Chapter Nine
"How was the dinner?" Grandmamma asked when Constance returned home the following day.
"It was…interesting. Unexpected," she said.
Although, of course, the memorable event of the evening had been the disappearance and then the rediscovery of the little boy, Constance could not tear her mind from the Earl’s heartfelt apology.
She had never known anyone – let alone a man – admit so fully that he was wrong and ask for forgiveness.
It made her see him in an entirely different light. Yes, he had misjudged her, but he had admitted it, and he was sorry.
"Indeed? I always find the Duke of Coldingham such a confusing fellow. Sometimes he seems to barely speak, and at others he’s very charming. The influence of his wife, also, I’m told. Before her, I believe he was a recluse."
"He seems very pleasant, although rather intimidating, I do agree. But the Duchess is lovely – she always was. One of those people whose smile lights up the room. Their son went missing last night," she said, picking up her needlework from where she had left it.
"He did? How terrible. I presume he was found?"
Constance nodded. "He’d gone wandering down to the beach, wanting to see if some legend about jellyfish was true. The Earl of Gracewood and I found him…"
"Indeed?" Grandmamma said, raising her eyebrows. "I feel I have heard his name mentioned many times now."
"You have also heard the names of the Duke and Duchess of Coldingham, and the Duke and Duchess of Dunloch, and probably Lord and Lady Aylesbury as well. You mustn’t read into everything, Grandmamma. I am here for you – and the castles. Nothing more."
◆◆◆
"How was your evening?" his mother asked, when she appeared unannounced at Gracewood Castle the following afternoon.
"It was…more pleasant than I expected," he said, and he did not miss his mother’s self-satisfied smile.
"So you admit I was right, then? You are happier out in society?"
He considered her question carefully. Was she right?
He certainly felt as though some of the gloom and haze he had lived in for the last five years had lifted.
It was enjoyable – surprisingly so – not just to live in his own little world.
To have other people to talk to, to think about…
Not that he was thinking about anyone in particular, of course.
But he was very pleased that Lady Constance had accepted his apology, and that they could, hopefully, become friends.
He thought he might invite her to Gracewood Castle, to look around properly, since she loved castles so much; an olive branch, to hopefully dispel the memory of her last visit.
"There was an incident with the Duke’s son going missing," he told his mother, rather surprised she had not already heard about it through the county gossips. "But I found him. Well – we did."
"Well done to you. But who’s ‘we’? Who was your accomplice?"
"Lady Constance Beaumont," he said, enjoying the sound of her name on his lips. "She’s a friend of the Duchess’s. She was at the ball the other night."
His mother frowned. "Yes, I remember. The Dowager Countess of Basingstoke’s granddaughter, yes? Quite a plain girl…"
"I wouldn’t say so," he disagreed.
"And overly tall for a woman, you must admit."
It seemed his mother was set on disliking the woman, and although Ezra found himself wanting to disagree with her, he knew from experience that the more he did, the more she would cling to her position.
So he moved the conversation on, turning it back to a topic that would make his mother happier.
"I’ve spoken with the gardener about removing the ivy and vines all over the front of the castle. He’ll have to employ help – it’s a big job – but he said it should be done within the month."
"Excellent. You never know, perhaps you might like to hold a ball here this year. I could plan it, of course, and preside with you."
"Let’s not run before we can walk," Ezra said with a shudder, not enjoying the thought of people in his sanctuary; staying in rooms that had not been used in years, wanting a tour of the place.
Showing Lady Constance round was one thing – and even then, there were certain wings of the house he would certainly avoid.
But a house full of guests? He did not like the idea.
No, he rather thought that it was good for him to be out in society – but he was more than happy to go to other people’s balls and dinners, and not be the host himself.
No matter how much his mother wanted to be the hostess again.
◆◆◆
"If you don’t mind, Grandmamma, I thought I’d go for a ride today," Constance said on a particularly sunny day, a few days after her visit to Blackthorne Castle. "I’d like to go to Dunburgh Castle, since I remember the ruins being so beautiful, but perhaps I’ll do that next week.
I know you want to go to that musicale this evening, but if I go for a short ride I’ll be back in plenty of time. "
"Of course, of course. You enjoy yourself, my dear. And perhaps next week we can visit Amblewood – I have some things to purchase, and if you wanted a new dress, in case there should be another ball…"
"I have plenty of dresses, Grandmamma," Constance replied.
"But what if a certain earl is present? You might want something new; something he hasn’t seen."
Constance gave her grandmother a half-smile. "This is a fairy story you are telling yourself, Grandmamma. I have no plans to marry at this time, and the earl is certainly not interested in me in that way. But of course, we can go to Amblewood whenever you’d like."