Sadie grinned and gestured toward the door. “Then, by all means, show me the way.”
She was ready to face both the baron and the true ladies this morning.
Maisie took her to the correct door, and Sadie marched into the room with her head high. Too bad her show of confidence was mostly wasted. There were only three people at the table: the baron, the dowager, and a raven-haired lady about the same age as Sadie.
Lord Marstede was the first to notice her. He studied Sadie long enough that she doubted his mother’s assertions that he wouldn’t notice if she borrowed a few gowns. He raised a brow. “I don’t believe I actually caught your name last night, Miss —?”
“Sadie Pentry.” The name rolled off her tongue naturally after how long she had spent saying it to herself before falling asleep the night before.
“She is Lord Algimon’s niece, Nicholas,” the dowager added. “Which you would know if you hadn’t been a complete boor when she arrived. Now stop your interrogation and let her sit.”
The baron’s hazel eyes narrowed on his mother. “I didn’t realize asking for a name counted as an interrogation.”
Sadie sat, watching them in fascination. Despite the way they had argued in her limited time around them both, she’dhave sworn they loved each other. And not just the “they’re family, I have to love them” sort of emotion.
“It’s all about tone, Nicholas. I raised you to be a gentleman, so try to remember your lessons. You should be making introductions by now.”
“And how was I to make introductions when I didn’t even know her name?”
The baron said exactly what he was thinking, politeness be damned. It was wonderful. Sadie didn’t have to worry about responding to something she’d only heard with her power, nor did she feel the need to keep a tight rein on her own replies.
“Introductions, Nicky.”
The baron huffed and turned back to Sadie. “I believe you know my mother, Lady Madeleine Huxley, Dowager Baroness of Marstede.”
“Indeed.” Sadie considered her words for a moment and decided to test the truth of the dowager’s commitment to having her serve as a foil for the proper ladies. Best to learn now if she’d be tossed out on her ear. Besides, she had accepted the invitation not for the luxury of living in a manor for a month, but for the freedom of not having to bite her tongue. “Lady Marstede and I had a lovely conversation yesterday after your tantrum.”
“My tantrum?” The words spilled out in unison with his thoughts. “That wasn’t a tantrum, Miss Pentry. That was an objection to the breaking of an agreement for which I continue to uphold my end.”
“But have you actually checked if the agreement is, in fact, broken yet?”
“No. Nor will I, for I am still committed to doing my part, though the bargain’s spirit has been compromised, no matter the technicalities.” He looked over at his mother. “I can only hope all parties still remain committed to the rest of the bargain.”
Sadie wondered what the baroness had agreed to, that Lord Marstede would put up with a houseful of guests for the entire month.
The dowager picked up a scone and placed it on her plate. “Two years,” she said calmly, “not a day more nor less. Now finish the introductions, Nicky. Miss Pentry would like to eat, and she is waiting until you are done.”
Actually, Sadie had been waiting to see if she’d betray her lack of status by helping herself. There were no servants standing in the breakfast room, yet she had the fear one would pop up the instant she reached for the food. Seeing Lady Marstede serve herself was a relief.
Except now she had to wait until the introductions were finished.
Lord Marstede looked over at the raven-haired beauty, who had ignored the entire conversation until that point, yet now lifted her head in clear acknowledgement. “Lady Helen, allow me to introduce to you Miss Sadie Pentry. Miss Pentry, this is Lady Helen Thistlaine of Renvale.”
Sadie recognized the name. Renvale was close enough to Lamsdel that the Thistlaine family often bought goods from the shop. Not in person, though, luckily.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Pentry,” Lady Helen greeted her.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Sadie responded, but Lady Helen had already looked away, training her gaze on her plate once more. Sadie reached for a scone and looked between the baron and his mother. “Is everyone else breakfasting in their rooms?”
“Most likely they are still abed,” the baron answered, a hint of something between resignation and disgust coloring his voice.
“But we shall come together once everyone is awake and has broken their fast,” Lady Marstede added in bright tones thatmade him sound even more dour in comparison. “I look forward to sharing my plans for the month with everyone.”
For once, the baron did not say the thoughts at the forefront of his mind. A pity, for Sadie would have loved to see how the dowager and Lady Helen reacted to such creative curses.
???
Nicholas lingered overhis tea and toast, watching Miss Pentry as surreptitiously as he could. He had questions, questions he knew better than to ask in front of his mother, but ones thatwouldbe answered before the day was done.
