Percival regarding an emergency at Harewood House’s farm.” Then he addressed Mrs. Vernon again, “Her ladyship is not a guest, ma’am. This is Lady Letitia Hanbury, Sir Percival’s wife.”
The effect was immediate and akin to a bolt of lightning. Mrs. Vernon’s large and quite-beautiful eyes widened in a shot of panic before she lowered them and curtsied to the new hostess of Bromsholme.
“Good grief!” she exclaimed. “Why has he done this?” The color crept up her cheeks at Slater’s indignant jerk of the head.
Letitia, on the other hand, felt the blood draining from her face. Mrs. Vernon put a hand over her mouth as if astonished by her own words, but when she removed it, her eyes were laughing again.
“Oh dear,” she said while the color spread all over her face, “this is my day of blunders. I do beg your pardon again, Lady Letitia. My comment referred to your husband’s sly ways. I had no idea he planned to marry. I would not intrude upon you for the world if he had given us any hint at all as to his plans. Oh, if Percy were my son’s age, I would seriously consider boxing his ears for this omission.”
Letitia felt a smile tug at her mouth. It might be an amusing spectacle.
“Uncle Percy!” William cried. “Henry lost another tooth!”
Mrs. Vernon whirled around while her sons ran toward the approaching figure.
Sir Percival didn’t seem the least embarrassed by his mistress’s visit. For some reason, he watched Letitia instead of Mrs. Vernon.
Then suddenly his expression changed, as if he’d just recalled something important. “Oh, I say, another tooth, Henry? Let me see how many new teeth you’re going to have.”
Henry obligingly opened his mouth again.
“Just as I thought.” Sir Percival winked and ruffled his hair. “Soon you’ll bite apples in half as if they were strawberries.”
“I do not know whether I should start with congratulations or scolding,” Mrs. Vernon said. “I am mortified to have accosted her ladyship unawares, while William and Henry nearly toppled her over, racing as usual. You have been extremely secretive, Sir Percival Hanbury. I hope you have a sound explanation.”
“I do beg your forgiveness, Mary,” Sir Percival replied with a slight bow of his head. “It had not been an intentional omission. As soon as the Earl of Stanville and I signed the marriage contract, I hastened to London to obtain a special license. His lordship did not wish to put off the nuptials on any account.”
“And sending a note was not an option?” she asked.
“Forgive me,” he mumbled. “I confess to certain absentmindedness on account of this important event.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Mrs. Vernon to Letitia, though, of course, the warmth with which he’d regarded the little Vernons a moment earlier gave way to something akin to a grimace. “Mrs. Mary Vernon is our neighbor,” he said. “Mary, this is Lady Letitia Hanbury. We hope to have the honor of your company at the wedding breakfast on Monday.”
Mrs. Vernon nodded.
“Thank you. It will be a great pleasure.” She smiled at Letitia. “You mustn’t fear that you will be confined to a life of seclusion on account of your husband’s, ah, absentmindedness. I believe I may safely vouch that there are many in this neighborhood who will be delighted to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you,” Letitia replied. “Will you please stay for tea?”
Mrs. Vernon blinked and turned serious. “One of the cows decided to calve just as my bailiff left for the day. Unfortunately, something is not right, and the men tending to the barn don’t know what to do without the bailiff’s help.”
Sir Percival was already walking back the way he came.
“Let me go right away,” he said over his shoulder. “No need for you to worry. I may be late,” he addressed Letitia again. “Best to not wait with dinner. This may take some time.”
“As you wish,” she replied to his departing back, then
The effect was immediate and akin to a bolt of lightning. Mrs. Vernon’s large and quite-beautiful eyes widened in a shot of panic before she lowered them and curtsied to the new hostess of Bromsholme.
“Good grief!” she exclaimed. “Why has he done this?” The color crept up her cheeks at Slater’s indignant jerk of the head.
Letitia, on the other hand, felt the blood draining from her face. Mrs. Vernon put a hand over her mouth as if astonished by her own words, but when she removed it, her eyes were laughing again.
“Oh dear,” she said while the color spread all over her face, “this is my day of blunders. I do beg your pardon again, Lady Letitia. My comment referred to your husband’s sly ways. I had no idea he planned to marry. I would not intrude upon you for the world if he had given us any hint at all as to his plans. Oh, if Percy were my son’s age, I would seriously consider boxing his ears for this omission.”
Letitia felt a smile tug at her mouth. It might be an amusing spectacle.
“Uncle Percy!” William cried. “Henry lost another tooth!”
Mrs. Vernon whirled around while her sons ran toward the approaching figure.
Sir Percival didn’t seem the least embarrassed by his mistress’s visit. For some reason, he watched Letitia instead of Mrs. Vernon.
Then suddenly his expression changed, as if he’d just recalled something important. “Oh, I say, another tooth, Henry? Let me see how many new teeth you’re going to have.”
Henry obligingly opened his mouth again.
“Just as I thought.” Sir Percival winked and ruffled his hair. “Soon you’ll bite apples in half as if they were strawberries.”
“I do not know whether I should start with congratulations or scolding,” Mrs. Vernon said. “I am mortified to have accosted her ladyship unawares, while William and Henry nearly toppled her over, racing as usual. You have been extremely secretive, Sir Percival Hanbury. I hope you have a sound explanation.”
“I do beg your forgiveness, Mary,” Sir Percival replied with a slight bow of his head. “It had not been an intentional omission. As soon as the Earl of Stanville and I signed the marriage contract, I hastened to London to obtain a special license. His lordship did not wish to put off the nuptials on any account.”
“And sending a note was not an option?” she asked.
“Forgive me,” he mumbled. “I confess to certain absentmindedness on account of this important event.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Mrs. Vernon to Letitia, though, of course, the warmth with which he’d regarded the little Vernons a moment earlier gave way to something akin to a grimace. “Mrs. Mary Vernon is our neighbor,” he said. “Mary, this is Lady Letitia Hanbury. We hope to have the honor of your company at the wedding breakfast on Monday.”
Mrs. Vernon nodded.
“Thank you. It will be a great pleasure.” She smiled at Letitia. “You mustn’t fear that you will be confined to a life of seclusion on account of your husband’s, ah, absentmindedness. I believe I may safely vouch that there are many in this neighborhood who will be delighted to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you,” Letitia replied. “Will you please stay for tea?”
Mrs. Vernon blinked and turned serious. “One of the cows decided to calve just as my bailiff left for the day. Unfortunately, something is not right, and the men tending to the barn don’t know what to do without the bailiff’s help.”
Sir Percival was already walking back the way he came.
“Let me go right away,” he said over his shoulder. “No need for you to worry. I may be late,” he addressed Letitia again. “Best to not wait with dinner. This may take some time.”
“As you wish,” she replied to his departing back, then
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