My hand met my face as I pinched my brow against the rising headache.
“I’ll send the carriage back for Aunt Prudence. Would you mind calling for it?”
She scurried off to do just that, and I was left alone with Celine. She dampened a cloth from the nearby basin and attempted to remove the sticky residue of the lemonade.
She moved with an indefinable grace, each action used sparingly to elegant effect.
Her gown was a deep aubergine color with little in the way of embellishment. It displayed more than a little décolleté while managing to remain on the correct side of modest. Her gold curls were clearly natural but styled effortlessly in the latest fashion. I couldn’t help but feel that such a woman, the very definition of poise, would never slop lemonade all down the back of her gown or the front of a gentleman—oh lord, the gentleman.
“May I ask if you’re familiar with the gentleman I accosted?”
“I am… acquainted with his brother. He is Lord Grayson. He’s a bit… young.”
“Young?”
“He’s only one and twenty, I believe. He could have used a few more years before he came into the title.”
“I’m not certain I understand.”
“You will when you’re older. I would not set my sights on him if I were you. I expect it will be some years before he joins the marriage fray.”
“Oh, I wasn’t. I wouldn’t—not after that display. He is quite handsome though.”
That drew a lyrical laugh from her. “More so, even than his brother. I still prefer the brother though.”
Lady Davina rushed back into the room just then. “The carriage is readied. I let your aunt know you’ve had to return home due to a wardrobe mishap. She seems to have missed the display—or is feigning ignorance—regardless, she has no issue with your absence.”
“I very much doubt that, but thank you nonetheless.”
She winced. Confirming my suspicion that Aunt Prudence hadn’t been as effective in hiding her displeasure as she intended.
“We will have to sneak you out through the servants’ quarters. I hope you don’t mind terribly?”
“Oh no, I think I’d much rather go out through the ballroom.”
“Really? Because I don’t think—”
“She was joking, Dav. She is a funny one. I quite like her.”
“Oh, all right then. Shall we?”
Lady Davina held out an arm for me to take. Lady Rycliffe covered my back with her shawl once more before taking my other arm. Together they led me out to the waiting carriage. Lady Rycliffe refused the wrap when we reached the carriage, instead encouraging me to keep it. As the carriage pulled away, I released a long-trapped sigh. At least I couldn’t possibly humiliate myself worse in the future.
Three
GRAYSON HOUSE, LONDON - OCTOBER 3, 1812
HUGH
I awoke with the sun.The previous evening ended earlier than anticipated and I hoped to use the additional time to review correspondence from my solicitor and steward. Unfortunately, the increase in hours of sleep did not result in an increased sensation of rest. The words swam across the page, nonsensical and blurred.
A sharp rap startled me, and I sloshed fresh coffee over my thumb with a pained curse. My youngest brother’s knock was a deliberate performance, delivered to the desk instead of the door. Pointedly.
I was, in point of fact, aware that I was staring out the window instead of at the letters. It was hardly necessary for him to make a show of it. Three cups of coffee had left me an uncomfortable combination of bored, exhausted, and jittery. It was not worth the energy necessary to check him.
“Afternoon. Anna gave me these for you,” Tom said. He handed over a plate of sandwiches, grabbing several for himself before settling them into a pile directly on the desk in front of him.
“Why did she not deliver them herself?” The maids should not hand off duties to family members.
