Gerry had never been so relieved to see a crowd of children enter a room. The awkwardness of the conversation evaporated instantly as hasty introductions were exchanged and the children took over. The twins were talking excitedly about how large the house was and Arabella was asking Bertie if they could explore it. Levinia was eloquent on the beauty of everything in the room. Martin was dashing to each window and exclaiming at the sight of the garden and the grounds. Lucy tugged on Mr. Thorne’s coat until he obligingly picked her up. Gerry tried very hard not to be charmed at the sight. Grace sat quietly and shyly between Pip and Bertie. Neither of them seemed bothered by her presence. In fact, Pip was talking to her in his own quiet manner. Sophia had taken a seat on a chair. Gerry felt herself relax as she saw to it that everyone was accounted for.
Bertie was in the process of telling the twins what rooms might be best for exploring.
Laurence laughed when not only the twins but Levinia gasped at learning the library had two stories. “Why don’t Seb and I take the children on a tour, my lord?” he said. “We can keep them out of trouble.”
“Oh, how kind of you, my sweet,” Bertie said. “That would be marvelous.”
Seb looked startled to be volunteered for such a mission, but he gamely followed Laurence’s lead, even offering Grace his hand as she stepped up to follow them.
“Should I go with you?” Mr. Thorne said.
“Not at all,” Laurence said, cheerfully. “Stay and have tea, Basil. Seb and I can handle them.” He took Lucy out of Mr. Thorne’s arms, gave him a wink, and corralled the twins out of the room. Sophia and Levinia followed behind.
“Well,” Veronica said into the ensuing silence. “And I thought my child was loud.” She gave an unconvincing titter.
“I am so glad you were able to come and bring your family,” Bertie said, smiling at Mr. Thorne.
“It was very kind of you to invite us,” Mr. Thorne replied.
“Are you planning to settle here?” Charles said.
Mr. Thorne nodded. “I wasn’t sure at first, but I can’t imagine myself leaving now.”
Gerry tried to ignore the instant feeling of relief that welled up inside her.
“How lovely,” Charles said. “I must admit we all felt the same. At least, I don’t think Gavin and I necessarily planned to stay here forever. Now with Seb and Gerry all settled here, it feels right to stay close.”
Gavin nodded.
“Geraldine is hardly settled,” Veronica said. “She’s still living with you. Quite frankly, I think it is ridiculous for so many adults to live under one roof.”
“It’s the same number of adults who live under your roof,” Gavin retorted.
“Yes, but we are all married,” Veronica said.
“And what difference does that make?” Gerry said, wishing she wasn’t arguing with Veronica in front of Mr. Thorne.
“It makes all the difference,” Veronica said.
Gerry opened her mouth to respond, but Bertie said, “My goodness, how absurd of me. I invited you all to tea and yet I haven’t offered anything to you. Do forgive me, m’dears. I was so engrossed in your conversation.”
“Please don’t think a thing of it, my lord,” Mr. Robert Ayles said, accepting a cup from Bertie. “We are honored that you invited us.”
Bertie smiled at him. “Glad to do it, m’dear. Glad to do it. I confess I have been remiss in socializing more. I’m delighted to make up for lost time.”
“I fear I am similar,” Mr. Thorne said. “I’ve barely called on anyone without express invitations.”
“Please consider our house completely open to you any time you wish to visit,” Charles said, grinning at him.
“Ours as well,” Mr. Algernon Ayles said.
“Perhaps we should combine forces,” Bertie said in a musing tone. “We could venture forth together to call on various people of the neighborhood.”
Mr. Thorne smiled. “I would be delighted, my lord.”
“Excellent! I shall draw up a calendar and send it to you.”
“I’m at your disposal, sir.”
Gerry was torn between pleasure at Bertie’s evident approval of Mr. Thorne and suspicion that her friend was privately scheming.
“As one of the few married persons in the room,” Veronica said, “I feel bound to point out that if you gentlemen are both of the masculine persuasion, people will assume courtship between you, particularly as you are both unmarried.”
Mr. Thorne shook his head. “I hope you will forgive me for disagreeing with you, ma’am. It is kind of you, I’m sure, to hint at such a thing. But I am quite openly of all persuasions. I enjoyed a very close friendship with a lady in Bath, yet no one there ever mistook our friendship for more than what it was.” He shrugged. “It is a privilege to be born a firstborn, but part of that privilege is more freedom. Yes, the viscount and I may both be single gentlemen of masculine persuasion, but we are also both firstborns. I think people may be more inclined to think we are on the hunt for spouses together, rather than courting.”
