“And it appears he also has met company.” He nodded toward the bench outside the tavern.
She stopped and squinted her eyes. Indeed, a man was seated beside Mr. Mavis. It took Penelope but a moment to recognize him. It was Mr. Hughes, Bridget’s father. He had the same ginger-colored hair as his daughter, the same pale skin and green eyes. Although he was seated now, she knew him to be as short as he was stout. She did not know the man well enough to be able to judge his character.
“It is…” She was about to inform Daniel of the man’s identity but it was too late. Mr. Mavis, having spotted them, stood and waved enthusiastically at them.
“Daniel! Penelope! Look who I have had the good fortune of meeting.”
He gestured towards the man beside him as they both rose. He reached Mr. Mavis to the shoulder and no further and wore a bright smile on his face. “I was about to indulge in a glass of red wine when this fine gentleman here saved me from the wrong choice. It seems there is quite the difference between quality of wines in the area and he set me on the finest of all the wines in Oxfordshire, which we have been enjoying together.”
Penelope and Daniel stopped before them and Mr. Mavis turned toward Daniel.
“This, my dear friend, is Mr. James R. Hughes, father of none other than our dear friend Bridget. Isn’t it grand? And such a coincidence. Mr. Hughes, this is my dear friend Lord Carlton, of whom I know you have heard much.”
The man bowed to Daniel. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Carlton, and I have indeed heard much about you, chiefly from my daughter, Bridget.” He looked at Penelope, his face brightening at the sight of her. “And Lady Penelope. Always such a sight for these old, tired eyes.”
“It is a pleasure, as always,” Penelope replied. “We were to call on you on our return to Branigan Manor, for Mr. Mavis here is fascinated with your clock tower.”
This pleased the man. His face brightened at once. “Is that so?”
Mr. Mavis beamed. “It is. I have had a fascination with clocks from a young age. My father used to say if I were not destined to be a Baron and thus a peer of the realm, I would make an excellent clock maker.”
Daniel chuckled at this. “I fear Lady Fernley would not agree. I recall your most recent attempt at repairing her large clock. I believe it no longer produces any sound whatsoever.”
Mr. Mavis’ eyes widened and he shook his head. “But the time is always correct to the very last second, is it not, My Lord? Have we ever found ourselves late on any occasion when in London? I dare say not. No, Mr. Hughes, do not listen to Lord Carlton. He only enjoys winding me up in public.”
Mr. Hughes laughed and looked from one to the other. “You remind me of my brother and I. Always at one another’s throat, in jest of course, always trying to one-up the other. And I must say, Bridget was correct in her descriptions of both of you.”
“They were pleasant descriptions, I trust,” Daniel said as Penelope looked on.
“Of course. Indeed, they were. And speaking of time. My wife always says that I have the best sense of timing of any man she has ever had the good fortune of meeting. And it seems she was right again today. Mr. Mavis,” he turned to the younger man. “I shall gladly show you the clock tower one of these days. Alas, today cannot be the day. I am presently waiting for the return of my carriage containing Bridget, so we might ride into Banbury.”
At the mention of her friend, Penelope smiled. She turned and looked down along the path but found the Hughes’ carriage not yet in sight.
“Bridget tells me she had a marvelous time at the ball, Lady Penelope. Thank you so much for inviting her and making it possible to introduce her into the fine company of Mr. Mavis and Lord Carlton here.” He grinned broadly at her. Of course, he knew well Bridget had set her cap on Daniel, and that Penelope was in the process of assisting her in the venture.
“She is a delight, Mr. Hughes.”
“That is just what she says of you, Lady Penelope.” He turned toward Daniel. “She spoke of you in the highest regards. Particularly your dancing skills. Much superior to any other man she has ever danced with, myself included.” He chuckled, joined by Mr. Mavis.
“I am flattered she should think so highly of me. But I must say your daughter is a gifted dancer herself, and joyful company.”
Before Mr. Hughes had a chance to reply, Mr. Mavis chimed in.
“Lady Penelope, as we are speaking of joyful company, I must tell you I am most cross with you. And you.” He wagged a finger at Daniel who at once glanced at Penelope, a frown on his forehead.
“What has caused you offense now, Alistair? Surely it is not the lack of a tavern nor of a good clock for viewing. Have you encountered another mud puddle to cause you vexation?”
Penelope giggled at this, as she’d heard all about the infamous encounter Mr. Mavis suffered with the local mud upon arrival. She smiled at Daniel whose mood seemed much improved since encountering his friend and Mr. Hughes.
“The mud shall vex me no more, no, not at all. I am cross, for were it not for Mr. Hughes here, I would never have found out about this exciting event which is to take place this upcoming Monday. How come neither of you have told me of this Harvest Festival?”
“I should imagine I would have told you about it, had I known of it. Alas, it means nothing to me. Penelope? Is this something I have forgotten over the years? I do not recall a Harvest Festival in this area, only Plough Monday, but that is in January and it is now September.” He set his eyes on her and once more, her stomach seemed to turn with a mixture of delight and dread at his attention. While she noted that the presence of company seemed to have returned them to their previous friendly state, she still had trouble containing the turmoil of feelings within her.
“You have not forgotten anything. For the past decade or so we have held a Harvest Festival, a sort of second Plough Monday. While Plough Monday is to celebrate the start of the growing season, the Festival concludes it.”
“It is rather more entertaining and rambunctious than Plough Monday,” Mr. Hughes added. “There is revelry, wine, foods, and competitions. There was a jousting match last year. And of course, the drinking competition.”
Daniel frowned at this and Penelope smiled. She remembered the previous year’s competition and the excitement it had caused in the village, for half of the townsmen had been rather too drunk to be in control of their faculties.
