Chapter 9
Anton couldn’t very well avoid dinner with the family.
He dearly wanted to after seeing how affectionate Miss Bliss was with his brother, but he had no ready excuse.
It hadn’t hurt him to see it like he imagined, but it had been confusing.
Now he found himself at the dinner table, sitting at the head of the table with Miss Bliss on his left, and he had to do his level best not to look at her.
She was a rare beauty, but it was more awkward than anything.
“Lord Crawford.”
Oh, why did she have to talk to him? “Yes?”
“Are you ready for another session of parliament?”
He feigned a smile. “I will be when it comes.”
“My father will not put down his newspapers. I fear you shall be very busy next year.”
“Anton is the same,” Terrance said. “Except when he is challenged in chess by Miss Muffet.”
Anton did not expect Terrance’s comment, and he squirmed in his seat.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about Miss Bliss—or anyone else for that matter—knowing about his time with Miss Muffet.
He glanced down the table to find Miss Muffet with her head down over her chicken fricassee with mushrooms—she seemed to have no intention of eating.
He knew she did not care for public attention, and she was likely worried about Anton’s response.
“Yes,” he answered, his chest warming as he thought of their time together. “I have not found a better opponent than Miss Muffet. I have yet to beat her.”
Miss Muffet looked up, and her doe eyes melted the walls he had spent the morning building around his heart. Miss Bliss might be a renowned beauty, but Miss Muffet was the one who stirred him inside. His posture relaxed and he smiled, this time without pretense.
He stabbed a mushroom with his fork. On its way to his mouth, he noticed Mama looking at him curiously.
Drat. He did not need his family drawing conclusions before he was ready.
He would need to be careful. It would be wise to completely understand his feelings this time.
He was not the only one capable of having their heart broken.
Forcing the mushroom into his mouth, he concentrated on chewing and eating.
It felt like a safer course of action than thinking about the subject of romance.
After all, there was a strong possibility that Miss Muffet might only be in his life for another two weeks.
Miss Bliss had been at Banbury Castle for three days now.
They sat close in Mary’s sitting room on the second floor and sipped their tea.
Outside, a soft rain pelted against the windows.
While the weather cast a gray hue over the room, it did not detract from their visit.
Elena gazed over the gold rim of her cup at Miss Bliss.
Despite her beauty, Miss Bliss was modest in her manners.
Elena envied her easy nature around the family.
There were no haughty airs like Bianca and the many other debutantes Elena had met, just an ample amount of kindness.
When Elena had met Miss Bliss at Rosewood Park, Elena had not cared one bit about knowing her.
She had been intent on avoiding Bianca and anything her sister deemed as special.
Here at Banbury, Elena had adopted a different mindset.
Part of her worried that Mary would cast her aside for Miss Bliss, but the other part wanted to believe she could make another friend.
“Miss Bliss,” Mary’s voice took on a note of excitement. “What do you think of a picnic?”
“Please, you must call me Sophia now. We are to be family, are we not?” Sophia turned to Elena. “You, too. We have been thrown in each other’s company often this summer, and we ought to put aside niceties.”
Elena blushed at the sweet gesture. “I should like that. Please, call me Elena.”
“I would enjoy nothing better. Now let’s hear more about this idea for a picnic.”
“I thought it would be a splendid way to celebrate the arrival of your parents and grandmother,” Mary explained, “and perhaps introduce them to some of our neighbors. Mama approved, but we both thought it best to ask your family’s preference first.”
Sophia seemed pleased. “How kind of you to think of them. I would like to meet a few of the families in the neighborhood. My parents always enjoy making new acquaintances, but my grandmother will likely prefer to stay at the castle. Will it be too much trouble with the wedding plans? I should not like to burden the household staff.”
“My mother has employed a few temporary staff members to accommodate the extra guests. It won’t be any trouble at all.”
“What about you, Elena? Do you enjoy picnics?”
Elena had been listening quietly and hardly expected to be included in the decision. “A picnic sounds lovely.”
They both looked at her as if expecting her to say more; but surely, they did not care to hear of past ways her sister had made picnics less than enjoyable for her. Thankfully, the opportunity to be with her new friends on an outing surpassed the displeasure of her memories.
“Wonderful!” Mary clapped her hands together.