Bertie laughed. “Indeed, m’dear. I quite like the notion of that gossip.”
John gave Mr. Thorne a considering look. “Are you on the hunt for a spouse, Mr. Thorne?”
“I don’t think I’d say I’m quite that active in the search.”
“But you are searching?”
Mr. Thorne chuckled. “I fear I have a great deal on my plate right now. It hardly seems an appropriate time to get married when I’m taking care of so many things at once. I am still open to the idea, or trying to be, at least. But I think I’d prefer to offer a spouse more stability than what I have currently.”
Gerry privately thought that the right sort of person would help with all of the things on Mr. Thorne’s plate. She certainly had a great many ideas of ways to make things easier for him. She very carefully kept silent.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Charles said. “You have property and income. That’s certainly enough to be going on with.”
“The property is one of my current difficulties,” Mr. Thorne said. “I can hardly make heads or tails of it all.”
“I’d be delighted to help you with that, young man,” Mr. Robert Ayles said.
“As would I,” Charles said.
“You see,” Mr. Algernon Ayles said. “You are not without friends, Mr. Thorne.”
Mr. Thorne gave a wide smile. “It seems I am not. Thank you,” he said, with a nod at both Mr. Robert Ayles and Charles. “I may take you up on your offers.”
“Please do,” Charles said.
“My cousin helped my mother manage our property when my father died,” Bertie said. “If you would like, I could write to them and see if they have any advice for such situations.”
“I would be grateful for that,” Mr. Thorne said.
“I can understand your concern about property management,” John said. “I myself have struggled to understand it.” He glanced at Veronica. “But I don’t think marriage has impeded that at all.”
Mr. Thorne gave John a small smile. “That is good to know. Thank you, Mr. Hartford.”
“You said you’re of all persuasions?” John said.
Mr. Thorne nodded. “I don’t generally have a preference.” He shrugged. “Frankly, I find most people attractive.”
Charles raised his teacup. “Hear, hear.”
“I must say,” Veronica said. “There are more single people here than I would have expected of such a small vicinity. Perhaps Geraldine’s case is not quite so hopeless after all.”
Mr. Thorne frowned at Veronica. “Hopeless?”
Gerry noticed that John was looking at her very thoughtfully and she didn’t like it at all. She set aside her own teacup and stood just as Veronica opened her mouth to elaborate on her meaning. Before Veronica had a chance to utter a word, Gerry said, “Perhaps I ought to check on the children.”
“Oh, don’t worry, dear,” Mr. Algernon Ayles said. “Laury is with them. He is very good at wrangling them.”
Mr. Robert Ayles laughed. “And he’s likely teaching young Sebastian some of his tricks.”
“The children can be rather active, though,” Mr. Thorne said. “They aren’t poorly behaved or anything, but I do worry about what they’re getting up to in your house.”
Bertie looked amused. “You sweet thing. I’m not at all concerned. But if you are worried, you are welcome to go in search of them. Perhaps Gerry can go with you and give you a small tour of the house.”
Veronica straightened. “That would not be appropriate, my lord. I think I’d better join—”
At that moment, Gerry’s friends arrived, and she could not decide whether or not she was pleased to see them. After all, she had canceled her tea with them and had been relieved to avoid more pointed conversations about her single status. But apparently Bertie had invited Rose, Julia, Caro, Maria, and Lizzy, and they had clearly traveled together. They bustled into the room, greeting everyone fondly. The ensuing commotion made it impossible for Veronica to put a word in edgewise for nearly a quarter of an hour. Gerry was beginning to think she was pleased by their arrival, seeing her friends greet her family so warmly.
But then Julia turned and gave her a wry smile and said, “It seems as though we were interrupting something.”
“I was just encouraging Gerry to give a tour of my home to dear Mr. Thorne here.”
“Gavin and I can help in the search,” Charles said, taking Gavin’s hand. “I think combined forces are the best solution.”
“How marvelous,” Rose said.
“Why don’t you stay with the others, dear?” Julia said, kissing her wife on the cheek. “I’ll join Charles and Gavin. I’ve seen precious little of his lordship’s house.”
Gerry decided maybe she wasn’t so pleased by her friends’ arrival.
Charles turned to Gerry. “Now, darling, if you and Mr. Thorne will join us, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of adults to corral the children.” Then he led Gavin and Julia out of the room.
Mr. Thorne stood as well, looking baffled. He offered his arm to Gerry. Gerry had no idea how her plan to exit the room and the conversation had gone so wrong, but she took his arm all the same.