CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Susan burst into Eugenia’s bedroom while Eugenia was still lying in her bed, filled with dread, and trying to muster up the willpower to face Lydia for yet another day.
The thought that she would have to suffer through an entire sennight holding her breath, waiting to see how Lydia might trick her into publicly humiliating herself next was unbearable.
Susan bustled over and threw open the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room, and Eugenia winced at the sudden brightness.
“I have exciting news!”
Susan said it in a sing-song voice, hurrying over to perch on the edge of Eugenia’s bed.
“And what might that be?”
Eugenia stifled a yawn and pushed up into a sitting position.
“I woke early, and I’ve had a thoroughly productive morning.
” Susan’s blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
“I managed to wheedle Lady Bellingham’s plans for today out of one of the housemaids, and it’s a good thing I did!
We’ll all be exploring Bellingham Park in small parties today, which is quite the stroke of luck, considering the fact that I’ve just received a letter from Georgiana today and she needs to see us — quite urgently — at Ashbrook—”
“And we’re leaving this putrid house party early, never to return?”
Eugenia said it jokingly, half hoping that she was actually right.
“Not quite, dear one.” Susan gave her a wink. “We’re going to use the excuse of exploring the property and being split up into small parties to sneak away for a few hours to see Georgiana and Edward, not to mention my mother and younger sister.”
A tightness Eugenia hadn’t realised she was carrying around in her chest loosened a bit. She threw back the blankets and rose, then, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“I have to say that the prospect of sneaking away for a few hours to see my brother and your family sounds delightful.”
“Oh, please. Mucking out a pig sty would be delightful compared to spending time trapped in a house with Lydia Errington.”
Eugenia let out a boisterous laugh which echoed around the bedchamber, then clapped a hand over her mouth.
“I shouldn’t laugh at that.”
“But it’s true.”
Susan’s grin was wicked, and Eugenia had to suppress a giggle.
“How are we going to ensure that our host and hostess do not know we’re sneaking away from their party? Surely they’d take offense if they realised as much?”
Susan waved Eugenia off.
“Just leave that up to Neville and me! Right now, all you need to worry about is getting ready for the day, and meeting us at the carriage.”
“In that case, I’ll see you soon!”
Eugenia scurried over to her window and peeked out at the grounds of Bellingham Park as Susan let herself out.
She stared longingly at the curve of the river that bounded one side of the Bellingham Park property.
Thistlewayte Hall, Billington Hall, and the Ashbrook estate that Edward had gifted to Lady Gainsbourne as an engagement present to his now wife Georgiana, all sat on the other side of the river.
She very much looked forward to having the river between her and Lydia, even if only for a few hours.
Eugenia’s maid, Charlotte, entered to help Eugenia dress. A mere few minutes later, the entire party had gathered in Lord and Lady Bellingham’s entrance hall. The lady of the house, looking somewhat drawn and pale, forced a broad smile.
“Good morning my dears!” She made a magnanimous, sweeping gesture at her gathered guests. “Today, we are going to enjoy a bit of time out of doors, exploring our beautiful property in small groups.”
Everyone stood there, silently awaiting the group assignments which they knew were Lady Bellingham’s right to dictate, as their hostess.
Eugenia’s attention wandered, despite the fact that Lady Bellingham was speaking, her gaze inevitably drawn to Lord D’Asti.
There were dark shadows under his eyes, and he looked a tad pale compared to normal.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, wondering whether he’d lost sleep, and if he had, what concerns had kept him awake.
Suddenly, everyone was moving, the crowd parting so that Lady Bellingham could lead the way outside.
They were at the back of the room, furthest from the door, along with Lord D’Asti and Lady Catherine Stewart, and Lady Catherine’s mother, the Duchess of Elkington.
Lady Catherine let out a disgusted huff and crossed her arms.
“I loathe the outdoors. I’m not going, Mama.”
“Nor am I. I have a need to write to your brother.” The Duchess of Elkington sniffed. She flicked her gaze around the room at the people remaining there. “You will make our excuses to Lady Bellingham for us, I trust?”
It was an order, not a question, and everyone nodded automatically, none of them willing to dare the Duchess’ displeasure. She flicked her gaze to Lord Seabury, then.
