Chapter Eleven
After Lady Pebble had addressed them, she suggested the ladies depart in order to give the gentlemen some time to themselves. They left the terrace as a group, all the young ladies chatting happily.
Except for Rowena.
Why was Lord Dyer here? No, Lord Marley now. For a moment, she felt a bit of sympathy for him, knowing he had lost his father as she had.
She listened as she heard the different ladies talk about what they would don for dinner that evening.
This was the reason Lady Pebble had allowed the ladies to leave, which would give them ample time to dress for dinner.
Since she had no talent in dressing hair and hadn’t a lady’s maid of her own, Rowena never took long to get ready for any event, while she knew others present at the house party would take an hour or two to do so.
“Go ahead to the room, Miss Tweedham,” she said brightly. “I must speak with Lady Pebble for a moment.”
Her friend didn’t question her as Rowena veered from the group and fell behind so that she might speak to Lady Pebble in private.
The viscountess reached her. “How are you enjoying the house party so far, my dear?”
She did not immediately go to the heart of the matter she wished settled.
Instead, Rowena said, “I cannot thank you enough, my lady, for inviting my two closest friends. They are both grateful and looking forward to the next week. We have already befriended Miss Lawson, and I believe she will do quite well in this smaller setting.”
“I noticed her speaking with Lady Sarah earlier. She seemed more animated than I have ever seen her before. For that, I am grateful.” The viscountess paused.
“Her father was sorely disappointed that she did not make her come-out this past Season. He fears she will never land a husband because of her extreme shyness.”
“Rest assured, I will keep my eye on her. If she seems left out, I will draw her into whatever circle I am a part of.”
“Thank you, my dear. You are too kind.”
“Lady Jewell seems most interesting, as well,” she continued. “I have a strong suspicion that she will leave this house party betrothed. With her looks and pleasant manner, the gentlemen present will all be vying for her attention.”
Lady Pebble smiled. “That is the aim of a good house party. A hostess likes to see when a match—or more—can be made amongst her guests. But what of you, Rowena? Have you enjoyed meeting the gentlemen present? I noticed that Lord Marley was at your table for tea.”
“I did not realize Lord Marley was invited to Pebblestone,” she said, not elaborating, but hoping Lady Pebble would. Knowing how the viscountess had a tendency to gossip, Rowena hoped she would receive an answer as to why Lord Marley had made an appearance.
“He was not on my original guest list,” the viscountess confirmed. “In fact, he is a substitute for Lord Clay, who was called back to his country estate on urgent business. Lord Marley happen to be with Lord Clay at the time and was pressed into accepting the invitation on Lord Clay’s behalf.”
“So, that was how the earl came to be at Pebblestone,” she mused aloud.
“Marley is quite the eligible bachelor now,” Lady Pebble said, obviously pleased. “He has always cut a fine figure at ton affairs, but he had never become serious about marriage until now.”
An unsettling feeling blanketed her. “You believe he is here to look for his countess?”
“I believe so,” the viscountess confirmed. “He told me of your acquaintance when I mentioned you would be one of the female guests. Perhaps that is why he wished to sit at your table during tea.”
She frowned. “Our meeting was very brief. We danced together only once this past Season. I thought nothing of it—or him—since then.”
Lady Pebble placed a hand on Rowena’s arm. “I hope you will give Lord Marley a chance, my dear. All the gentlemen here deserve one.”
Rowena saw the hope in the viscountess’ eyes and did not wish to dash it.
“I am certain a betrothal will come from your house party, my lady. Whether it is me or someone else remains to be seen. If you will excuse me, I must get ready for dinner.”
She hurried back to the bedchamber, knowing Lord and Lady Pebble gave this house party as much for her as they did for Ollie or Miss Lawson.
Why couldn’t they leave her alone? It wasn’t fair.
She did not fit into the mold that Polite Society put most women in.
She was perfectly content living the life she had chosen for herself.
She would be cordial to all the gentlemen at the party—even Lord Marley—but she had no intention of accepting an offer from any of them. If one came, that is.
In their bedchamber, Miss Tweedham was talking over with a maid what to wear this evening.
“There you are, Miss Stanhope. Annie here is Lady Sarah’s maid, and she has offered to share Annie with us for the duration of the house party.”
“That is very kind of Lady Sarah.”
