“The swine!” Hugh roared.
Luke nodded his agreement, his forehead furrowed. “When I questioned Lord Cardew as to what he was about, he didn’t takeit kindly and rode off.” He lifted his eyebrows. “I hope what I did was in order?”
Hugh gritted his teeth. “Indeed it was. I am relieved you were there.”
Hugh left Luke in the drawing room with Miss Kershaw, the footman serving them wine, and went to speak to Sarah, whom he found with their mother.
“A word, Sarah?” Hugh fought to stay calm.
“What is it, Hugh?” His mother’s eyes widened.
“A small matter, Mama.” He escorted his sister out of the room.
Sarah turned to him in the hall, her eyes narrowed. “Who told you?”
“Miss Kershaw remained tight-lipped, but Luke told me about Cardew drawing you away from Rotten Row and leaving Miss Kershaw to wait for you.”
“Yes, I felt sure he would tell you,” she said with a frown.
“He only revealed it when I asked him. He is worried about you.”
She sighed. “Mr. Beaufort was a great help.”
“What was Cardew’s reason to behave so appallingly?” Hugh asked.
“He wished to tell me he is to marry Lady Gwendolyn Piper.”
Hugh, relieved at the news, studied her face for signs of distress and was reassured not to find it. “That was all? Why the secrecy?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now.”
Hugh curled his fingers into his palms, believing there was much more to the story she wasn’t telling him. “If he intended anything else, I’ll make him very sorry.”
“There’s no need. Lord Cardew intends to leave for Bath tomorrow with his mother. I shan’t see him again.”
Hugh released a breath. He patted her cheek. “It’s for the best, Sarah, love.”
Her expression saddened. “Miss Kershaw thought so too. I’m sure she’s right.”
“Now that we are four, shall we play a game of whist after luncheon?” he said to cheer her.
She smiled and slipped an arm through his. “That would be agreeable.”
They walked along the corridor to the drawing room. “Mr. Beaufort seems a very decent gentleman,” Sarah said.
“He is,” Hugh said, careful not to appear too eager as he opened the door and stepped back for her to pass through it.
Luke appeared more at ease during the card game. They laughed as he related a story about a ram on his property who’d taken it into its mind to herd him away from the flock. “When I turned my back, he butted me like a goat,” he said, grinning. “I fell over into the mud, my dignity in shreds, causing the farmer who was with me to laugh uproariously.”
Sarah giggled and clapped her hands. It heartened Hugh. He’d like to see her marry a man who was not afraid to get his hands dirty. Instead of a strutting, spoiled peacock like Cardew.
After the game finished, Sarah played “Robin Adair” on the piano and Miss Kershaw was persuaded to sing.
Once the strains of music ebbed away, everyone applauded vigorously.
“You have a lovely voice, Miss Kershaw,” Luke said, and Hugh agreed, enjoying her sweet soprano, and especially how the rays of sunlight had fallen upon her golden hair.
Sarah played again while Luke sang in a strong baritone.
