But before Phoebe could respond, her mother and Mrs. Margrave approached.
“Thank you again for coming, Your Grace,” her mother said.
Will plastered a smile on his face as he addressed her. “And thank you for accommodating me, Mrs. Atkinson. But I’m afraid I must leave immediately. I’m extremely late for an appointment that slipped my mind.”
She nodded graciously. “Oh, of course.”
“The carriage will take you home, Mother,” Will said, but Mrs. Margrave ignored that bit.
“An appointment?Whatappointment?”
He gave his mother an exasperated look. “Lady Gwen,” he grumbled.
It shouldn’t have been such a surprise, but Phoebe’s stupid little heart still sank.
“Good day, Miss Phoebe,” he said with a curt nod.
“Good day,” she replied weakly, but Will was already halfway across the room.
Mrs. Margrave stared after her son. “That’s not at all like him,” she said suspiciously. “I daresay that boy still remembers his school schedule.”
Mrs. Atkinson gave her old friend a sly look. “Perhaps he’s been a bitdistractedlately.”
“Perhaps,” Mrs. Margrave agreed. “Though I’m not sure Lady Gwen is the one distracting him…”
Phoebe turned away from the woman’s too perceptive gaze. She didn’t agree with her theory, seeing as how Will had just barreled out of the room to meet the lady in question.
“Thank you again for organizing this, Mother. I think the bazaar will be a great success.”
“My pleasure. Will you stay for dinner, darling?”
Phoebe’s heart clenched at the hopeful look on her mother’s face, but she cast a glance at Alex, who was standing in a cornermaking absolutely no attempt to talk with anyone. “I can’t tonight. Sorry.”
“All right.” Her mother sighed then lifted an eyebrow in question. “You will come on Friday though, won’t you? Now that your father and sister are home?”
When Phoebe had agreed to attend Friday night dinner, she thought she would have at least a few weeks respite before Alex and her father returned. But now it was time to pay the piper. “Yes,” she said with a reluctant nod. “I will be there.”
Her mother broke into a dazzling smile. “Wonderful! I’ll tell your father tonight. He will besopleased.”
Phoebe wasn’t quite sure of that, but she smiled anyway. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s the spirit,” her mother said with a knowing wink. “Now, let’s take a turn about the room. There are a few more people you should speak to this afternoon.”
“I am at your disposal,” Phoebe replied as she took her mother’s arm. She was prepared to endure a great deal of inanity if it meant saving the school. But heaven help her if it didn’t work.
Thirteen
Are you certain you don’t want a shave, Your Grace?”
Will met the nervous gaze of Peabody, his valet, in the mirror as he buttoned his waistcoat. “Are you trying to say you don’t like my beard?”
Peabody’s eyes widened. “Oh no, Your Grace! I think it suits you very well. But it isn’t… it’s not…”
“My usual look,” Will supplied, saving the man from further embarrassment.
“Yes,” he said with relief. “That’s all.”
Will returned his gaze to his reflection and rubbed a hand against the dark beard that had grown in over the last week. “I quite like it.”
