by Jane Charles
The gentlemen went on about the delightful walk, lovely scenery and imagining how the church appeared when it was first constructed. The only one not to speak was Lord I, but she noted the humor in his eyes and the slight tilt of his lips. She knew as well as he that those who claimed to have enjoyed the outing the most were also the ones who had complained a good deal
Through dinner the discussions turned to racing, as it seemed to have done each evening, then the Season, and issues in parliament. These topics were discussed by the gentlemen at the table and she was often left out. Not that she had a complaint, but it reminded her that those who had been invited wanted her for her title, riches and connections and cared little for her.
“Lady Lucinda,” Mr. Copeland said when there was a lull in the conversation. “I noted that His Grace has a rather impressive library. I assume you’ve made use of it.”
“Yes, I have, Mr. Copeland,” she answered with a smile.
“Might there be a book you recommend. Perhaps one I might not have read in America.”
“I’d be delighted to do so, Mr. Copeland. Perhaps after supper.”
At her offer, there were objections from the other guests as the rules were clear that she’d not entertain any of the gentlemen outside of the time allotted.
Her grandmother gently tapped her wine glass. “As you recall, I stated that Lady Lucinda may wish to spend more time with you as a group or an individual in the evenings.” She glanced about the table. “It is clear she wishes to spend more time with Mr. Copeland.”
Lucinda bit back a grin.
“Yes, well, I’ve not perused the shelves myself,” Lord H suggested. “I’d be honored if you selected a title for me as well.”
Lucinda nearly groaned.
“The invitation was meant for one. We will leave it at that.” Her grandmother then turned to Lady Priscilla. “I hope you and your sisters can chaperone as I have other matters to attend to.”
“Of course,” she eagerly offered.
Oh, this evening was going to be delightful indeed. Not only would she be able to spend it with Mr. Copeland but the maiden sisters as well. Though, if given the option, she’d much rather be alone with Mr. Copeland.
Though he’d not been looking forward to an evening of billiards or cards with the leaping lords, Caleb had resigned to his fate. Though, resignation slipped as the supper continued and those lords who were supposedly vying for Lady Lucinda’s hand practically ignored her. He’d caught the eye of his great-aunt Esther and she simply shook her head, as if to indicate this was not an unusual occurrence. Perhaps he’d been wrong since not one of them appeared to be leaping for her attention.
When he asked about the library, Caleb had meant to turn the conversation back to her, as a reminder to the gentlemen in the room not to ignore the reason they’d been invited. He’d not expected the invitation, nor been disappointed and as soon as the supper was concluded, he excused himself to join the ladies as the gentlemen remained behind to enjoy port.
Upon entering the library, Lady Lucinda rang for a maid then marched directly to the wall of filled shelves and removed a book, which she held until a maid entered the room.
“Yes, Lady Lucinda.” The young woman bobbed a curtsey.
“A tea cart, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.”
“Would you also deliver this book to the dining room where the gentlemen have gathered.”
Caleb nearly burst out laughing when he read the title, A Vindication of the Rights of Women.
“Tell Lord H that this is my recommendation, and perhaps they should all read it.”
The maid’s eyes widened. “Me, Lady Lucinda?”
“Perhaps not you.” She frowned. “Ask Warren to deliver my message, and book.”
“Of course, Lady Lucinda.” She then hurried from the room, holding the book against her breast. It was only after the door closed that Caleb laughed.
Lady Lucinda tilted her head and stared at him. “The book is no laughing matter.”
“No, it is not. Though I wish to see their faces upon receipt of it.”
A smile pulled at her lips as she strolled to the settee. “Have you read it Mr. Copeland?” Lady Lucinda asked.
“Yes. It was deemed required reading for the men in our household by the women.”
“Your sisters?” she asked.
“Most definitely.”
Lady Lucinda chuckled as she and his aunts took their seats. Only then did Caleb settle into a chair.
“Tell me about your family, Mr. Copeland.”
“I’d rather you told me of yours. You have eight siblings?”
