“Philip!” Henry’s exclamation, and the fact he’d suddenly shot to his feet, startled Catherine from her indulgent reverie. She looked over to see her second eldest brother heading toward them. And, to her surprise and intrigue, he was not alone. She also rose to her feet, as did Lysander.
“Well, it’s about time.” Henry set his plate on the nearby table and took his brother into a brief embrace. “I was beginning to think you’d got losten route.Mama and Papa have been a little worried as well.”
“There was ice on the roads, or we’d have been here by lunchtime, but at least we’re in time for tea,” Philip replied. “Greetings Cat, Lysander. And speaking of Mama and Papa, where are they?”
“They’ll be down shortly, I should think.” Catherine also set her plate down while trying not to stare at Philip’s mysterious female companion. Though young, she appeared to be in mourning. Her dress of dark gray wool, edged in black, stood out against the flagrant colors worn by the other guests. Slender of form, she stood about the same height as Catherine, her near-black hair styled into perfect ringlets that framed an alluring heart-shaped face, set with wide, dark eyes. She was, in a word, exquisite. And she had yet to be introduced.
“I’m wondering, Philip, if you left your manners in London,” Henry said, echoing Catherine’s thoughts.
“No, not at all. Forgive me. I was just hoping Mama and Papa would have been here.” Philip stepped a little to the side and addressed his female companion. “My dear, please allow me to make the introductions. This is my elder brother, the Viscount Fulston, and this is my baby sister, Lady Catherine Northcott. The gentleman at her side is the Marquess of Hawes, a good friend of the family.”
With each introduction, the woman had inclined her head in acknowledgement.
Philip then addressed the others. “My lords, my lady, it gives me the greatest pleasure to introduce you to Miss Helena Elliot.” He smiled broadly. “My fiancée.”
Catherine barely managed to control a gasp.
The woman inclined her head again. “I am truly delighted to make your acquaintance, my lords, my lady,” she said, her voice sweetly melodic. “Philip has told me so much about his family and this wonderful house.”
Henry, obviously astonished, appeared to be searching for an appropriate rejoinder. “Well,” he said at last, “this is quite the surprise. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Elliot, and please accept my felicitations. Two engagements in one week! There must be something in the air.”
“I echo my brother’s comment, Miss Elliot,” Catherine said. “Welcome to Myddleton House.”
Lysander inclined his head but remained silent.
“Twoengagements?” Philip remarked. “Who else?”
“Your sister,” Henry replied, and glanced at Lysander, “to this questionable gentleman right here.”
“Well, it’s about time!” Philip said. “Congratulations, both. And look, here’s Mama and Papa at last. Come, my dear. I cannot wait for you to meet them.”
“I didn’t see that coming,” Henry said, as Philip and Miss Elliot wandered off. “She looks to be in mourning. Elliot, eh? The name is not familiar to me. I wonder where he found her.”
“I’m sure we’ll soon find out,” Catherine replied, and regarded Lysander, whose silence continued. His gaze, it seemed, was fixed intently on the new arrivals, and specifically Miss Elliot. A little twinge of jealousy stirred beneath Catherine’s ribs.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” she said.
Lysander turned his gray eyes to Catherine. “She’s pretty,” he said, taking Catherine’s hand and raising it to his lips. “Exquisitewould better describe the woman who has captured my heart.”
Henry snorted. “Nicely done, Hawes. You were heading into deep water there, for a moment.”
Lysander laughed and continued to regard Catherine with eyes that surely held a promise of forever. “I know what I have, Henry,” he said. “I would never do anything to jeopardize it.”
*
“Miss Elliot’s familyis landed gentry, but have been in India for years,” Henry said, later that evening after dinner. Catherine listened with interest and cast a surreptitious glance at Lysander. He stood beside her, nursing a glass of brandy in his hand, his focus on Henry. But a moment later, his gaze switched to Miss Elliot, who stood with Philip by the pianoforte. They, and the guests, had gathered in the music room, where the lady in question was about to show off her prowess on the instrument.
Catherine told herself she was being foolish. Lysander’s interest in the lovely Helena was probably nothing more than simple curiosity. He’d never had a wandering eye, nor was he given to frivolity. Yet, it seemed something about the lovely Miss Elliot had garnered his attention.
“Charles Elliot was a highly respected official by all accounts,” Henry went on. “He and his wife both succumbed to a cholera outbreak several months ago, leaving Miss Elliot, who is an only child, on her own. She is no longer officially in mourning but is not yet comfortable discarding all semblance of it, apparently.”
“Understandable,” Catherine said. “It must have been terribly difficult for her.”
“Yes, it was all rather tragic,” Henry replied. “Of course, she had little choice but to return to England. She arrived back at the end of September, along with her Indian nurse, and they’ve been lodging with friends near Bath since then. Philip first met her at some private event in Bath not quite six weeks ago.” He frowned. “This engagement all seems a little bit hurried, if you ask me, though the marriage date has not yet been settled.”
“Her Indian nurse?” Catherine repeated.
Henry nodded. “Practically raised the girl, it seems. Haven’t seen the woman yet, but she’s here somewhere. Bit of a strange one, according to Mama. Refused to sleep in the staff wing and insists on taking her meals alone.”
