Chapter 21
Estelle
Nora yanked the brush through my hair and I yelped. “Nora! Are you trying to make me bald?”
“Sorry, miss.” I saw her grimace through my mirror. “I’m all in a dither over this dinner party ‘o yers. Ye were supposed to be a governess and not be seen by Society. Now look at ye. Yer all fancied up and bound ta be recognized.”
I tilted my head enough to see the door, assuring myself it was shut tight, even though I knew it was.
Certain conversations could not be overheard.
“You worry too much,” I told her. “Who would recognize me in this small country town? We are hundreds of miles from Northamptonshire. Besides, my own neighbors rarely ever saw me back home.” I was never like Augusta, wandering around outside on my own.
Though, being around her and her brother had made me want to be more that way.
Nora huffed. “That’s beside the point. Ye promised me that ye’d be careful!”
“I did and I assure you, I will be on my guard.”
Neither of us wanted to cut short our time at Rosemont. I could tell that Nora was happy here. She’d told me how kind the other staff were to her, and I had caught her humming a time or two. She had not hummed in years.
As for me, Rosemont was beginning to feel like a second home.
Here, I was needed and useful, and I daresay, appreciated.
Even Lord Camden had gone to great lengths to befriend me in past days.
He had accompanied Augusta and me on several walks and stayed late in the drawing room in the evening to play games or visit with us.
I did not dare admit to Nora how giddy I was for the night’s plans.
I hadn’t attended many dinner parties, and they had all been uncomfortable and overly serious settings.
With Augusta’s company, the night was sure to be exciting.
And the atmosphere of Lady Timbrell’s home promised a night of entertainment.
I didn’t want to think about whether it was wise for me to go.
As imperfect as my situation was, the parts of my life that were missing before seemed to be piecing themselves together again.
“I could tell Lady Camden yer ill,” Nora suggested, reaching for the hairpins.
I handed her one. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“I’ve ‘eard that before.”
I lifted my hand to hide my shameful smile. “Oh, Nora. You are so patient with me. If there is anything amiss tonight, I promise to think of you and act only as you would have me do.”
Nora pointed a pin at me. “See that ye do or yer mum will haunt us both from her grave.”
Humbly nodding, my gaze shifted to the bed where Nora had laid out my gown—emerald green.
Immediately it distracted my attention. I hadn’t worn it since I’d left home.
It brought out the color of my eyes. Would Lord Camden notice?
I quickly dismissed my question before I could answer it.
Ridiculous thoughts like that had been plaguing me since he had apologized the other night about his conduct.
When he had put his hand on the wall and teased me, I hadn’t known how to react.
My feelings had grown more complex after our time in the stables.
What did it mean? Were we friends now? Did he think me interesting to talk to?
Or did my ignorance about life and men merely amuse him?
I was left to wonder about the answer as I finished dressing for dinner. All too soon, I was wrapped in my dark-blue velvet mantelet and sitting beside Augusta in the dark carriage, opposite of Lord Camden and his mother.
“I will not disappoint you, Mama,” Augusta said, as if reading her mother’s mind.
“I trust you won’t.” Lady Camden was worse than Nora with her excessive worrying.
We had been over the particulars of the party a million times in the last few days, covering every possible scenario: if Augusta spilled, if someone asked Augusta a too-personal question, if Augusta said something untoward, if Augusta was approached by two men simultaneously, if Augusta accidentally offended someone.
The list went on and on until I had begun to wonder if Lady Camden suffered from extreme paranoia.
“Thank you, Atlas, for coming,” Lady Camden said, patting her son’s arm. “My nerves couldn’t have handled this without you.”
Atlas set his hand over his mother’s. “You always enjoy your nights with Lord and Lady Timbrell. I do not see why tonight will be any different.”
Lady Camden slid her gaze toward Augusta and me. “I pray it will not.”
I mimicked Lord Camden and reached over and set my hand on Augusta’s arm to reassure her. We were going to have a perfectly lovely night, and none of Lady Camden’s fears were going to prevent us from enjoying every minute.
I looked over and met Lord Camden’s gaze. Was he watching me? I quickly averted my eyes before he or his mother thought I was the one staring at him.
A few minutes later, the carriage rocked to a stop in front of the Timbrell’s grand manor home. I was the last out of the carriage, and I fully expected the footman to help me down, but it was Lord Camden’s hand that met mine.
