Chapter 16
Sixteen
Susanna dressed with care for the second evening.
The day had been a mixture of pleasure and disappointment.
Her interactions with Ambrose were encouraging.
He was clearly thinking about the invitation to court her and beginning to see her in a different light.
They had talked of where to live and wedding trips.
However, their time together was woefully sparse.
After the summerhouse, and at Grace’s request, Susanna had sought out Mr. Scott. The man was tolerable, but his conversation was not entertaining enough to distract her from Ambrose. Susanna had not considered the difficulty of watching him with the other ladies.
The grotto, normally Susanna’s favorite part of the tour, was utterly ruined by Miss Colley’s behavior. As they descended into the cool cavelike structure, the woman insisted on prattling instead of keeping an awed silence. Then on the last step, Miss Colley had slipped.
Ambrose steadied her gallantly, and the woman clung to him for support, her red hair falling into her eyes.
Susanna suspected she had not truly stumbled.
Despite the dripping water on the walls, the steps were not the least bit wet.
Still, the other young woman clutched Ambrose’s arm as they admired the statue of a water nymph.
Prior to the display in the grotto, Susanna had thought Miss Colley preferred Mr. Scott. But it would seem she was not limiting herself to one gentleman. Susanna could only hope that Miss Colley’s antics had repelled rather than attracted.
Anxious about her prospects, Susanna had reviewed Ambrose’s list of requirements before dressing for dinner.
After today, she felt satisfied he knew she was intelligent and excellent at domestic economy.
Now she needed to show that she was “forgiving and charitable” and possessed an “easy temperament—not forever arguing.”
She had not settled on a way to display these qualities and sometimes doubted she possessed them in adequate amounts.
For she often argued and was known to hold onto grievances.
But her arguments were often in jest, and she only maintained ill feelings when it was warranted.
Surely Ambrose did not expect her to never argue and always forgive?
If so, she would have to inform him that such a thing was impossible for anyone.
With a deep breath, she looked over her appearance. In her new blue petticoat, her eyes seemed brighter. Her maid had caught up her hair in a delicate knot with a few light ringlets framing her face. Susanna fancied she met his requirement for a “pleasing countenance.”
With high expectations for dinner, she left her room.
Her expectations were frustrated.
Thanks to an eager Mr. Scott and a jocular William, Susanna was once again sat at the opposite end from Ambrose. Mr. Scott plied her with so many questions that she could not even listen to the other conversations at the table.
When the women rose to leave, Susanna was disappointed but not yet defeated. There was still a long summer evening before them, and surely Mr. Scott would wish to speak to one of the other ladies.
No sooner had the ladies entered the sitting room than the Arden children appeared.
Little James walked in dressed like a tiny gentleman but moving like a restless boy.
Baby Alice was carried by Nurse, a sturdy, kindly woman, and was making adorable gurgles.
Both the children favored their mother with fair complexions and dark hair, but their eyes were blue like their father’s.
James made a poor attempt at a bow to all the ladies before rushing to his mother and babbling about what he ate for dinner. Grace leaned down to listen with an adoring smile.
Miss Witworth exclaimed over Alice and rose gracefully to get a proper look before asking if she might hold the child.
Miss Colley seemed less interested in the visitors and crossed her arms over her full chest while glancing at the door, perhaps hoping that the arrival of the men would send the children back to the nursery.
“Susie! Up!” Jamie’s sweet voice pulled Susanna’s attention to him. His little arms were raised to her, and she couldn’t help but oblige him by pulling him into her lap.
“You know he doesn’t do that with anyone else,” Grace said.
“It’s the bribery,” Susanna replied before showering the boy with little kisses. Usually when she saw Jamie, she was prepared with sweets or a toy. “And I never refuse him anything.”
“No, that is not why.”
Susanna could barely hear her through Jamie’s giggles as she kissed his neck.
From the first moment Susanna had seen Grace’s son, she had felt a connection to him. There was something about his smiles and hugs that went straight to her heart. She imagined it was akin to what a mother might feel.
Now as she wiggled Jamie’s fingers and listened to his giggles, she found herself wondering what kind of children she and Ambrose might create together. Would they have his green eyes? Or her light hair? Would they inherit his bright mind or her lively temperament?
