Chapter Sixteen
“How did luncheon go, miss?” Alice asked.
“Well, if sitting next to Lord Pervis is any indication of how this house party will go, I doubt I’ll have a very enjoyable time,” Ashlyn replied.
“Late luncheons always make things easier for the hostess, miss,” Alice said, taking a dress from the wardrobe and giving it a shake.
“It allows guests who arrive late to eat without waiting for a formal dinner. It also means there can be an evening activity to bring everyone together, but still allows them to retire early to recover from their journey. I rather like it, myself. I’ll have your evening gown ready in no time.
You should try to close your eyes for a quick rest so you will feel more refreshed. ”
“I suppose all of that’s true, but the meal went on forever.
I’m not used to midday meals taking hours,” Ashlyn said, leaning back in the chair in front of the fireplace and closing her eyes.
“But I suppose that’s to be expected during the Season.
Except, I had to sit next to Lord Pervis Ashbourne—ugh!
” She opened her eyes and turned to look at Alice.
“I don’t want to sound unkind, but I found him a bit wearisome.
I felt like I had to constantly watch myself.
The man was far too familiar. His foot kept touching my leg, and I’d move my feet away, only to find his knee pressing against mine—and when I moved my leg away, it was his hand accidentally brushing my thigh.
I swear it was like trying to avoid an octopus. ”
Alice gaped. “That’s so unsettling. I’m surprised that they didn’t place you next to Lord Ravensthorpe, since the seating chart showed you sitting together. How odd. May I ask who sat next to Lord Ravensthorpe?”
“Lord Pervis Ashbourne’s sister, Lady Paula,” Ashlyn said. “Alice, you’re amazing. How did you find out what the seating chart would be?”
“Oh, just making friends with the kitchen staff and the serving staff,” Alice said with a smug smirk.
“And the upstairs staff are just as eager to gossip. Of course, I never reveal anything—everything I share is but common knowledge.” Alice leaned in and touched Ashlyn on the arm.
“Be careful, miss. I’ve heard gossip about Lord Pervis, and if true, he’s also someone you should avoid.
Word is that there was a young maid who became enamored of him, thinking she would become a countess.
I know that I’m hearing this third-hand from another maid, who heard it from a friend of the maid working here.
Next thing they knew, she was on a stage heading home supposedly because her mother was gravely ill, according to Lady Ashbourne.
But no one has heard from the girl or seen her since she left to visit her family.
Lady Ashbourne gave her twenty pounds and paid for her carriage ride back to Manchester.
No one has received any letters from her, not even her best friend, who was another maid who married last year and left. ”
“My God. There could be any explanation…” Ashlyn said.
“But you’ve met him. And where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Just be careful, miss,” Alice said. “Oh! On a droller note, I must admit, they are quite interested in the American heiress Miss Elizabeth Vickers and are positively agape over our American accents.”
They both burst into laughter.
“That’s one area where Elizabeth and I are almost exactly alike. Mama and Papa always said they could tell us apart more by what I said than by my voice,” Ashlyn said.
“Yes, despite you and your cousin’s many efforts, your parents were hard to fool when you were children,” Alice agreed.
“Remember the time you went home with your Uncle William and Aunt Beatrice, and Elizabeth stayed at your home in Connecticut—all because your cousin wanted to switch places? A day later, your father brought you back after your mother dissolved into tears following her discovery that her brother had left with her child. Your father had to ride all night to find the inn where Mr. Vickers was staying.”
“Yes! I remember. That was one of Elizabeth’s grand ideas…and this is just another variation of that one,” Ashlyn said.
They both chuckled at the memory.
“I have realized that folks back home are the same as folks here,” Alice said.
“Doesn’t matter if they are rich or poor.
Some love to gossip behind your back, and some tell you what they think to your face.
And I think this household is rife with gossipmongers.
And because of that, I am keeping an eye out for you, miss. ”
“Thank you, Alice.” Ashlyn felt a nervous tightening in her chest as she thought about tonight’s card game and how good Elizabeth was at engaging with each guest, making them feel they were the best of friends.
She wished her cousin were there with her.
“I miss her every day, but especially at times like this. Elizabeth has a way of handling people who are…difficult.”
“And for today, you are she,” Alice said, taking Ashlyn’s hand and giving it a supportive squeeze. “You are strong and smart and resourceful, miss.”