“You look well tonight, Miss Lewis.”
His sincerity sent a rush of warmth to my cheeks. “Thank you, Lord Camden.” I took a moment to appreciate his appearance highlighted by the torch lights lining the walkway—his fine top hat, his dark necktie, and the way his dress jacket formed perfectly over his shoulders. “You look well yourself.”
His cheekbones lifted, revealing the hint of a smile and that my compliment had affected him.
But he turned away and released my hand, letting the moment pass as if it had never existed.
Lord Camden stepped away from me and collected his mother and sister’s arms. I followed behind them, my eyes dropping to see Lord Camden’s slight limp.
Was it his business that kept him from past social outings or was it his leg? I suddenly wanted to ask him, but would not press him after the last time I had inquired about his leg. Perhaps someday we would be better friends, and he would tell me about his accident of his own accord.
We were escorted inside, and warmth and gaslight greeted us with a cheerful glow.
Lady Timbrell stood at the end of the entrance hall near the drawing room door.
The older man beside her must be Lord Timbrell.
He had been absent during our afternoon tea here, and I had not met him yet.
He seemed older than his wife, with heavier wrinkles in his face and neck, but his jaunty grin made me immediately like him.
Augusta stole back to link arms with me while her mother greeted their hosts.
“I cannot contain my excitement for tonight,” she whispered into my ear. “I know it is a simple dinner party, but by the number of carriages outside, there are far more guests than I expected. Which means the odds are high that there is at least one handsome gentleman in attendance.”
I had not noticed the other carriages. I’d been too caught up in thoughts of Lord Camden. I grinned at Augusta’s enthusiasm. “What will you do if there are two handsome men?”
She shrugged. “Flirt with them both, I suppose.”
I giggled. “As your teacher, can I take some credit for your impeccable problem-solving skills?”
Augusta nodded. “I will do you one better. Since there are two of us, you must flirt with one of them while I monopolize the other.”
Lord Camden’s face immediately came to my mind.
Lady Camden waved us over, and we hurried to her side.
Augusta stepped forward and kissed Lady Timbrell on the cheek. “One for my aunt, and one for my uncle.”
Lord Timbrell stepped down lower and stuck out his cheek to receive his kiss.
“Augusta,” her mother chided. “You are not a child. You must greet your hosts as a lady would. Honestly.”
Lord Timbrell clasped Augusta’s hand. “Nonsense. I would be disappointed if my niece did not give her old uncle an affectionate greeting. I might start to think she doesn’t like me.”
Lady Camden opened her mouth to argue when Lord Camden set his arm around her. “You are both right. Can we not agree that Augusta’s enthusiasm is well-earned? She has decided to become a lady but has not neglected her true self at the same time.”
I could certainly agree. I was so impressed with how smoothly he had handled the situation that I did not notice that everyone had turned their attention on me.
“Forgive me, Uncle. This is my new companion, Miss Lewis.”
“So, I have heard. You are as lovely as my wife claimed, and I like the way you make my niece smile. I have a good feeling about having you around. Lady Camden was right to snatch you up. What a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lewis.”
I lowered myself into a curtsy. “The pleasure is all mine, Lord Timbrell.”
“Uncle Timbrell,” he corrected.
“That won’t be necessary,” Lady Camden said. “Lord Timbrell is a respectable title worth using.”
“I must agree,” I said, but I could not hide my grin. In my mind, I would call him Uncle Timbrell because I secretly wanted him to be my relation. His eyes twinkled with goodness.
We ushered ourselves into the drawing room to wait with the other guests for dinner to be announced.
I heard the door open again, and more guests arrived behind us.
I turned to look when Lord Camden drew up short, and I bumped into the back of him.
He quickly turned around, cupping my arms with his strong hands.
“Pardon. Did I hurt you?”
I didn’t mean to find myself in Lord Camden’s arms so often. It just happened. Oddly enough, it was feeling less embarrassing and more satisfying. I rubbed my cheek, hoping it was not red. “Not at all.”
“Good.” A smile crept over his mouth and he whispered, “You smell like lilacs again.” He dropped his hands and stepped away from me.
It was not a compliment—not exactly—but his tone and nearness had left me breathless.