“Gibbs says he’s capable and a quick learner,” George said. “Between the two of us, I think we’ll keep the estate running.”
“And keep the shoot going,” Nash added. “Don’t forget the shoot.”
The newly promoted steward had been staring at George and seemed to pull himself from a trance, before tipping his head at an older man I hadn’t noticed before, standing off in the corner. “The shoot is in the hands of your very capable gamekeeper, sir. I don’t presume to have those skills.”
In an elegant motion George stood and gestured toward the man, who took a reluctant step forward as if he’d prefer to remain in the shadows. “Never fear, Nash,” George said. “Winnie is right. My brother is fortunate enough to have the best gamekeeper in the county in his employ. Tuttle here will ensure the shoot proceeds without a hitch.”
“Aye, you’ll have woodcock, grouse, and partridges aplenty, don’t you worry.”
“You’ll just have to worry about your aim,” George said with a grin.
“It sounds as though all will be fine,” I said. “Mr. Gibbs has a home to recover in, Mr. Winnie will take over his responsibilities, the shoot will proceed, and by week’s end, Mr. Kendrick will be a married man.”
Leo blinked in surprise before excitement lit his eyes. “Then I take it we have a date. I say that calls for a toast, don’t you think?”
“Indeed, I do,” George said amid a round of huzzahs. “Durant, will you see what my brother has in that cabinet?”
Durant and Treadwell both pushed off the desk and stepped around it to open a glass-fronted cabinet. “Looks like sherry,” Durant said as he set about pulling glasses from the cabinet.
George shrugged. “I suppose it will have to do.”
Durant poured rather generous portions while Treadwell and Winnie passed the glasses of sherry around, including one for me, which Treadwell handed off with a flourish.
“To Lily and Leo,” George said, giving me a wink. “May they have many happy years.”
“Remember, one’s wife is always right,” Nash added.
Everyone laughed and drank.
Nash drained his glass and made a noise of distaste. “We’ll have to do that again with a good whiskey, don’t you think?”
“Before the week is out, there will be plenty of opportunities,” Leo said.
The dinner gong sounded in the distance, reminding us all of the hour. George glanced around the room. “I believe we’ve settled everything, so I’m for dinner. Tuttle, we’ll see you in the morning, ready to shoot. Winnie, if you find it easier to take up residence in Gibbs’s cottage have his belongings stored for now.”
The young man acknowledged this with a glazed blink, and I wondered if he would soon come to idolize George. He and Tuttle returned their glasses to a tray on the desk. The gentlemen came to their feet and made as if to leave. Leo stood next to me, and I noted he hadn’t taken so much as a sip from his glass.
“You won’t drink to your own happiness, Leo?” I asked him.
“Never could stand sherry.” He curled his lip in disgust as he set the glass on the tray. “That’s not bad luck, is it—not drinking a toast to my wedding?”
He reached out to retrieve the sherry, but I stilled his hand with a touch of my own. “I’m certain it will have no effect on your happiness.”
George stepped up as everyone departed. “Was there something in particular you wanted, Frances? I need to dress for dinner, but if it’s urgent, I’ll risk being late.”
I leapt at the chance to forgo our discussion. Indeed, he had so much on his plate at the moment, I hated to burden him further. “No, I’d just wanted to check on the status of Mr. Gibbs, that’s all.”
He raised a brow. “That’s all?”
“And of course, I missed you.” It surprised me how much truth the statement held.
George tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. “Then walk me to the stairs?”
I happily complied. “Do you think Mr. Gibbs will be distressed when he hears Mr. Winnie has taken over his lodgings?”
We slowed our steps as we reached a stairway I hadn’t noticed earlier. “This is the back way to the bachelors’ wing,” George said. “Closer to my end of the hall. As for Gibbs, I hadn’t thought of that. The steward’s office and living quarters are both housed in the cottage. I just thought it would be easier for Winnie to move his belongings since he’d be working there anyway. Gibbs will be away for a month or more after all.”
“As long as that? Do you find Mr. Winnie up to the task?”
