Through her chuckles, Aunt Mary asked, “How long will you be in London, my lord? You’ve come at a beautiful time of year.”
“Yes,” he mused, “how I enjoyed that beauty as it dripped down my neck, all the way from Falmouth.” He shot her a wink, and Willow’s heart clenched. “Thanks to my wife,” he continued, “I’ve learned that my uncle endeavors to dig a new mine on my land in Yorkshire—a dangerous undertaking that I do not want, nor have I sanctioned. My purpose in London is to stop his intrusion. I will call on him first, although my suspicion is that he is not in London at all, but in Yorkshire instead. I also have a brother there who has fallen ill. Some accident in a field. For this reason, I cannot tarry long in town. But before I go, I must approach my uncle’s mining investors and, depending on his progress to form a joint-stock company, relevant members of Parliament.”
“Quite so,” said Mary, sounding impressed. “Not quite a holiday, is it?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Cassin returned to the table with a heaping plate. “I’ve written to my family in Yorkshire and expect a return letter any day. I’ll rely on your staff to send for me if some word arrives. I am anxious to hear of the progress of my brother, Felix.”
“Oh yes, Willow has told us about your dear brother,” said Aunt Mary.
And so the conversation tripped along, leaving Willow calm enough to serve her plate. She was halfway to the sideboard when Cassin said, “I should also like to make time to see Willow’s work while I am in town.”
Willow turned and blinked at him. “You would?”
“If I won’t be an intrusion.” He took a bite of crescent bun and made an expression of bliss. “We eat cold fish for breakfast in Barbadoes,” he said.
“Cook will be delighted to indulge you,” said Aunt Mary. “But my lord, would you have time in your schedule to accompany your young countess to something like a garden party? To the benefit of Willow’s work, of course. Well,ourwork.”
Willow paused with a piece of toast hovering above her plate.
Aunt Mary shrugged. “It cannot hurt to ask, darling.”
“That remains to be seen,” said Willow with a nervous laugh. “Whatgarden party? When?” She looked back and forth between her aunt and uncle.
“A small gathering tomorrow, I’ve been told. The Eaton Square townhouse.”
“Lord and Lady Landfair’s house?” gasped Willow. “But we only finished that house last week.”
“Indeed. And the baroness has wasted no time showing it off. We didn’t mention the party because you intended to be in Yorkshire. I hesitate to bring it up even now, not knowing when you’ll away to Yorkshire . . . ” She trailed off and looked at Cassin.
“I am not certain that I will travel with the earl to Yorkshire,” said Willow, taking a step to the table. “Cassin and I have not discussed—”
“I should like very much for you to join me in Yorkshire,” he said plainly, “if your schedule permits.”
“Of course,” Willow said, gratification rising in her chest. “I had always intended to go. But you didn’t—that is, we had not . . . ” She looked at him.
Cassin folded his napkin in his lap. “It is my goal to discuss everything we might do, well before we might do it,” he said softly, looking only at her. “But I may fall short of that goal for a time. The notion is new.” He smiled a boyish smile, and Willow drew her empty plate up to her chest, shielding her heart.
“It had been my hope,” he went on, “that you would make the journey to Yorkshire with me. I should like you to meet my family. I should like you with me.”
Willow could but nod.
Aunt Mary said, “Lovely. It’s all settled then. The party begins at four o’clock.”
Willow gawked at her aunt. She’d known nothing of a garden party before this moment. It was not their practice to mingle socially with clients.
“But what is the occasion for a party?” Willow asked cautiously. “I cannot believe the paint is even dry on the walls.”
“They took up residence the very day the last carpenter had gone. The garden party is the first of several events meant to reveal the new house to society. And why not? The tiles in the ballroom alone took more than a year to lay, well before you came to us. Arthur’s furniture can be found in nearly every room. She will preen over it, as well she should. But how nice to have some ally among the guests to acknowledge some of the praise. And I’d love to hear what people will say. I’d love to make our services available when they say it.”
“But if Cassin and I are unavailable,youmust go, Aunt,” said Willow.
Aunt Mary paused with her teacup halfway to her mouth. “But Willow . . . ” she began.
“No, truly, you should do,” Willow pressed. “I was late to the project, after all; you said so yourself.”
Aunt Mary smiled and looked to her husband. Uncle Arthur folded his paper and tapped it on his knee. “What your aunt is trying to say, dear, is thatyouand onlyyouwould be welcome at a party hosted by the baroness. You forget how far from grace Mary fell when she married a common tradesman like me.” He winked at Mary. “But a countess and her earl? It should not be difficult for you to wrangle an invitation and pop in, just for a bit. On behalf of the business. Nose about. Fan the flames of adoration, and give credit where credit is due.”
“Oh . . . ”said Willow, blushing. She was embarrassed to have forgotten the wide gulf between craftsman and society. “Forgive me, but I did not think. You, that is to say,welive so comfortably here. And we all sit in meetings with these people for hours; they fawn on you. They take your advice to heart and heed every word.”
