“With this special treat,” Lady Georgiana said, “I am almost grateful for the cholera.”
Brilliance exchanged a shocked look with Lady Twitchard while Miss Newton giggled but declared, “That’s wicked!”
And then they rocked to a halt before a manorial residence of Georgian brick under a tiled roof, with two stories of windows seeming to wink in the midday sun.
“It’s lovely,” Lady Georgiana said. “Any woman would be proud to be its mistress.”
“I cannot wait to see the grounds,” Miss Newton added. “I do so enjoy a fine rose garden. Not that there could be any finer than yours, my lady.” She sent a glance to their hostess.
And then a footman opened the door. Lady Twitchard descended first, followed by the other two.
When Brilliance came blinking out of the carriage into the sunlight, she paused. She didn’t much care about the fineness of Lord Hewitt’s house or his gardens. But she couldn’t wait to see the man again.
Thus, when his front door opened and he came out, she felt a strange lightening of spirit. Even in this new place, seeing him gave her a feeling of peacefulness and familiarity.
“Greetings, ladies, welcome to Joyden’s Wood and to my home, Mirabel Manor.” His gray-green eyes took them all in.
Brilliance hoped his gaze would linger a little longer upon her person, but she was unsure whether it did.
“Mirabel,” repeated Lady Georgiana softly. “Why, that’s the prettiest name I ever heard for a house, and it suits your home perfectly.”
Brilliance would agree if she could take her gaze from Lord Hewitt.
He greeted each of them in turn, almost as if they were strangers. Lord Hewitt bowed, they curtsied.
Brilliance’s pleasure would be very great indeed, if only Lady Georgiana hadn’t somehow been the one in front, taking the arm he offered as he led the way into his home.
Chapter Fourteen
They did not dally in his entrance hall, nor go directly into a drawing room. Rather, they traversed his home front to back, finally stopping before paned doors leading to an elegant brick-and-stone terrace.
With honesty she hoped did not offend, Brilliance told the back of Lord Hewitt’s handsome head, “I can see why you were ready to leave Lady Twitchard’s home, as elegant and comfortable as it is, in order to return here.”
Then she glanced at Lady Twitchard, “Meaning no disrespect, my lady.”
Lady Twitchard merely nodded. “I have always thought Joyden’s Wood to be a lovely spot. You have maintained the house well, Cousin.”
“Thank you,” Lord Hewitt said. “I hope you ladies are famished, as my cook has everything prepared. However, if you prefer to take a tour first, then she can, with some persuasion, hold the meal.”
Brilliance did not mind whatever they did. She was still waiting for that moment when he gazed directly into her eyes. Perhaps then, her appetite would come roaring back.
For the moment, she would rather be alone with him more than anything else — certainly preferable to trailing alongwhile Lady Georgiana monopolized all his attention, or worse, watched while her fellow females pretended they had the tiniest birdlike appetites when she knew they could eat as much as any man.
Lady Twitchard made the decision for them. “I am ready for a cup of tea and a smattering of both savory and sweet.”
“Grand,” he said. “I thought, given the weather, that we would eat outside.”
Miss Newton clapped her hands. “How clever of you, my lord. I love eating outside. Why, if I had my choice, I would take every meal out of doors if it meant having a view ofyourestate, my lord.”
Brilliance could not help rolling her eyes. “Even if it were thick with frost?” she wondered aloud.
Miss Newton sent a sour look her way.
“You have not yet seen the view from my back terrace,” Lord Hewitt pointed out.
“Undoubtedly, it is lovely,” Lady Georgiana professed, “with a name like Mirabel.”
“What if it were the ugliest parcel of land in all England?” Brilliance couldn’t help asking. “Would you still want to sit outside? What if you were looking at five-foot weeds covered in bugs? Or a rubbish pile of old bones?”
