Chapter Six
Friday, Robert and Frederick departed promptly at five o’clock for dinner at the Gillinghams. Robert could tell Frederick was eager for the engagement and not simply because they were assured a marvelous meal.
Robert knew his little brother was hoping for a chance to request a repeat visit to explore Haverstone’s library.
Their father’s, impressive though it was, was nothing in comparison.
For himself, Robert looked forward to the food and drink, but as for tonight’s company, he was less than fully enthusiastic. His valet had subtly warned him that he would find another, unexpected person at dinner that evening.
“Who do you mean, Crandall?” he had asked. “Who is staying with the Gillinghams?”
“A Miss Charlotte Kendall, sir,” Crandall had replied.
“She is Lady Gillingham’s younger sister.
” Seeing no sign his master wished him to refrain from speaking further, he added, “She is twenty years of age and has come to spend the summer at Haverstone—word is, in order to secure a match that she was unable to find in London over the past two Seasons.”
“Two times to town without gaining a proposal, eh?” Robert said. “Is she not handsome? Her sister was renowned for being a great beauty in her youth and is well favored even still.”
Crandall took the clothes brush and gave a final once-over to Robert’s jacket.
“Miss Kendall has not the beauty of her older sister, if what one of our maids was saying is to be believed. She saw the two ladies shopping in the village the other afternoon. Apparently, Miss Kendall favors her father’s side more than her mother’s.
However, the lady is not unattractive, by any means.
It would be no punishment to be in her company, I am certain.
” He gave a final nod of approval to his master and stepped back to signal he was finished.
“Thank you for the advance notice, Crandall. Her presence may well be the reason for my invitation tonight. Her sister likely hopes to set us up as a match. I shall be exceedingly on my guard.”
As they rode in the carriage to Haverstone, Robert mentioned the extra guest to his brother but did not bother to warn him against the girl.
He knew that, at three-and-twenty, Frederick was in no mind to seek a wife and moreover, as the second brother, his prospects were nowhere near as high.
Thus, Lady Gillingham would never entertain the thought of trying to force her sister on Frederick.
Robert was certain the lady of Haverstone had much higher hopes for her younger sister—for example, trying to secure the heir of Brentwood as a future marriage candidate. He chuckled to himself softly.
Lady Gillingham will have to be disappointed. There will be very little to tempt me, I fear.
Robert was well aware that Dorothea had come into her advantageous marriage with but a modest ￡1000 dowry from Clayton House.
The lack of a large financial settlement had mattered little to Reginald Gillingham though, as he fell near instantly in love with the beautiful, vivacious blonde.
Theirs was, and continued to be, a true love match.
A mere thousand pounds would not even come close to meeting my needs. I shall be courteous and gentlemanly, but I shall make absolutely no effort to charm the young Miss Kendall. No point in raising her or her sister’s hopes.
Arriving at Haverstone, they were shown by the butler into the best sitting room where three people waited: Lord Gillingham was already standing, and the two ladies rose from a damask-covered settee as Robert and his brother walked in.
Robert’s eyes immediately went to the petite brunette standing beside Dorothea.
Her gray eyes met his unflinchingly—clearly, she was not going to play the shy maiden.
Robert could not make out her countenance—it was somehow not what he had expected, but he could not quite place it.
Before he could study her further, Reginald was moving forward to greet them and make introductions.
“Mr. Morton, welcome. And, Frederick—how glad my wife and I were to hear you could join us,” Reginald said heartily.
“May I present Dorothea’s sister, Miss Kendall, who is staying with us this summer?
Charlotte, these are our nearest and dearest neighbors at Brentwood estate—Mr. Robert Morton and his brother, Frederick Morton. ”
Both Dorothea and Charlotte curtseyed demurely as their guests bowed. As he straightened again, Robert once more caught Miss Kendall’s inscrutable expression. It appeared pleasant enough, but was not particularly…welcoming? He was about to speak when she turned to address Frederick, smiling warmly.
“I am pleased to meet you both. I am told you have just taken your orders, Mr. Morton,” she said in a voice that fell pleasantly on his ear. “How proud you must be.”
“And eager for your first posting, to be sure,” Dorothea broke in. “But, I understand, thanks to your dear brother, that you will be able to remain in the area, is that not correct?”
Frederick grinned broadly. “Indeed, Lady Gillingham, Miss Kendall. I am lucky enough that there was a curate position that fell open right at Brentwood Parish. My generous brother has given me the post, and I shall begin in a week or so.” He winked at Robert.