“I asked you first.”
Ah, so she was going to be a proper hostess, but he’d not let Lady Lucinda take the attention from herself for long as there was much he wished to learn about her. “I am the second son, with one older brother, four younger sisters and four younger brothers.”
“That’s rather generic.”
“What would you have me say?” he laughed.
“Who is your favorite?”
“That is unfair,” he complained. “Do you have a favorite sibling?” he countered.
“I asked first.”
“I suppose if I had to pick one, it would be Marilla, the youngest. As she is only eleven, she’s not nearly as irritating as the others.”
“Have any of them married?”
“Only Ethan, the son born after me,” Caleb answered. “Now, your turn.”
Just as she was about to respond the maid entered with the tea cart.
“May I ask,” Caleb began. “How did the gentlemen react to Lady Lucinda’s selection?” He wished he could have been there to witness it himself.
The maid’s cheeks brightened. “Warren said that a few were shocked, insulted, and another sniffed in disgust, but it was Lord I who laughed.”
“It’s what I expected.” Lady Lucinda chuckled. “Thank you, Ruth. That will be all.” Lady Lucinda turned to Caleb as she set about pouring tea. “Now, where were we? You were telling me of your family.”
“No.” He answered, eyebrow raised. “You were about to tell me of yours.”
“Mine are so boring,” she answered as she poured tea.
“Lady Lucinda, is that a pout?” Caleb teased.
“Did it work?” she asked with a tilt of her chin.
“No.” he laughed. “I have four sisters, remember.”
“You should tell her about Rogue,” Aunt Esther offered brightly and Caleb nearly groaned.
Twelve
Certainly Rogue was not a brother, was he? “Who is Rogue?”
“My brother’s obnoxious parrot.”
How delightful. “To which brother does he belong?”
“Ethan, the third born.”
“What makes him obnoxious?”
“Sticking his beak in where it doesn’t belong,” Mr. Copeland grumbled.
“He gossips,” Lady Joanna giggled. “It’s because of Rogue that Ethan and Fanella are now married. He squawked about mistletoe, whisky and kissing.”
All three aunts dissolved into giggles.
“It serves Ethan right for taking Rogue and Lady with him wherever he travels.”
“Is Lady another parrot?” Lucinda asked.
“They are mates and the most darling chicks were born once they nested among the trees in the conservatory,” Lady Priscilla exclaimed. “They’d been caged before, but Her Grace, the Duchess of Copeland, allowed them to fly free during their visit to England.”
“Dear Ethan allowed two chicks to remain at Chatwell Castle where they happily fly among the fruit trees,” Lady Esther added. “They are quite delightful.”
Lucinda turned to Mr. Copeland. “Did Rogue gossip about you as well?” she teased.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Mr. Copeland’s cheeks began to flush.
“Oh, what stories did he have to tell?” she asked while leaning in, as if she couldn’t wait to hear the most titillating gossip.<
br />
“Oh, Rogue didn’t gossip about Caleb, Lady Lucinda,” Lady Priscilla offered. “He simply had a name, that he learned from Ethan, of course.”
“Is that so.” She straightened. “Do tell.”
“It’s not necessary.” He shot a warning glance to his great-aunts.
“It’s ‘Caleb the Clodpate’,” Lady Joanna announced and the maiden sisters dissolved into laughter once again, and Lucinda soon found herself laughing as well.
“I do believe that the parrot is my new favorite bird,” Lucinda laughed.
“What was it before, dear,” Lady Esther asked.
“The Mourning Dove, but they seem so boring in comparison to Rogue.” Again, she laughed, unable to help herself.
“Well, if you’ve had your fun,” he complained as he stood and for a moment, Lucinda feared that he was angry and was going to leave them. “Is there at least brandy in this room if I’m going to suffer embarrassing insults.”
Thank goodness he wasn’t leaving, and she was about to point him in the correct direction when he found the decanter himself.
“Do pour us a glass as well, darling,” Lady Joanna called.
