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She couldn’t allow herself to think anything of his choice, since it was one of the few available seats. But she still felt a surge of victory in her chest. She forced herself not to look at Mr. Hawthorne to acknowledge their unspoken competition.

Her attention was fixed solely on the earl.

Thus far, Miss Abigail Benson had proven to possess most of the qualities on Felix’s list. She was very proper and timid, with not a hint of malice in her disposition.

It was a refreshing escape from the barbed looks he had been receiving from across the table from Miss Sterling. He forced himself to keep his focus on Miss Benson, but when Lord Dalmeer took his seat beside Miss Sterling, he couldn’t help but observe their interaction. Surely Miss Sterling didn’t think herself equal to an earl, but she smiled broadly at him, a dimple flashing in the center of her cheek.

She was pretty enough to make up the difference in their stations.

Felix took a gulp from his glass, a surge of irritation striking his chest. Just minutes before, she had been forcing Mr. Newton to converse with her, offering the same sweet smiles. Did she know that Mr. Newton had recently been harshly rejected? Gossip had already spread around the house about Mr. Newton’s recently broken heart. Those were the sort of men Miss Sterling liked to target. Felix had warned Mr. Davies away from her years before for the same reasons. Poor Mr. Newton might be the sort of man to be easily manipulated when in such an emotional state.

Felix stopped himself short. This was not a competition.

He was being ridiculous.

He was making significant progress of his own.

During their conversation over dinner, Miss Benson had already told him of her extensive training in languages and arts, so he had no doubt she was as accomplished as she seemed. As soon as he learned more about her family and their connections, he could consider her a very likely prospect. Focusing his attention on one woman this early in the house party was essential. If he devoted all his efforts to Miss Benson moving forward, and she received them well, then there was no reason she couldn’t accept his proposal by the new year.

Perhaps he was being too optimistic, but she seemed to be precisely the sort of woman his mother would approve of.

He listened to Miss Benson with one ear, but the other was still capturing pieces of Lord Dalmeer’s conversation with Miss Sterling. At one point, she laughed so falsely Felix nearly choked on his water. And she had accused him of being insincere?

She seemed nervous to be speaking with the earl, but there was also a gleam of pride in her eyes as she glanced in Felix’s direction, as if she wanted him to notice.

Lord Dalmeer was telling Miss Sterling about the horses at Bellthorne Hall, and coincidentally enough, Felix had been curious about that subject.

“My lord—if I may ask—where did you acquire your youngest bay?” Felix had noticed the beauty of the young horse with its rich brown coat and black tail in the stables earlier that day.

Lord Dalmeer seemed happy to be relieved of his constant conversation with Miss Sterling, which gave Felix no small measure of satisfaction.

“Weymouth’s stud,” he answered with a nod toward the viscount at the end of the table. “A fine horse, is he not? A bit proud, though.”

Felix laughed. “With good reason. My finest horses seem to know it as well. They consume at least twice the oats as the others and require twice the attention.”

Lord Dalmeer chuckled. “It’s as if you’re describing my new bay.”

Miss Benson laughed politely. “I have a young grey mare that does the same.”

“We must humble these creatures at once by taking them on their first hunt,” Felix said.

Lord Dalmeer grinned. “The first hunt is always an eventful experience. I might very well be the one humbled as he throws me in a ditch.”

The ladies laughed, but Miss Sterling’s sounded strained. Felix caught her glare, but he was finding far too much amusement in this conversation to surrender it yet.

He and Lord Dalmeer discussed their horses until the desserts were served, with Miss Benson happily contributing. She had many horses of her own, he learned, and was an experienced rider, which was an item he hadn’t even thought to add to his list.

Miss Sterling was silent, but Felix could sense her anger—the heat radiating across the table like a hot iron. She must have known nothing about horses, at least not enough to sound informed if she did choose to join the conversation.

He ignored his delight at her vexation. Perhaps she would think twice about accusing him of injuring innocent maids in the future. The insult she had made to his character still stung.

But he did feel a little better now.

Seven

That hateful man.

Leah had tried not to think of Mr. Hawthorne as Clara undid the pins in her hair that night, but the events of the evening still spun wildly through her head.