“More so than anyone else, I’d say. With Gibbs nearby we can always consult him if we run into any problems. My brother and his steward have the estate running like clockwork however, so it should just be a matter of keeping the gears turning. I don’t anticipate any trouble.”
“But there will be trouble if you are late for dinner. Go up and change. I’ll meet you in the drawing room.”
* * *
Everyone but George and Leo had already gathered in the drawing room by the time I found my way back to the south wing. The double doors from the hall stood wide open as did the doors to the south terrace. The final rays of the sun cut across the patterned carpet on the diagonal, leaving one side awash in a yellowish glow while the other remained a deep red. Arthur and Eliza Durant stood together right on the dividing line and the light cut across them as well. Eliza’s left arm and shoulder shimmered in silver while the rest of her gown turned a dark gray. Half of Arthur’s face appeared warm and inviting, while the other half looked shadowed and cold.
I shook off the strange observation and ventured inside the room, one of the most elaborate, and large, I’d seen outside a royal palace. The paneled walls were a warm ivory with the detailed plasterwork surrounding the high ceiling tipped in gold leaf. The portraits of Hazelton ancestors lined the walls, fitted right into the panels with frames built around them. The furnishings were a mix of Jacobean and Restoration, old and beautifully maintained.
Fiona met me at the door and drew me toward the empty side of the room. “Were you able to locate my brother?” She slipped her gloved arm through mine, leaving us close enough for discreet confidences.
“I did find him, but he was not alone.”
She let out a tsk.
“He was in conference with two of his staff, Kendrick, Durant, Treadwell, and Nash, discussing plans for their hunt and a replacement for Mr. Gibbs.”
I gritted my teeth as I remembered the poor man’s condition. “His leg is indeed broken, and he’ll require quite a bit of time to heal properly.”
“That’s unfortunate,” she replied absently. I couldn’t tell if she referred to the steward’s situation or the fact that I hadn’t been able to speak with George privately.
We wandered to a sofa, and she pulled me down near her side. “Tell me about Mr. Kendrick’s sisters,” she whispered. “Are they always so disagreeable?”
“Only when they are together, I think, or away from the supervision of their parents. Otherwise, they are quite pleasant.”
“So, if the rest of us are to enjoy ourselves, we must attempt to keep them apart. Is that it? Send one on a mission to find bluebells in the woods, lock another in the attic, that sort of thing? That could be entertaining.”
“I believe you can find a better source of amusement than tormenting Leo’s sisters, but you do make a good point. Perhaps we should each take charge of one sister.”
“That still leaves one remaining.”
“What is she to do, argue with herself? Besides, Leo and Charles will be shooting during the day, Lily and Lottie can play their part in keeping the sisters amiable.”
“Lottie, perhaps, but Lily seems to have her hands full.” Fiona cast her gaze across the room to where Ernest Treadwell held Lily in captive conversation. “What is that all about?” she asked. “Is he setting himself up as a rival to Kendrick in the very days before the wedding?”
“I can’t say what he’s thinking. I not
iced how attentive he was to her on the train from London and so did Eliza Durant. I don’t know why Lily hasn’t put a stop to it. Or Leo, for that matter. Treadwell is supposed to be Leo’s best man, but he gives all the appearance of trying to win Lily’s favor.”
As I came to my feet, Lily placed a hand on Mr. Treadwell’s arm. It was a far too familiar gesture. Was she leading him on? I stepped over to the pair and took my sister’s hand. “Dearest, Fiona and I must talk to you about the preparations for the church. As we have a few minutes before dinner, why don’t we do that now?” I turned to the young man who pursed his lips in annoyance. “You’ll excuse us, won’t you, Mr. Treadwell?”
“Of course,” he replied, his voice a rich baritone, his smile clearly for Lily alone. The man was a practiced flirt but his expression seemed to hold more than mere flirtation.
“Of course,” I repeated, hauling Lily away. He’d probably excuse her anything.
“Frances, you’ve already told me about the arrangements for the church. Is there something else I should know?”