“Of course, who else would he give the vacancy to?”
Everyone laughed while Robert smiled and shrugged his shoulders in a modest, helpless gesture.
There were a few more minutes of polite conversation before the butler returned and announced dinner was served.
Reginald gave his arm to his wife and the two moved to the door.
Knowing his duty and aware of precedence, Robert offered his arm to Charlotte, who placed her hand so lightly upon his sleeve that he could barely feel it.
Somehow he felt…offended—was she dismissing him, or signaling her disapproval in some manner?
He glanced down at her, and she looked up with what could only be described as a half-smile that did not quite reach her remarkable gray eyes.
He swallowed his annoyance and decided to try to engage her in conversation as they followed the Gillinghams to the dining room, with Frederick walking a few paces behind them.
“I must confess, Miss Kendall, I always appreciate an invitation to dine at Haverstone,” he said smoothly. “Your sister has one of the best cooks in the county. Do you not find it so?”
“Indeed, you are correct, Mr. Morton, and it is why I take frequent walks about the estate when I visit here,” she replied, coolly.
“We eat far more humbly at my home in Doddington, and I fear greatly I shall grow too much in girth should I not partake in exercises enough to offset such rich bounty.”
Her frank admission of her less wealthy lifestyle at home surprised him.
He would have expected her to try to obviously link herself to the riches of Haverstone in order to remind him of what an advantageous match she would be—the sister-in-law of one of the wealthiest estates in the county.
He silently considered her reply before he heard Frederick speak.
“Exercise is always beneficial, Miss Kendall, however, I cannot imagine that your figure is in need of any special effort to maintain its slender form.”
Robert heard a musical laugh from his companion as she turned back to smile at his brother.
“Gracious, you are all flattery, Mr. Frederick Morton. I shall have to attend your church and hear one of your sermons to see whether you are as eloquent there as you seem to be with me at present.”
“I should dearly love to have you come to Brentwood Parish and hear me sermonize,” Frederick replied, earnestly. “As long as you would be every bit as honest in your appraisal of my talk as I was to you just now.”
In reply, Charlotte merely smiled and bowed her head. By now, the party had entered the dining room, which Robert saw was lavishly decorated with hot-house flowers and abundant candlelight. Clearly, Dorothea was sparing no effort to make a good first impression on behalf of her sister.
Robert took his seat to the right of Dorothea, and Frederick to the right of Reginald.
Charlotte was, as he had expected, seated directly across from him.
Once again her cool eyes appraised him, but was there now, perhaps, a bit of amusement displayed there as well?
He felt a surge of annoyance and then a mild panic—was she aware, somehow, of his financial difficulties?
He was certain Reginald and Dorothea knew nothing of it, else they might not have invited him to this dinner and foisted Miss Kendall upon him.
But, had she somehow heard a scrap of rumor about Brentwood’s problems?
Perhaps when she and Dorothea were in town the other day?
He forced himself to think calmly. No, that was unlikely.
His accountant and his steward were the souls of discretion.
But then, why did she look at him this way—as though she were somehow passing judgment on him?
He resolved to think no more of it or of Miss Kendall and turned his attention toward Reginald, who was discussing the library with Frederick.
The chestnut soup was served, and the dinner began.
*
Late that evening when Robert was finally alone in his room, he reflected on the dinner.
Excellent food and drink, as he had expected.
And, the conversation, thanks to Dorothea, was lively and pleasant.
He noted how his hostess refrained from singing the praises of her younger sister too excessively, though she had managed to slip in some of the young lady’s accomplishments, such as her musical talents.
Whether such praise was warranted, he could not say, as Miss Kendall had declined to perform on the pianoforte when asked.
He could find no real fault in Miss Kendall’s company.
She was pleasant, polite, and when she did speak, displayed every bit as much intelligence as her older sister.
But, he remained puzzled about her overall countenance.
He had expected the girl to either play the coy, inexperienced maiden, or to fall over him with fawning admiration, perhaps even make an attempt to be sparkling and witty.
These were the usual arts of a young woman seeking to attract the attention of an eligible man.
But, Miss Kendall had shown none of these arts.
She politely answered questions and was pleasant… but that was all.
He sat in a chair with a snifter of brandy, musing over her behavior. With a jolt, it hit him—the look in her eyes and what it signified.
Complete indifference.