Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
The morning was still and fine. Sunlight glimmered on the dew, and the kitchen maid had carried the breakfast table onto the terrace so Louisa might take her chocolate in the air.
Bees drifted through the lavender borders, and from somewhere down the drive came the distant clop of hooves. Adeline lifted the pot and poured.
“Not too much sugar,” she said, though Louisa’s spoon was already halfway to the bowl.
“I had some peculiar dreams last night,” Louisa said. “I dreamed that I went walking with my mother.”
Adeline ensured that her smile did not leave her face.
“Really? How was that peculiar?”
“It just felt peculiar. Like I shouldn’t have been doing it. I was afraid of being caught,” Louisa replied.
“Well, you needn’t be. Especially not in a dream,” Adeline replied.
Louisa frowned at her. “Are you staying? Please say you are. I was ever so worried last night that you were leaving us.”
Adeline felt the sorrowful question as a blade to her heart. She sipped tea and was pleased that she could reassure her charge.
“I have spoken to your father, and he has asked me to remain your governess at least for the next week, which will fulfill my month’s trial. But he will need to find a permanent replacement.”
“I shall be beastly to her and make her leave,” Louisa scowled.
“You will not. You will be the little lady that you are and make me proud,” Adeline chided gently.
She felt torn. On the one hand, she was living a lie, and it could not be sustained forever. On the other hand, she had grown extremely fond of Louisa and…Greystone and to be parted from either would be a wrench. In Louisa’s case it would be as much of a wrench for her. In Greystone’s case…
Stone has no feeling. Though I saw it last night. A crack in the granite facade. A hint of humanity.
They were midway through their rolls when the rhythm of hooves reached them. Louisa turned, half-standing on her chair.
“Someone’s coming!”
Adeline shaded her eyes. A figure on horseback was riding through the open gates of the stable yard. He dismounted even before the groom had appeared, tall, broad-shouldered, and smiling as if the morning belonged to him. He strode across the terrace towards the lawn.
“Lord Duskwood,” Adeline said, rising, “you’re riding early this morning.”
“Miss Wilkinson,” he returned, giving her a bow. “Forgive me for calling uninvited. The air’s too fine to waste on paperwork.”
Louisa had run to the edge of the terrace steps, shading her eyes against the sun as she squinted up at the newcomer.
“Are you staying for breakfast, Your Lordship?”
He grinned, bowing courteously to her.
“Such fine manners. Your governess is to be commended. I will stay if she allows it.”
At this, he looked at Adeline, smile golden in his handsome face.
Handsome but soft. Gentle, probably, but not commanding. Not mercurial like…
Adeline stamped on that train of thought. It was not her place to compare the merits of two gentlemen of her acquaintance. She had no interest in Lord Duskwood and no right to Winston.
And no interest in him. I cannot allow myself to. For his sake and Louisa’s. I will spare them the pain of being lied to.
She hesitated. “I thank you for the compliment, Lord Duskwood. Please come and join us.
Louisa clasped her hands. “He can sit there. Papa won’t mind.”
Adeline’s mouth opened to object, but Duskwood had already taken the empty chair next to her. He looked around at the garden, at the scattered roses and the high sweep of the house behind them.
“Greystone always surprises me,” he said. “It looks grand at a distance, but up close it feels…lived in. That’s a compliment, by the way.”
“Not to me, I’m afraid. I am a relative newcomer and can take no credit for the house. I am not its mistress,” Adeline said lightly.
She folded her hands in her lap, aware of the warmth still in her cheeks.
“And I am eternally grateful for that,” Lord Duskwood said, his eyes fast on Adeline, his smile giving the meaning to his words.
He is glad that I am not Greystone’s mistress because that would make me the Duchess. Oh Lord! He is showing interest!
Louisa was spreading jam, her attention only half on them.
“You talk funny when you’re shy,” she told Adeline, without looking up.
Adeline felt her blush deepen. His Lordship laughed, easy and carefree.
“You need not be shy on my account. I am not and you have seen me sweaty and bare-chested.”
“I am sure I barely looked,” Adeline replied quietly.
“See?” Louisa said, munching toast and crowing the proof of her earlier statement.
“Shyness is an attribute of strangers. I hope to be less of one to you. Then you may not be so shy,” Lord Duskwood said. “And I will start immediately. I’ve come with an ulterior motive. I wanted to ask if you would accompany me to dinner at my aunt’s country house.”
Adeline hid her blushes behind her teacup, aware of Louisa’s sudden interest in the conversation. She was watching Lord Duskwood intently.
