Inwardly, she groaned. Could she really tell him how they met without appearing like a giddy schoolgirl? Telling him about that dreadful day when they were supposed to meet at the abandoned cottage would be difficult. She definitely wouldn’t be able to hold back her anger then. But hopefully, he would have recovered his memories at that point. She could only pray that was what would happen.
Nodding, she returned to her chair. He continued to eat, but his gaze only left her face for a second to look at his plate before coming back to her.
Oh, Lord... please help me!
FOUR
Thirteen months earlier
“Two men are coming this way!”
The squeal from the sixteen-year-old Olivia and the quick footsteps on the wooden floor had Adeline pausing in the middle of one of Mozart’s pieces she was playing on the pianoforte. She spun on the stool and glanced out the window. Even from a distance, it was obvious the two men were well-bred. Perhaps even noblemen.
Shaking her head, she pushed the silly notion from her head. Noblemen? Although her father was a baron, society had practically shunned him since he’d gambled away most of his money, leaving his wife and children impoverished. They were now nothing but titled paupers.
Olivia stood by the window, gawking at the men who slowly walked toward their home. She sucked in a quick breath and ran her hands over her ringlets of blonde hair before frantically untying the apron around her waist.
“Adeline, I believe they are wealthy.”
Olivia struggled with the apron, so Adeline stepped behind her younger sister and finished removing the garment. “Liv, you need to calm down. You’re making a spectacle of yourself. And for heaven’s sake,” she pulled her sister’s elbow, moving her away from the window, “you don’t need to let them know you’re watching them closely.”
“What do you think they’re doing?” Olivia asked, her brown eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Honestly? I believe they are lost.” Adeline gave a sharp nod. “Why else would two gentlemen be walking toward our home?”
“I wonder why they aren’t in a carriage,” Olivia muttered and glanced out the window again.
“They are nearly here.” Adeline pulled on her sister’s arm, getting her attention. “Father needs to be informed. Make haste, before the men reach our porch.”
Olivia rushed out of the parlor and clambered up the stairs, calling for their pa in a high-pitched voice. Adeline grimaced. Only the deaf and deceased would not be able to hear such a ruckus.
Releasing a nervous breath, Adeline smoothed her palms over the outdated material of her blue day-dress. Funds had been extremely hard to come by, and her mother tried her best to adjust the girls’ dresses each year. Unfortunately, Adeline had almost outgrown her gowns. Her bosom was almost too large for the bodice.
A loud knock rattled the front door, making Adeline jump. Her heartbeat quickened. She, too, would like to know what these two men were doing out in the middle of nowhere – and without a carriage.
She slowly stepped toward the door, keeping her shoulders straight and trying to at least appear as though she had been properly raised by a titled father, despite her shabby clothes. She opened the door, and got her first look at the two gentlemen.
Both were tall, but the man with wavy sandy-blond hair had wider shoulders. Both were handsome, but the more slender man, brown haired wasn’t scowling, which in her opinion, made him the better looking of the two.
“Pardon our unannounced visit,” the man with brown hair said, bowing slightly. “I’m Lord Kentwood, and this is Lord Hanover.”
She curtsied. It surprised her that the man with broader shoulders hadn’t shown her respect by bowing. “My father is Baron Featherstone. I’m his daughter, Miss Featherstone.”
Lord Kentwood smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“And I’m happy to meet you... uh, both of you.” She nodded.
“Miss Featherstone, Lord Hanover and I are stranded. Our carriage wheel is broken, and we are in hopes that your father will be able to help us out of our predicament.”
A gust of wind came out of nowhere, knocking into the men from behind. Lord Hanover stumbled forward, practically falling against her. His large hands grasped her shoulders, and his head bumped against hers. A sharp pain rushed through her temples and she gasped.
“Pardon me, Miss Featherstone,” the lord muttered and quickly withdrew, moving back on the porch. “Forgive me for falling against you.”
