“You have? I mean, you are?” my mother stammered in surprise, glancing toward my father.
I relished this opportunity to discredit the baron. Smiling sweetly, I said, “Yes. We were both at the Hickmores’.”
The baron nodded and smiled at my mother. “Unfortunately, I had to leave quite suddenly, before we had the opportunity for much conversation.”
He made it sound as though we had merely exchanged names before he ran away, instead of bestowing me with his austere and high-handed advice before humiliating me. I was not going to allow him to get away with his deception. “And here I thought the conversation we shared had been most stimulating. Or, at least, instructive to us both. And then there was all of dinner as well.” I shrugged. “No doubt my sentiments are faulty, a result of my refusal to see reason.”
He met my gaze. “No doubt.”
He dared insult me in my own home?
My mother glanced from me to Lord Williams and back as though trying to puzzle something out, then placed a placid smile on her face. “It is fortuitous you have already met.” She glanced at my father with a small narrowing of her eyes.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Perhaps you should serve the tea, Margaret.” He indicated the service set upon a side table.
“It was fortuitous,” I said, ignoring Daniel, “as I was able to discover some of Lord Williams’s finer attributes. I was especially impressed by his respectful manner in offering advice and his articulated taste in music.” I smiled, but unless he was a complete dolt my words would hit their mark. “To what do we owe the honor of this visit?”
Lord Williams looked to my father with some surprise before returning his gaze to me, his expression containing a hint of uncertainty. “I have come to better acquaint myself with your family.”
To acquaint himself with my family? Whatever for?
“Well, here we are.” I made no attempt to hide the disdain from my voice. “I am confident we are all very pleased by your arrival. However, we are expecting another visitor and I must ensure everything is properly prepared. Please excuse me.”
I curtsied, but before I could turn Daniel grasped my arm so I couldn’t move. When I glanced at him in surprise, he gave a small shake of his head.
“Margaret,” my father said, “Lord Williams is our expected visitor.”
I frowned and looked at my father over my shoulder. “But what about—” Daniel pinched me.
“Daniel, why’d you—” My gaze shot back to Lord Williams with understanding. He was the man? Lord Williams and I were—engaged?
With dread pooling in my chest, I surveyed the baron’s expensively-tailored clothes and icy blue eyes. My first misgivings had been correct.
But no. We couldn’t be together. It was impossible. He despised me and I hated him.
Surely this was taking his warning too far. Did he expect to ensure I would never marry his cousin by marrying me himself?
That was ridiculous. No man would throw his life away in such a stupid manner. Yes, it would be convenient. But we would certainly never respect each other. Even mutual toleration was out of the question. My life would be unbearable.
I could not marry this man.
My mother stepped forward. “Allow me to introduce our other daughter. Alice, dear,” my mother said, “this is Lord Williams.”
“How do you do?” Alice responded behind me.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Alice,” Lord Williams replied with a deep bow and a smile.
I frowned. Maybe I was wrong altogether. Maybe he wasn’t here for any reason other than to prove a point, to show that his title commanded all to bow to him and be subservient to his wishes. In which case there was no reason to fear. Because I would never bow. Neither would I allow him to hurt my family.
I stepped next to Alice and placed an arm around her shoulders.
My mother motioned toward the door. “You must be weary after your travel, my lord. Please allow me to show you to your room.”
“Thank you.” Lord Williams nodded to Daniel and bowed to me. I turned away.
The moment he was out of the room I spun to my father. “How did this happen?”
Daniel stepped next to me. “Margaret, perhaps—”
“Daniel, you know he is here only to flaunt his power over us.”
“You think he wants to marry you solely because we didn’t accept the ride he offered?” Daniel asked. “That’s ridiculous.”
“No, because I wouldn’t give heed to his words at the Hickmores’.” I turned back to my father, not quite keeping the desperation from my voice. “Father, he is condescending and a liar. He humiliated me at the Hickmores’. He’s the reason we—”
“Margaret,” my father broke in. “You will not speak ill of a guest in this house.”
His decisive tone should have stopped me, but he needed to be made aware of the true nature of the man he had allowed into his home, of the ruin he was capable of. “But—”
“I am ashamed at the lack of character you displayed. It will not happen again. You will show our guest every courtesy while he is here.” His eyes bored into me, demanding a response.
There was nothing else to be done. “Yes, sir.”
Ten
Daniel put an arm around my shoulders. “Why don’t we go outside? Lord Williams is sure to be occupied in his room for the rest of the day. You won’t have to worry about meeting him again until dinner. Alice, come with us. How about a game of bowls?”
Alice smiled. “Oh, yes. I would love that.”
I remained silent until we stepped onto the lawn. “This is unbelievable,” I finally said, wrapping my arms around myself.
Daniel nodded. “I had not thought to ever see him again.”
“It makes no sense. Why would Lord Williams do this?”
“Perhaps he is as determined to live a life of misery as you are,” Daniel said.
I ignored the comment. The situation had all the appearance of a cruel joke. I could hardly stand to be in the same room with this man. How was I to endure his visit—or worse, marriage? I would never be able to do it. “What am I going to do?”