A deep sigh escaped Ashlyn’s lips. “I see where you are going. But I’ve always handled things differently from Elizabeth. I’m not comfortable being as blunt as she can be, and I do miss her strength in that regard.”
“Pish! Your instincts are excellent. You would never conduct yourself in any way that would cast her in a bad light,” Alice said. “And we both know that you can behave just like your cousin when you want to fool people. I’ve seen you.”
“Yes, you’ve made your point. These house parties are largely for matchmaking, and it seems, unless I want to find myself compromised, I will have to remain vigilant and take action, if necessary.”
Gabriel’s words from yesterday came back to her. “You are the bravest woman I know—so kind, yet so strong.” A slow grin spread across her face.
Alice hugged her. “Good. You’re going to be fine, miss.”
“It’s just this whole lie that’s exhausting.”
“Yes, but we’re almost through it. We must push on, Miss Vickers,” Alice said, meaningfully.
Ashlyn nodded, grateful for her maid’s gentle prodding. “I was caught off guard the first time, but if Lord Pervis sits next to me again, I’ll be sure to handle myself as my cousin would,” she said.
Alice smiled and gave a quick nod. “You’re wise to be alert to the man.
Lord Pervis is known to indulge quite a bit, and he tends to lose quite a lot at the gaming tables.
Word in the kitchen is that his mother hoped this party would help find promising matches for both him and Lady Paula Ashbourne. ”
“Well, I have no intention of being married to him. There are no English lords in my future. I’ll most likely be marrying a doctor, as my mother did.”
“As you say, miss,” Alice said. “Just remain wary of him.”
When he arrived that evening, Gabriel quickly scanned the empty tables of four.
The staff had obviously set up for whist, a game everyone likely knew.
He had fond memories of playing it with Oliva.
His entire family had played whist in the drawing room at Christmas.
The memory always warmed him, and he thought of those times often.
When he found the table with his name, he noticed Lady Paula’s name across from his, signifying she would be his partner. “That’s a bit obvious, don’t you think?” he whispered to himself, as he scanned the player names at the next table, hoping to put her name there. “Two can play at that game.”
“Oh, my lord! I didn’t expect you here so soon,” Lady Paula exclaimed in her shrill voice, approaching him from behind. “I was just trying to find my place. And I wanted to make sure—on Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s behalf, of course—that everything was in order.”
“I was doing the same,” Gabriel said. Damn and blast! Suppressing a frustrated sigh, he slid the name card belonging to Lady Paula into his pocket. “I see we are set to play whist,” he said, turning to regard her with a polite smile.
“Yes, I’m so looking forward to it! Whist is my favorite parlor game. I simply can’t imagine having a house party without playing it.” Lady Paula tittered. “Oh, how odd.” She glanced down at the table. “My name card seems to have gone missing.”
Gabriel looked around the table and, squatting, removed the card from his pocket and pretended to pick it up. “Ah, here it is,” he said. Standing, he set it back down where it had been, across from his. “It must have accidentally fallen.”
“Thank you, my lord. It seems we are partnered once again—how fortuitous,” she said with a coy smile. “I hope you enjoy winning, because I never lose.” She batted her lashes.
“Well then, it promises to be a most interesting evening,” he said, with a slight bow.
“Mother says I have always been competitive,” Lady Paula continued, swishing her skirts with her left hand as she sidled closer to him, laying her hand on the crook of his arm and gazing up at him, licking her lower lip.
She couldn’t have been more blatantly obvious if she lifted her skirts. Gabriel couldn’t abide the fake shyness Lady Paula exhibited while her eyes told him she was a she-wolf.
She gave a forced smile. “Shouldn’t we be taking our seats?” she insisted.
“Yes—well, soon,” he said, arching a brow. “I hadn’t realized the seating for the parlor games would be the same as our seating at dinner. I had thought the idea was to mix and mingle.”
She tapped her pouting lips with her index finger, her face a cloud of confusion. “Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure how these things were decided. I believe Mrs. Dove-Lyon has organized all the events according to her specifications.”
From the corner of his eye, he beheld a rustling of skirts at the entrance to the drawing room. He turned to meet the gaze of Elizabeth, who walked in wearing a sapphire-blue muslin dress. His heart thundered in his chest as he beheld her beauty. “I’ll be back in a moment.”