Feeling uncomfortable, she forced a laugh. “It was not your fault, my lord. It was the wind’s.”
He nodded, but the scowl remained on his face. Adeline could tell this man was not happy about their carriage breaking down. The way Lord Kentwood’s eyes gleamed with mirth as he chuckled over his friend’s clumsiness made him seem flirtier.
“Please,” Adeline said, moving back and she opened the door wider, “why don’t you come in out of the wind.” She glanced at the sky. Gray clouds billowed in the distance. “It appears a storm is brewing.”
Just as the two men entered, the stairs creaked as her pa and two brothers scampered down the stairs, coming toward them. Her older brother, Charles, tripped and almost fell into their father. Thankfully, Charles righted himself before causing them to all roll down the steps.
“My lords,” Adeline said, “let me introduce you to my father, Baron Featherstone.”
The lords bowed to each other. Apparently, Lord Hanover would only bow to men.
As her father introduced his two sons, Charles and Jacob, Adeline noticed Olivia making her way gracefully down the stairs as her gaze stayed on their visitors. She sashayed toward Adeline and stopped right beside her. Biting her inner cheek, Adeline tried not to laugh. Her sister had taken the time to brush out her ringlets to give their visitors the impression she was a woman instead of a girl. Olivia had gained the attention of both lords.
“I heard you tell my daughter that your carriage broke down not too far from here.” The Baron folded his arms across his chest. “If you would like my boys to take a look at it—”
“How thoughtful of you,” Lord Kentwood said. “However, all we ask is the use of your servants for now.”
Adeline held her breath. A small gasp came from Olivia and her face paled. Inwardly, Adeline groaned. Servants? The Featherstone family hadn’t been fortunate enough to have servants for the past five years.
“I um...” Her father cleared his throat, shifting from one foot to the other. “Unfortunately, my servants... um, well... You see, they are not here at the moment.”
Adeline clenched her teeth. He’s going to lie to them?
“None are here?” Lord Kentwood asked in a tone laced with skepticism.
Her father laughed, shaking his head. “I only have a few, you see, and there was a death in their family, so I released them from their duties for a few days.”
Lord Hanover continued to stare at Adeline’s father in doubt, but Lord Kentwood’s gaze shone with appreciation.
“Baron Featherstone, you certainly have a giving heart.”
Her father’s chest seemed to swell as a grin stretched over his face. He turned to Charles and Jacob. “Collect the tools from the shed and we’ll go with these fine gentlemen to fix their carriage.”
“Yes, Pa,” both Charles and Jacob answered simultaneously.
Pa looked at Adeline. “You and Olivia start making dinner. I’m sure these men will be hungry by the time we’re finished.”
“Yes, Pa.” Adeline glanced at the two lords again. Only Lord Kentwood smiled. The other lord appeared bored.
As Adeline turned to head into the kitchen, Olivia swung around and followed. When they were both inside the kitchen, Olivia released a heavy breath and placed her hand to her chest.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen more handsome men in my life.” She collapsed dramatically on the counter and sighed. “And to think they are going to have supper with us.”
Adeline rolled her eye
s. “Not if you don’t help me.”
Olivia straightened slowly. “Ma will be home soon, and she can help.”
“Liv, I suggest you shake those dreams right out of your head.”
“What dreams?” Olivia asked, her eyes widened as a blush covered her face.
“Those men out there are true lords, which means they aren’t going to give us a second look.” Adeline swished her hand through the air. “They have eyes, and I’m sure they can see just how poor we are. In fact,” she stepped closer to her sister, “once they discover Pa lied to them about our so-called servants, those two handsome lords will not want anything more to do with our lying father or his family.”
Frowning, Olivia leaned her hip against the counter. “Do you think we are going to turn into spinsters?”
A feeling of desperate longing squeezed Adeline’s heart. She’d worried that her father’s mistakes would keep her and Olivia from finding good husbands. Indeed, spinsterhood was in her future.
