Eventually they all finished their tea and rose. Lady Westinghouse began a conversation with Kirkwood and Clarissa. This left Miss Westinghouse to draw Mrs. Manning to the window across the room and motion to the beautiful expanse of the garden that was in view, as well as the rolling hills beyond. Unlike when his intended spoke to him, Miss Westinghouse was animated with her sister. And Mrs. Manning was certainly more at ease with her sister, smiling, though the expression was tight and remained troubled.
“You said there was some trouble at the old castle site.”
George jumped as he realized his parents had joined him at the sideboard while he watched the two women talk. “Er, yes. It’s all fine now.”
“Good.” His father shook his head. “I’ll speak to Carson and Ward later and verify it.”
George forgot his confusion about Mrs. Manning’s reaction to him and pursed his lips. That was his father. Despite the fact that George was near thirty and a viscount in his own right, the earl still sometimes treated him like he was ten. “If you feel you must,” he said softly.
His mother slid her hand through his elbow and gently squeezed. He glanced down at her, softening his expression.
“If you’ll all excuse me,” the earl said to the room at large, bent his head toward his wife and then slipped from the room.
George sighed. “I suppose he’ll believe Carson and Ward at least.”
His mother shrugged. “I doubt he’ll believe anyone until he looks at the shoes of the horses, then inspects the site himself. You know how he is.”
“Heavy handed?” George said. “Indeed, I do.”
His mother’s frown deepened and he shook his head. He shouldn’t grouse and give her troubles. He smiled at her. “How are you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m very well,” she said. “You needn’t worry yourself.”
“I should and I will, we both know it.” They held glances for a moment and then it became too oppressive. He looked toward the women at the window again. “And so all of Miss Westinghouse’s family is now here with us.”
His mother followed his stare. “Indeed. Alice’s sister is a lovely woman, don’t you think? It’s clear they are very close, despite Lady Westinghouse’s little comments to the contrary.”
George let out a long sigh. His future mother-in-law was another issue entirely. The widowed viscountess could be severe with her daughter, and was a gossip when it came to anyone else. Including her stepdaughter. George mostly blocked it out, but he wasn’t immune to facts.
“The woman is lovely, there is no denying that,” George mused softly as Mrs. Manning brushed a lock of dark hair away from her cheek gently and smiled at her sister as she bubbled away.
“And she’s so warm,” his mother continued.
George arched a brow at that. Mrs. Manning had exhibited none of that warmth toward him, but he didn’t say it. What would be the point? It would only trouble his mother more and he didn’t want to add strain to her at present.
“They do seem close,” George said, and tried to think if he’d ever heard his fiancée speak to him with any detail about her sister before. She must have, but he couldn’t recall. That was often the way of their conversations, unfortunately. They were pleasant enough, but never stuck out in his mind. Sometimes it felt like they were both just trying to get through them and move on.
God, the idea that this would be the rest of his life was like a vise around his chest. He had to try harder. Had to do better and forget the past. Especially the recent past that had been distracting him the last few days. Thoughts of a woman in a mask, arched beneath him in shattering release.
“No,” he muttered, and his mother tilted her head.
“What was that, dearest?”
“Nothing, Mama. Just woolgathering,” he said with a shake of his head.
His mother’s brow wrinkled, but then she released his arm and moved toward Miss Westinghouse and Mrs. Manning. “You must be so tired from your travels, Mrs. Manning. May I have someone show you to your chamber to let you rest?”
Unlike with him, Mrs. Manning did show enormous warmth toward his mother as she stepped away from her sister. “Oh, thank you, Lady Pembrooke. I do admit I could use a moment.” She gave George the slight glance, but immediately drew it away. “Though I do look forward to our families forming even closer bonds during the next few weeks before the…the happy day of the wedding.”
Her voice wavered a little on the wordhappy. It was almost imperceptible, but George noted it.
“As do we all,” Clarissa said, coming to take Mrs. Manning’s hand and give it a squeeze.
He knew his cousin well and it was obvious she liked Mrs. Manning. Normally that would be enough for him to judge her as worthy. And yet there was something troubled between them when there shouldn’t be.
His mother went to the door and rang the bell. A maid appeared almost instantly and was given instructions to take Mrs. Manning to her chamber. She gave smiles all around until she reached George, then she barely inclined her head and rushed from the room.
He shook his head before the rest started to depart, separating off to do whatever they would do until supper. He moved to the window where Mrs. Manning had been standing and looked out on the same vista she had been examining. There had to be a reason she was so odd with him. He intended to find out what it was, if only for the sake of the marriage that was coming. It wouldn’t do to have this woman dislike him, and he’d always been adept at bringing others to his side. He’d figure out a way to charm her.
