"The Duchess of Coldingham mentioned you had a sister," he said, and then realised it probably seemed rather out of the blue, considering she did not know he had been musing on his loneliness. "I used to play up here when I was a boy," he explained. "Do you and your sister get on well?"
Constance nodded. "We are very different, but yes, we do. And I can imagine it would be rather lonely growing up without any siblings at all. After Mama died, we were each other’s only companions for a long time, while our father battled his grief,and we were rather forgotten." She paused. "Goodness, I feel I have rather over-shared – my apologies."
But Ezra shook his head. "Not at all. It was lonely, and I often wished for a sibling. I didn’t even really make friends until I was sent away to boarding school. Before then, I had a tutor here, and so was always alone."
???
Even though he had not invited his mother for tea, she came anyway. It wasn’t unusual for her to turn up unannounced, but he really wished she hadn’t done so today. He had wanted this time to show Lady Constance the castle without interruption.
"The Dowager Countess is here, my lord," Soames said as he entered the parlour.
Ezra tried not to let his disappointment show, for it would not do for Lady Constance to realise that he had wanted them to be alone.
He glanced over at her and smiled. "My mother likes to drop in for tea," he said.
"How lovely," she replied, though he thought he saw a flicker of disappointment cross her own face too.
Well, his mother could be quite intimidating.
"I didn’t know you would have company, Ezra," his mother said as she swept into the room with a faintly disapproving look on her face.
Ezra and Constance both stood. "You remember Lady Constance Beaumont, Mother? From the ball? She was at Blackthorne too – and she has a real interest in castles."
"Well then, Gracewood must be one of the finest to see around," his mother said.
"Indeed," Constance replied quickly. "It is beautiful. And it is an honour to see you again, Lady Gracewood."
"Likewise, I’m sure," his mother said.
"Lord Gracewood has been giving me a tour of the castle," Constance continued.
"Has he?" his mother said, raising her eyebrows. "He’s normally rather private."
Irritation rose in Ezra’s chest. She sounded critical, and yet she was the one who had told him he needed to socialise more. Well, that was exactly what he was doing, and now she wasn’t happy?
"He’s been a wonderful host," Constance said warmly, flashing him a smile. "And I feel so lucky to see another of the wonderful castles of the area."
"Is that your reason for being in Northumberland?" the Dowager asked.
"It is part of it, yes. But really, I am here to spend time with my grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Basingstoke. She lives on the other side of Coral Cove, and she was rather lonely, so I have come to stay with her for a while."
"How kind. And during the Season, too! Why, for an unwed, titled young lady, that must be quite a wrench. Or have you tired of the London Season?"
"It does not hold great appeal for me," Constance said. "I would much prefer to be in Northumberland, looking at castles, I must admit."
"Indeed," his mother said, and Ezra could hear the disapproval in her tone. He was sure she believed that the only proper place for a young lady during the Season was London – until she found herself a suitable husband. The idea that someone might not enjoy such a thing, might make different choices, was surely alien to her.
"We’ll have more tea, Soames," his mother said, taking charge as she generally did.
"Very good, Your Ladyship," the butler replied, before disappearing to fulfil her orders.
Ezra tried to hide a sigh and returned to his seat. His mother had always been thus, even when Laura had been alive. Laura had been such a gentle soul; she had accepted the Dowager’s intrusion into the running of the castle, even though, as countess, she should have been the one in charge.
In the years since Laura’s death, his mother’s interfering had only increased – though he had not truly noticed until now how quick she was to assume the role of countess once more: to drop by unannounced, to preside as hostess, to make herself quite at home.
When he saw it through Lady Constance’s eyes, it all seemed rather more intrusive.
???