A slight ache throbbed in Adeline’s head. “I pray that won’t happen. I still believe in miracles.” Or at least she wanted to believe.
FIVE
Adeline picked at the food on her plate, not really in the mood to eat. Her family and their two invited guests sat around the table for supper that evening. Pa and her two brothers appeared exhausted after fixing the lords’ carriage, and of course, the two lords hadn’t broken out in a sweat – unless it was because they’d walked too fast on their way to repair the vehicle.
Just as when she’d first met the two men, Lord Kentwood did most of the talking. He had many stories to tell which enthralled her family. She enjoyed hearing the stories as well, but Lord Hanover had captured her attention more. She’d noticed the way the man’s gaze had wandered around their meager furnishings, and she especially noticed the look of disgust on his face. At least Lord Kentwood was being polite, even though she figured they both knew about the Featherstone’s lowly circumstances.
Ma hadn’t seemed to notice the way the uppity Lord Hanover was acting. She fawned over both men as if she’d never had guests in her house before. At least she heard the snooty man thank the older woman for her kind hospitality, and for the tasty food. Adeline tried not to let it disturb her that her mother never once acknowledged that the meal was mainly prepared by the baron’s daughters and not the baroness.
Adeline nibbled on her roll and watched Lord Hanover take another sip of wine. Slowly, his gaze lifted and moved straight to her. She quickly sucked in a breath, and nearly choked. Trying not to show her inability to breath for a few seconds, she grabbed her glass and forced the wine down her throat – as daintily as possible, of course.
Once she felt she had it under control, she peeked toward Lord Hanover again. He was still watching her. This time, his gaze had narrowed on her, but thankfully, he didn’t appear to be disgusted this time. At the moment, she wasn’t certain if that was good or bad.
The room grew quiet as everyone ate their food. She pretended to eat, but nobody really noticed. And yet, whenever she peeked toward Lord Hanover, his attention was still on her. Having him watch her so closely made her uncomfortable. Perhaps he was getting revenge on her because she’d been staring at him earlier.
She swallowed the small amount of food in her mouth, slower this time so as not to choke. Her palm moistened as she tightened her fingers around the fork. How could she get him to stop staring at her? Unless... perhaps it was time to strike up a conversation with him. At least that might get the others around the table talking, as well.
Straightening her shoulders, she sat up and aimed her gaze at him, but as she opened her mouth to speak, his voice came out first.
“Miss Featherstone, I believe you and your sister helped prepare the meal, correct?”
His voice was smooth as silk, and surprisingly, not judgmental. Not yet, anyway. “Indeed, we did, my lord.”
“I must say,” he glanced briefly at his potatoes, “I’ve never eaten anything so tasty. I’ve been to Paris and even Ireland, but never has a mere potato tasted so heavenly.”
His compliment caught her off guard. Up until now, she didn’t believe he knew how to be nice. “Uh, I thank you, my lord.”
He lifted his glass of wine to her. “I commend you for having such a rare talent.”
Even as perplexed as she felt right now, she still managed a smile. “Knowing that you have enjoyed the dish, makes me very happy.”
Pa wiped his mouth with the linen napkin and leaned forward slightly, zeroing his gaze on Lord Hanover. “My daughter is extremely talented. You should hear her on the pianoforte. And she sings.”
A blush swept over Adeline’s face. She really didn’t like having everyone’s attention on her, and especially the way her father boasted.
Lord Hanover’s eyebrows lifted as his expression changed to one of curiosity. “You play?”
“Yes.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “However, I doubt I’m as good as my father makes it sound.”
“Do you have a pianoforte?” Lord Hanover asked.
“Indeed, we do,” Adeline’s mother quickly answered. “It’s in the music room. Would you like to hear her play, my lord?”
Lord Hanover kept his gaze on her as he slowly nodded. “I think I would enjoy that very much.”
Adeline swallowed the lump of terror growing in her dry throat. “Do you play, my lord?”
His smile widened. She couldn’t believe how handsome that made him.
