Her heart stopped in her chest.
The sound of the terrace door opening caused her to groan silently. How many more people would come outside?
“Ah, there are you, Andrew. Felton, what are you doing over there?
“I was investigating a happenstance, Father.”
“That’s enough investigating. Your mother wishes you and Andrew to come inside for tea. We shall all humor her before slipping into the library for a real libation, right, Andrew? Port, if I remember correctly.”
Lord Harewood’s steps drew closer to the house until he was beneath her, but still, she didn’t move.
“You are quite correct, sir.” Sommerset sounded quite happy with the plan.
She listened to all three men’s footsteps until they grew muffled as the door was closed. Still, she remained where she was, frozen with relief.
A muted knock sounded from inside her room.
Of course. They would send for her for tea! Jumping up, she stepped back into her room and ran toward the door with a sinking feeling that she would have to watch every step she took at this house party. She just hoped she lasted the entire week without drawing too much attention to herself. If only she knew how to accomplish such a feat.
*
Lord Harewood stoodat the fireplace, relaxed and pleased that his friend had arrived two days early, as he’d requested. What he hadn’t expected was that Lady Dorothea would accompany Lord and Lady Sommerset. That, in his estimation, had been a fortuitous turn of events. It would give him the opportunity to learn more about her and determine the best way to make her quite popular with the men attending his mother’s fortnight of activities.
He sincerely hoped he could discover some simple change that could then be applied to each woman in the school. What that change would be and how he would make it happen were still beyond his reach. But now, with his sister planning to attend the school, which was deemed scandalous simply by its goal of imparting young women of the peerage with knowledge and thought processes equal to that which was boasted of by Oxford and Cambridge, his task was even far more important. Obviously, the Duchess of Northwick had no knowledge of what other “lessons” young men availed themselves of while at school. No doubt her husband had kept those sinful activities from his wife, as any respectable gentleman would.
“You’re smiling, Harewood. That does not bode well for the rest of your guests.” Sommerset handed him the cup of tea his mother had poured, and he accepted.
“I am of the understanding that smiling is the preferred way to welcome others into one’s home, is it not?”
“Normally, I would agree, but with you, my friend, I know there is much more behind that grin than a simple welcome. Come, tell me. What is it that pleases you? It happens so rarely that something does.”
He took a sip of the bitter black tea, the only way he could stomach it. “Perhaps I am simply content that the rest of the guests have yet to arrive and I still have two days to enjoy my childhood home.”
Sommerset chuckled, as expected. Though many men might consider Sommerset nothing more than a handsome rival with far too much humor to take seriously, he knew his friend was not only steadfast in his loyalty to those he cared for, but also generous with a sharp intellect. Many a man had underestimated Sommerset, but he had recognized the man’s potential even as a muscular lad at Eaton and had made it his first goal to befriend him. It may have been for self-preservation, as he had been a skinny youth back then, and Sommerset had had far more bulk to his build, so not the kindest motivation, but his instincts had been correct.
The parlor doors opened and Lady Sommerset and Lady Dorothea walked in. Sommerset immediately moved to greet his wife.
Harewood noticed that Lady Dorothea had changed from her traveling dress to a day dress of beige with tiny, dark-green leaves. He didn’t like it. The few times he’d noticed her, she had worn deep tones. This dress reminded him of one of the guest rooms upstairs. Had his mother assigned her to that room? She definitely wouldn’t become sought after wearing such mundane colors. But as she sat on the edge of an armchair next to his sister, she blended in with the others. Somehow, he was sure that had been her intent.
He studied the dresses of all the ladies, noticing that his mother’s mauve gown was the darkest in the room. Lady Dorothea glanced at him, and he gave her a nod to acknowledge her presence. She nodded back before accepting her tea from Rose.
“Thank you, Lady Enderly.” Lady Sommerset accepted a teacup passed to her by Rose. “I’m anxious to hear what activities you have planned for us all.”
His mother poured before answering. “I actually was hoping you might help me with one activity in particular.”
“Of course. How may I be of assistance?”
His mother handed the next cup of tea to Rose, who passed it to Lady Dorothea. The latter took a sip as the other two women continued their conversation.
He had to grit his teeth to keep from grinning as Lady Dorothea blinked rapidly and her brow furrowed before she hid her reaction to his mother’s overly sweetened tea. His mother thought everyone enjoyed her version of tea syrup, as he referred to it.
As the conversation continued among the ladies, he was content to observe. What he learned was that Lady Dorothea was well mannered and wished to speak more often than she actually did. When there was finally a lull in the conversation on painting and riddle making, he thought it best to join in. “Lady Dorothea, do you have any ideas for activities?”
Her eyes widened most likely at being asked directly, but she recovered quickly. “I admit to not being well-versed in house parties. However, I will say that I enjoy a stroll in the woods. At Silver Meadows, there’s a beautiful waterfall and what’s left of an abandoned mill. It is quite interesting to study the way nature is slowly taking back what man built long ago.”
Before he could champion her cause, his mother responded. “We have no waterfalls here. Only the creek that feeds the pond.But I’m sure the men will enjoy a few boating races, don’t you think, Felton?”
“I’m sure we will. But what of you ladies? A walk in the morning before the heat of the day might be pleasant.”
