“You must never serve yourself from this day forward. The wonderful thing about my efficient staff is that you shall never have to lift a finger.”
I cast my gaze around the table as the footman lowered my plate to the table in front of me. I wasn’t certain my stomach could hold any food at the moment. Victoria’s fork paused, her jaw hanging open. Before that morning, Lady Tottenham had only ever utilized servants for her own benefit. She seemed to enjoy stirring up gossip prior to her announcement. I could tell by the smirk on her lips.
“Eat, child. You look like a ghost.”
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Lady Tottenham was the one who had practically matched her white sheets the day before. How had she managed to regain so much energy?
I stabbed at a slice of nectarine with my fork. My grip loosened when I looked up at the doorway. Alexander strode into the room. He wore a light blue waistcoat with a navy jacket—the same jacket he had draped over my shoulders the night before. I stared down at my plate before he could meet my eyes, my pulse picking up speed. Lady Tottenham knew that our ruse was over, but what would the other guests think if Alexander and I began ignoring one another?
They might not even notice. They would soon have a much larger piece of gossip to chew on.
Lady Tottenham perked up in her chair, watchful eyes examining the entire room. I didn’t dare look up from the table. I could feel Alexander’s gaze on me as he passed. He must have taken a seat, because Lady Tottenham spoke in a loud voice. “Now that you are all present, there is a very important announcement I should like to make.”
Taking a gulp from my glass of water, I prepared for the scrutiny I was soon to be under. I straightened my spine. I offered my hand when Lady Tottenham rose shakily to her feet.
“On your first day at Birch House, I offered all of you one vital piece of information. Not only would we play many games during the course of the party, but the entire party itself has been a game. I watched for those among you who showed the most wit, the most independence, and determination. Some of you received clues and riddles. Some of those riddles went unsolved or ignored, but Lady Daventry played my game to the end. She showed that she was dedicated enough to win my prize.”
I met Octavia’s gaze. She did not look pleased.
“Lord Tottenham and I were never blessed with children of our own, but our wealth has multiplied fruitfully enough, given my wise investments in the past decades. But my physician has recently informed me that my health is in rapid decline, so I was forced to face the question of whom to name as the sole beneficiary of my will. Lord Tottenham’s fondness for games led me to the idea of organizing a competition amongst my acquaintances, with the prize unbeknownst to any of you. If you had known what you were competing for, there would have been bloodshed.” She laughed, placing one hand on my shoulder. “Alas, Lady Daventry was the only one to solve my puzzle, and so I have named her the heiress of Birch House and my fifty thousand pounds. Let us all give her a congratulatory round of applause.”
The shock in the room was palpable. The air was too thick to inhale. Mrs. Pike gasped, and Victoria choked on her water.
Mr. Lymington was the first one to applaud. The others joined him one at a time. The scattered, bewildered clapping made me want to sink into my chair and disappear. The overall reaction was shock, but I sensed the immediate regret of all the women at my table. Mr. Lymington was the only person smiling. Mr. Hatcher put his head in his hands.
I accidentally looked at Alexander. His shock was written all over his face.
Lady Tottenham continued, “Lady Daventry solved my puzzle much more quickly than I expected. Nevertheless, we shall not dissolve the house party just yet. You are all welcome for the remainder of the week as promised, so long as you keep the rules and offer your full participation. You may have noticed that Lord Kirkham, Mr. St. Vincent, and Mr. Barnwall were…eliminated, if you will. They declined my invitation to a midnight game.” She sighed. “At any rate, we shall carry on with another diverting day. The game is over, but the party continues. Tonight I will hold a ball celebrating my new heiress. You are all welcome to attend, of course.”
She settled into her chair. She appeared completely unaffected by the sense of dismay in the room. She knew that none of the guests dared question her. I aspired to her level of confidence. She spread a large dollop of orange marmalade on her toast before taking a bite.
“Congratulations, my lady.” Mrs. Pike’s voice was kind, but her eyes shone with envy. Her modest living could have benefitted from such a fortune, to be sure. I was not more deserving than Mrs. Pike, or Victoria, or anyone else. The inheritance felt like nothing short of charity, and I had never been comfortable with receiving that from anyone.
“How did you solve the riddle?” Victoria asked with an awed expression. “Octavia and I had clues of our own, but we never finished.”
“The key was the most difficult bit,” I said. “It was hidden in the hexagon room.”
“I thought so!” Victoria stabbed at her plate with frustration. “We must have been close to finding it ourselves. Tell us more.”
I told them the entire story. I was overly aware of Alexander from the corner of my eye, observing the conversation. I felt guilty for being the sole beneficiary when he had accompanied me on so many of my quests for the riddles. I wanted to discuss all the details with him and to hear his thoughts on the matter. He must have been eager to speak with me, but I was surrounded.
The attention from the others was just as suffocating. Finally, Lady Tottenham excused everyone but me from the breakfast room without any manner of subtlety. The prattle seemed to be overburdening her as well.
My stomach sank when Alexander stood from his seat at the table. I nearly jumped out of my chair to follow him. The awkwardness between us had to be resolved somehow. I was slowly drowning in it.
When the room was empty, Lady Tottenham leaned toward me. “One of my connections has made a publication this morning that might interest you.” She waved a footman forward, whispering an intelligible request. Less than a minute later, he returned to the room with a silver salver. A document rested on top.
Lady Tottenham gestured for me to take it. My eyes widened when I read the name of the column.
September 10, 1818
A widow nearing the age of thirty wouldbe a subject of pity if she were to enter the marriage mart this Season. However, one such widow could prove to be the greatest competition to any young debutante with or without a sizeable dowry. It has come to my attention that the widow of the late Baron of Daventry has been named heiress of Birch House of Lockhart Square. Prepare, my dear reader, to be further astonished. Lady Daventry will also inherit the respectable widow Lady Tottenham’s entire fortune of fifty thousand pounds.
During the course of a house party hosted by Lady Tottenham herself, fourteen guests were presented with the challenge of playing a series of games, solving riddles, and remaining in Lady Tottenham’s favor. I, and many others, will surely find the method quite peculiar, though the outcome cannot be argued with. In the end, Lady Daventry prevailed. Will she join the marriage mart this season? A fine beauty, an accomplished mind, and fifty thousand will make her an incomparable this Season. She has won a life-altering prize. Now the true question remains: Who will win her hand?
My sources have informed me that this very fortunate woman will not settle for less than true love. Has someone already stolen her heart? Or is it available for the taking?Mr. Alexander Holland, a fellow guest at Birch House, has already been in steady pursuit of Lady Daventry. I suspect he is soon to have a great deal of competition.
For an article written by Lady Teignmouth, I was surprised by the lack of insults. The final lines brought a wave of heat to my cheeks. My fake courtship with Alexander was never meant to spread outside of Birch House, but now all of London would learn of it. I exhaled through my lips. “How did Lady Teignmouth discover the news so quickly?” I whispered.
