“You are wasting your time, Miss….”
“Lady Isolda,” she offered.
“Lady Isolda,” he acknowledged. “My heart already belongs to Ladies Madeline and Lucy.”
The ghost brightened. “Please, point them out and I’ll see what I can do to facilitate a love match.”
“My nieces,” he clarified. “They already hold my heart and there is no room for any other lady.”
“While I admire your affection for the children, being a favored uncle will not lead to love for you.”
“On the contrary, they love me very much.”
“Why are gentlemen so impossible?” Lady Isolda pouted as she settled on a bench.
James crossed his arms over his chest, hoping that she’d finally give up on him and find someone else to bother. “It’s in our nature, I suppose.”
“Yes, well, if it’s the last thing I do, I will see you loved by an age-appropriate miss in need of a husband.”
“Last thing you do?” He laughed. “Aren’t you already dead?”
“Yes, well,” she picked at her skirt. “The last thing I’ll do while bound to this earth.” Lady Isolda stood and fisted her hands on her hips. “Do not make this difficult for me or I will make life very unpleasant for you.”
* * *
Diana fearedSomerton would be present since he was a relation to the bride, but she’d also hoped that he couldn’t be bothered enough to pull himself from London. Unfortunately, he was the first gentleman she’d noticed when she stepped into the gardens behind Castle Keyvnor.
Why was he standing alone, and why did he appear irritated?
Their eyes met, and a moment later he turned, crossed to the opposite side of the garden and exited onto the wooden path as if he couldn’t get away from her quickly enough.
Diana ignored the stab to her heart and reminded herself that she should be thankful that he didn’t wish to have anything to do with her, as she certainly had no intention of speaking with the likes of him.
“This is a disappointment,” her sister Miranda whined.
It was a lovely day, the Keyvnor gardens were in bloom and there were several acquaintances from London present. “What is disappointing?”
“I’d hoped to see at least one ghost, but they are absent.”
Miranda had had a fascination with ghosts since she was a child. She’d even gone so far to insist that one lived in the attics of Hollybrook Park. Miranda hadn’t mentioned the Captain in years so Diana assumed she’d gotten over her imagination, yet it didn’t keep her from looking for ghosts elsewhere, including in the oldest homes in London during balls, and anytime they were even near Castle Keyvnor. In fact, every time they had reason to be on Keyvnor land, Miranda intentionally dawdled and believed if she remained long enough, a ghost would finally make an appearance to her.
“Though, I do believe that ghosts can wait.” A small smile pulled at Miranda’s lips as she nodded toward two gentlemen who stood in discussion. One just happened to be the Marquess of Epworth. Miranda had set her cap on Epworth during her first Season, but as far as Diana knew, only a friendship had developed over the past few years. Even Society had commented on their close friendship when they’d realized that the two were not a love match because they were seen in each other’s company so often.
“Why did Adam make us come here?” her sister, Cordelia complained quietly. “He knows I don’t like partaking in polite conversation.”
Adam was their older half-brother, Viscount Lynwood, as well as their guardian, and he knew Cordelia would rather be home reading. And, when stuck in conversation, she much preferred it involved the sciences or history, or anything really, so long as neither fashion nor weather was mentioned. Gentlemen rarely participated in such discussions with her, or any female to Diana’s knowledge, which Cordelia found quite vexing and would proclaim to anyone who listened that her mind was not made of fluff.
“I find it to be a rather delightful gathering,” Adriana announced as she glanced about. Adriana was the youngest of the sisters and had recently turned eighteen.
“You find everything delightful,” Cordelia grumbled. “Once you’ve suffered through a Season, no doubt your opinion shall change.”
“A word my lady?” Sir Orwen appeared before Diana and it was all she could do not to scream in frustration—at her sisters and at the ghosts. When the knights hadn’t appeared before her when she crossed onto Keyvnor land, she’d hoped that they’d finally given up.
“Miss Vail you are quite fetching in the pale-blue gown.” Sir Gilbert materialized before her. “The way the light reflects off your sun-kissed hair is quite brilliant with the way the golds shimmer within your curls. And your face, such beauty for my old, tired eyes. There is not another in all the land to match your beauty.” Sir Gilbert bowed deeply.
He bowed so often Diana had to wonder if he’d done the same when he was still alive, and if so, why hadn’t he developed a permanent curve to his spine.
However, despite the two being in front of her, Diana did not acknowledge them since nobody seemed to notice their presence. Certainly not Miranda, who was staring right through Sir Orwen.