“Well, to begin with, you’re going to ignore me for a moment.” Daniel stretched his hand forward and tugged at the side of my hair.
I wrenched away from him. “What are you doing?”
“Retrieving this.” He held up a blade of grass.
My hand flew to my head. “That was in my hair?”
He nodded.
I glanced up at the window to the baron’s room in mortification. The curtains were drawn, but I could easily imagine him in his room laughing at me. “What a perfect day.” It certainly could not get worse.
“A little competition will ease your anxiety,” Daniel said.
I trudged after him to our playing spot across the lawn. “Margaret,” Alice said tentatively, “would you like to deliver the jack?”
I looked at her in surprise. She always tossed the little white ball that then became the target of the larger ones. Lawn bowls was her favorite game.
My surprise turned to chagrin. I shouldn’t have allowed my feelings of the moment to overrun my sense of decorum. My father had been correct. I had shown a want of character and, worse, I had done so in front of Alice. No matter how abhorrent the circumstance, my reaction was inexcusable. “No. You do it. I assume Daniel and I are on a team?”
She nodded, then bent in concentration and tossed the jack. It landed a bit closer than usual, but she stood with a smile.
“Alice, would you like your turn first or last?” Daniel asked.
She picked up one of her balls. “First.”
“I cannot imagine a worse situation.” I spoke quietly enough that Alice wouldn’t overhear.
“Oh, come, Margaret. The situation isn’t that bad.”
“How is it not?”
“The baron’s not an unpleasant-looking fellow, is he? He isn’t old. And he doesn’t smell.”
“I could more easily wear a clothespin on my nose than abide Lord Williams’s presence for days on end.”
Alice’s ball landed some distance from the jack. “Bad luck, Alice,” Daniel said loudly. He picked up one of our balls. “You don’t mean that. And, though you don’t agree, he is a better choice than Mr. Northam.”
“The two are not even comparable.”
Daniel tossed the ball. He hit Alice’s, knocking it farther from the jack. “Looks like your luck is taking a turn for the worse, Alice.” He turned to me. “Sorry, you’ll have to fix that.” He gestured toward Alice’s ball. “But you are correct, they are not comparable. No matter how he acts toward you, Lord Williams is a far better match for you.”
“How is an arrogant, unintelligent, rash baron a good match for anyone?” Alice picked up her next ball, and I decided to watch, for if her toss landed poorly, I would need to fix that as well.
Daniel glanced at me and straightened. “Margaret—”
“No, Daniel. I’m serious. I can’t imagine Mr. Northam ever walking out on a lady’s performance.”
If only Mr. Northam had proposed at the Hickmores’.
“Margaret!” Daniel hissed.
“Fine. Don’t relent. But I’m not giving up on him. Mr. Northam is perfect. Everything I want. He is handsome, engaging, and much too intelligent to ever—”
“My lord, would you care to join us?” Daniel cut in.
I rolled my eyes. There was no way I was falling for that jest. “Really, Daniel. Can you think of nothing better than that?”
“I wouldn’t care to intrude on a private game.” The deep voice came from directly behind me, and a faint scent of mild cologne and saddle oil wafted in the air.
My face flamed with embarrassment. I hadn’t been speaking loudly, but it was very probable the baron had overheard my speech.
“Your company would be welcomed,” Daniel replied.
I had to make some effort. I had promised my father. Without turning, I said, “Yes, please join us.”
Daniel smirked at my efforts at civility. “As you can see, my lord, our teams are unequal. Alice, would you mind Lord Williams joining your team?”
“Oh.” Alice’s face reddened and she looked down at the ground. “I would be delighted.”
I shot Daniel a glare for placing our sister in such an awkward position, one she couldn’t refuse without being rude. “Alice, if you would feel more comfortable with Daniel or—”
“No,” she said quickly, looking up at me. “It’s all right.”
It shouldn’t be all right. She should not have been paired with a stranger, especially not with the baron. But if I said anything more I would appear ill-mannered, and Lord Williams had already claimed that description for himself.
“It is our turn now, my lord,” Alice said, “but since you’ve just arrived, you can take your turn after Margaret to gauge her skill. It may give you some advantage.”
“A very good idea,” Lord Williams agreed.
I moved to the starting point. Daniel and I would have to clean up the baron’s mistakes as well as Alice’s misshots. I was not going to allow his presence to keep Alice from winning. I angled the ball and tossed. It raced wide, then curved and knocked both the jack and Daniel’s ball. Though Daniel’s was now farther away, Alice and I were tied.
“An unfortunate delivery,” the baron said, stepping next to me with a ball in his hands.
He was referring to the game, of course, but I couldn’t help thinking that his appearance was, indeed, unfortunate. “Quite.” While pretending to assess the play, I quietly continued, “Do not distress yourself on your game, my lord. Just try your best. Daniel and I will fix any poor shots to ensure Alice wins—and now, by default, you as well.” I turned and took up my position beside Daniel.
