FOUR
Thirteen months earlier
“Two men are coming this way!”
The squeal from the sixteen-year-old Olivia and the quick footsteps on the wooden floor had Adeline pausing in the middle of one of Mozart’s pieces she was playing on the pianoforte. She spun on the stool and glanced out the window. Even from a distance, it was obvious the two men were well-bred. Perhaps even noblemen.
Shaking her head, she pushed the silly notion from her head.Noblemen?Although her father was a baron, society had practically shunned him since he’d gambled away most of his money, leaving his wife and children impoverished. They were now nothing but titled paupers.
Olivia stood by the window, gawking at the men who slowly walked toward their home. She sucked in a quick breath and ran her hands over her ringlets of blonde hair before frantically untying the apron around her waist.
“Adeline, I believe they are wealthy.”
Olivia struggled with the apron, so Adeline stepped behind her younger sister and finished removing the garment. “Liv, you need to calm down. You’re making a spectacle of yourself. And for heaven’s sake,” she pulled her sister’s elbow, moving her away from the window, “you don’t need to let them know you’re watching them closely.”
“What do you think they’re doing?” Olivia asked, her brown eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Honestly? I believe they are lost.” Adeline gave a sharp nod. “Why else would two gentlemen be walking toward our home?”
“I wonder why they aren’t in a carriage,” Olivia muttered and glanced out the window again.
“They are nearly here.” Adeline pulled on her sister’s arm, getting her attention. “Father needs to be informed. Make haste, before the men reach our porch.”
Olivia rushed out of the parlor and clambered up the stairs, calling for their pa in a high-pitched voice. Adeline grimaced. Only the deaf and deceased would not be able to hear such a ruckus.
Releasing a nervous breath, Adeline smoothed her palms over the outdated material of her blue day-dress. Funds had been extremely hard to come by, and her mother tried her best to adjust the girls’ dresses each year. Unfortunately, Adeline had almost outgrown her gowns. Her bosom was almost too large for the bodice.
A loud knock rattled the front door, making Adeline jump. Her heartbeat quickened. She, too, would like to know what these two men were doing out in the middle of nowhere – and without a carriage.
She slowly stepped toward the door, keeping her shoulders straight and trying to at least appear as though she had been properly raised by a titled father, despite her shabby clothes. She opened the door, and got her first look at the two gentlemen.
Both were tall, but the man with wavy sandy-blond hair had wider shoulders. Both were handsome, but the more slender man, brown haired wasn’t scowling, which in her opinion, made him the better looking of the two.
“Pardon our unannounced visit,” the man with brown hair said, bowing slightly. “I’m Lord Kentwood, and this is Lord Hanover.”
She curtsied. It surprised her that the man with broader shoulders hadn’t shown her respect by bowing. “My father is Baron Featherstone. I’m his daughter, Miss Featherstone.”
Lord Kentwood smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“And I’m happy to meet you... uh, both of you.” She nodded.
“Miss Featherstone, Lord Hanover and I are stranded. Our carriage wheel is broken, and we are in hopes that your father will be able to help us out of our predicament.”
A gust of wind came out of nowhere, knocking into the men from behind. Lord Hanover stumbled forward, practically falling against her. His large hands grasped her shoulders, and his head bumped against hers. A sharp pain rushed through her temples and she gasped.
“Pardon me, Miss Featherstone,” the lord muttered and quickly withdrew, moving back on the porch. “Forgive me for falling against you.”
Feeling uncomfortable, she forced a laugh. “It was not your fault, my lord. It was the wind’s.”
He nodded, but the scowl remained on his face. Adeline could tell this man was not happy about their carriage breaking down. The way Lord Kentwood’s eyes gleamed with mirth as he chuckled over his friend’s clumsiness made him seem flirtier.
“Please,” Adeline said, moving back and she opened the door wider, “why don’t you come in out of the wind.” She glanced at the sky. Gray clouds billowed in the distance. “It appears a storm is brewing.”
Just as the two men entered, the stairs creaked as her pa and two brothers scampered down the stairs, coming toward them. Her older brother, Charles, tripped and almost fell into their father. Thankfully, Charles righted himself before causing them to all roll down the steps.
“My lords,” Adeline said, “let me introduce you to my father, Baron Featherstone.”
The lords bowed to each other. Apparently, Lord Hanover would only bow to men.
