“She is an awful traveler,” Ursula Hallowell put in. “And a worse traveling companion,” she groused.
“Now Ursula,” protested Ann.
“You know I am right.”
Ann sighed.
Cassie laughed. “Let me show you to your rooms so you might wash the traveling dust away.”
“That would be lovely,” Ursula said.
“We’ll serve tea in the parlor as soon as the Tidemarks arrive, for I’m sure that will be more important to Vanessa than washing up first. The parlor is right here,” she said, pointing to a room on the left, “for whenever you feel like coming down.”
* * *
“Oh,oh! I swear I shall have bruises atop of bruises,” they heard Mrs. Tidemark wail as her husband assisted her from their carriage forty-five minutes later. Her hand rubbed her generous backside for a moment before she accepted Tidemark’s arm to lead her to the castle door.
Lakehurst noticed his sister looking down and compressing her lips tightly against a smile or laugh.
Cassie left his side to approach Mrs. Tidemark. “You poor dear. Let’s get you in the castle and make you comfortable. Would you rather go to your room first or relax on a sofa in the parlor with tea and cakes?” she asked.
“Tea sounds wonderful,” she said weakly, leaning on her husband’s arm. “And… and maybe a little cake?”
“Of course, this way,” Cassie soothed.
Mrs. Tidemark’s response had been exactly as Cassie predicted, Lakehurst mused.
“It’s quite large, isn’t it?” Mrs. Tidemark said, staring up at the castle.
Lakehurst noticed apprehension in her eyes. He remembered that Cassie said the woman had never been to the castle before.
“Jolly grand!” Mrs. Tidemark’s brother, Harrison Farrow, said jovially, swinging down from his horse and handing the reins to Henry. The London dandy swaggered toward them as they stood on the broad stone steps before the castle. “I’ll go to my room first, if you don’t mind. Can’t visit in all my dirt, you know,” he said.
“The housekeeper will show you to your room,” Lakehurst said, inviting the man to proceed before him into the house.
“Excellent! Excellent!” crowed Mr. Farrow.
In the hall, Mr. Farrow paused to look around. The entrance hall retained much of its medieval decor with banners and crossed spears and swords on the dark wood-paneled walls. “I say, those small windows up there throw more light during the day into this hall than one would think, eh?” he said, pointing to the line of square windows high on the front wall.
Lakehurst watched him follow after the housekeeper, his eyes darting everywhere. Lakehurst looked over at his sister. “Have you seen Mr. Stillworth recently?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not since nuncheon, but I believe I heard him saying something about taking your horse and going out for a ride.”
“My horse?”
“You did offer,” she reminded him.
He grimaced. “So I did. I just thought he wouldn’t want to ride until his horse rested since the horse just arrived today. Didn’t know he’d be that impatient to ride. Perhaps it is just as well that he is not here for the initial conversations with Mr. Tidemark.”
Gwinnie grinned. “I think I’ll head to the small parlor to practice. It was getting too windy up on the ramparts earlier.”
“You don’t want to come observe?”
She shook her head. “Might be too windy in there, too. Don’t think I could keep a straight face.”
“True. I saw you when the Tidemarks arrived. Not good to laugh at guests, Gwinnie.”
“I know, but no need to get stuffy about it. You know it was like watching a play. That’s why I shall return after the comedic conclusion, else my face would betray me.”