He focused on Lucinda as if asking if she wished for some as well. “Yes, please.”
It warmed her, that he would ask, when not so many days ago, it was Lord E who had thought she’d been joking when she mentioned it before. As if ladies didn’t drink brandy.
Well, they weren’t supposed to, but Mr. Copeland let her decide. Just as he’d engaged her in conversation, even if he suffered from embarrassment. And, not once had he condescended to her, nor make decisions for her and as she watched him pour five snifters of brandy, her heart warmed.
“Do you plan on remaining in England?” Lucinda asked as he rejoined them.
“I thought to return to New Orleans in the spring.”
Blast! She’d hoped he’d remain.
“I’m restless in England, and it’s time that I carved a place for myself, perhaps purchase a plantation to grow cotton and grain.”
“I’ve not been beyond England,” she sighed. And it was unlikely she’d ever leave. It was a shame Mr. Copeland wished to be on the other side of the world. Except… “Have you considered purchasing land in England, perhaps farming,” she offered hopefully.
“I’m afraid my home is in America and I’ve been away too long already.”
Double blast! He was the only male visitor whom she liked, and he didn’t wish to remain. In fact, Mr. Copeland was the only man she’d ever enjoyed spending above a few moments with and he would disappear from her life in just a few short days.
Caleb woke the following morning, before the sun as was his habit. After dressing, he made his way to the dairy barn to help with the milking, then to the stables to assist with the horses, then hurriedly returned to his chambers to wash and prepare for the rest of the day, arriving in the breakfast room while others were still present.
His great-aunts, Her Grace and Lady Lucinda nodded a greeting. The lords, well, they scowled in his direction, which only improved his already pleasant disposition this morning.
He, Lady Lucinda and his great-aunts had talked long into the evening, laughing often, and he couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, that he’d spent such an enjoyable time with a woman that didn’t involve intimacy.
There was just something about Lady Lucinda that Caleb couldn’t define, that drew him to her and for the first time since he had arrived, he was looking forward to spending this afternoon with her, even if her leaping lords were present.
“After Lady Lucinda spends time with Lord A later this morning, we will all adjourn to the sitting room for games,” Her Grace announced.
Lord A straightened. “I look forward to furthering our acquaintance, Lady Lucinda,” the gentleman offered politely.
“I, as well,” Lady Lucinda offered with a tight smile.
“I’m certain you are anxious to learn how we will get on, and my expectations in a household.”
Caleb coughed into his napkin at the audacity of Lord A and Caleb hoped it didn’t put Lady Lucinda in a poor mood for the afternoon games, which he would eagerly attend.
“And I’ll be happy to explain my expectations as well, Lord A,” Lady Lucinda returned with a tight smile.
“Yes, of course,” Lord A patronized.
Thirteen
Lucinda stormed from the sitting room once her time was up with Lord A. He was a pompous ass. A prig with an over-inflated ego, who dared condescend to her of how he expected her to behave and what was expected in a marriage and that by simply following his dictate, they’d get on well and in no time, she’d be in love with him.
Oh, if her father would only let her send another lord from Forester Hall, Lucinda would be happy to help Lord A pack.
No sooner had she turned the corner than she ran into the solid form of a gentleman, her nose being saved from injury as it barely missed his shoulder. She was further saved from falling back from the impact by a strong, warm hand steadying her waist and Lucinda knew that she’d encountered Mr. Copeland.
Tipping her head, she stared up into his green, humor-filled eyes.
“Is all well, Lady Lucinda?”
“No,” she grumbled and cast a glance to the sitting room. “I fear I’ve developed a headache that will keep me from luncheon,” she admitted. She had developed pain at the base of her skull, but the discomfort wasn’t bad enough to keep her from the others. However, she feared that if she must be forced to encounter Lord A so soon after their meeting, she might just develop a debilitating condition.
“I say, Lady Lucinda, you must have a care not to allow liberties such as the ones Mr. Copeland has taken.”
