Chapter 12
DINNER IS SERVED…
The next evening, true to her word, Mrs. Norcroft arrived early with her sister, Miss Nieves. She wore a lighter shade of a gray gown that, if one didn’t know she was in half mourning, might have been seen as a silver gown.
She held her hands out to Cecilia, squeezing her fingers slightly. “Are you ready for this evening?”
“I trust so,” Cecilia said, thinking about the apple brandy they had found. Gideon was planning to serve it with dinner when all were gathered in the dining room. She and James would have to be sharp to note any change of expression, or recognition, on the faces of those who sampled the brandy.
But what would that tell them? Cecilia did not know.
No one had tasted the old earl’s brandy except for Mr. Coggle in years.
If they had tasted it back then, would they remember it?
And the stores of apple brandy known to exist were destroyed in the fire.
When they left the apple brandy cellar, she and James had Sarah and William ask the staff about mysterious Frenchmen in the area.
Neither said they had heard evidence of any.
James had sent Romley farther out to inquire in the surrounding villages.
They likely would not hear from him until the morrow.
Gideon still wanted to follow the apple brandy leads. He expressed excitement at how he saw everything neatly tied together with the brandy. The notes left, the cider mill fire, his brother’s death, all having an apple theme.
When asked about motive, Gideon glibly said it was simple. Someone wanted the orchard so they could distill and sell the apple brandy.
James and Cecilia did not agree; however, they did not argue with Gideon, as his spirits were too high to listen. They would remain attentive to all the details.
To Cecilia, investigations seldom resolved neatly.
She debated about telling Mrs. Norcroft about the apple brandy and decided not to. Best everyone experience the brandy together.
“Come upstairs to see the drawing room. You will be amazed at the magic Mrs. Duggleston has wrought in that room. And thank you for lending us that rug from your home. It centers the area near the fireplace perfectly,” Cecilia told Mrs. Norcroft and Miss Nieves.
She led them up the stairs, continuing to chatter like a magpie, earning a raised eyebrow from Mrs. Norcroft.
Cecilia merely smiled and continued with her brightly contrived mien.
This was not a circumstance where her sickly deception would benefit her, so she opted for bright and chatty. An empty-headed blonde.
With elan, she threw open the white double doors to the drawing room.
The room looked grand with much of the heavy furniture gone.
Though the dated red damask still dominated the furniture, gold and yellow pieces had been placed about.
Yellow and gold pillows, a shawl draped over the back of the settee, a painting of sunflowers, vases, statues, and of course, the gold drapes from the upstairs countess sitting room.
It could now be called the ‘Gold Sitting Room’, a more elegant name than red.
Mrs. Norcroft and Miss Nieves gratified her with appreciation for the revived room.
“It does look like a person of rank’s drawing room now. Still dated, but not as badly,” Cecilia said.
“When Gideon marries I shall press his bride to redecorate Pomum Court,” Mrs. Norcroft said.
“Are you sure he will remarry?” Cecilia asked.
“Oh, he will remarry. I’ll see to it,” she said.
Miss Nieves laughed slightly. She leaned toward Cecilia, “My sister well-matched our two sisters so she sees herself as a bit of a matchmaker,” she explained.
“I have a good perception of compatibility,” Mrs. Norcroft explained.
“And that is why she has not matched me with anyone yet,” Miss Nieves said with a playful smile. “I am unmatchable.”
“I have never said that,” Mrs. Norcroft protested.
“Never said it; however, you think it.”
Cecilia studied Miss Nieves for a second.
She was not beautiful like London diamonds; however, she was attractive with green eyes, red-gold lights in her brown hair and a wide, expressive smile.
Best of all, she possessed a ready ability to laugh.
“I don’t see any reason you would be unmatchable,” Cecilia said, “if you wish to be matched.”
“I don’t know if I do or don’t. I quite enjoy my life,” she answered honestly. “But it is my hobbies, you see, that daunt suitors. They don’t know what to say,” Miss Nieves said. “I collect butterflies and fossils.”
There was a sly look, an upraised eyebrow as she said that. It amused Cecilia. “And I’d wager you throw that in their faces when you meet as a test,” she said.
Miss Nieves relaxed back in her seat and laughed. “It is a good weathervane to start with.”
“At least you don’t have to worry about this evening. I’m sure the conversation will be taken up with Roman artifacts,” her sister said wryly.
