15
James watched the little girl and was intrigued by her actions. He strolled across and sat down on the grass encouraging the dogs to come to him. They flopped beside him which meant Eloise stopped skipping about and joined them.
'Sweetheart, why all the arm waving? Is it a special game?'
'I like to run and wave to people. I'm going in now. What is my mama doing?'
'I don't know. I'll come in with you. I've enjoyed our excursion to the garden. I must get a carpenter to build you a treehouse. Would that be something you'd like to play in?'
'A house in a tree, a house for me in a tree.' She giggled and skipped off in front of him still waving her arms around but this time the dogs remained at his side.
They'd only been outside for twenty minutes at the most and he thought it likely those in the breakfast parlour would still be there. He expected his dogs to wait at the door as they always did but they followed him as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be in the hall.
Eloise was standing gazing at the stairs in awe, admiring the hundreds of different intricately carved animals that crowded under the banisters and along the gallery balustrade.
'Why don't you spend time examining them, little one, I think there are more than forty different species.'
She nodded and skipped over to begin her examination. That should occupy her for an hour at least, probably longer.
He was halfway to the wide corridor that led to the dining room and the breakfast parlour when Colette and Annabel came hurrying towards him.
'Thank goodness, my lord,' Colette said obviously ignoring the fact that he'd told them to call him James. 'Lady Charlotte and my sister are having the most frightful set to; she said that Sofia isn't good enough to marry you.'
Annabel joined in. 'Lady Charlotte said that she's in charge of the house now she's here and her first task will be to find you someone more suitable. Sofia took exception to that.'
All desire to smile vanished. 'I'm not surprised she did. Would you please stay with Eloise and my dogs whilst I intervene?'
They nodded and he left them knowing that between the dogs and the two young ladies Eloise would come to no harm. He slowed his pace as he approached the parlour as he wanted to listen to what exactly what was being said and by whom.
'How dare you tell me how to behave, Miss Brotherton. You might be distantly related to us but you're not one of us. You have no education, do not know how to behave in society and are more suited to marrying a farmer than my brother.'
He didn't wait for Sofia to reply but strode in. 'I think you have said more than enough, sister. You're speaking to my future countess. I invited you to make your home with me, I don't recall asking you to run it.'
Charlotte's lips were pinched, the dark grey of her eyes now almost black. 'You're as bad as she is. How did you intend to carry on without a chaperone for these girls? An unmarried gentleman cannot have single ladies living under his roof without someone like me here to stop the gossip.'
'Our grandmother lives here with me. She fulfils the role of chaperone. I invited you here because your husband had just died and I thought a change of scene would be beneficial for all of you. I didn't ask you to run my house, you're my guests.'
Sofia had been listening with interest to this exchange and at the mention of his ancient relative she almost choked into her napkin.
'I'm waiting for you to apologise to my betrothed, Charlotte. And if you wish to remain here permanently then you'll be doing so as a beloved sister, my wife will be in charge.'
Charlotte forced a smile. 'I beg your pardon, Miss Brotherton, if I offended you. I was under the erroneous impression that this wasn't a genuine arrangement between yourself and my brother. After all, did you not just say so yourself?'
This was hardly an acceptable apology but James didn't want to pursue the point as for whatever reason his sister and her children needed his love and support rather than criticism at the moment.
'Sofia, my love, could you possibly spare me a few minutes of your time?'
She nodded. 'Yes, dearest James, I shall come with you right now as I have eaten sufficient to keep me going until luncheon.'
Charlotte flinched. Mentioning one's appetite or lack of it was just not done in polite society. James was beginning to regret his impulsive invitation but even if his sister proved to be an uncomfortable member of the household it was his duty to provide for her. He took his responsibilities seriously.
Sofia was on her feet and he noticed that she was wearing one of her a new gowns. A sprigged muslin of pale blue. He couldn't prevent a quick glance at her feet and her delightful laughter filled the room.
She lifted the hem of her gown. 'There, I have matching slippers. You no longer need to shudder as I clump around the house.'
Showing her ankles, even so small an amount, was another shocking thing to do and he knew it to be deliberate. Whatever his sister felt on the matter, as far as he was concerned, the rules of the ton didn't apply when his young ladies were at home.
This time when he held out his arm she took it willingly obviously enjoying this playacting. He expected her to disengage her arm as soon as they were safely along the corridor and out of sight but she didn't.
