“Splendid indeed,” exclaimed the other man, clapping Piers enthusiastically on the back.“How are you, Withy?”
“Without a crease to his coatandhe remembered his cravat,” the lady said teasingly.“The man is clearly married.”
Piers, who had been grinning between the two men, glanced at her in some surprise.April tensed, unable to help him.Piers would do what he always did in such circumstances: smile vaguely and politely until conversation made it clear who she was and if he was expected to know her.Though by her joking demeanour, they were indeed well acquainted.
And Piers knew it after the first instant of blankness, even before she offered her very slightly trembling hand.
A rare hint of colour seeped along the blade of his cheekbone.“Miss Algernon.”He took her hand, hastily bowing over it.
“My Lord Petteril, I believe,” Miss Algernon said in apparent amusement.
And yet April knew she was not amused at all.There was a strange edge to Miss Algernon’s voice, and the tension was almost palpable, although it only lasted an instant.
“We are betrothed,” Dr.Hale said with what seemed unnecessary firmness.
And with that, Piers smiled properly and clappedhimon the back.His social grace snapped back into place.“Let me present you all to my wife.April, this is Professor Algernon, his daughter Miss Claudia Algernon, and Dr.Joseph Hale.My wife, April, Lady Petteril.”
He drew April forward as he spoke, nothing but shy pride in his voice, which was something of a pathetic relief to April.Her heart was beating too fast, her head spinning with dismay, not so much because there was clearly some kind of past between her husband and Miss Algernon that they were all acknowledging in different ways, but because Piers had never mentioned any of this to his wife.
“How do you do?”April said in her best, carefully learned social manner.She even curtseyed and offered her hand to each of them.Their eyes were all curious, but the woman’s were especially assessing.If neither Mal nor Meg were aware of April’s true background, Miss Algernon most certainly was.
“Come inside,” April said, seeking refuge in hospitality.“I hope your journey was not too arduous?”
“It is only a few hours’ drive from Oxford,” Miss Algernon said, “which I believe is why Piers chose it.”
So they are on first name terms.“We were just having tea.”
Casually, Piers had stepped in front of the somewhat arrogant footman, who carried a large trunk on his shoulder and was clearly heading for the front door.Whatever Piers said to him, the footman’s expression became a silenttut.But at least he turned aside and changed direction toward the side of the house.
Now that April thought of it, baggage at gentlemen’s houses was never brought in the front door.Were the servants here ignorant?Or simply lazy?
April led the way inside while behind her, the men and Miss Algernon were chatting away about changes in various colleges, interspersed with occasional laughter at jokes she didn’t understand.She sent one of the maids scurrying for fresh tea, which at least arrived promptly just as everyone was comfortably seated.
As hostess, April poured the tea—a ceremony which she had grown quite used to now and which, with only Mal and Meg to consider, she had barely noticed.But now the stakes seemed ridiculously higher.She felt watched and weighed as she poured cups of tea for the newcomers and then freshened the cups of Piers and Mal.Meg ferried cups and plates to each of their guests.
Finally, amidst the men’s banter, April topped up Meg’s cup and her own, while the sandwiches and honey cakes circulated.Another problem occurred to her.
“Have you seen the bedchambers yet?”she asked Meg quietly.“I have no idea where to put everyone.”
“There are more rooms made up than we need, so Miss Algernon’s arrival is no problem,” Meg replied.“I’ll show you, if you like, and you can decide where everyone should go.”
“Thank you.”April took a last sip of tea and rose.“Excuse me while I see to the accommodation,” she said to the company at large.She had no idea if anyone heard her.It just felt something of a relief to be out of the room, which dismayed her somewhat.She had to remind herself that this had been her idea.It was for Piers, who missed his friends, and who deserved these two weeks among them.
“This is clearly the master’s bedchamber,” Meg said, throwing wide the double doors to a dark, masculine room of cumbersome old furniture and heavy hangings.“The mistress’s room has a separate entrance but there is a connecting door.I told them to put your and Lord Petteril’s trunks here.”
The mistress’s room was at least brighter and comfortable looking.
“Perfect,” April said.
Together, she and Meg flitted from room to room.She decided on the next best room for Professor Algernon, a pretty, feminine one for his daughter, and another suitable for Dr.Hale.
Encountering the footman, she directed him where to put the new baggage.“What is your name, by the way?”
“Edward, ma’am.”
“My lady,” April corrected from instinct.She almost laughed at herself, but this was Piers’s world, and she would tolerate no disrespect to him through her.“Now, who else do we have to accommodate?Mr.and Mrs.Hubble, and Mr.Fosterson...”
She and Meg walked further along the wide passage, past an alcove containing two tall, ornate silver candlesticks on a marble topped table with curly legs.April opened the door next to it and glanced inside.
