Gayle Buck (24 page)

“I shall see to it, Ned,” Lady Caroline said, and gave the necessary instructions for the smaller carriage to be returned to the stables and exchange for the larger equipage. Staying the servant from his errand for a moment, she said that she also wished a missive to be carried to Walmesley, and requested that pen and paper and an inkwell be brought to her.

The servant returned to the drawing room with the required articles. Lady Caroline placed them on the occasional table, dipped the pen, and began scratching swiftly over the sheet.

For her aunt’s benefit, Lady Caroline explained, “I shall dash off a note to notify Lord Trilby that there will be two more than anticipated at his table. I am sure that his cook will be grateful for at least that much notice.”

Mrs. Burlington nodded in rare approval of her niece’s way of taking the initiative. “What a good thought, for if the grandduchess does chance to cut up stiff over our enlarged party, his lordship will be obliged to point out the courtesy of your note.”

Lady Caroline cast an unreadable glance at her aunt. Quickly she finished the note, sanded and folded it, and gave it to the servant. “Yes, indeed. We must not forget the grandduchess even for a moment.’’

However, it was not the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits, nor the earl’s cook, of whom she was thinking. She thought Lord Trilby might appreciate an advance warning that her brother and sister-in-law would be in attendance. Not that it changed matters in the least, she thought, but now she would not be alone in feeling herself to be caught on tenterhooks.

All of her former anticipation of the evening was quite dashed.

The Earl of Walmesley’s expression whenever he should first set eyes on her was not likely to be filled with admiration for her lovely gown. Instead, his lordship was likely to lift his brows with just that show of assumed surprise that was so very maddening.

“Lady Caroline, are you quite all right? You are wearing the most prodigious frown! Quite unbecoming, I must say!”

Lady Caroline sighed. “Amaris, would you think it wonderful if I were to say I am developing the headache?”

“Not at all, dear niece. I am quite used to your wayward idiosyncrasies by now, I assure you,” Mrs. Burlington said waspishly. “However, I do think you might exert a little effort for your brother’s and Lady Eddington’s sake. They are quite looking forward to this little outing, and to discover that you meant to be so disobliging as to cry off, for I assume that is what you are hinting at, would quite ruin their harmless pleasure.”

Lady Caroline sighed again. In a resigned voice she said, “Yes, quite true. That would be most unfortunate.”

Chapter Twenty-five

The butler came to the door, requesting a word with his lordship.

Lord Trilby left the other gentlemen and walked into the entry hall, where he was informed that an urgent note had come from Berwicke Keep. Lord Trilby thanked the man, taking the note and unfolding it.

Quickly scanning the contents of the note, Lord Trilby creased his brows in a deep frown. Lady Caroline Eddington would be accompanied that evening not only by her aunt, Mrs. Burlington, but also by Lord and Lady Eddington.

The earl swore.

“Miles, whatever has caused you to resort to such shocking utterances?”

Lord Trilby looked up quickly to see that his great-aunt, accompanied by Fräulein Gutenberg, had come down the stairs. He smiled for their benefit. As he went over to meet them he casually slipped the note into his coat pocket.

Lord Trilby took the gloved hand that the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits had extended and carried it to his lips with a flourish.

He released her hand and, eyeing her elaborate coif admiringly, said, “My dear ma’am, that is a most becoming turban. I do not believe I have ever before seen—let me see—four plumes of such extravagance on any one headdress.”

“It is five plumes, and you cannot shift my attention quite so easily as that, my lord! Now, what has served to annoy you?”

Lord Trilby allowed a faint smile to play about his lips. “You are too discerning, madam. But I fear that you will say I am guilty of overreaction. I have received word that Lady Caroline will also be accompanied by her brother, Lord Eddington, and his lady.”

The Grandduchess Wilhelmina Hildebrande put up thin brows in interrogation. “What of that, pray? Are Lord and Lady Eddington not quite the thing, then?”

Lord Trilby smiled again. “Hardly that, madam. I was merely annoyed to learn so late in the evening of their attendance. We may have to wait dinner, you see, and I know that there is little else that irritates your grace more.”

“I shall not regard it in the least, I assure you. I have a great wish to meet all of Lady Caroline’s family, as you must have guessed.” The grandduchess slid a sly glance in Fräulein Gutenberg’s direction. “Lady Caroline is a charming lady. She will undoubtedly make some gentleman a most worthy wife.”

