"Ten miles?" Charlotte echoed, knowing the exact reason why the nearby establishments were filled.
Muriel swung her gaze from Sir Philip to her breathless sister.
"He made the suggestion," Sir Philip continued, "that because of my position and situation, I might impose upon His Grace's hospitality. It was fortunate that Lady Muriel, here, came along-most fortuitous on my part." He made a modest bow to her. "And she was in the position to relay me and my necessities forthwith."
A few moments passed in silence.
Aunt Penny blinked. "His Grace is not presently at home, but I am more than willing to extend an invita tion to you on his behalf until your transportation can be repaired. We could also have the repairs done by our own-"
"I thank you"-Sir Philip held up his gloved hand"but that will not be necessary. I'd much rather employ those whose livelihood depends on their daily toil. Honest work for honest pay, you know." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and smiled. "I shall gladly accept your hospitality. I suppose I have no other choice but to foist my presence upon you poor, unsuspecting souls."
Muriel mumbled to herself.
"Huxley," Aunt Penny called to the butler, which may have been an effort to cover Muriel's protest. "Will you see that Sir Philip is settled in the Gold Suite?"
"I shall, madam," the butler acknowledged.
"We'll send for your luggage and your man."
"I am quite alone, and I travel with just this single piece." He motioned to the small leather chest that a footman, who was only now ascending the steps near them, carried.
Aunt Penny stared at the impossible size of the luggage and then took in the breadth of Sir Philip. In Muriel's estimation, an Exquisite such as the baronet would have needed a container at least ten times the size. Perhaps he only wore one set of clothing and the case contained only a selection of the many neckcloths he required.
"At once, madam," Huxley repeated, stepping away to make the needed arrangements.
"This is most excellent" Sir Philip, obviously pleased with the outcome, emanated cheer and goodwill. "I could not ask for more ... Except, if I am to remain in your beautiful home, in your lovely company, would it be too much of an imposition to ask for a tour of the house and grounds at some later time?"
Bright-eyed Charlotte stepped forward, her lips parted, anxious to grant Sir Philip's request.
"My other niece, Lady Muriel's elder sister, Lady Charlotte." Aunt Penny gestured to Charlotte, who blinked, braved a smile at him, and sank into a curtsy.
"Ah, yes. The beautiful angel I've heard so much about," Sir Philip replied, turning his attention to her.
"How do you do?" As if Charlotte had planned it, a becoming flush of pink washed onto her cheeks, coming to full bloom once his attention was focused completely upon her.
No, this could not be.
Horrified at Charlotte's reaction, Muriel noticed an expression she had never seen upon her sister's face before. One of pure adoration ... from her sister Charlotte ... for Sir Philip Somerville?
No. No. No.
"How do you do? I am delighted to make your acquaintance," he said in quite another tone altogether.
Muriel laid a protective arm in front of Charlotte, preventing her from moving any closer in case Sir Philip should affect another extravagant display for her benefit.
Sir Philip did not repeat the ornate leg he had per formed for her aunt. He reached out for Charlotte's hand and bowed over it with quiet intensity.
"I ... I would be delighted to show you the grounds, if I might," Charlotte uttered when she found her voice.
Muriel simply could not believe what she saw. It was all too clear that Charlotte fancied this horrid, dreadful dandy.
By the time Charlotte had come to her senses, she realized the recently arrived baronet, Sir Philip Somerville, had gone not only from her company but from the premises.
Aunt Penny had urged her nieces to accompany him to the stables and to assure him the transportation he needed was readily available. Muriel had wished him a lengthy journey to Bloxwich and an extended duration in the village that would detain him even longer. It seemed to Charlotte that her sister had taken somewhat of a dislike to him, although she could not imagine why.
Charlotte sighed. This gentleman had so impressed her with his exquisite manners and bearing. He had, after all, proclaimed himself an Exquisite, and she regarded him most favorably. She would not consider herself in love with his man. After all, she had only just made his acquaintance.
"Girls!" Aunt Penny called, directing their attention to the road leading to their drive. "The first young man is just arriving now-with a pail in his hand."
