She glanced toward Mr.Avery, who was looking in her direction.
For a moment, they locked eyes.
Did he know and understand these rules? Or was he like her—playing a role?
She snapped her attention back to Mr.Fielding. Determined to take control of the conversation, she asked, “Have you visited Cloverton Hall before?”
Mr. Fielding shook his head, disheveling his thinning, auburn-tinged hair even further. “Never, although I must say that it farexceeds my expectations. I’ve heard Wainbridge speak of it often over the last several months, and in nearly each instance I accused him of exaggeration. But now that I’m here, I must say his descriptions of it hardly did it justice. And you? Have you ever been here?”
“No.”
“I only wondered because Wainbridge said you are closely acquainted with Mrs.Milton, who, if I am not mistaken, is the widow of Cloverton Hall’s former master.” He lowered his voice to a rough whisper and leaned uncomfortably close to her ear. “I know her reputation as a leader in society, but I hear she’s quite a beastly woman to be around.”
Olivia retracted from his nearness and scooted her chair back as discreetly as she could manage, unsure of how to respond to his blunt statement. She knew one thing for certain: she would not be drawn in. Goodness, she didn’t even know Mrs.Milton; she would not engage in a conversation about her, especially a negative one. She tossed her head, giving an attempt at an air of confidence, and shrugged one shoulder. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your meaning, sir.”
“Don’t you?” He dragged his napkin over his thin lips. “Well then. You must be privy to knowing something about Mrs.Milton that the rest of us do not.”
She hesitated and stared down at her plate.
“There now, I caught you!” he exclaimed heartily. “Very well, you can keep your secret, for I’ll find it out by the end of the party. In the meantime, I’m endeavoring to stay in her good graces.”
Olivia decided in that moment that she did not care for Mr. Fielding. There was no need to be quiet or shy with her response. After all, he would never see her again after this. Shecould, for the night, be his equal until such a point that she was not. “Endeavoring? Am I to take it, then, that your normal behavior would inherently cause her to think ill of you?”
His exuberant laughter rose above the other conversations, and he wagged a finger at her. “You are quite a perceptive little bird. Quite perceptive indeed. But you’re attempting to change the subject, and that I simply will not allow.”
His voice was barely above a whisper now. “Wainbridge told me everything. How the old woman despises him—indeed, how she despises the entire group gathered—but she has no other choice but to play hostess because she has nowhere else to live.”
Olivia couldn’t hold back the rise of her brows.
“See? That did get a reaction.”
“Of course it did. I think it very uncouth of you to say such cruel things.”
“I am only repeating what was said to me.” Mr.Fielding raised his hands to proclaim innocence. “But you’re right. It wasuncouth, as you put it. Forgive me. Besides, we should be grateful, shouldn’t we? She is, after all, our hostess. If not for her, so many anxious mamas and overbearing guardians might not have consented to allow their daughters to join in the party. And then where would the fun be? And at the end of the day, we’re all rogues. But at least I am not the worst.”
When Olivia did not immediately respond, Mr.Fielding pushed back in his chair and heaved a dramatic sigh. “Oh dear. I’ve offended.”
Olivia met his gaze. “You’ve not offended me, Mr.Fielding, but I’d caution you to remember that people are not always what they appear to be.”
“Isn’t that the beauty of it?” His gray eyes twinkled. “I’d dare anyone here to really show their true selves.”
A sharp rebuttal simmered on the tip of her tongue—but she did not allow it to pass. It was no use—the man was intoxicated.
As if suddenly bored with her, Mr.Fielding turned and began speaking to the lady on his other side.
Grateful for the reprieve, Olivia took a sip of the claret in front of her.I am not really a part of this. These people are not my friends.
She cast a glance over to Mrs.Milton, who was no longer speaking to the gentleman on the other side of her. She was, instead, staring at a painting on the far wall. Silently. Solemnly. The nearby candlelight flickered and cast light on her withered, wan cheek, emphasizing the lines and the wrinkles there.
In that moment Olivia’s empathy ached for Mrs.Milton. The dynamic between the older and younger generations was tense, and Mrs.Milton was facing it alone.
In a welcome distraction Mr.Wainbridge stood from his chair at the table’s end and lifted his hands, and the group fell silent. All eyes turned to their affable host, whose genuine enthusiasm and unmistakable charisma lit the space.
“My dear friends, let me take this opportunity to welcome you to Cloverton Hall. I know it’s not always easy to travel all this way and be away from your lives for so long, but I have been so eager to share Cloverton with you. While you are here, please enjoy yourselves. Tomorrow the gentlemen will take to the outdoors, and my sister and aunt have been busy planning activities for the ladies. A special guest will be arriving tomorrow, and we’ll all attend the Whitmores’ ball later this week. Before our firstdinner together comes to an end, I also want to thank my aunt, Mrs. Milton, for agreeing to act as our hostess for the week. Her knowledge and reputation are beyond compare.”
Olivia shifted and looked to the older woman, whose expression remained dour. At length, she stood. “Now, ladies, let us take that as our cue to withdraw and leave the gentlemen to their port. MissBrannon, take my arm.”
Olivia, surprised by the invitation, rose to her feet, and Mrs.Milton placed her hand on Olivia’s arm. It was odd after being ignored that Mrs.Milton would point her out, but in truth, Olivia was grateful to feel as if there was a place for her.
