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MISS SHAW,
Forgive me for not placing this in our usual place, but I wanted you to receive my response sooner.
I believe if Lord Harrington has invited you to ride with him in the morning, that he desires your company. Keep in mind he has not, to my knowledge, invited Miss Pratt, and if my information is correct, was deceived as to your whereabouts yesterday morning.
Your friend
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CYNTHIA LOOKED UP FROM the letter to the maid. “And this was all there was?”
“Yes, my lady. It was there when I went to lay the fire this morning, slipped under the door.”
“Excellent. You will, of course, retrieve any other missives that happen to cross your path?” Cynthia held out a few coins.
“Yes miss, but I like my place very much and shouldn’t want to lose it.”
“I can assure you, you will not lose your place here. You have my word on it.” And with all the arrogance of future hopes, Cynthia smiled at her then turned back to the letter, her mouth settling into its regular shape.
***
JANE WOKE ON HER OWN shortly after six, but remembering the Pratt Problem, had gone back to bed. She tossed and turned until nine when she sat up grumbling, only too aware she had woken on the wrong side of the proverbial bed. The box remained stubbornly empty, and despite a sunny day with a bright blue sky, her spirits remained firmly entrenched in a pout.
Church was pleasant, for she ignored most of Mr. Makon’s sermon, instead focusing on Lord Petersham and Mary, whose heads were often together as they whispered throughout. Lady Harrington glared at them constantly, so by the time church ended, Jane was feeling much more the thing. She stood to leave when her eyes caught on Lord Harrington. He was looking at her with such an odd expression, his face neither smiling nor frowning, as he studied her. Disconcerted, she looked away and left her pew, only to run into Lady Margaret, who immediately grabbed her arm.
“Oh Jane, we’ve decided to have a luncheon al fresco just like last week, only it’s to be more of a picnic, you see, and mother has arranged carriages and the very best part of course is that Mr. McInnes is to come. I would never have thought he would, but you know when mother asked him, he looked at me and then said yes. I thought she would roll her eyes, but of course mother never does something so unladylike, for she says he has not the slightest hint of energy despite being a young man, which is very unfortunate, but she could not know he has a knack of conveying quite a lot with one word, doesn’t he?”
Lady Margaret took a breath, and Jane, continuing to feel better by the minute, obliged her with happy conversation about Mr. McInnes until they returned home and separated to change.
***
JANE SAT WITH HER BACK to an oak, her pencil sketching her view of the cluster of women with parasols smiling at the men. Meg was sitting next to Mr. McInnes, whose attention seemed entirely taken with the way her dark hair glittered with copper in the sun. His hand would begin to move toward her curls but stop halfway as if remembering it shouldn’t.
Very soon, some of the young ladies started speaking French in an affected manner, flirting with some of the gentleman. Sir Reginald seemed particularly talented at flirting back, and Jane shook her head as she realized he could be ridiculous in any language. All of a sudden she realized eyes were watching her, and she looked up, her pencil stilled.
Miss Annabelle spoke first. “Elle ne comprend pas ce que nous disons.” (She does not understand what we are saying.)
Jane automatically looked left towards Lord Harrington who met her eyes then lowered them to the plate of chicken bones on his lap. He wasn’t participating despite Miss Pratt’s efforts, but she knew he could hear them well enough.
Cynthia smirked, but her voice was quieter. “Il est difficile de ne pas être bien éduqué.” (It is hard to not be well educated.)
Lord Harrington had turned to speak with his brother, but Mr. Lawrence’s head came up, and he stood and moved to sit in a position that blocked their view of her. Amused at the sweet gesture, she gave him a smile. She caught the knowing look Miss Pratt gave her, and realized their smug comments were getting more of a rise out of her than she’d like to admit. Breathing out, she gathered her sketchbook, and tucking it under her arm, stood.
“If you will all excuse me, I believe I will walk home.” And with a quick nod, she began to walk away.
Miss Pratt gave a sweet little protest. “Dear Miss Shaw, you cannot leave. We will behave ourselves if you stay, won’t we, my lord?” Lord Harrington made no reply, his gaze on Jane’s.
Meg held out her hand as Mr. Lawrence stood. “Jane, won’t you stay? I should miss your company very much if you left now.”
“At least let me escort you, Miss Shaw. It would be my pleasure.” Mr. Lawrence’s look was sincere, but she smiled and shook her head in protest.
“I shall be glad of the exercise, and I assure you I will be quite safe.” She waved away protests. “No, you must stay and enjoy the party. I find I am a little restless and the walk shall do me good.” Her pelisse in place, she adjusted her hat and set off.
She had not gone very far before she heard Miss Pratt’s comment. “Elle ne comprend pas la société polie.” (She does not understand polite society.)
