“Of course not,” her grandmother stammered before she quickly took a sip of tea.
Lucinda narrowed her eyes. “You are saying it is just a coincidence?”
“Yes…yes…of course.”
Lucinda nearly snorted in disbelief. “Is it so important that I marry that Father doesn’t care who it is?”
“You need to give serious consideration to your future,” her father announced from the entry.
“By starting at the beginning of the alphabet and going through them until I find one I like?”
At her indignation, His Grace looked to his mother and frowned. “Whatever is most expedient.”
Lucinda focused on her grandmother as suspicion grew. Was this her doing?
“Wewillgo through each and every letter, if need be, until you’re settled,” he added decisively.
Maybe they were in this together…No! Lucinda couldn’t accept that her grandmother would choose gentlemen in such a manner. Grandmother knew the importance of love, because she’d lost her one, true love before they could wed, so she shouldn’t expect Lucinda to settle for anything less.
“If you had given serious consideration to your gentlemen callers in London, this wouldn’t be necessary,” her father added. “You’ve hadfourseasons.”
She had given them serious consideration. Unfortunately, she found those callers no more interesting than the ten lords her father had invited to Forester Hall. “These gentlemen,” she held up the list, waving it, “are dandies, filled with self-importance, and most will likely spend more time at their toilette than I do.”
“They are lords,” her grandmother reminded her. “What use do they need to have, besides being a husband and provider of protection and security?”
How could the woman who still mourned her great love, decades after his death, expect her to settle for so little? “If I can’t marry for love, I’d at least like my husband to be an enjoyable companion. These gentlemen are boring.”
“How could you possibly know?” her grandmother tsked.
“None of them have had anything of interest to say when we’ve spoken previously.”
“Yes, well, those encounters occurred in a London social setting, which is far different than a house party, as you know. You might find a few who are not as they put forth before theton.”
Lucinda certainly hoped that was the case or the next ten days were going to be the dullest ever to be imagined.
“Excuse me, Your Grace.”
The housekeeper hovered near the entrance wringing her hands.
Lucinda sat forward. Mrs. Wetherly was not one to hover or worry, yet clearly, she was distraught.
“Yes?” grandmother asked.
“It’s the servants, Your Grace. Several have failed to return after going into the village yesterday.”
“We are to have guests.” Grandmother glanced at the clock. “They’ll be upon us in a few hours.”
“Are you telling me thatallof our servants went to the village yesterday?” Lucinda’s father barked. “Why would they all do so?”
“Not all, Your Grace,” the housekeeper answered. “A few remained to attend to duties here, but the majority did attend the Servants’ Assembly, as you gave them leave to do so.”
“Blast! I’d forgotten,” he grumbled. “That doesn’t explain why they haven’t returned.”
“A footman for Mr. Harley, who hadn’t been feeling well, decided that he didn’t wish to miss the celebration and attended anyway.”
“That still doesn’t explain whymyservants are missing.”
“That’s just it, Your Grace.” She worried her hands even further. “He collapsed at the assembly and the doctor proclaimed him to have the measles.”