“No, dear.” We paused by the open doors. I smiled at George, who’d just walked in, a sight to behold in his evening tails. Fiona shooed him away, and I returned my attention to Lily. “There’s something I need to know—specifically why you are encouraging that young man’s attentions.”
Lily turned a shocked expression on Fiona, who merely raised a brow. Seeing she’d find no quarter there, she glanced back at me. I waited, not so patiently. Finally, she let out a breath in a huff. “I am not encouraging his attentions. How can you say such a thing?”
“You are at the very least allowing them, which, he may well be taking as encouragement. Mr. Treadwell is your fiancé’s good friend. You will cause yourself no end of misery if you allow this to continue.”
She lifted her chin in defiance. “I am allowing nothing. He is simply being kind.”
Fiona looked doubtful, and I held up a hand to stop Lily’s protests.
“You are both against me,” she said.
“If the man were simply being polite or kind, I would find nothing wrong with his actions, or yours, but I’m beginning to think his feelings are engaged. To lead him on is not only cruel to him but unfair to Leo. Can you not see that?”
Lily appeared to be sincerely surprised. “You think his feelings are engaged?”
“I do. Are you telling me you’ve never noticed?”
“No.” She frowned as if she were trying to decipher a puzzle. “I wanted to be friends with him since he is so close to Leo. We are thrown together quite often, and I find him a good companion when Leo is not available.” She shook her head and backed off a step. “I promise you, I never saw him as anything more than a friend, but he has become more attentive since we came away from London.”
“I think he may see you differently,” Fiona said.
Biting my lip, I nodded my agreement. “I’m relieved to learn you aren’t playing with his affections or teasing Leo, but I’d advise you to take care with Mr. Treadwell if you don’t want to damage your relationship with Leo.”
At that moment the object of our conversation crossed the room with George and the second gong sounded for dinner. Lily sent her fiancé a smile. I knew her love for Leo was true and felt certain she’d take my caution to heart. But what of Mr. Treadwell? If he was such a great friend to Leo, why did he pursue the man’s intended?
Chapter 5
In the interest of keeping the Kendrick sisters apart, I invited Anne to join Rose and me on our morning ride the following day. She and I were just about to stop in the breakfast room for tea and toast when a footman handed me a note.
“Mr. Hazelton asked you to meet him in the stables, my lady.”
In the stables? I unfolded the note as the footman bowed and stepped away. Lady Rose and I are choosing a suitable mount. Won’t you join us? The warmth that radiated between one heartbeat and the next told me I was completely besotted with the man and delighted he was trying to win my daughter’s favor.
Anne eagerly agreed to postpone breakfast in favor of joining Rose and George. I felt light and carefree, enjoying the crisp morning air, as we tripped along the path to the stables, entering through wide, open doors in the center, just in time to see George assist Rose into the side saddle—on the back of the same gray horse Leo had ridden yesterday. The creature looked entirely too big for her. She’d only just graduated from a pony a little more than a month ago.
Rose spotted me and waved. Once George had her settled, he turned to me with a smile. I hated to ruin the moment, but as a mother, my nerves rather forced me to it. “She’ll be safe on that horse, won’t she, Mr. Hazelton?”
His smile slipped. “Of course not, Lady Harleigh. I’ve found her the wildest stallion in the stable. No man in the county has managed to ride him, but Rose wanted to try her hand, and I thought, why not let her have a go?”
He said this with such a calm demeanor, I might have believed him if not for Rose’s giggles. “She’s not a stallion, Mummy, she’s a mare.”
I gave George a tight smile. “Laugh if you must, but I worried you might overestimate the level of Rose’s skill.”
“I’m a good rider.” Rose’s red cheeks told me I’d embarrassed her. Anne quietly stepped off with a groom to select a horse of her own. I was making a complete hash of this.
“I know you are dear. Perhaps I’m overreacting.”
George stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “Paloma is as gentle and obedient as a horse can be. I would have chosen her as your mount had Rose not developed a fondness for her.” He shrugged. “I can have the wild stallion saddled for you.”