Lord Trilby saw the start of surprise given by the Fräulein, as well as the momentary tightening of the lady’s soft mouth. He could almost find it in himself to feel sympathy for her, when Fräulein Gutenberg lifted her eyes. The cool self-assurance of her gaze was enough to remind him that the Fräulein had definite intentions in regard to himself.

Not for the first time Lord Trilby considered it a great pity that the Fräulein did not know of Lady Caroline’s role.

Lord Trilby nodded politely to Fräulein Gutenberg before he offered his arm to the grandduchess. “Allow me to escort you in, madam.” He said teasingly, “The rest are already assembled, so you shall be able to make a grand entrance.”

The Grandduchess Wilhelmina Hildebrande nodded, appreciating his wit. “Good. It is what I most like. Marie, pray do not just stand there! His lordship has two arms and so is perfectly capable of escorting two ladies. There, that is better.” She cackled, quite pleased with herself. “Your friends will envy you, Miles. On the one arm you have power and wisdom; on the other you have beauty and pleasure. You are a fortunate man indeed.”

“As you say, madam,” Lord Trilby said. He was annoyed that his great-aunt had maneuvered him so adroitly in bestowing a courtesy on Fräulein Gutenberg that must at once be commented upon, yet he was amused as well. The grandduchess was always alert to any advantage that could be had for the taking, and he had literally handed this one to her.

He was not mistaken about the impact that the sight of himself with the ladies would make upon their entrance into the drawing room. Mr. Underwood shook his head. Viscount Weemswood gave that peculiar twisted smile and made a low comment to Lord Heatherton. Lord Heatherton appeared momentarily startled. Then he sent the viscount a glance of reproach, which that gentleman impatiently shrugged aside.

Lord Heatherton was the first to step forward and make his bow to the ladies. Mr. Underwood, never to be outdone, was swift to follow. Viscount Weemswood was content to wait until the grandduchess and Fräulein Gutenberg were seated before he came forward to convey his own pleasure that the ladies had joined them.

Conversation was so general and light of topic that Lord Trilby was persuaded he was the only member of the company who was tense. He kept one ear attuned for some hint of the rest of the party even while he smiled and conversed.

At last his vigilance was rewarded.

The sounds of arrival heralded the party from Berwicke Keep. Lord Trilby excused himself to those already gathered and stepped just outside the drawing room in order to greet his other guests. “Good evening, Mrs. Burlington, Lady Caroline. Lord, Ned, it has been this age since I have seen you. I was astonished when I heard that you and your bride had returned to England.”

Lord Eddington shook the earl’s hand. “Foreign parts are all very well, but after a while one begins to pine for dear old England,” he said, grinning. He proudly drew forward his wife and introduced her.

Lord Trilby bowed over the countess’s hand, genuinely curious about her. It would be interesting to discover what sort of lady had accepted Lord Eddington, whom he knew to be a gentleman sometimes too amiable of character for his own benefit. “Lady Eddington, your servant. I am most happy to make your acquaintance.”

“And I yours, my lord.” Lady Eddington gave her sweet smile.

Lord Trilby urged the arrivals to finish putting off their wraps and to come into the drawing room, where the other guests were assembled. As he ushered them past him into the drawing room, further greetings and introductions were begun among old and new acquaintances. Lady Caroline, who had lingered behind, joined the earl in the doorway.

Under cover of the flurry of greetings, Lady Caroline whispered urgently, “I am so very sorry, Miles. I did not know what to do. Amaris would have it that Ned and Lady Eddington should accompany us. There was nothing I could possibly have said that would not have sounded suspiciously feeble.”

They had deliberately paused a moment before actually entering the drawing room. “I, too, have bad news to relate,” Lord Trilby said grimly. “Weemswood, Underwood, and Heatherton have all graced Walmesley with their presence. They arrived this afternoon and mean to stay at least a fortnight.”

“Oh, no!” Consternation deepened the color of her eyes. She quickly glanced around to look into the drawing room as though to confirm it for herself.

“Oh, yes. Caro, I think I must warn you—”

But what Lord Trilby would have said. Lady Caroline was not to hear, for at that moment the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits came to them. “Whatever are you doing still lurking in the entryway with Lady Caroline, my lord? Come, I insist that you join the rest of the company.”

