“Does it matter?” Caitlin returned.
Bernadette chuckled. “I suppose not. You seem more relaxed. Are you now glad you came?”
“Yes, I am. This is to be a free and relaxing fortnight with no students. I would be foolish not to enjoy myself.”
Bernadette linked her arm with Caitlin and together they followed the maid down the stairs into a drawing room where they noted three other women of similar age, three older women and one a bit younger. However, there were no men.
Not that Caitlin hoped to meet a gentleman at the house party, she had simply anticipated that some would be in attendance as well. She was far too old for courtship now, and was firmly on the shelf, a spinster teacher.
She had had her one opportunity at love, and it had been stolen from her.
That had been five years ago. It still stung but she did understand the duty. Further, she respected Julian for it. That did not mean it hurt any less.
Her sister and Lord Kilsyth often invited Cait to their home, and just as often had introduced her to eligible bachelors in want of a wife. While she had met some interesting gentlemen, there were none that she wished to know better, and certainly not wed.
Cait had not wanted to be alone, a teacher in a school for girls, but also hadn’t been willing to marry the first gentleman who was pleasant to look upon and kind. A marriage without love could be just as lonely as being a spinster. At least at the school she had friends, such as Bernadette.
“Why do you think the chairs are arranged as such?” Bernadette asked quietly.
They were not arranged in groupings for conversation, but into two straight rows that faced the other, as couples did when lining up for a reel. Twelve chairs, six on each side. At the end of the line of chairs was a library table with four chairs behind it and another to the side.
Eccentric, indeed.
“Please, please enjoy tea and cake and we will get started shortly,” an older woman said.
“Who is that?” Bernadette asked after she leaned in.
“I do not know,” Caitlin answered as she glanced at the other women who were quietly conversing.
“Please allow us to introduce ourselves,” one of the older women began. “I am Lady Priscilla Tilson, and these are my sisters Lady Esther and Lady Joanna. We are spinsters just as you.” She giggled. “This lovely lady in maroon, is your hostess, Viscountess Agatha Hartfell.”
There were murmurs of greeting throughout the drawing room and Caitlin was glad to finally have names.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation,” Lady Hartfell began. “And it is my hope that your future and fortune will change by the time we have parted.”
Cait frowned and looked at Bernadette. “What could she mean?” she whispered.
“I cannot begin to imagine as she knows nothing about either of us.”
“Perhaps they wish to open their own school,” Bernadette mused.
“If so, would you consider leaving Wiggons’ School?” Cait asked.
“Yes. I firmly believe that two gentlemen would frequent Harrington Manor if we did not live next door.”
Cait never knew what had happened between Captain Pickmore and Bernadette because her friend would not speak of it and therefore, Cait never asked.
Was she the reason Julian never visited his friend? Was it because she was so close? Did that mean that Norbright traveled to visit him?
“Ah, I can hear that the gentlemen are soon to join us,” Lady Hartfell announced, then nodded to the three sisters. They then moved to the library table with four chairs and took their seats.
Cait and Bernadette quietly groaned.
“Not a school,” Cait grumbled.
“Matchmaking,” Bernadette decided. “But why us? We are too old to wed.” Cait was eight and twenty and Bernadette was nine and twenty.
“Please, take a seat on the right side of the room. The gentlemen will fill the seats on the left.”
