“Good afternoon, ladies.”Susanna entered the massive library that housed Hawksridge’s impressive collection of books. Those of her friends that were in town for the season sat around the comfortable seating area in the center of the room. Charlotte Weston, Olivia Rivenhall, and Hawksridge’s aunt, Lady Diana Wells. Charlotte’s infant daughter ensconced in a knit blanket on her mother’s lap gave Susanna a toothless grin. “Oh, you brought Emily!”
“Yes, she is unhappy with anyone but me these days. It’s tiring but she is so sweet tempered I can’t complain.” Charlotte placed a kiss to the baby’s downy head. “Daniel is quite put out though. He is taking it far too personally and has made it his mission to try to entertain her when she will allow me to pass her off to him.”
The Westons were staying with Hawksridge for a couple of months as it made no sense to rent their own house when Miles’s mansion was far too big for only one man to live in alone as it was. She had once asked Hawksridge why he had purchased such a large home since he was a bachelor and he had shrugged and responded that the house was for his future life. Always planning for the future that one.
She glanced around the library filled with so many books she knew Miles never read. Why did he have such a large collection? She’d never seen him read anything but the newspaper, and then only the political and financial pages.
Susanna sat down next to Charlotte on the settee and held a finger out to little Emily. “Hello pretty girl. Would you like to be friends?”
Emily reached out and grasped her finger in a strong grip and gave another grin.
“Yes, you are so strong,” she cooed. “And how is everyone else today? Are we having an official book club meeting or just a visit?”
“I haven’t had a moment to read anything. The past few months have been a whirlwind,” Olivia said. “I can’t wait to return home this summer.”
“How are Rivenhall’s sisters enjoying their season? Every time I see them, they are on the dance floor.”
“Ginny is having the time of her life but Louisa is far shyer. She will dance when asked, but she is generally silent when involved in group conversations. And unlike her older sister, she doesn’t flirt. But she is young yet, so the focus of their mother has been on getting Ginny married,” Olivia said.
Lady Wells nodded her head. “Ginny is what, twenty?”
Olivia nodded. “Yes, and Louisa is only eighteen. This is really just a year for her to see what the social season is like.” She wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could save them both from the necessity of the season.”
“Why?” Susanna asked. “It can be fun if you don’t take things too seriously. And they must learn how to swim with the sharks as the sisters of the new earl. You as well, my dear.”
“I know.” Her friend sighed. “And truly this spring hasn’t been as bad as I remembered from the year I married Henry. Max watches over me like a hawk. He would tear anyone to pieces who would dare insult me. And I’m so happy that I can’t bring myself to care what people are saying behind my back.” Married just a few months ago to her childhood love Olivia glowed with happiness.
“And where did you disappear to last night?” Charlotte turned to pin Susanna with her gaze.
Susanna widened her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Daniel said your mother came to ask Miles to find you because you had disappeared.”
Drat. The brothers must have been together; they were as thick as thieves these days. And of course, Daniel would tell his wife. Susanna shrugged. “I simply left to go see my good friend Clara.”
“Where?”
“At Astley’s if you must know. The ball was terribly boring so I left to have a late supper at the theater.”
Charlotte gently bounced the baby. “I am well aware it was boring. Especially after my best friend left me to make polite conversation with a slew of people I barely know. You know how much I hate these things.”
A pang of guilt flared in Susanna’s chest. She did know how anxious Charlotte felt at large social functions like the Ponsonby’s ball, but Susanna’s purpose for sneaking out to Astley’s had been important. Not that she had gotten to accomplish her mission to speak with Stuart thanks to Hawksridge’s untimely interruption. She squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’m sorry, I thought you were safely with Daniel.”
Charlotte stuck her tongue out at Susanna. “We are not together all the time.”
A guff of laughter came from both Olivia and Diana. Susanna rolled her eyes. “You shouldn’t be laughing Olivia; you and Max are just as bad as the two of them.”
“We have lots of lost time to make up for. Plus, don’t we get an allowance for being newlyweds?”
Susanna sighed with a hand at her heart. “I suppose so.” Then she laughed. “Just teasing. I’m very happy for you both.” She turned back to Charlotte. “And I’m very happy you both are in town this spring. Otherwise, who would I talk to?”
“You know everyone, Susanna.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to socialize with them. Most ladies are practically predatory about eligible gentlemen. Talk about taking things too seriously. I’m not here to compete for their prospects. Any man who is actually interesting is unacceptable in my mother’s opinion. The only man she allows me spend time with is Hawksridge.” Susanna fluttered her eyelashes dramatically. “She thinks he is the perfect gentleman.”
Charlotte giggled. “She’s not wrong. But I do think he is trapped in his own circumstances. Daniel told me that Miles admitted to him that he was weary of the politics in and out of the ballrooms.”
That made Susanna pause. Miles hadn’t ever given any indication that he was unhappy. He always seemed so self-assured.