She stiffened immediately at Lord A’s tone as Mr. Copeland stepped away from her person and took his hands away from her waist.
With a deep breath she turned. “Do not misinterpret what you’ve seen, Lord A. I ran into Mr. Copeland as I was not looking. He was simply steadying my person. Or would you rather he allowed me to fall on my arse instead?” She shouldn’t have yelled that last part, but Lord A had made her quite irate.
His eyes widened. “I daresay, such language is not necessary, nor appropriate coming from a Lady.”
Of course, that is all he’d care about.
“I don’t really give a da…,” she cut off the word and then nodded to Mr. Copeland. “If you’ll excuse me.” Without a backward glance she mounted the stairs to retire to her chamber where she might scream her frustration at her leisure.
Caleb chuckled at Lady Lucinda’s outburst and the shocked outrage of Lord A.
“I believe I shall have a word with Her Grace.” With that Lord A turned on his heel and marched away.
Caleb had no idea what transpired during the meeting between Lady Lucinda and Lord A, but it had not gone well at all. He’d nearly barked out laughter when she asked if Lord A would have preferred that she fall on her arse. Oh, he liked her. Far more than he should.
The luncheon that followed was somewhat subdued and even his aunts with their constant chattering did not lighten the mood. Further, as they’d done at breakfast, the lords glared at Caleb as if he’d offended them somehow. Not that their opinions bothered him in the least.
By the time the group was ushered into the sitting room for the afternoon entertainments, he was in an even better mood, at realizing these lords considered him competition for Lady Lucinda’s hand. They had to realize how ridiculous the possibility. She was the daughter of a duke and His Grace was not going to settle on a mister with nothing to offer but himself.
Lady Lucinda was seated beside her grandmother and there were ten additional chairs. He settled into the one furthest away so that her court could be closest. Lord B was the one that claimed the seat next to her. As for his aunts, they took seats next to Caleb and he much preferred their nearness to the others, with the exception of Lord I, who took a seat to Caleb’s left, as he had no desire to grovel before Lady Lucinda
either.
However, his interest was piqued when Lord A approached Lady Lucinda.
“I trust that you have calmed since our earlier encounter,” he condescended.
Caleb had to wonder if Lord A was incapable of learning from past mistakes.
“I had,” she answered coolly.
“Then I can assume an apology will be issued for such behavior.”
Bloody hell, the gentleman was a loathsome, pompous prig. Did he think her a child and not a woman of two and twenty?
Lady Lucinda tilted her head and studied Lord A. “Yes, you are correct. An apology should be issued.”
Lord A smiled as if well-pleased. Was he going to pat her on the head next?
She then stood, walked past Lord A and directly to Caleb, much to his surprise and he came to his feet.
“Lord A is correct Mr. Copeland. I sincerely offer an apology that you had to endure my earlier outburst and improper language. None was directed at you, of course, yet you witnessed it just the same and I am sorry if you were in anyway uncomfortable or insulted.”
Lord A gasped. “That is not what I intended.
Lady Lucinda glanced over her shoulder. “Yes, I know.” She then focused on Caleb again. “I hope you can forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Lady Lucinda. There are times that we are all vexed by either circumstances or others, and we are human, are we not.”
A small smile tipped the corner of her kissable lips.
“Please, put it from your mind. I found nothing objectionable in what was witnessed earlier. At least, not by you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Copeland,” she demurred, then returned to her seat.
Mouth pinched, Lord A took his seat and if eyes could shoot daggers, Caleb was certain he’d be quite dead.
Fourteen
Just when Lucinda didn’t think she could appreciate and like Mr. Copeland better, he did something that took her totally by surprise. She’d hoped he’d accept her apology because it wasn’t well done of her to behave in such a manner, but Lord A had vexed her beyond the point of being able to guard her tongue. Instead, Mr. Copeland understood, unlike the other gentlemen in the room and, outside of Lord I, was the only one who didn’t treat her like a child or speak at her as if she had feathers for brains.