"Oh, look-it is Sir Hugh!" Charlotte exclaimed. She had met Sir Hugh Linville only yesterday, but his constant smile and laughing eyes made sharing his company a delight. Whether his good humor was for show, Charlotte could not know.
"Is he not very handsome?" Muriel said, leaning against Charlotte to whisper and then laugh. "He certainly is a jolly one, that's for sure."
"And why shouldn't he be? He's the first to arrive," Aunt Penny said, wrapping an arm around each niece and, with modest pressure, urging them forward. "Let's greet him properly, shall we?"
They weren't the first to approach. A footman held the horse's head while Sir Hugh dismounted and handed his ante, a pail of ripe gooseberries, to one of the kitchen staff.
"Ladies!" Sir Hugh called upon seeing them approach. He brushed the sleeves of his jacket, made quick work of tugging at each glove for a snug fit, and removed his hat to properly greet them.
"Tell us, Sir Hugh, how did you do it?" Muriel's enthusiasm for the baronet was nearly equal to her delight in acquiring a new Latin textbook. "How did you manage to find so many ripe gooseberries so quickly?"
Sir Hugh glanced at Charlotte and his affable smile widened. "It was nothing really." He tried to shrug off his victory. She found that a touch of modesty suited him very well. "I simply sought out the spots of ripe berries from a distance while others crept tediously through the patch, searching willy-nilly for any fruit."
"How clever you are!" Muriel remarked, with an overabundance of brightness that was so very uncharacteristic of her when addressing any gentlemen. "Is he not clever, Charlotte?"
Muriel's curious behavior gave Charlotte pause. It was almost as if her sister were trying to create some interest on Sir Hugh's behalf.
"It is indeed quite an accomplishment," Charlotte agreed. "Come, we will proceed to the Blue Parlor, shall we? That is where we plan to take tea, is it not?"
"Tea will not be served for at least an hour yet," Aunt Penny reminded her niece. "The tarts and scones have yet to be baked. It such a nice day I thought we might sit outdoors. The east lawn perhaps. You must entertain Sir Hugh until our five other guests and Sir Nicholas arrive."
"And we are expecting Susan, Miss Wilbanks, as well," Muriel added to both Sir Hugh and Charlotte. "We cannot begin until all the guests are present."
"Yes, certainly." Charlotte had never observed this level of enthusiasm in her sister. "Do not concern yourselves, ladies. Sir Hugh and I will stroll very slowly, taking in the grounds and gardens on our way. I'm sure by the time we return to the house other guests will have joined us."
"An excellent suggestion. That is where the true reward lies." Sir Hugh must have immediately seen the benefit of being the first to acquire the berries.
"We shall point the other guests in your direction as they arrive," Aunt Penny informed them.
Muriel seemed pleased with the arrangement and added, "I shall join you as soon as I change into something more appropriate."
"Thank you, Aunt Penny." Charlotte could barely believe that her sister would make a genuine effort to be pleasant. It was so unlike Muriel, yet she could not bear to think ill of her sister. Charlotte stepped toward Sir Hugh, who offered her his arm. "Shall we begin?"
"By all means," Sir Hugh replied, leading her forward. "It would be my great pleasure.
"
With a saddle horse and the directions supplied by the Duke's stable boy, Philip trotted toward the local village of Bloxwich. The journey gave him time to ponder his morning. His small diversion might have begun as a minor detour with disastrous effects, but the incident was not completely objectionable. Yes, his curricle lay ruined and it was conceivable his London arrival would be a week late. No harm there; he simply would dash off a missive when he returned to Faraday Hall, informing his tailor to reschedule their appointment.
The manor itself held some interest. Not the building but its inhabitants, the three lovely ladies who welcomed Philip. The acquaintance of the elder sister, Lady Charlotte, was quite a pleasant surprise. Who'd expect to find such a rare beauty out here in the country? The thought of her put a smile on his face.
Philip arrived at the village and slowed his mount to a walk. Although he had never set foot in this rural community, the main street felt crowded.