Her neck heated at the outrageous thoughts. She was putting the cart before the horse. Before planning their future family, she should at least ascertain the depth of her feelings for Ambrose.
“Again!” Jamie said, pulling Susanna from her speculation and back to their little game. She grabbed his pinky finger and shook it while she began the counting rhyme once more.
She had made it to his thumb when he let out a squeal and slid from her lap.
“Papa!” Jamie cried as he crossed the room.
Henry swung him up and then transitioned into a small throw. Jamie was momentarily airborne before being caught. Both father and son laughed.
Grace smiled as she rose to join them. Henry tossed the boy again to more laughter.
“That does not seem proper,” Miss Colley murmured from her place on the opposite sofa.
“Nonsense,” Susanna said. “There is nothing wrong with a father playing with his son.”
She turned to face the other young lady. Miss Colley seemed disinclined to argue her point and merely tilted her head.
Miss Witworth was not attending the conversation; her attention was on the baby in her arms. With her statuesque frame, fair skin, and dark hair, she looked like a painting of the Virgin Mary—the very picture of motherhood.
It was silly, but Susanna suddenly wanted to take the baby from her before the rest of the men arrived. It would never do for Ambrose to see such a touching tableau. The thought came too late, for the men were entering the room.
Susanna couldn’t help her eyes flying to Ambrose to see his reaction to Miss Witworth. But he and William were both waylaid by their nephew and it was only Mr. Scott that came to join them.
“Don’t fret, ladies, I will not neglect you,” Mr. Scott declared as he approached.
Miss Colley smiled invitingly and seemed to shift over the tiniest bit as if to make room for him beside her. But Mr. Scott went to Miss Witworth.
“I must first pay my respects to the youngest lady,” he said lightly.
Miss Witworth smiled up at him, and Susanna was glad that Ambrose was not there to witness it.
“She is such a dear,” Miss Witworth said. “Look at the roses in her cheeks.”
They all fell to admiring the baby—Mr. Scott eagerly, Miss Colley with less enthusiasm.
They’d nearly exhausted the topic when Grace and Henry joined them, and so the praise had to be repeated.
Jamie’s giggling grew louder, pulling Susanna’s attention to the brothers and their nephew. William was holding the boy by the ankles and dangling him, while Ambrose stood to the side frowning.
Before Susanna could wonder what Miss Colley might think of such play, Jamie’s laugh turned into a terrified scream as William swung him higher.
William laughed as Ambrose stepped forward and caught the boy around the waist. William relinquished his hold on the ankles with a shake of the head, as if the younger Hartley was spoiling the game.
Little Jamie clung to Ambrose’s neck as his uncle rubbed a soothing circle on his back. Susanna’s heart melted at the sight.
“Come on, Jamie, you were perfectly safe,” William said lightly.
“I think it is time for the children to return to the nursery,” Henry said.
Grace nodded and signaled to Nurse.
The servant stepped forward and took Alice from Miss Witworth before heading to where William was still trying to coax Jamie to continue to play.
Instead of putting Jamie down to walk beside his nurse, Ambrose murmured something and Nurse nodded. Then he followed her out of the room, still holding and comforting his nephew. It was admirable, many men shrank from crying children or were quick to hand them off to a servant.
Watching Ambrose, Susanna saw the kind, thoughtful boy she had always known. Her entire body was suddenly bathed in sunshine, her heart near bursting. As he turned away, she wanted to call him back, to beg him to stay by her side forever.
In that moment her doubts dissolved like a sugar cube in tea. She loved Ambrose Hartley. Every beat of her heart seemed to shout that she could not live without him.
“Ambrose is so good with Jamie,” Grace said to nobody in particular. “He will be a wonderful father.”
Although she agreed with her whole being, Susanna could not form a reply.
When she turned back to the group, it was clear that Miss Colley and Miss Witworth also agreed. Curse them.
“He was perfectly safe,” William said as he joined the group.
“But he did not feel safe,” Grace replied.
“And I suppose that is my fault?” William sounded indignant as he slouched into the seat beside Susanna.
“Well, you were the one swinging him by his feet,” Susanna pointed out distractedly.
William shook his head but did not argue.
“’Tis no matter,” Mr. Scott said. “For now that the children are gone, we might play commerce.”
There was a wave of agreement to the suggestion.