She put her arm through Lady Caroline’s and neatly separated her from the earl. “My dear, Miles has told me that you are well-acquainted with the other gentlemen, so I know that you will not take it amiss that I should ask you to take Marie under your wing and not allow her to be teased too unmercifully. Poor girl, she is quite bewildered to be surrounded by so many smart London gentlemen.”

As she was borne off, Lady Caroline cast a helpless glance back at Lord Trilby. The earl shook his head and lifted his shoulders in the smallest of shrugs, as though to express his own powerlessness over the proceedings.

As it chanced, Fräulein Gutenberg did not appear at all at sea. She was smiling at something Viscount Weemswood had said, and her quiet amusement simply appeared to deepen when the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits brought Lady Caroline up to her and reiterated the opinion that Lady Caroline could be of some use to her.

“Of course, madam. I will be glad to share my present admirers with Lady Caroline, if that is what my lady desires,” the Fräulein said.

Lady Caroline chose to ignore the faint derision in her voice. She exchanged nods with the viscount, saying lightly, “I should not wish to arouse your ill-favor, Fräulein. I am content enough merely to greet my acquaintances.” She shook hands with Viscount Weemswood. “How are you, Sinjin?”

The viscount shrugged in a negligent fashion. “I am as always, my lady.”

“Oh, dear, as bad as that?” Lady Caroline asked, deadpan. Her small joke was received with chuckles by the gentlemen gathered about.

The Fräulein rose and lightly touched the viscount’s sleeve. “My lord, I am desirous of a small glass of wine. Will you escort me, please?”

Viscount Weemswood smiled, his sardonic eyes reflecting his amusement at the subtle vying between the ladies. He glanced at Lady Caroline as he said, “Of course, Fräulein. It will be my pleasure.” Murmuring polite excuses, he and Fräulein Gutenberg strolled off in the direction of the decanters on the occasional table.

“Well, I like that! Sinjin knows I have been trying this past quarter-hour to induce Fräulein Gutenberg to go in to dinner with me, and off he goes with her without a single by-your-leave,” Mr. Underwood said. There was an underlying note of seriousness in his flippant tone that was underscored by the way his eyes followed the handsome couple.

“Have you been bitten again, then, Carey?” Lady Caroline asked with a sympathetic smile. She held out her hand. “Other than that, how are you keeping yourself, sir?” To her surprise, rather than shaking her hand in his usual friendly manner, Mr. Underwood made a formal bow to her. Awkwardly her hand dropped to her side.

“I am very well, thank you, my lady,” he said.

Lady Caroline’s bewildered gaze crossed to Lord Heatherton. His lordship cleared his throat. “You mustn’t mind Carey, my lady. It is the worst case yet, you see. He is all about in the head over the Fräulein.” His lordship was uncharacteristically fiddling with the fob that hung from a black ribbon around his neck. Lady Caroline’s gaze dropped momentarily to the nervous movement, then rose again to meet Lord Heatherton’s anxious expression.

“Oh, then, everything is made perfectly clear,” she said lightly, disguising the hurt she felt.

Mr. Underwood smiled fleetingly. He would not quite meet Lady Caroline’s eyes as he excused himself, saying that he was desirous of becoming better acquainted with Lady Eddington.

Mrs. Burlington appeared abruptly at Lady Caroline’s side. She demanded in a low sharp voice, “Why did you not tell me about Fräulein Gutenberg?”

“I did do so, Amaris.”

“You never told me that...” Mrs. Burlington relowered her voice. “You must beware, niece. The Fräulein watches the earl with a peculiarly predatory gaze.”

Lord Hathaway came up. He greeted Mrs. Burlington and exchanged bows with Lord Heatherton before he turned to Lady Caroline. “Lady Caroline, I hope to be allowed to escort you in to dinner.”

“Oh! But ...” Lady Caroline had little desire to be partnered by Lord Hathaway, and glanced around to catch Lord Heatherton’s eye. But that gentleman was bowing to Mrs. Burlington as he gravely requested the honor of taking her in to dinner.

The rest of the company was already forming up couples, Lady Caroline realized. Her brother had bravely solicited the Grandduchess of Schaffenzeits’ hand, which had earned for him that lady’s most gracious nod. Lady Eddington had risen to place her fingers on the Earl of Walmesley’s elbow, and Fräulein Gutenberg had bestowed her favor upon Viscount Weemswood. Mr. Underwood had been neatly cut out, and he was obviously of no mind to come to Lady Caroline’s rescue.