Shaking his head, James headed back to the castle.
“Where have you been?” his mother demanded as soon as he entered the castle. “You were to accompany Faye into Bocka Morrow, yet she returned with that Vail chit.”
James pulled back in offense. “She’s the one who left me behind. Absconded with the carriage if you must know, and I was left to return on foot. If anyone needs a lecture, it’s your daughter.”
His mother harrumphed. “That wouldn’t have happened if you would have kept a better eye on her.”
Bloody hell! Was he expected to dog Faye’s every step?
“I do not like her choice of friends,” she offered. “It’s bad enough when you were chasing that other Vail girl about London last spring, and I will not have my daughter befriended and influenced by another of them.” Venom dripped from her words.
“What exactly do you find so objectionable about Miss Vail?” He’d asked before but his mother was vague in her answer.
“That family is entirely unsuitable to be linked to ours and that is all I will say on the matter.” With that, she turned in a huff, nose in the air and marched off.
James simply shook his head and turned for the billiards room, in much need of brandy.
* * *
Diana hadn’t wantedto return to Keyvnor the next day, but Adam forced her to do so, reminding her that they’d promised to be in attendance for the afternoon lawn games.
Why couldn’t Charlotte deliver their child now? That would require Adam to remain at Hollybrook Park as he’d not want to be too far from his wife, then Diana would remain as well…But the babe wasn’t due for another month, by their estimation. Far enough away that Adam could join in the wedding festivities, but too close to delivery for Charlotte to be seen in public.
When they arrived at the castle, they were directed to the gardens and back lawn where guests had already gathered to participate in the various outdoor games about to get underway. While her brother and sisters discussed which games they’d like to participate in, and with whom, Diana decided not to join them. Normally she’d enjoy the activities but today Diana’s heart was not in the entertainments. Not when Somerton seemed to be unaffected by what they’d learned. She watched as he laughed and talked with several misses, even flirted with some.
Had he now decided to find love? Was it for himself or did he wish to help Lady Isolda?
Not that it mattered one way of the other and Diana should be happy that he wasn’t bothering her.
“Miss Vail, something must be done. Time runs short,” Sir Orwen hissed in her ear.
“If you do not find love within the next few days, we will be stuck here for at least another year,” Sir Gilbert pleaded.
“Or longer. Nobody else has seen us since 1765. Must we be forced to wait another forty or fifty years?”
“Must we be doomed to relive that fateful night every Summer Solstice?”
These last words startled her, remembering the story Madam Boswell had told her. “You must do so every year?” Diana asked.
“Yes, every single year and it’s grown quite tiring,” Sir Orwen complained.
“I’m sorry that you must suffer so, but if falling in love was so easy, I would have done so by now,” Diana whispered.
“But you did find love,” Sir Gilbert reminded her.
“I only thought I had. It turned out not to be the case.”
“Can you not at least try for our sake?” Sir Orwen demanded.
As they grew closer to the summer solstice, he grew crankier. Not that Diana could blame him. If she’d been stuck living at Keyvnor for three hundred years, she’d be quite testy too. And now, to know that they must relive that night must be quite torturous indeed since they knew how it would end. Why, she’d be terrified to relive such an experience even a second time, let alone three hundred.
“Fine,” she quietly agreed, but only because she felt sorry for them. “I’ll talk to the bachelors and see if one of them might do.”
“No,” Sir Gilbert cried. “It can’t be just anyone. It must be him.” He nodded toward Somerton.
“That’s not true,” Diana argued. “Madam Boswell said that it didn’t have to be the gentleman Lady Isolda found.”
Sir Orwen snorted. “She is mistaken. It must be you and it must be him for you are the only ones who see us. If you fall in love with anyone other than each other the curse will not be broken.”
