“Lord Pembroke is courting Margaret, and he’s ever so nice a gentleman, if a bit quiet, and Margaret quite likes him, don’t you, Margaret?” Sarah turned to her elder sister with a mischievous grin. “Oh, look at that blush! She does like him!”
“Hush, Sarah, you naughty thing. Lord Pembroke is not courting Margaret. Notyet, in any case.” Lady Fosberry turned to Johnathan. “But he’s certainly taken with her, and I think he soon will be.”
At this news, poor Johnathan looked even more befuddled than ever. “The three of you have only been in London for two weeks, and already there’s one marriage proposal and an impending courtship?”
“A lady could do a great deal worse than Lord Pembroke.” Lady Fosberry observed. “He’s an earl, and a respectable gentleman. His temperament suits Margaret’s, as well. I know you don’t wish to deprive your sister of a chance at happiness, my lord.”
Johnathan rolled his eyes. “God forbid. If Margaret and Sarah wish to remain in London for the rest of the season, then I’m staying here, as well. I won’t have all these scoundrels sniffing about my sisters like a pack of scandalous bees in search of honey. I’ll send word to Emmeline as soon as?—”
“I don’t wish to remain in London, Johnathan,” Sarah interrupted. “I’d much rather go to Staffordshire.”
“Staffordshire!” Johnathan gaped at her. “But that’s miles away! What in the world is there for you to do in Staffordshire?”
“Alice Weatherby’s father, the Marquess of Aldridge has invited me to attend their house party as Alice’s guest. They have one every year, and the invitations are highly coveted by theton. All the most fashionable people attend. I may go, mayn’t I, Johnathan?”
“A house party in Staffordshire with all the most fashionable members of theton.” Johnathan dragged his hand down his face. “What could possibly go wrong?”
“Lord and Lady Farthingale are going. They were kind enough to offer me a place in their carriage, and her ladyship promised to keep an eye on me. Please, may I go? Alice is my dearest friend, and it’s been ages since I’ve seen her.”
Johnathan glanced at Lady Fosberry, who gave him a quick nod, and with that, the battle was won. Johnathan doted on Sarah, just as they all did, and like the rest of them, he could refuse her nothing. “I suppose you may go.”
“Oh, thank you!” Sarah rushed forward and pressed a kiss to Johnathan’s cheek. “We couldn’t ask for a better brother!”
“You’re quite fortunate, indeed. Come, girls. We need to choose Margaret’s gown for Lady Blackhurst’s rout.” Lady Fosberry beckoned to Sarah and Margaret, then raised an eyebrow at Johnathan. “Will you come, Lord Melrose?”
“To sort through Margaret’s gowns?” Johnathan snorted. “No, indeed.”
He strode over to the settee, but before he could sit down Lady Fosberry’s gaze strayed to Hattie and Cass, and she gave Johnathan a little shake of her head.
“For God’s sake.” Johnathan let out a huff. “Very well. Five minutes, and Windham? I’ll be right next door in the breakfast room. I can be back here in a matter of seconds. See that you don’t give me any reason to return.”
“Of course, my lord.” Cass gave Johnathan a respectful bow, but a grin lingered at the corners of his lips, and his eyes were twinkling as they met hers.
Johnathan cast one final suspicious glance at them before disappearing through the door and leaving them alone at last.
“Have I told you, Lady Harriet, that you’ve made me the happiest of men?” Cass crossed the room and took her into his arms.
She gave him a teasing smile. “Not in the last half hour, no.”
“Lady Harriet Parrish.” He dropped a kiss onto the tip of her nose, his smile fading to something more tender as he drew back to look at her. “You’ve made me the happiest of men.”
She rose to her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “If we hurry back to Kent, do you suppose we’ll arrive in time to see the last of the bluebells?”
“If not, we’ll see them next year.” He rested his forehead against hers. “We have all the time in the world to see the bluebells now.”
