join us. He knows far more about planning than I do.”
S
Mrs. Bird and Miss Greenbough only stayed for a cup of tea and some of Mrs. Acker’s famous scones. As soon as they left, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley began their abuse of Miss Greenbough.
“What a pity,” Mrs. Hurst remarked, clicking her tongue.
“What is?” said Oliver.
“I am thinking of poor Miss Greenbough. To grow up with a father who was a captain in the Royal Navy, always away from home–why, it is almost as bad as growing up without a father at all. And then to have him die while still in his prime of life, without leaving her much of a pension even. Such a terrible circumstance.”