Afraid he intends to poach her governess, I’ll be bound.
“I do not know if my duties will permit it. I am Lady-In-Waiting to the Dowager Duchess as well as governess to Louisa,” Adeline said.
“Then I will ask my good friend Winston to release you for the evening. I doubt he will be so stony hearted, as to refuse,” Lord Duskwood said smoothly. “I earnestly think you will enjoy it. A small gathering, some of my aunt’s neighbors, a little music. Perhaps some dancing.”
“I am afraid I am not one for dancing,” Adeline said, knowing that she had already exposed herself in a lie.
“That is not what I have heard,” he said, undeterred, “but if you do not wish to dance, then we can walk and talk. You will give me a welcome rescue from the conversation of crones.”
This last was delivered in a stage whisper, and Louisa guffawed at the irreverent description of stately ladies as crones.
Before Adeline could form a reply, while she scrabbled for an answer that would reject but not offend, a shadow fell across the table.
Winston stood there, one hand resting on the back of Louisa’s chair.
He had come silently from the house. Unobserved.
“A rescue?”
His voice was calm, but the tone carried the weight of a man used to being answered.
Louisa turned with delight. “Papa! We’re having breakfast outside. I did come to collect you, but your study was locked.”
“Because I was busy. You did well to remember the rules when you found the study door locked.”
He kissed his daughter’s head and stole a piece of her toast.
“Oswald. An unexpected pleasure.”
“Your Grace. I thought I would be sociable this morning, so I rode over from my aunt’s house. I am lodging with her at the moment.”
“Indeed? It is rare to find you straying far from town. What magnet has drawn you out to the countryside?”
Winston stood, towering despite the seat in which he could have sat. He munched toast, but his eyes were stone.
“His Lordship came to ask Adeline to dinner,” Louisa said.
“Miss Wilkinson,” Winston corrected, “and she is the holder of two official posts in my household. Were you aware, Oswald?”
Oswald’s smile slipped for the first time and he frowned slightly. It was a minor shadow, a scudding cloud fleeing across the face of the sun.
“She has said as much. I hoped you would give her leave to take the night off. Just over to Haverleigh. Nothing grand.”
“Everything about Haverleigh is grand,” Winston said, pulling out a chair, “even its dinners. And Miss Wilkinson is just a governess.”
Adeline felt a stab of anger at the reductive statement. Lord Duskwood’s cheeks colored, and his frown returned.
It looks as though he is seeing his friend anew and wondering at the change.
There was a brief, taut silence. Adeline tried to think of something neutral to say and failed. Louisa’s eyes darted between the men, bright with curiosity.
“And a Lady-In-Waiting. Eminently suitable for Haverleigh,” Lord Duskwood said, levelly.
“I will need to check with my mother to see if she can be spared,” Winston said. “It is doubtful. When is this dinner party?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Adeline felt like she was watching a replay of the fencing match she had interrupted. Now they use words instead of blades.
I feel as though two men are fighting over me. That must be the most conceited thought I have ever had.
“Alas, we leave for London tomorrow. We intend to see out the rest of the season there.”
“London?” Louisa squealed, almost knocking over her chocolate. “Truly?”
“Truly,” Winston said.
He smiled at her, though his eyes remained on Lord Duskwood.
“You’ve been cooped up here too long. You should see Hyde Park and Vauxhall Gardens and…well, everything.”
Lord Duskwood’s expression tightened by a degree. “That’s sudden, Your Grace. You gave no hint you intended to decamp from Greystone when we spoke at the club.”
“It is sudden,” Winston agreed, “but our social obligations cannot wait. And I’ve been neglecting legal matters that need attention.”
He stirred his tea and looked across at Adeline. “You’ve no objection, I trust?”
Adeline kept her voice steady. “Of course not. London will do Louisa good.”
Lord Duskwood made a show of fastening his gloves. “Then I shan’t detain you from your preparations. I’ll wish you a safe journey.”
“Very kind,” Winston said.
His Lordship bowed to Adeline. “Miss Wilkinson.”
His glance lingered half a second longer than courtesy required.
“It was a pleasure, as always.”
“And to you,” she said, rising.
Louisa waved as he strode back to the stables, mounted and rode away. When the sound of hooves had faded, she turned to her father.
“Why didn’t you let him stay for breakfast? I like him.”
“He talks too much before noon,” Winston said. “And he comes too often. Besides, I did not bar him from breakfast.”
“You as well as barred him,” Louisa said. “But I enjoy his company. You’re only cross because he likes Adeline.”
“Louisa,” Adeline said quickly, “that’s quite enough.”