“I do. I happen to enjoy music.”
She nodded. “As do I. There are times when music is the only way to soothe my nerves.”
“I agree, Miss Featherstone. I have found nothing better.”
Seeing the gleam in his eyes and hearing the smoothness of his deep voice, caused her heartbeat to quicken and she felt breathless. Nothing like this had ever happened to her in her twenty-two years. Her face grew warmer, too. Hopefully, nobody noticed how Lord Hanover had affected her.
“Miss Featherstone,” Lord Kentwood spoke up. “I would also like to hear you play.” He wiped the linen napkin across his mouth before setting it on his empty plate and pushing away from the table. “Would you mind performing for us now?”
On cue, everyone followed the lord’s lead and stood. Adeline didn’t have any qualms about playing at a moment’s notice, but felt bad for not eating more than she had. In her family’s impoverished circumstances, she hated to waste food.
She stood and walked behind the group toward the music room. Lord Hanover seemed not to be in a hurry and because he walked so slowly, everyone passed him until she had caught up to him. He really was a tall man, and although she’d detested some of his haughtiness, she couldn’t discount his handsome good looks, or his lovely hazel eyes. Not only that, but he had a nice smile – when he wasn’t forcing it.
“Lord Hanover,” she said, which captured his attention. “I would very much like to hear you play, as well.”
Nodding, he grinned. “I’m sure I’m not anywhere as good as you, but I’ll play if that will make you happy.”
Her heartbeat skipped. He wants to make me happy? Confusion filled her head as she tore her gaze away from him and moved toward the pianoforte. Why was he all of a sudden being nice to her? The way he’d been acting since they’d arrived made her aware of what he must think of their lowly situation.
Adeline was the first to play the pianoforte. The selection she had chosen was one that she’d memorized a year ago. As she played, she could see the expressions of those who stood nearby. Lord Hanover stood directly in her view, and it was hard not to stare at him while she played the lovely ballad. The dreaminess in his eyes, and the softness of his smile let her know he was pleased with what he heard.
As soon as she was finished, everyone applauded, but she could hear Lord Hanover clap louder than the others. She stood and curtsied before motioning to Lord Hanover to play. The others encouraged him, and it didn’t take him long to give in and take his seat on the stool. The
moment his fingers flew across the keys, her heart flipped with excitement. He played magnificently. She was certain her clapping was louder than everyone else’s when they all applauded his performance.
It didn’t take long before they split into groups and chatted for the next little while. She stood next to Lord Hanover, listening to his childhood stories about when he played in front of others. Olivia and her brother, Jacob also stood by her, listening to Lord Hanover’s tales.
Adeline laughed at a few of the lord’s stories, and she couldn’t deny his deep voice made her heart pitter-patter. It was hard to control the infatuation growing inside her. Even though she kept telling herself there was no way a man like Lord Hanover would consider Adeline as a wife, she still wanted to believe that he found her interesting. The way his eyes twinkled when he looked at her – more so now than when they first met – let her know that he might be attracted to her, as well.
Jacob took over the conversation, and for the life of her, Adeline couldn’t keep her mind on her brother. Instead, she studied Lord Hanover’s handsome face. He was definitely one finely built man, one she never thought she’d meet. And now that he stood so close, it was nearly impossible not to want to touch his arm just to see if his arms were as muscular as they appeared... or caress his rugged chin to see if the skin was coarse or smooth... and her fingers itched to thread through his lovely wavy sandy-blond hair.
Lord Hanover seemed to be listening to her brother, but then suddenly, the lord’s gaze shifted and met hers. A teasing smile stretched across his face as if he knew she’d been watching him or what had been on her mind.
Heat consumed her face, then slowly spread down her neck and throughout her body. Where’s my fan? And yet, the hotter her face became, the more she realized a mere fan would not cool her enough.
She touched her brother’s arm, stopping him in mid-sentence. “Jacob, excuse me, but I need to step outside. It’s very stuffy in this room, and—”
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