Adorned in the finest London style, a trio of young men lurked before a storefront. A pair of Corinthians across the way strolled in the opposite direction. Then he recalled the line of travelers he'd seen earlier. These men must have been Lady Charlotte's suitors.
"Oi, Sir Philip!" Donny Ellis, the kind local who had helped Philip only hours before, approached, hailing him.
"Good day to you." Philip halted his horse and dismounted to better converse.
"And to you, sir." Ellis doffed his hat. "Just come back from seem' Peter Strong now. I'll take you there if you like." He no longer needed to raise his voice to be heard.
"Again you come to my aid, Mr. Ellis. It is much appreciated."
"I take it Lady Muriel got you to Faraday all safe and sound, sir?" Ellis moved forward, gently leading the way.
"Yes, Lady Muriel did so with alacrity." Philip wondered how it came to be that her identity had not been immediately revealed by Ellis. "What news do you have for me, my man?"
"You'll not find your horses here in town." He gestured down the way. "There weren't no room. I've had your cattle stowed down at The Wild Rose; they can stay there until nightfall."
He would need to make further arrangements before the day's end. An inconvenience Philip would sort out once he had finished here.
"Sent young Sturgis to fetch your rig first thing. He'll be bringin' it to Strong's straightaway. There be the shop." Ellis gestured to the left.
A man's rant rang out from the shop. "I've been waitin' for near-on a week, now!"
Ellis led Philip inside, where he caught sight of the outraged patron and a leather-aproned man, clearly Peter Strong. "That's Matthew Tyndale," Ellis whispered as a casual introduction.
"That be him right there. You blasted worm." Tyndale jabbed his large finger in their direction, pointing at Donny Ellis. "I heard what the two of you said. You can't just push my wagon aside 'cause some flush nob is havin' trouble gettin' to Town in time to measure his swelled head for his new hat!"
Apparently news of Philip's disabled curricle had instigated the tirade. Subsequently his large cranium would be taking the brunt of the wrath-if not literally, then by earnest name-calling.
"That's right, been here waitin', my horse standin' idle; costs to feed him." Tyndale gestured wildly with his right arm. "An' what about me?" He pounded his chest. "I ain't worked since I made my last deliverynear a fortnight ago. What'll I do without my wagon? I got to make a livin' !"
"If you will excuse me, gentlemen." Philip interrupted before Strong could answer. "I believe there must be an amiable solution to our problem."
No, Philip certainly could not in all good conscience insist the wheelwright repair his curricle before this good man's wagon. He also did not wish to remain for a fortnight waiting for the repair of his vehicle and inconvenience the Duke and his family with his unexpected presence.
He had to find an agreeable solution for all their difficulties. Normally this type of situation was not difficult to solve. He felt he had only bits and pieces of a puzzle that when placed together in the correct sequence would set things to right. Currently he felt inexplicably distracted.
Somehow Philip needed to expedite the repair of his rig, find a solution to Mr. Tyndale's unemployment, and locate adequate lodging for his horses.
From the east lawn Muriel could easily see Charlotte and Sir Hugh pass before the maze. Susan Wilbanks joined them only moments after starting on the tour of the grounds.
Muriel had remained with Aunt Penny, who had donned a bonnet and busied herself directing the placement of tables and chairs.
Fifteen minutes after Sir Hugh's arrival, Lord Arthur Masters and Lord Irving appeared with their pails of gooseberries. The two men soon joined the company of Charlotte's group on their way toward the conservatory.
In another ten minutes, Sir Albert Stephenson, Mr. Chester Atwater, and Lord Paul Bancroft arrived, followed by Sir Nicholas.
Muriel thought it looked as though Mr. Atwater's and Lord Paul's jaws, now merely darkened bruises after the altercation in the assembly, were healing nicely. The thin scratches they sported on the sides of their faces were new. Upon second inspection, she noted that all of them seemed to have been afflicted with similar types of marks.
Muriel watched the visitors progress from the conservatory to the parterre.
"Sir Nicholas," Aunt Penny called to the baronet. "All went well, I trust?"