This time I laughed along with him and Rose joined in. “If Paloma has a mild-mannered sibling,” I said, “that would be preferable.”
“I’ll see what we can do.”
While the groom assisted Anne, George found a quiet, reliable mount for me, and the three of us set off within a few minutes. As we guided our mounts out of the stables, I reminded myself Rose knew how to handle both herself and her horse and decided simply to enjoy the ride. The sun was just breaking through the trees to the east, and we walked on toward the path George suggested we’d enjoy. It wound through a cool section of wood before opening up to a road where we could let the horses have their heads. Not that I was likely to do anything of the kind. New to riding, I found anything faster than a trot caused palpitations.
My horse, a roan gelding named Hercules, had a different idea. As soon as we broke from the trees, Rose and Anne gave each other a nod and set off into a canter. Hercules clearly felt left out. Without bothering to consult me, he bolted. Granted, it was only a matter of a few hundred feet before we caught up and settled into a speed and rhythm I could manage, but it was enough to rattle my bones and confidence, whipping off my hat for good measure.
Rose and Anne never even noticed. The road led to a neighboring estate, and they turned back upon reaching its drive, slowing down to a walk. Fortunately, Hercules followed suit.
“Well, that blew off the cobwebs,” Anne said, her cheeks flushed from the exertion.
“And my hat.” I reached a tentative hand to my hair to find it had fallen from its smart knot into a tangled mess.
“We’ll keep an eye out for it on our way back,” Anne said as the two sidled up beside me. Anne looked me up and down with some concern. Rose leaned over and touched my arm. “Are you all right, Mummy?”
“Of course, dear,” I said in as breezy a manner as I could muster. “You are clearly a horsewoman, Anne. I think Rose did well to keep up with you.”
“I’ve been riding since I was about Rose’s age. There’s some good riding just north of London, but I wish I had more opportunities to visit the country and ride like this.” She gave my daughter a nod. “And the fact that you did keep up with me tells me you will be a far better horsewoman than I. If you keep at it, that is.”
Rose beamed at the compliment. She and I had both been taking riding lessons fo
r the last two months. It was my present for her eighth birthday. Rose had already been a good rider, but she longed to jump. She even injured herself trying to take her fat pony over a fence not long ago. Her determination made me decide it was in both our best interests to have proper lessons and a proper mount. Taking the lessons with her was more of an afterthought and a gift to myself for my twenty-eighth birthday. I’d never been much of a rider, but this was something we could enjoy together, and it was never too late to learn, was it?
We urged the horses forward in a walk and headed back three abreast with Rose at the center. The groom followed behind.
“Mother and I plan to ride every morning while we’re here,” Rose said. “You’d be welcome to join us, Miss Kendrick.”
“We plan to ride as long as it doesn’t interfere with Lady Fiona’s schedule,” I added. “I hope you will join us, Anne.” Apart from my assignment, I was coming to enjoy her company. Moreover, she gave Rose a far greater challenge than I did.
“There’s nothing I’d like better.” Anne cleared her throat as she leaned forward to pat her horse on the neck. “I should warn you, my sisters don’t ride much, but they may ask to join us when they learn I’m riding with you.”
That would completely defeat the purpose. “Do the three of you enjoy spending time together?”
She raised her shoulders in a shudder. “Not at all, but Eliza is terribly jealous. If she thinks I am receiving any sort of preference from you, she will want her due. Clara cannot bear to be left out of any activity.”
Rose watched Anne with interest, perhaps giving thanks for her status as an only child.
“I doubt you need worry about your sisters, at least not Mrs. Durant. It seems to me Lady Fiona has taken a liking to her, and if I know anything about Fiona, your sister will not have a moment to spare for you.”
Anne seemed to brighten. “I am glad to hear that. Clara’s prattling I can manage, but Eliza is often cruel.”
She gave me a sharp glance. “Perhaps cruel is too strong a word, but she does like to have her way. She is quite jealous of everyone, even Leo. She thinks my father should make her husband a partner in the company, as Leo is.”
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder Page 5