“Mrs. Norcroft, I made one seating change at dinner. A couple of hours ago Gideon received a note from Mr. Bagnall-Bently requesting that he and his wife be together at one end of the table,” Cecilia said.
“She is coming?” declared Mrs. Norcroft, with a delighted gleam in her eye. “We so seldom see her at social events.”
“Yes. He requested the seating placement so if she started feeling ill, he might quietly lead her away from the table.”
“Of course! I’m so glad she is making the effort to come. It’s been a long while since I’ve seen her. At least a year.”
“Not quite a year,” Miss Nieves corrected. “She came to the start of the Apple Festival last year to watch the pickers.”
“You are right! I’d forgotten that. She sat huddled in their carriage. She did appear to enjoy herself—except for when the vicar’s nephew fell. That distressed her, and her husband took her home.”
They heard noise from outside. “Guests are arriving. I need to go downstairs to be with James and Gideon, to greet the guests,” Cecilia said.
“We’ll be the second level of greeting,” Mrs. Norcroft said.
Cecilia laughed as she rose from her chair. “And hear all the gossip about the Earl of Monteith.”
“Of course!” Miss Nieves proclaimed as Cecilia opened the door to leave the room.
Cecilia descended the staircase. The front door stood open, and James and Gideon stood right outside the door. Cecilia slid silently forward to stand between them. James looked down at her and winked.
“Ready?” he said on a thread of voice.
She smiled back at him. She loved it when they were so in tune with each other. “Definitely.”
“This is Baron and Baroness Compton,” Gideon said as they watched the footmen assist a couple from their carriage. “I don’t know the third man with them. I assume he is Mr. Hawley who is to oversee the excavation.”
Cecilia remembered meeting the couple at the clay mine. They were a well-set-up couple, probably in their fifth decade. They appeared serious and proper until they turned to see Gideon and the Branstokes waiting by the door. Their expressions opened, their eyes glittering in lantern light.
“Monteith!” the Baron said, his arms opening wide on seeing him.
Gideon smiled in return and descended the stone steps to meet the baron and his wife as they approached.
“You’ve been too long a hermit, my boy,” said the now jovial baron.
Gideon came to the man’s elbow, though neither man seemed to note that fact.
Gideon for his part kissed the knuckles of the baroness’s gloved hand. A soft blush suffused her cheeks.
“Flirt,” she accused.
“Always, my lady,” Gideon retorted.
“Monteith, I’d like to introduce you to our house guest, Mr. Percival Hawley. He’s in charge of the upcoming Roman excavation.”
“I’d heard. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Hawley.”
“And I, you, my lord,” said Mr. Hawley.
Mr. Hawley was a surprise to Cecilia. He was a tall, sandy-haired gentleman who looked solely comprised of long legs and long arms. He moved with a disjointed grace—leading with elbows and knees—that somehow managed to look graceful.
“Come meet my cousin and his wife, Mr. Hawley. They’re my reason for setting aside my hermit ways,” he said with a wink to the baron. The baron laughed.
“This is my cousin, Sir James Branstoke and his wife, Lady Cecilia Branstoke… Cecilia, James, may I make you known to Baron Gerald Compton and his wife, Baroness Margaret Compton. The gentleman with him is Mr. Percival Hawley who will be excavating for evidence of Romans in this area.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Mr. Hawley. “Prime location for such finds as well.”
“I will be fascinated to learn what makes this a prime location. We are from Kent and we have some Roman artifacts in our county as well.”
“Kent! Oh yes, I say you do, at that.”
“Another carriage approaches,” Gideon said. “Why don’t you go on inside and up to the drawing room. You’ll find Mrs. Norcroft and Miss Nieves there before you. And Mr. Coggle, my butler, is waiting to provide you with any libation you desire.”
The baron gave a little bark of laughter. “Why am I not surprised! Mrs. Norcroft is first at any, and all, social occasions. With them before us, I’ll be taking advantage of Mr. Coggle’s services,” he said dryly.
“Compton,” chastised his wife gently. She turned toward Cecilia. “It will be good to catch up with the ladies,” Baroness Compton said tranquilly.
Cecilia compressed her lips, holding her laughter to a smile. It was entertaining to meet new people in their social circles.
Two carriages arrived together. Gideon stayed by their sides until he knew who was in which carriages. “Bloody protocol,” he whispered in an aside to them before approaching the second carriage first, his face wreathed in a smile.
“Squire Kassell, magistrate, Lady Kassell,” Gideon said formally, in greeting to the second carriage.