His niece came forward to accept the flowers, brought them to her nose, then offered a shy smile. “Thank you, Edward,” she said. “I should apologize as well, for I was unkind.”
The lad blushed, as did Ianthe.
Did he havemoreto worry about than his niece’s magic?
“George, please have the flowers put in water and the vase placed in Miss Ianthe’s chamber.”
The footman came froward and took them from his niece as another footman set a tea service on the table. His mother then directed everyone to take a seat as she settled onto what Damon had come to think of as her throne since the chair sat a little higher than the rest of the furniture and was covered in a deep red velvet. Miss Cordelia settled on the settee and Ianthe across from her and next to his mother. Lynwood sat beside his sister and then Edward, leaving the one chair for him. Though Damon was furthest from Miss Cordelia, he could watch her easily enough, though his mother may notice if he paid too much attention.
Then again, perhaps she wouldn’t mind. If she thought that Damon might be considering courtship, she might finally leave him be about finding a wife. It would at least afford him some peace for a short time, until his mother realized that Damon still had no intention of marrying.
Though his mother, while asking each guest their tea preferences, made an attempt at polite conversation, it was strained and uncomfortable. His mother was doing everything properly as he’d witnessed on previous occasions, however this time, she lacked her usual friendliness. Too often they lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, which was completely out of character as his mother was quite skilled in directing a conversation and making guests feel welcome in her home.
That was it! The Vails werenotwelcome here. His mother was exhibiting all the pretense of a proper tea, but with none of the comfort and warmth she usually displayed and all because their guests were not friends, and she did not trust them.
Miss Cordelia glanced about the room as if she wanted to take it all in or was overly curious. Lynwood watched Edward out of the corner of his eye as if he feared the lad might misbehave. Edward looked everywhere, uncomfortable in this setting and pulled at his cravat each time he happened to glance at Ianthe, who would blush when she glanced at Edward. As for his mother, she shrewdly kept an eye on the Vails. She did not trust them, but she’d invited them to Nightshade Manor anyway.
After each guest had received their tea, his mother settled back into her thron…chair, lifted her cup, and sipped.
“I understand that Miss Cordelia and Mr. Edward believe they witnessed something of, um, interest when our family arrived.”
Good God, her tone reminded Damon of when he was a lad at Eton and called before the headmaster when he’d misbehaved. Those conversations also began with a curious question before he was scolded for having gotten up to mischief.
Miss Cordelia looked down into her cup, and Edward glanced away.
Lynwood frowned.
“What did they witness?” Lynwood finally asked.
“They did not tell you?” his mother asked in mild surprise.
“No, other than they met Bentford and Miss Ianthe yesterday on the road to Bocka Morrow.” He glanced to Cordelia. “Is there more that you haven’t mentioned?”
“Your sister and brother climbed a tree that overlooked the drive to Nightshade Manor on the day of our arrival,” his mother informed.
“Cordelia climbed a tree?” Lynwood asked in disbelief. “I believe such of Edward, but certainly not Cordelia.”
“I did,” she whispered.
“What possessed you, of all people to climb a tree? Of all my siblings you are the most proper.”
Why the blazes was Lynwood talking to her as if she was a child when there was nothing childlike about Miss Cordelia. Was she younger than he believed?
No, it wasn’t possible. Miss Adriana was heryoungersister, who was the same age as Larisa, which meant Miss Cordelia was at least twenty years old, yet she’d been talked to as if she were ten. He’d wonder if she were simpleminded, but as he’d had a conversation with her already, Damon knew that not to be true.
“And boring,” Edward muttered, to which Lynwood shot his younger brother a warning glare.
“Be that as it may, your sister and brother did climb a tree and watched as my family and I arrived at Nightshade Manor. That is the reason I’ve invited you here today.” His mother sat forward. “I must prevail upon you the need to hold the secrecy of what they may have witnessed.”
“What did you witness?” Lynwood asked Cordelia with concern.
Cordelia glanced over to Damon, cheeks flushed. If he could guess, she was embarrassed, for which he couldn’t blame her.
“It is of no consequence.” His mother waved a hand in dismissal. “I am comforted that if they did not share the events with you, Lord Lynwood, they shall not share them with anyone else.”
If he were Lynwood, Damon would demand to know what they saw as soon as they returned home.
Damon knew that she was upset over being spied upon, but her concerns could have been addressed in a more pleasant manner. If he didn’t say something now, it was likely that neither Lynwood nor Miss Cordelia would speak to him again and Damon didn’t want to spend the next three years in Bocka Morrow, living next to neighbors who would rather avoid his family than be on friendly terms.
