Chapter Six
At half-past twelve the following day, Deryn stalked across the hall and into the parlour to confront his master.
“Sir,” he began. “Mrs Deryn would much appreciate your making up your mind as to what you would like to offer your guest this afternoon. Thus far, we have considered…” he held up his fingers, “cucumber sandwiches, scones, a variety of biscuits, small cakes, and…thank God… actual tea.”
Caleb’s cheeks flushed. “Well, I want to make sure I-er-we, that is, the Abbey, makes a favourable impression upon Lady Molliney. We are neighbours, after all.”
Deryn’s countenance remained unmoved, except for a single raised eyebrow. “I’m uncertain as to whether providing enough sustenance for most of the population within at least twenty acres is the best way to go about accomplishing that.”
“Oh dear,” Caleb sighed and threw up his hands. “I don’t know. I think I’m going to let Mrs Deryn decide. She’s a woman, and this sort of thing is womanly stuff.”
“I would have thought, given your familiarity with what you refer to as womanly stuff, there would be no problems with selecting the appropriate items for an afternoon tea.”
Caleb straightened. “That is different, and you know it.”
Deryn sighed and nodded. “Very well, then, sir. You know you can trust my wife’s choices to represent the Abbey in the best light possible?”
“I do indeed.” Sighing, Caleb paced to the windows. “I’m just not used to this. I’m a very private person, and you know why. So entertaining, having an almost-stranger around for tea…I’m a bit off-balance.”
“To be clear, sir, you invited her.”
“Well, yes.” He blinked and raised his chin. “It was definitely the appropriate thing to do.”
“I understand, sir.” Deryn unbent enough to pat Caleb’s shoulder. “But you really need not worry about Lady Elinor. Although we have had little contact with that family, everyone I’ve come across speaks well of her. A pleasant manner, ’tis said, none of this looking-down-her-nose-at-you, just because you’re of lower rank.” He smiled. “Her parents are the same, and have taught Elinor well.”
“I suppose I should have ventured out a little more,” mused Caleb. “But I have so little in common with anyone. And I do cherish my privacy.”
His butler nodded. “Quite understandable, given the circumstances, sir. I shall allow my wife to present a selection of her favourite foods, in the certain knowledge that Lady Elinor will be delighted.”
A muted woof sounded from under the table, and Carrádog emerged, teeth bared in a huge yawn.
“Should I put him out before Lady Elinor’s arrival?” asked Deryn, gazing at the panting pile of curly black hair, white teeth, and large amber eyes.
“Oh no,” shot back Caleb. “She’s the one who helped rescue him. Can you imagine her ire if I failed to produce him, whole and hearty?”
“Good point, sir.”
Caleb glanced at the clock. “I should go and put on my cravat and jacket. It’s getting late.”
Deryn’s lips twitched. “Indeed, sir.” He lowered his head and checked his own watch. “You have only three and a quarter hours to go. One hopes that will be sufficient time to present Lady Elinor with a vision of a cravat tied in a fashion to rival those of Mr Brummel himself.”
“Deryn?”
“Sir?”
“Go away.”
*~~*~~*
While Caleb and his butler were exchanging witty banter, a couple of miles or so east of Tylwyth Teg Abbey, Lady Elinor wasnotdoing the same thing. She and Jane were almost knee-deep in gowns, making her chamber resemble the fitting rooms at the most exclusive Bond Street modiste after half-a-dozen members of theTonhad spent the afternoon trying on clothes.
“Miss Elinor.” Jane plopped down on the bed with a sigh. “There has to be something here that you find appropriate for your visit? Good Heavens, child, you’re not going to Carlton House…”
“Yes, I know, but…”
Elinor frowned as she looked around at the jumble of fashions lying higgledy-piggledy over chairs, her desk, her bureau and beside Jane on the bed.
“I want to looknice, Jane.” She bit her lip, searching for the right words. “I want to look as though I do visits to tea every other day. As if this is quite usual for me, and I know the correct way to dress, to eat, to sip my tea, and converse politely.”
