His mother frowned. "Yes, I remember. The Dowager Countess of Basingstoke’s granddaughter, yes? Quite a plain girl…"
"I wouldn’t say so," he disagreed.
"And overly tall for a woman, you must admit."
It seemed his mother was set on disliking the woman, and although Ezra found himself wanting to disagree with her, he knew from experience that the more he did, the more she would cling to her position.
So he moved the conversation on, turning it back to a topic that would make his mother happier.
"I’ve spoken with the gardener about removing the ivy and vines all over the front of the castle. He’ll have to employ help – it’s a big job – but he said it should be done within the month."
"Excellent. You never know, perhaps you might like to hold a ball here this year. I could plan it, of course, and preside with you."
"Let’s not run before we can walk," Ezra said with a shudder, not enjoying the thought of people in his sanctuary; staying in rooms that had not been used in years, wanting a tour of the place. Showing Lady Constance round was one thing – and even then, there were certain wings of the house he would certainly avoid. But a house full of guests? He did not like the idea.
No, he rather thought that it was good for him to be out in society – but he was more than happy to go to other people’s balls and dinners, and not be the host himself.
No matter how much his mother wanted to be the hostess again.
???
"If you don’t mind, Grandmamma, I thought I’d go for a ride today," Constance said on a particularly sunny day, a few days after her visit to Blackthorne Castle. "I’d like to go to Dunburgh Castle, since I remember the ruins being so beautiful, but perhaps I’ll do that next week. I know you want to go to that musicale this evening, but if I go for a short ride I’ll be back in plenty of time."
"Of course, of course. You enjoy yourself, my dear. And perhaps next week we can visit Amblewood – I have some things to purchase, and if you wanted a new dress, in case there should be another ball…"
"I have plenty of dresses, Grandmamma," Constance replied.
"But what if a certain earl is present? You might want something new; something he hasn’t seen."
Constance gave her grandmother a half-smile. "This is a fairy story you are telling yourself, Grandmamma. I have no plans to marry at this time, and the earl is certainly not interested in me in that way. But of course, we can go to Amblewood whenever you’d like."
Chapter Ten
She was rather surprised by the note, and even more surprised by her reaction to it. She felt excited – something she had not felt about the prospect of any man’s correspondence for a very long time.
It’s just the prospect of seeing the castle, she told herself, but she didn’t wholly believe it.
She re-read the note three times before letting her grandmother see it, because she couldn’t really say no.
"See!" her grandmother said with a triumphant grin. "It is not a fairy story that I am proposing – he’s interested!"
"I am sure he is not," Constance said, taking back the note. "He just wants to show me the castle because I didn’t get the chance to last time. He’s simply being gentlemanly."
Since she had not told her grandmother that she had already been inside the castle – and been shouted at by the Earl – she had to be careful what she said. She re-read the note once more before slipping it away between the pages of the book she was currently reading.
I would be honoured if I could give you a proper tour of my house, considering how much you love castles. If you can attend at noon on Tuesday, and stay for tea, I would be delighted.
Your servant,
Ezra, Earl of Gracewood
He surely was just being gentlemanly, she told herself – because she didn’t want to believe anything else, nor acknowledge that there was a part of her that wanted this to mean something more.
And in spite of her grandmother’s excitement, she rather thought that feeling like that would only lead to her being bitterly disappointed.
I would be delighted to see the castle, she wrote back, sending the note with a footman to ride over to Gracewood. And pleased to see you again, she thought to herself – although she did not acknowledge it out loud.
On the day of the visit, she looked at herself in the mirror. She had asked her maid to make a little more effort than usual, and she rather wanted to scold herself for doing so. After all, did it suggest that she expected something from this tour of his castle? And besides, she had been the one lecturing him on not judging somebody by what they looked like. There was no reason to dress up for a simple tea.
