Chapter Four #3
She nodded. “Strictly speaking, Pansy is Miss Granger, as she arrived before me. But as we are only separated by an hour, it seemed silly for her to use it. And then, we cannot both be Miss Granger as that would be confusing.”
“Miss Poppy it is then. Chemsworth is a fine old place.”
The lady looked about her, as if to confirm the truth of it. “I suppose so,” she said. “I do not have much to compare it to. It is cold, though, all the time.”
He nodded. “I presume that is why you choose velvet for your dress.”
Miss Poppy nodded. “Just so. Pansy is made of sterner stuff and does not mind feeling very cold in service to her silks.”
“It is a very pretty velvet dress.”
Miss Poppy blushed over it.
“I’ve never encountered two people who were twins before. I assume there are probably a lot of differences between you that are not obvious to the casual observer.”
“That is true. As we grew older, we developed different tastes. Pansy likes to be out on her horse quite a lot. I prefer reading while lounging. With biscuits and tea, specifically.”
Lelander laughed. He’d expected some mention of the womanly arts, like embroidery or painting fire screens.
Of all the things a lady might claim as employment, lounging with biscuits and books had not been what he’d imagined.
There was a charm to it. “I like reading and biscuits myself. And lounging too.”
“I like it especially when the weather is poor,” Miss Poppy said. “Heavy rain or snow is ideal because it’s cozy in front of the fire with a fur throw.”
“I would heartily agree with that sentiment. Pepperdon Hall is far newer than Chemsworth and it was built with the maximum number of windows that were architecturally possible. This was to bring in whatever light there is, and it does. What it also does is give some remarkable views over the land and I particularly like it when it snows.”
“You are in Lancashire, but very close to the Yorkshire border.”
“Very close.”
“My sister Violet wondered if there were any old grievances still discussed in that part of England?”
“I will guess you refer to the enmity between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Indeed, it would not still be a subject for discussion or debate if the Yorkists were not such sore losers.”
“Do you not find it…uncomfortable?” Miss Poppy asked.
“Not particularly,” he said. “Burkhart and I have little to do with one another but for passing on the road on occasion. We exchange glares and then carry on with our day.”
The lady looked discomfited by that idea.
“You have no reason for concern, though,” he said. “We are both gentlemen and will act accordingly while we are in the viscount’s house.”
“No more racing up the drive, then?” she asked with a smile.
“That was unfortunate. I do not foresee anything like it going forward.”
Miss Poppy nodded just as the third gong rang. He held his arm out and she laid her soft-gloved hand on it.
They entered the dining room, which was just as cavernous as everything else at Chemsworth.
There were four large hearths, each standing sentry on its own wall, and four chandeliers to light the place.
Windows were high and small, a thing that would be unsuitable for Pepperdon Hall, but was quite right for an old place that had seen arrows shot at it and the occasional trebuchet wheeled up.
Candelabras lined the table and were set on the sideboards.
Lelander noted the soft glow of braziers under the table, which he thought was good sense considering the chill air.
“Are there particular seating arrangements?” he asked quietly.
“No,” Miss Poppy said. “I usually sit on the far side.”
That was decided then, Lelander preferred the far side too. It was very genial, but for finding Burkhart across the table from him.
The footmen brought round wine under the close watch of Chemsworth’s stern and dignified butler, Mr. Smuckers.
At the head of the table, the viscount said, “At least it’s not as many people as when Lily had that deuced house party.”
Lelander did not have the first idea what he was talking about.
Lord Smythesdon said, “Some years ago, we had a house party here. Lily Granger was thus introduced to Lord Knightswood.”
“There were people everywhere I looked,” the viscount said. “I was still attempting to grow pineapples in the hothouse then and did not have much time for it.”
“Our Papa has since given it up,” Miss Pansy said.
“You cannot trust foreign fruit to do anything sensible, I always said so,” the viscount said, nodding gravely.
Lelander sipped his wine to stop from laughing.
“My husband has turned his attention to developing a new apple orchard,” the viscountess said, “which is coming along very well under his careful management.”
“Give me a Blenheim or Greening any day,” the viscount said. “No surprises with them. Pineapples will taunt you. One day they’re growing and the next day, surprise! They’ve dropped dead.”
“We have found it a challenge to produce pineapples, to be sure,” Lord Burkhart said. “It has involved building two houses for them, one for young plants and another for more mature specimens, as they need different heat levels.”
The viscount stared at Burkhart as if he’d just noticed he was there. “Growing pineapples in Yorkshire, are you?”
Burkhart seemed to realize he’d stepped in it. Quietly, he said, “A bit.”
The viscount turned to Lelander. “What about you? Are you in the pineapple business too?”
Lelander took that opportunity to vigorously shake his head. “Pepperdon Hall does not go in for foreign fruit, Lord Mulholland.” That was not true, but who cared for that?
He heard Miss Poppy hiccough next to him. Burkhart obviously realized he’d taken advantage of the situation, considering his glare.
The viscount nodded. “Good sense, to my mind. How do you two know each other? You are from different counties. Seems strange unless you are admirers of the London season, which we are not. Except Lily. She likes it.”
“Mr. Lelander lives on the eastern border of Lancashire and Lord Burkhart lives on the western border of Yorkshire, Papa,” Miss Pansy said.
“Borders,” the viscount said. “I hadn’t thought. Hah! It can happen though. Well I suppose there was a lot of action up in that part of the country back in the scuffle between the Plantagenets. What a palaver.”
Lelander contemplated his wine, hoping the viscount would go no further regarding the scuffle between the Plantagenets.