“Yes.” Adriana smirked as she trudged past them in the snow. “We wouldn’t want thefireto get too hot.”
“I don’t understand,” Bess inquired as she took Adriana’s arm. “Sophia has alwayslikedthe fire to be hot. Father complains she uses up the coal faster than any of us.”
Adriana patted her little sister’s hand. “You are right. As ladies get older, they prefer a,ahem,warmer fire. Give it time.You will see. However, it’s always best to avoid the dangers of toomuchheat. Isn’t that so, George?”
George and Henry looked straight ahead with great determination as they marched back to the house, although Sophia was certain Henry stifled a brief snort. Then a footman lifted her lightly into the air. She threw her arms around the man’s shoulders, wishing it could be Tobias who carried her off instead.
The truth was, she knew he never could. But that was a problem for another day.
Chapter Ten
“We shall behaving a guest for dinner this evening.”
Lord Carthige’s announcement was so unlikely, it took Tobias a few moments to find his tongue.
“Did you hear me, Nephew?”
“Why?” Tobias marveled. “I mean, who?”
“Viscount Howell.” Lord Carthige said coolly, as if it were nothing of consequence.
“TheLord Howell? Here?” Tobias was flummoxed. Uncle Edmund didn’t even visit with his neighbors. Now they were about to receive the most powerful man in their great northern city.
“His father and I were acquainted.”
“‘Were’?”
“He died some months ago.” His uncle shrugged. “Sad, but not tragic. He was a… difficult man.” Lord Carthige picked at the knee of his trousers. Then he folded his hands and looked up. “The new viscount is a creature of greater depth.”
Tobias smiled to himself. Only his uncle would use the word “creature” to describe a fellow human being, especially one he seemed to like.
“What is the occasion?” Tobias asked, still trying to make sense of his uncle’s sudden willingness to accommodate company.
“There is none. He has requested a meeting, and I suggested dinner. I feel sorry for the lad. He is quite alone in the world now.”
“Has he no family at all?”
“Oh, no, there is a mother and two sisters. But they are no comfort to him. And the burden of responsibility he must now shoulder is great indeed. I would take him under my wing, as I have done you.” Uncle Edmund cast his eyes upon Tobias and added, “He reminds me a little of you, now that I think of it.”
“I cannot imagine what a man in such an unenviable position has in common with myself,” mused Tobias.
Edmund shrugged. “You are of a similar age, well educated, confident in your expertise, and equally hapless around women.”
“I see,” Tobias answered, though in truth, he did not see at all. Had he not won the heart of his true love? That should count for something, even if matters had not gone equally as smoothly with Miss Mary Dunbar. Besides, his uncle was not one to judge. He had chosen a life of solitude over marriage. “Perhaps you underestimate him,” he suggested.
“You will see,” was all the answer Tobias received.
*
The sun wassetting when the carriage with the Howell crest pulled up on the drive. Tobias had stationed himself at a front-facing window. It was not very gentlemanly to spy on one’s guest, but Tobias could not help himself. Nothing much happened at Newcliffe Hall except reading and cataloguing. The newcomer was a curiosity, and Tobias was undeniably curious.
A tall, broad-shouldered man descended the carriage steps. The manner in which he carried himself matched his physique. This, along with his straight nose and dark, brooding lookswould no doubt appeal to the fairer sex if he had not already carried a title with which to attract them. Tobias could imagine swaths of ladies swooning at his feet. He certainly could not picture a scenario in which his lordship would appear “hapless,” despite what his uncle had said.
Tobias hurried back along the corridor to hear Uncle Edmund say, “Has it been a year already? Well, well, I have been a bad friend. You were right to seek me out. I shall make amends forthwith.”
Both host and guest swiveled at the sound of Tobias’s arrival.
“Ah, Tobias, just in time. Howell, may I introduce my nephew, Mr. Mannerly? Tobias, this is Lord Howell, our guest.”
