Caleb had only seen him at the top of the cliffs. Then he frowned. “I wasn’t aware Lord Epworth was in residence.”
“He’s in the dower house with his wife. They didn’t want to be in the manor with all the guests.”
Caleb had noted the cottage and wondered who was living there.
“As I told you, none of my siblings wished to be present and found reasons to be elsewhere.”
“My siblings would have probably abandoned me as well,” he admitted.
“I wish you would have joined us for luncheon.”
“I would not think to sully your court with my presence.” As much as he was coming to adore Lady Lucinda, she was the daughter of a duke and he was a mister from New Orleans and was aware of the hierarchy of Society. It didn’t matter that his brother would one day be a duke. It mattered that Caleb would not be.
“You would be a welcome relief to the tedium, I can assure you.”
He’d witnessed some of the fawning when he was about, not that he remained for long. He didn’t have the patience. Nor could he bring himself to behave in that manner.
“Perhaps at a later time,” he offered, but would make no commitment. In truth, Caleb wanted her all to himself without having to compete with lords better suited to marry the daughter of a duke. As there was nothing he could offer Lady Lucinda, he’d kept his distance no matter how much he was drawn to her.
What he also knew, with complete certainty, was that none of her leaping lords would ever make her happy.
“Then I suppose that it is up to me to find you when I tire of them.”
“I’m certain you have more entertaining options available,” he suggested, though he was glad not to be included with the others in this instance.
“I can assure you, there is little to hold my interest as my grandmother keeps with your aunts when not required to chaperone and my father locks himself away in the library, so there is little for me to do.” She tilted her head. “Though, I could visit my sister-in-law, Miranda, but Wesley would only make me leave as I’m to be here, not there.”
“Is it so difficult, being around them?” Caleb asked quietly as the two strolled to the Head Gamekeeper’s cottage. Beside it was a smoke house and barn where he slaughtered and dressed the game.
“Not for short periods of time, I suppose.” She sighed. “But none of them seem to be able to listen.” Then she went on to describe being ignored when she didn’t wish for a shawl, or didn’t wish for tea, or didn’t wish to play a game of Whist. “Most behave as if they know what I need better than I do. It’s all quite aggravating if you must know.”
The Head Gamekeeper stepped out of the smoke house. “Lady Lucinda.” He offered a slight bow. “I’d not seen you in these parts before.”
She glanced around. “No, I suppose not, as I’ve not had cause to visit.”
“Is there anything I can get for you?”
“No, nothing. I was simply accompanying Mr. Copeland.”
Caleb held out the sack to the Head Gamekeeper. “I hope these will suffice.” He then also handed over the rifle as he’d not need it further.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“If you need me to hunt again, I’m happy to do so.”
“Only if you wish to participate in the activity, as you are a guest of the manor.” The Head Gamekeeper quickly glanced to Lady Lucinda. “Mr. Copeland asked to be of assistance, Lady Lucinda. I did not ask it of him.”
“I’m well aware of how Mr. Copeland has been assisting about the estate.” She laughed. “If our guests wish to hunt, then they shall hunt.”
They turned to make their way back to the manor. “I do wish you’d join us for luncheon, Mr. Copeland.”
For a moment, he almost agreed, but then recalled who would also share the table with him and declined the offer. Lady Lucinda had much more patience with the pompous asses that remained, and Caleb feared he might overstep again, as he’d done with the removal of Lord E, not that he was sorry for having done so.
Eight
It wasLord H who got on her last nerve. Because it had been decreed that she’d spend time with each gentleman individually, she’d been forced to listen to an ode to her eyes and then one to her hair. Lucinda stopped him before he could read any more of his poems.
She nearly begged him to share with her his interests, passions, what he liked to do for pleasure, only to learn that all of his time would be spent devoted to her as he was wealthy enough that he need not do anything else.
