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here every day. You did not see what she was really like, Andrew. She could be cold and, well, frightening.”
More fanciful notions, though it was true, of course, that he had not often been home. His sisters had been tutored at home by their governess. He had gone to Eton and then Oxford. Being away at school so often made him feel like an outsider, but even as an outsider, he knew there were certain topics better left untouched. His mother did not discuss his father. His father spoke of his mother only in well-rehearsed phrases of praise.
The sound of laughter, loud and raucous, floated up from the dining room. “His Grace’s guests are a rather… varied lot. It occurs to me I should send you to stay with Katherine for the duration of the house party.”
Emma’s face fell. “No! Please. This is my home. I want to stay.”
Andrew shook his head. Why had he not thought of this before? His sister should not be sleeping under the same roof as the notorious Countess of Charm. “I will write to her immediately.”
Emma all but ran to him and clutched his arm. Now this was the little girl he remembered. “No, Andrew. Please. I will stay out of the way. I will keep to myself. Do not send me from my home. Miss Peevy will keep an eye on me.”
Andrew assumed Miss Peevy was her governess.
“All I want is to be able to observe—from my window—the hats and dresses and wraps,” she pleaded.
He could remember hearing his sisters and their governess discuss lace and muslin for hours when he’d been younger. Emma must feel the lack of female companionship keenly now that her mother and sister were gone. “Very well.”
“Thank you!” She hopped up and down excitedly.
“But I will speak with Miss Peevy myself. You are not, under any circumstances, to fraternize with the guests.”
“They will not even know I exist.”
Walking away from the tapestry room, Andrew felt very much the older, wiser brother. Well, he was older, anyway. And he would speak with Emma’s governess now, before he reverted to his usual ways and forgot completely. He might have gone to search for her, but as he had only a vague notion of what she even looked like, he decided to have the housekeeper send for her. He made his way to the first floor, where the kitchens were located. Now that dinner was over, the servants were not quite so harried. As he came down the steps, those who spotted him gaped. Many were gathered at a table, which was set for dinner. They rose hastily, and the butler bowed. “My lord, how may we be of service?”
Andrew knew he was intruding. The servants had so little time to themselves. He should have remembered they would be at dinner now. “Please, sit and eat. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
No one moved.
“I am looking for Mrs. Hemmings.”
“Ah! Here I am, my lord.”
He turned and saw the housekeeper emerging from one of the back closets. Behind her stood the Countess of Charm.
Five
Lily sucked in a breath. She didn’t have to wonder anymore. Darlington was in residence. He was standing before her looking more handsome than he had any right to look, considering she detested him. Why did he have to be gifted with broad shoulders and slim hips and those long legs? The man would turn heads in sackcloth, but when he wore an expensive wool coat, an emerald-green waistcoat, and those terribly distracting tight breeches, he stole her breath.
“What are you doing here?”
She held up the needle and thread she’d borrowed. “My lace was torn.”
He gave her an odd look, which she supposed was reasonable. The housekeeper had given her much the same look when she’d requested the items after unpacking her gowns. She supposed Anna had her needle and thread somewhere, but Lily could not find them, and she did not want to trouble the girl. She could repair her own lace and give Anna a few hours’ rest.
“I thought you would be with the others.” He sneered when he said it, and Lily took a moment to
More fanciful notions, though it was true, of course, that he had not often been home. His sisters had been tutored at home by their governess. He had gone to Eton and then Oxford. Being away at school so often made him feel like an outsider, but even as an outsider, he knew there were certain topics better left untouched. His mother did not discuss his father. His father spoke of his mother only in well-rehearsed phrases of praise.
The sound of laughter, loud and raucous, floated up from the dining room. “His Grace’s guests are a rather… varied lot. It occurs to me I should send you to stay with Katherine for the duration of the house party.”
Emma’s face fell. “No! Please. This is my home. I want to stay.”
Andrew shook his head. Why had he not thought of this before? His sister should not be sleeping under the same roof as the notorious Countess of Charm. “I will write to her immediately.”
Emma all but ran to him and clutched his arm. Now this was the little girl he remembered. “No, Andrew. Please. I will stay out of the way. I will keep to myself. Do not send me from my home. Miss Peevy will keep an eye on me.”
Andrew assumed Miss Peevy was her governess.
“All I want is to be able to observe—from my window—the hats and dresses and wraps,” she pleaded.
He could remember hearing his sisters and their governess discuss lace and muslin for hours when he’d been younger. Emma must feel the lack of female companionship keenly now that her mother and sister were gone. “Very well.”
“Thank you!” She hopped up and down excitedly.
“But I will speak with Miss Peevy myself. You are not, under any circumstances, to fraternize with the guests.”
“They will not even know I exist.”
Walking away from the tapestry room, Andrew felt very much the older, wiser brother. Well, he was older, anyway. And he would speak with Emma’s governess now, before he reverted to his usual ways and forgot completely. He might have gone to search for her, but as he had only a vague notion of what she even looked like, he decided to have the housekeeper send for her. He made his way to the first floor, where the kitchens were located. Now that dinner was over, the servants were not quite so harried. As he came down the steps, those who spotted him gaped. Many were gathered at a table, which was set for dinner. They rose hastily, and the butler bowed. “My lord, how may we be of service?”
Andrew knew he was intruding. The servants had so little time to themselves. He should have remembered they would be at dinner now. “Please, sit and eat. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
No one moved.
“I am looking for Mrs. Hemmings.”
“Ah! Here I am, my lord.”
He turned and saw the housekeeper emerging from one of the back closets. Behind her stood the Countess of Charm.
Five
Lily sucked in a breath. She didn’t have to wonder anymore. Darlington was in residence. He was standing before her looking more handsome than he had any right to look, considering she detested him. Why did he have to be gifted with broad shoulders and slim hips and those long legs? The man would turn heads in sackcloth, but when he wore an expensive wool coat, an emerald-green waistcoat, and those terribly distracting tight breeches, he stole her breath.
“What are you doing here?”
She held up the needle and thread she’d borrowed. “My lace was torn.”
He gave her an odd look, which she supposed was reasonable. The housekeeper had given her much the same look when she’d requested the items after unpacking her gowns. She supposed Anna had her needle and thread somewhere, but Lily could not find them, and she did not want to trouble the girl. She could repair her own lace and give Anna a few hours’ rest.
“I thought you would be with the others.” He sneered when he said it, and Lily took a moment to
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