“Here you go, my lady. Lady Sommerset is resting in the room next to this one. Is there anything you need?”
She stepped into the calm room and swallowed a sigh. The beige wallpaper was sprinkled with bluebells and the armchair by the fireplace was a deep blue. The quilt on the bed matched the walls, complete with blue flowers. “Just my trunk.”
“Lady Sommerset requested that I hang your dresses in the armoire. Your trunk is next to it over there. I will return to help your dress for tea.”
She looked to where the maid pointed and did indeed see a beige painted armoire. “Then that is all I’ll need. Thank you and Lady Sommerset.”
The maid bowed and slipped out.
She wandered over to the window to enjoy the view, only to discover that it was two doors. Pressing down on the latch, she stepped out onto a small balcony barely wide enough to set two settees side by side. The warm, late summer air enveloped her, and she quickly closed the doors behind her to keep her room cool. Taking the four steps to the stone railing, she surveyed the back of Sunnydale Manor.
Rolling fields disappeared into dark forests in the distance. Directly behind the house was a soft-green lawn. It appeared a pall-mall course was already set up, just past a towering hedge. Closer still was a narrow terrace that ran at least half the length of the house before becoming twice as wide. There were far fewer steps to the lawn at the back.
Looking to her right and left, she could see that each bedroom had its own small balcony to itself. No one else was about to enjoy such a pretty view. To the far right were extensive gardens as far as she could see. Her own family home boasted nosuch balconies, but her room did have a very large window with a window seat.
Leaning over the balcony a bit, she could see that the terrace had stone benches and planters as if it were a garden of its own. Did Rose enjoy the terrace? Had she used it to hide from her brother when she’d been younger? She could almost imagine a young Lord Harewood searching for his little sister.
She shook her head. Where had that thought come from? The earl was hardly the type to play games. He seemed a very serious sort, except when he smiled. Could he be like Rose, only relaxing when in the company of family and close friends? It did beg the question of what was real and what was not. Plato’s allegory of the cave might apply—
The doors beneath her opened and footfalls followed.
Chapter Five
“I’m surprised youdidn’t make some excuse to avoid this event.” The voice clearly belonged to Lord Sommerset, who seemed to find much about life humorous.
“I had three at the ready, but as this greatly concerns my sister, I could not in good conscience beg off.”
Dory grinned. That was most definitely Lord Harewood.
“Ah, so that is what this party is about. My wife was correct. Your mother wishes to extend the season for Lady Rose so that she might capture some man’s heart.”
“And yet my sister doesn’t care to.”
So Lord Harewood knew of his sister’s desire to go to the duchess’s school. She leaned over a bit more, wishing she could see their faces.
A chuckle emanated from Lord Sommerset. “I find that difficult to believe. All ladies aspire to find a husband.”
There was a pause before Lord Harewood answered. “Need I remind you that one by the name of Lady Amelia was in no hurry to marry?”
“Yes, well, uh…what is the Lady Rose’s hesitation? Surely, it can’t be painting her masterpiece.”
“Of course not.”
When there was no further statement following that one, she pressed her feet against the concrete spindles on the railing.Even as she did so, she heard the tiny debris particles fall off the edge.
Quickly, she stepped back against the doors.
“What was that?” Lord Sommerset’s voice moved closer to the building, away from where he must have been standing directly beneath her.
“It appears you have been dusted by a bird, or maybe…”
She held her breath as footfalls moved away from the building toward the end of the terrace. Lord Harewood would see her! She dropped to a kneeling position upon the balcony, hoping the angle would not give her away. If he descended the steps onto the lawn, she would no doubt be sent packing.
The footfalls halted. “It must have been a bird on the railing above.”
She sincerely hoped he’d be happy with his conclusion.
“But to be sure. Let me take a further look.”