“That was a poor shot, Margaret,” Alice said. “You knocked Daniel’s ball away. I’m sure you would have won if you hadn’t done that.”
I nodded my head. “Fate certainly seems to be stacked against me today.”
The baron’s tossed ball settled between mine and the jack. It was a good shot. A very good shot. And a difficult one. An amazing stroke of good luck.
Daniel didn’t share my belief about it being luck. “Well done, my lord. It appears, Margaret, that you may actually have a bit of real competition.”
“Are you very accomplished at bowls, then, Miss Brinton?” Lord Williams stepped back to join our little group.
His question was surely meant to mock, since no woman of culture would claim a sport among her refined talents, even if she was skilled at it. Besides, I couldn’t be honest with Alice listening. “I do not believe bowls would be listed among my accomplishments.”
Alice shook her head in agreement. “She isn’t very good, but it’s more that she’s unlucky. The only time she wins is when she plays against Daniel.” Alice looked suddenly concerned. “Margaret, am I bad luck for you?”
“Of course not. You are a good luck charm, which is probably why his lordship’s ball placed so perfectly. And I only win against Daniel because he lacks focus. Any small comment ruins his game. Silence, too, because then his mind wanders.”
Alice nodded solemnly. “He isn’t very good, is he?”
Daniel’s gaze shifted heavenward in an act of long-suffering.
Lord Williams smiled. “It sounds as though you are the champion bowler in the family, Miss Alice.”
She smiled. “I do enjoy it.”
I rolled my eyes. Flattery would get the man nowhere.
Daniel leaned close to me and taunted, “You won’t get out of this one.” Then he addressed Lord Williams. “Margaret is excellent at bowls. She surpassed me years ago. I would very much like to see the two of you matched.”
Never had I believed Daniel would turn on me so easily, openly placing me in such an awkward position.
Alice threw her ball wide.
“Daniel, it is your turn,” I squeaked, trying to redirect the attention away from Daniel’s suggestion.
His jaw set in concentration as he took his stance, ball in hand. But when he released, he flinched, and the ball went wide. I groaned but refrained from saying anything that might provoke him into insisting on the proposed match between me and the baron.
Lord Williams had more luck, tapping the jack so his two balls and one of Alice’s remained closest, securing them three points if I shot badly. I hesitated. It was obvious the baron played with more than luck. That last shot was much more difficult than his first, and he had accomplished both with ease. I wanted Alice to win, but the baron’s skill rankled. I couldn’t allow him to believe he was better than I was because I purposefully lost. It would be best to knock the jack away from the baron’s shots and closer to Alice’s. Then none of his shots would count, but Alice would still win.
I shifted my stance slightly and tossed. The ball went straight, knocking the baron’s out of the way. However, it also knocked the jack farther from Alice’s ball. Mine was closest—which meant Daniel and I won.
“A winning shot,” Lord Williams said, his tone laced with irony.
I turned in horror to Daniel, then focused on Alice. “Oh, Alice.” I couldn’t think of anything to say.
To my surprise, she smiled. “Perhaps this is a lucky day for you, Margaret.”
I glanced away. There was nothing at all lucky about this day.
“Shall we play again, Miss Brinton?” Lord Williams asked.
“Thank you, but no.”
“Of course you should,” Daniel said. “Deliver the jack, Margaret. And then, since yours was the winning shot, the first toss falls to you.”
I glanced from Daniel to Lord Williams, who indicated the
starting spot with a sweep of his hand.
“Oh, yes, do play,” Alice said.
“Alice.” Daniel put his arm around her shoulders and turned her toward the house. “Why don’t we watch from the seats on the portico?” He motioned toward the bench and chairs situated next to the house.
In desperation, I turned back to the baron. “I’m certain playing lawn bowls is not how you would like to spend your afternoon. You probably long for some exercise after your travels. Perhaps you wish to see the estate?”
“That would be agreeable, if you wish.”
He had obviously misunderstood. “I wouldn’t be going.”
“Oh?”
“Daniel would be the best escort for such an excursion. I am sure I would only slow you down.”
“Tomorrow will work for seeing the estate. Let us begin our game.”
He was either so conceited he couldn’t imagine my not wanting to be around him, or he was dense. He was very likely both. “My lord, I am certain my mother would be appalled if you spent your afternoon playing a lawn game.”
“Are you afraid to lose, Miss Brinton?”
The directness of his challenge made any further attempt at escape impossible. I lifted my chin. “Of course not.”
“Then, please.” He again gestured toward the starting point.
Gritting my teeth, I strode to where the balls sat on the ground, picked up the jack, and tossed it. I would play one game, but that was all. And I would not speak to him.
My first toss was a good shot, but Lord Williams’s toss was equally good. I knocked his ball away with my second, but he moved the jack on his second, regaining the lead. I threw my third ball a little gentler and it stopped just in front of the jack, blocking any thought he might have had of moving the jack again. To my surprise, his next toss knocked mine to the side of the jack while his rolled into its place. Allowing myself a quick glance at him, I found him wearing a very self-satisfied grin.
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