“I am here to assist you in any way possible, Miss Stanhope,” the maid said. “Of course, I’ll need to see to Lady Sarah first since she is my employer, but Lady Sarah is a generous sort. She knew neither of you had a maid, only each other. I’m happy to help when I can.”
After much debate, Miss Tweedham and the maid decided on the gown for that night.
“I do want to make a good impression at dinner this evening,” her friend shared. Then smiling shyly, she added, “Lord Samuel is very nice.”
Rowena relaxed. “I am glad you think so. He has always been a special favorite of mine.” She did not say aloud that she thought Ollie and Miss Tweedham would suit. That would be for the two of them to discover, but she hoped that would be the case.
Annie said to her, “Choose the gown you wish to wear this evening, my lady. I will return now to Lady Sarah and help her, but I will return to assist the both of you.”
“No need to rush, Annie,” she told the servant. “Miss Tweedham and I can help one another don our gowns.”
The maid nodded. “Then I can assist you with your hair.”
They removed their gowns, placing them across the bed, and with each other’s assistance, dressed again.
Miss Tweedham looked nice in a dark green gown, while Rowena went with one of midnight blue.
She was hoping not to attract the attention of any of the gentlemen present, but she still wished to look her best that evening.
Her friend stood back, assessing her. “I am so happy you have chosen to go with a new wardrobe. In town, you dressed . . . a little . . .”
“Frumpily?” Rowena volunteered.
Miss Tweedham sighed. “Yes. I never brought it up to you before. I simply did not understand why you did so when you are a very attractive woman.”
She did not wish to go into her reasons and merely said, “My clothes were all three Seasons old or older. After Papa passed, I decided I wanted a fresh start, hence my new wardrobe.”
“Well, I think you look very pretty these days, Miss Stanhope.”
They chatted about the other guests until Annie returned, Lady Sarah accompanying her. The maid had an idea of how she wished to dress Miss Tweedham’s hair and worked on it a good quarter hour.
When the servant finished, Miss Tweedham exclaimed, “Oh, this is very flattering, Annie. Thank you so much.”
Lady Sarah said, “I could not agree more, Miss Tweedham. You should wear your hair this way more often.”
“I can do so while Annie is here to help me, but I am not skilled at dressing hair.”
Rowena heard the forlornness in her friend’s voice. Lady Tweedham had told her daughter that until she was betrothed, she did not need a lady’s maid of her own. Personally, she thought it petty since many girls making their come-out received a lady’s maid at that time.
“Perhaps Annie might teach you how to create this style,” she suggested.
Miss Tweedham brightened. “Oh, that would be wonderful. Would you mind doing so, Annie?”
“I’d be happy to, my lady,” the servant replied. She looked to Rowena now. “And what would you like done with your hair, my lady?”
Having also never had a lady’s maid, she replied, “I will keep with my simple chignon. I prefer wearing it for all occasions.” Wanting a few moments to herself, she added, “Why don’t the two of you go downstairs? I will join you shortly.”
Her friends and Annie left the room, and Rowena sat at the dressing table, studying her image in the small hand mirror which Miss Tweedham had brought with her.
She noticed the color in her cheeks, and she knew that Lord Marley had put it there.
She reflected on their kisses again, wishing she could forget them.
Instead, she began daydreaming about them.
Then suddenly, she realized she should be downstairs. She had no idea how long she had been woolgathering and hurried down the corridor to the drawing room, slipping in quietly so as not to attract notice. The room was full, and Lord Marley stepped forward to meet her.
“I thought you were not going to make an appearance, Miss Stanhope.”
“Perhaps I am taking a page from your book, my lord, and arriving last,” she said coolly.
Rowena did not bother to excuse herself, simply abandoning Lord Marley and making her way toward Mr. Tompkins. Of all the guests present, he was the one she was most interested in getting to know.
He was accepting a drink from a footman, and she did the same, lifting a glass of wine from the offered tray.
“Miss Stanhope,” he greeted.
“Good evening, Mr. Tompkins. I have been most eager to make your acquaintance.”
He looked puzzled. “And why would you wish to talk with an Oxford tutor, my lady?”
“Perhaps because I am jealous that is what you do. I hope you do not think me odd, but I wish I could also be a tutor, as you are.” She hesitated and added. “Or even a don.”
Mr. Tompkins looked at her with new eyes. “I find that most interesting. You realize, of course, that women are not given the opportunity to serve as either a tutor or don at Oxford.”
“I do. Still, I am interested in many academic subjects. What is your specialty?”