“You will take Lord D’Asti into your group, will you not?”
“Of course.” Lord Seabury bowed with a small smile. “We’ll be glad to keep him company for you.”
Lady Catherine paled, then, looking as if she might like to change her mind and come along, after all.
But, as her gaze flicked to the ferociously bright sunlight pouring in through the still-open front door, she shook her head with a dismissive curl of her lip.
Eugenia wasn’t at all sure how fresh air and sunshine could be so utterly offensive to someone.
Her gaze caught on Lord D’Asti, whose expression was carefully neutral, but she gasped and looked down at her feet when he caught her staring. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment.
How do I seem to always make an absolute fool of myself around this man?
Eugenia squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and sighed, then felt someone’s arm loop through hers.
She opened her eyes to find Susan offering her a conspiratorial smile and tugging her towards the door.
The four of them walked out to the waiting carriage in silence.
After they were all settled and the carriage was moving, Susan grinned, her gaze dancing back and forth between her husband and Eugenia.
“Shall we let Lord D’Asti in on our little subterfuge, or shall we simply abscond with him and leave him to work the rest out for himself?”
For a moment, an expression of true panic flashed across Lord D’Asti’s face, but he quickly schooled his expression into one of calm as he arched a brow at Susan. The corners of his mouth twitched, as if he was fighting the urge to smile.
“What are you up to, Lady Seabury?”
God above, Eugenia loved that lilting, exotic Italian accent of his.
Somehow, it made everything the man said sound romantic.
Or perhaps Eugenia romanticised everything about him because she liked him and wanted to pursue a relationship with him, although she wasn’t at all certain that he still had any interest in her.
Susan giggled and leaned forward, as if to impart an important secret.
“We are sneaking out of Lady Bellingham’s clutches for a few hours to visit my mother and sisters, and of course Edward, at Ashbrook, which is quite a short ride from here.”
“But you don’t have to go with us if you don’t want to!
” Eugenia blurted. Everyone turned to look at her, and her cheeks burned even hotter.
She was sure her face was crimson, now, and she rushed to explain her outburst. “What I mean to say is that we won’t force you to come with us if you’d prefer to stay at Bellingham Park and try to catch up with one of the other parties exploring the property.
But you’re welcome to accompany us on our visit if you’d like to. ”
Susan shot Eugenia a disbelieving, wide-eyed stare, and Eugenia looked away, suddenly quite interested in the passing countryside.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want the opportunity to spend time with Lord D’Asti, away from the confines of the Bellingham house party, but she didn’t want to practically have to kidnap the man to make it happen, for heaven’s sake!
“Well, if the three of you are sneaking off for a bit of unsanctioned adventure, I certainly don’t want to be left out!”
Lord D’Asti chuckled, and Eugenia blew out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.
“Excellent!” Susan clapped, clearly delighted that Lord D’Asti had chosen to go with them.
Out of the corner of her eye, Eugenia saw Susan lean forward, grinning like a fiend.
“Georgiana said that she had some news to share with us. Is it terrible that I’m almost more excited about the excuse to get away from Lady Bellingham than I am about whatever news Georgiana has for us? ”
“Lord and Lady Bellingham really aren’t that bad, darling. Lady Bellingham is, perhaps, a little overbearing, but they aren’t atrocious enough that we need to run from Bellingham Park screaming, never to return.”
Lord Seabury’s voice was gently chiding.
“Their daughter, however, is an atrocious creature.”
Susan’s mutinous mutter was too funny for Eugenia to resist allowing a soft laugh to escape her lips.
“While that may be true, I see no need to speak ill of our hosts’ daughter in front of other guests. It’s not wise, Susan.”
Lord Seabury’s voice had gone from gently chiding to hard and urgent. Lord D’Asti cleared his throat then.
“Your secret is safe with me, I promise.”
Eugenia and Lord Seabury both flashed the Count a grateful smile on Susan’s behalf. Then, deciding that it was high time they changed the subject, Eugenia tapped Susan on the knee.
“Why do you think Georgiana sent for us?”
“I haven’t the foggiest.” Susan shrugged, turning to look out of the carriage window with a broad smile. “But I’m sure we’ll find out momentarily, since we’re arriving as we speak.”