The teacup on her lap wobbled, and she quickly moved to balance it.
“Oh dear. My eagerness for the picnic is not worth burning my legs. Perhaps we had better talk of something else. I know! Let’s compare wedding plans, Sophia.
I have been anxious to learn what you and Terrance have planned. ”
Elena shifted in her seat. She would be gone before either wedding ceremony, and for that reason, it always made her uncomfortable to listen to wedding preparations.
They were quiet affairs, so it shouldn’t matter that she was not invited.
Perhaps it was because she had so little opportunity to attend weddings and even wondered if she would ever have one herself.
“Mary,” a voice called from the door. They all turned to see Anton on the threshold. “I daresay the topic of Terrance’s wedding trip is none of your business.”
Mary stuck her tongue out at her brother, and Elena had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.
“At least spare Miss Muffet.”
Mary pushed her breath out and made a noise of annoyance. “You think she would prefer to play chess with you over spending time with us?”
Elena did not want to admit that, despite how close the competition would be, Anton would win every time. Chess or not.
“I am sure I could provide some riveting, intellectual conversation for our little bluestocking.” He looked at her and grinned.
Heat rushed to her cheeks without her permission.
“You are embarrassing her!” Mary chided. “Go and find Terrance or Blake. We have commandeered this room for the ladies only.”
“Fine, but I should like to request Miss Muffet’s presence for at least a few moments. I have found something of interest for her.”
Elena stood rather quickly, before Mary could think of another reason she should stay. She followed him down the staircase toward the library. It was chilly, likely from the drop in temperature because of the rain. The room sat empty except for a servant girl who coaxed a fire in the grate.
“Are you cold?” Anton must have followed her gaze or noticed the way she was hugging herself.
“I forgot my shawl in Mary’s sitting room.”
He frowned and turned to the maid. “Sarah, might you fetch Miss Muffet’s shawl?”
“Yes, your lordship.” She dipped a curtsy and hurried from the room.
“Come sit by the fire. In a few moments the room should warm up.” He put his hand on the small of her back and gently led her to a chair by the fire. She sat down, and he grabbed a chair from the table and pulled it opposite her. Sarah entered only a moment later with her shawl.
“Thank you.” Elena draped the coal-colored wool over her shoulders. “It isn’t dainty like many a lady’s, but I made this for the warmth.”
“You made that?” He seemed impressed.
“Yes, I enjoy all sorts of needlework—knitting, crocheting, and even lacework.”
“I knew you were hiding more secrets.”
She only carried one real secret. Would she ever be able to tell him about her sister? Her gaze lifted to Anton’s. “You wanted to speak to me about something?”
“Not really.” Anton’s expression turned sheepish. “I only cared to spare you the awkward wedding talk.”
Elena’s lips quirked. “It does get a tad excessive at times.”
“At times? I haven’t seen either of them speak of anything else when together.”
She laughed. “I don’t mind terribly.”
“No? Well then, you are more patient than I.”
Elena wondered if it was because of his feelings for Sophia or his bachelor status that made him feel this way. “Will you not be the same when you are engaged to be married?”
Their eyes met. He stared at her for a moment, and she couldn’t look away like she normally did. What was he thinking?
“No doubt I will be just as in love. But I imagine I will keep most of my feelings close to my heart rather than share them.”
“Your stance does you credit.”
“You think so?” His gaze intensified on her face, warming every feature.
She had to look away to form a coherent answer. “To keep your feelings private demonstrates a level of sacredness.”
He casually leaned over the arm of his chair toward her, drawing her gaze once more. “I’ve never thought of it that way, but it perfectly puts to words my take on the matter.”
She dug her hands into the weave of her shawl, happy to know that once more they shared the same opinion.
“What would you be like?” Anton asked. “If you were engaged.”
She shrugged. “Blissfully, ecstatically happy. If I loved him, of course.”
Anton smiled. “And would you want to tell the whole world?”
“I think I would burst with desire to tell, but I rarely trust my deepest thoughts with anyone.”
“Trust is important to any relationship. When I first met you, I thought you were merely shy. Now I wonder if you are just more guarded.”
“I am guilty of both. Smaller groups are easier for me. And I must say, being here at Banbury has allowed me to be more open than ever before.”