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The idea was so preposterous that she banished it promptly from her mind.

She had spent years despising this man. She couldn’t begin thinking him kind of all things.

“Are you all right?” Grace asked in a concerned voice.

“Yes.” Leah shook her head to clear it. “I am simply distressed for you. You must be in a great deal of pain. Your delay must have been torturous as well. Was your lame horse replaced on the way?”

Grace shook her head. “There were none to be had. The poor mare carried us slowly ‘ere on her bad foot.”

Leah gasped. “How dreadful.”

“The gentlemen saw us arrive this morning,” Betsey added. “They were able to help the horse.”

“Mr. Woodward and Mr. Hawthorne?” Leah asked.

Betsey nodded, lips pressed together.

Leah fell silent for several seconds. She didn’t enjoy hearing about more of Mr. Hawthorne’s heroic actions. “That was very kind of them. I do find Mr. Woodward quite agreeable.” She released an exasperated sigh. “But I cannot believe Tom’s valet was so unaware! How could he have closed the carriage door without ensuring it was clear?”

Betsey’s eyebrows shot up. “Joseph?”

Leah nodded.

“It wasn’t Joseph.” Betsey shook her head, a deep furrow in her brow.

Leah crossed her arms, rearing back in confusion. “Who was it, then?”

Betsey leaned closer, eyes wide. “It was Mr. Hawthorne.”

Five

Before leaving his bedchamber for dinner, Felix’s attention paused on the saffron yellow blankets. Would they always remind him of Miss Sterling? He had been trying to rid his thoughts of her all day. Avoiding her was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated—as was keeping out of her affairs.

He scrubbed a hand over the side of his face.

He had only been trying to help that morning.

The horse had been on the verge of collapse, and he did care deeply for the animals. He had been distracted enough to close the carriage door on that poor maid’s fingers. He had already arranged with Lady Dalmeer to pay the doctor himself and ensure the young woman was properly cared for. But his stomach still twisted with guilt.

Of all the maids at Bellthorne Hall, of course she had been Miss Sterling’s. He couldn’t seem to properly avoid interfering with that woman’s life. He didn’t dare imagine how she would react if she knew he was the one who had caused her maid’s injury.

If she didn’t know already.

Felix silenced his thoughts and the guilt that still swirled inside his chest. He truly didn’t have the time to be thinking about what Miss Sterling thought of him. Tonight was his first opportunity to narrow down the selection of eligible young ladies and make a strong first impression. The rest of the guests had been making their arrivals all day.

The dining room was sure to be full.

Lady Dalmeer’s plans for the evening included parlor games, which Felix wasn’t particularly fond of. But they were often an excuse to flirt, and that’s something he would have to do if he wanted to woo a lady to the point of accepting his proposal within three weeks.

Felix squared his shoulders and made his way down the staircase toward the drawing room. He hesitated by the threshold, assessing the tone of the room. The warm firelight illuminated the dozens of guests who had already gathered.

Lady Dalmeer was at the center of it all, a proud smile on her lips. She looked quite like Felix’s aunt, who was nearing the age of sixty, though he had heard rumors that Lady Dalmeer was well below fifty.

Such rumors were surely of her own making.

He examined the room for Lady Cartright. He would have to take great care to avoid her. She had cast him far too many glances in the breakfast room that morning, as if she thought her age was no deterrent to his interest. He was fairly certain she was older than his mother.

Mr. Woodward stood in the far left corner of the room, conversing once again with Miss Sterling. The man’s gaze lingered on her face, a smile crossing his features. Was he already so charmed by her? Felix hoped he wouldn’t develop the same affection that had ailed Gilbert Davies.