Chapter Three
The Edgerton carriage rattled along behind Gerard on horseback over rough, narrow country lanes edged with white flowering hawthorn and lilac dog violets. Her mother turned from the window. “Gerard will have to marry money. Unless Harrison plans to leave him his fortune.”
“Do you think he might?” Leonora said, sitting up. She peeped out at the graceful man looking totally at home in the saddle.
Exasperated, Harriett watched her sister place her hand out of the window, and allow her handkerchief to catch the breeze. “Gerard thinks it’s unlikely.”
“I believe so.” Her mother waved away an inquisitive bluebottle with her fan. “Harrison quarreled with Gerard’s father years ago over a boundary fence. The dreadful rift was never resolved. Harrison swore no money of his would ever go to his brother’s family.”
Leonora pouted. “I think that’s mean.”
“Family feuds are stupid,” Harriett said, shaking her head. “If anyone deserves his fortune, it’s Gerard. He’s the only one who takes an interest in Harrison’s welfare.”
“It’s impossible for anyone to assist him,” Mama complained. “He discourages one at every turn.”
“As if he doesn’t want anyone to come there,” Father said.
Fields of deep pink flowers stretched out beyond the hedgerows. “How pretty, we should stop and pick some,” Leonora said.
“I believe that’s fodder for the cattle,” Harriett said gazing out. “You would ruin your new boots wandering through the cow pats.”
Leonora wrinkled her nose. “So much of the country is vastly unpleasant.”
The carriage passed beneath the stone gatehouse archway carved with the Foxworth coat of arms.
“I’m glad Gerard hasn’t neglected the gardens,” Mama said, as a gardener came into view digging amongst banks of flowering azaleas and rhododendrons, the borders bright with wall flowers, hyacinths and peonies. The carriage trundled down an avenue of limes to the rambling, Elizabethan manor house.
Leonora turned from the window. “I wonder if we can persuade Gerard to visit us in London. He could escort us to routs and balls.”
Mama smiled. “Would you like him to, my love?”
“It might be amusing.”
“To have one more beau on your arm?” Her father laughed. “As if you don’t have enough. Heaven help us once you’re unleashed onto society. We shall be swamped with hapless youths, and worse.”
“Dear me, Edgerton, I wish you wouldn’t speak so. You can never have too many suitors,” Mama said firmly.
The carriage stopped. Eager to see Foxworth again, Harriett straightened her bonnet and gathered up her skirts as the groom put down the steps.
The half-timbered house awaited them, its bay windows reflecting the sun. Bees hummed around the lavender, and daisies grew along the path. Ducks waddled through the reeds of a small pond. They crossed the cobbled courtyard to the entrance door as Gerard appeared from the direction of the stables.
“Please come in,” Gerard said when a servant opened the door. “Not so grand as it was, but I trust you’ll find it comfortable.”
The family entered a wide, stone-flagged hall. They were ushered into a drawing room, which although a trifle shabby, Harriet found charming.
“This sofa is most comfortable,” Leonora said, dimpling up at Gerard. She drew off her bonnet and shook out her blonde curls. “If it was my decision to make, I would choose to recover the damask rather than purchase new furniture.”
He gazed down at her with a smile. “Do you think so?”
Harriett’s pleasure evaporated. Another male to add to Leonora’s list. Foolish to hope that somehow Gerard would be the one man in England immune to her charms.
“Sally will take you to your rooms to freshen up before dinner,” Gerard said. “I must discuss the menu with Cook.”
“For an earl, his life seems very simple here,” Leonora said to Harriett as they followed the maid upstairs.
“I think he prefers it that way,” Harriett said.
As Sally waited, Leonora paused on the landing. She ran her hand along the banister and studied her gloved fingers. “He might be persuaded otherwise, if he were to come into money.”
