I felt a keen urge to turn around before I was seen watching and listening. The conversation was not meant for my ears, and the sight of Mrs. Kellaway in her nightdress was certainly not meant for my eyes.
My thoughts were confirmed by the sharp glance Mrs. Kellaway threw to silence her mother when she spotted me on the staircase. I hurriedly put on an apologetic expression, but Mrs. Everard welcomed it with a smile that was meant to dismiss the situation as ordinary.
“Good morning, my dear. Aren’t you up early?”
My skin tingled with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I was on my way outside for a walk.”
“I will accompany you.” Mrs. Everard’s words came quickly, and her arm was looped around mine before I could say a word.
She nearly dragged me along with her until we were outside the front door. She was surprisingly strong. The grass was coated in dew, and a misty fog rose up from the hills in the distance. She loosened her grip on my arm once we were several paces away from the house.
“Owen ran off to Willowbourne late last night.” She threw her hands in the air. “Heaven knows why.”
I couldn’t hide my disbelief. I hadn’t expected him to make good on his promise so quickly.
But perhaps running away to Willowbourne had been his way of escaping me and my sharp words.
Shame twisted around my heart. “I think I may be the cause,” I said. “I challenged him to visit again because I could see how much he loved the estate. I-I didn’t think he would go so soon.”
Mrs. Everard’s brow lifted before an amused smile touched her lips. “You do not realize the power you have over that man. He would do anything for you.”
My brow pinched. “I don’t think that’s true.”
She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I have never seen anyone so helplessly smitten. I have been in support of this match from the start.”
My confusion intensified, and heat crept over my cheeks. I pinned my hopes to the ground, refusing to allow them to rise any higher. “I don’t understand. You seemed eager to introduce me to Mr. Baines and the other gentlemen.”
She laughed, brushing a grey curl off her forehead. “I confess that was a bit of a scheme on my part. There is nothing like jealousy to make one acutely aware of their feelings. I hoped thatwith a bit of competition, Owen might stop pining for you and offer a proposal.”
My eyes widened. Of all the mischievous people at Kellaway Manor, I never would have guessed that Mrs. Everard was the master. “That is rather devious.” My voice was quiet with shock.
“The devious one is Lady Pembury.” Her nose wrinkled with distaste. “I have never liked her, and I cannot bear the thought of her achieving her objectives. I confess I am glad Owen ran off to Willowbourne. It will be a pleasure to see Lady Pembury’s plans thwarted.” She gave a satisfied smile. “I’m almost certain Owen won’t be away for long, but it should be long enough to convince Miss Charlotte Lyons that he is in love withyouinstead.”
I released a tight breath, my heart beating in my throat. “He is not in love with me, and I have no wish to come between him and Miss Lyons.” I looked down. “I fear I may have said something yesterday to offend him. I think it is more likely that he ran off to escape me, not to appease my wishes.”
I turned and hurried back to the house, eager to escape Mrs. Everard, who seemed to have discovered far too much about my heart. In truth, she had stolen some of it too, right alongside Mr. Everard, and Mrs. Kellaway, and all the beautiful things at Kellaway Manor. It frightened me; it frightened me enough to make my stomach ill, because the more I loved, the more I could lose. And with Miss Charlotte Lyons arriving that day, I could very well lose it all.
I held Peter’s hand on one side, and Charles’s on the other. We waited in the entry hall as a group of footmen descended upon the carriage late that afternoon. I felt uncomfortable with theidea of greeting Alice and Miss Lyons outside with the family, but standing in the entry hall with the servants made me feel just as out of place.
I adjusted my gown and smoothed my hair. Nervousness fluttered violently in my stomach. I straightened my posture and peered out one of the front windows.
Through the glass, between the metal frames, I could see two ladies, arm in arm, walking toward the door. One I recognized as Alice from the portrait gallery. She had the same dark auburn hair as her mother, and it reflected copper in the morning sun like a new penny. I remembered her faintly from my short visit ten years before, but Owen tended to be a bit more memorable.
The other lady, I knew, must have been Miss Charlotte Lyons, but I didn’t get a full look at her until the door opened.
My ears were instantly greeted by the sound of high-pitched laughter. Sunlight and floral scents wafted through the door, then a head crowned with golden hair and a set of large, thoughtful eyes came into view. Miss Lyons had her arm looped through Alice’s, and they laughed together as if sharing a secret joke.
Miss Lyons’s skin was a milky white, without a blemish to be seen. Her hair was thick and smooth and fair. Her eyes were an icy blue. Her gown was lavender, draping flawlessly on her perfect figure. It was trimmed with enough lace and ribbons to make my pink dress from the garden party seem boring.
She looked youthful, perhaps even a year or two younger than me, but certainly far more traveled and experienced. My sense of inferiority heightened. Lady Pembury’s words were gaining credit with each passing second. I had nothing to do but stare, and wait to be awkwardly noticed.
Mrs. Kellaway and the Everards stepped inside next, and Alice embraced her mother with a smile. After she pulled away,her eyes caught on me for the first time, and her brow scrunched together in confusion.
I mustered up a weak smile.
Miss Lyons stared at me too, a curious look on her face. She glanced at my brothers before turning to Mrs. Kellaway. “Who are these children? Are they your nephews?”
“No, the sons of my late friends, the Downings.” She opened her mouth to speak again, but Miss Lyons interrupted.