"Splendidly, ma'am." He removed his hat and bowed. "Good day to you, Lady Muriel."
"Sir Nicholas," Muriel returned. "I thank you for your help this morning."
"Think nothing of it. I am pleased to be of service."
"Now that you're here, I assume that all the guests have arrived? Shall we catch up to the others? I believe they have made their way to the pond by now." Aunt Penny gestured Sir Nicholas to the left.
"Your servant." Sir Nicholas offered her his arm and replaced his hat atop his head.
They caught up with the party, but Muriel was not there long before Susan pulled her aside.
"Look there, Moo." Susan nodded off toward the stables. "Is that he?"
They had not yet reached the pond. Muriel stared off to the left, watching the commotion of someone arriving at the stable. Sir Philip had returned.
"Do you think he might like to join us?" Susan sounded hopeful, but Muriel couldn't think of anything she dreaded more.
"Allow me to inquire," Muriel was quick to answer. She would do what she could to delay him, just in case the baronet should see them and get it into his head to spoil their private party.
Muriel excused herself, hoping she could come up with some way to keep Sir Philip occupied. At this moment, she could not envision how she would manage to detain him.
"Ah, young Lady Muriel!" Philip hailed, raising the top of his cane to greet her. He brushed at his sleeves, removing the travel dust he'd accumulated.
"Were you able to see to the repair of your transport?" she asked, strategically positioning herself with her back to the stables to prevent him from seeing the other guests.
"To my satisfaction, yes. The arrangements have been made. The completion will take a bit longer than I would have liked, but I shall not complain." Philip turned to the rear of the house and then to his left. He gauged the reason for her current position: to turn him away from the pond where he was fairly certain Charlotte's party would be visible.
"Would you care to see the gardens? The conservatory? The maze?" Muriel offered in quick succession.
Philip did not let on that he knew of her effort to keep him occupied. She must have felt a desperate need to keep him away from the festivities.
"You have a maze?" His eyebrows rose in curiosity. Another type of puzzle that never ceased to amuse him.
"It's a hedge maze. Allow me to show it to you. It's this way, please." Muriel led him down a path that led around the rear of the house.
"Might I ask the whereabouts of the rest of your family?" Philip had meant to upset her a bit, questioning her about a topic he knew she wi
shed to avoid.
"Aunt Penny plans to serve tea on the east lawn," she answered without enthusiasm. "Some of the gentlemen who are staying in the village have been invited to join us"
"Ah, Lady Charlotte's suitors." He did his best to remain uninterested in the gentlemen suitors or in joining their gathering.
"Let us enter the Lapidarium. You'll have a better vantage point of the rear grounds." Muriel preceded him up the steps into the raised, covered outlook.
"This is indeed quite the collection of stones. Is it a natural outcropping?" Of course Philip understood the structure's literal Latin name. He followed her up the steps and admired the blending of the raised rock and man-made structure. "I find all this quite astonishing."
"Look there-at the maze corners. My father had the animal topiaries stationed at each of the entrances so we could tell them apart when we were very young children."
"Because only one beast must lead to the center. I can see as children you would have difficulty discerning which entrance would be the correct one."
"It's not quite that simple," she cautioned. "The paths are elaborate, but after years of practice we children could even make our way through the passages at night. Most people find it nearly impossible to navigate, even on the brightest of days."
"And yet the Duke's children managed to traverse this difficult maze." A smile touched Sir Philip's lips. "Your father, the Duke, is a very clever man."
"I believe you will have the pleasure of making his acquaintance. We expect Papa to return home in a day or two. It depends only on how quickly he is able to leave Parliament."
"Sits in the House of Lords, does he?"
Muriel nodded.
"Quite commendable. I, too, plan to take my place when my time comes. My father can't be bothered to attend. It's inexcusable, if you ask me." He may have shown his parent in an unflattering light, but Philip would voice his opinion. "People depend upon him and he shirks his duty simply because he ... chooses not to assume the responsibility. When one is in a position of influence, one must do what one can to promote conditions for those who cannot"
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