Meg’s reply, which Jane knew would be in her defense, was lost now in the wind, and with a sigh she continued toward the estate.
Several minutes later the sound of hoof beats shook her from her thoughts. She turned to see Mermaid bearing Lord Harrington and coming toward her fast.
He slid off his horse and came towards her all at once, and she took a few steps back. “J- Miss Shaw. I find I have some business to attend to at home. Might I escort you there?” His breath came quicker and he tilted his head towards their direction.
“Of course, sir, but if you have business...I cannot walk as fast as Mermaid, and you...” She waited, her eyes questioning.
“Ah...my business can wait until I have escorted you safely home.” She smiled back, then nodded and began walking beside him, the horse trailing behind.
“I apologize for the others. I assumed you knew they were speaking French, but they...that is...” he reached up and shoved his hand through his hair.
“Certaines personnes doivent calomnier les autres pour se faire sentir supérieures.” (Some people need to slander others to make themselves feel superior.)
He stopped and looked at her as she failed to keep a straight face. He laughed as he gave a bow. “Touche, mademoiselle, touche.”
They continued in silence for a moment, the breeze softly dancing by.
“Miss Shaw...”
“Yes?”
“You were once again absent this morning.”
“I thought since Miss Pratt is...that is I assumed...” She had no idea what she assumed, only that her dignity had required she not appear.
“You assumed incorrectly. I assure you your presence is very much desired.” He had stopped to look at her. Jane blushed but stared back, confused.
She reached for a rational thought. “At any rate it is a wager lost and I must appear each morning regardless.”
His face darkened. “I assure you, Miss Shaw, I would not hold you to a wager that was uncomfortable for you in any way.” He faced forward, his tone now dry.
She touched his sleeve. “I’m sorry. I did not mean that. I find an early morning ride quite pleasant now, and always look forward to them in anticipation.”
Lord Harrington had turned to face her again, his shoulders relaxing. Turning forward once more, he offered her his arm. They continued that way for some minutes before conversation was hazarded.
“How well do you know Mr. McInnes, my lord?”
“McInnes?” His look became uncomfortable.
“If you will forgive an impertinence, I think you should become more quickly acquainted with him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He has been riding each morning with your sister, and if I’m not mistaken, I believe they are forming an attachment.” He stopped and looked down at her. “My lord, if we keep stopping we may never make it to the estate.” Her smile was meant to reassure, but he didn’t return the gesture.
“Mr. McInnes?”
“Yes.”
“And Meg?”
“Yes.”
“I....”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“I was sure you were wrong.”
“In this case, I was not.” He said nothing, and she worried. “I hope, my lord, you do not think me interfering, only it seemed no one had noticed yet, and I thought only to help. I can assure you of my complete discretion, although I am not sure Lady Margaret will do the same.”
“You have, Miss Shaw, hit the nail on the head, so to speak.”
“Then you’re not upset with me?”
“Not in the slightest. I appreciate your quick assessment of the situation. Perhaps if I would not be forcing a confidence...?”
She shook her head. “There is nothing of an incorrect nature, I am sure. I do know they go riding each day at nine o’clock. Above that, I believe their interactions to be in company.”
He sighed. “This is a tricky business, you know, having a younger sister that is of an age.”
There was a pause as they continued to walk and she tried to think of conversation that did not further embarrass her. It was some minutes before he spoke.
“Your father was Lord Marcus Shaw, is that correct?”
“Yes, he was.”
“I never knew him, but I heard of how he managed his estate, and was impressed.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” She looked at him, but with his face so close, she turned her gaze quickly back to their path.
“Some said Lord Shaw managed his estate recklessly. I remember particularly because my grandfather was very up in arms about it. He didn’t like bucking tradition.” They had entered a grouping of trees and now found themselves watching the ground for rebellious roots.
“Would you tell me some of the details? I was never privy to how the estate was run, and was unaware of this change.”
“I’d be happy to.” He held her arm a little tighter as they navigated around a lower branch. “Your father invested thousands into upgrades for the farms and tenant homes. It was, in fact, such a considerable amount, that even a very wealthy man would have had to retrench considerably.”
“That must be a lot of improvements.”
“I’m unfamiliar with the details, but they were apparently quite extensive. At the time, many of the wealthy landowners shook their heads and called him a fool, but as the years went by, the return was restored, and at great benefit to his tenants.”
“I think I might know when that happened. I was eight or nine, and I remember my mother being very upset. But I honestly don’t remember anything different in how we lived. When it came out that I was not to receive a large dowry, I found myself surprised considering the size of the estate, but I assumed I had been ignorant of the proceedings.” Her voice turned bitter at that last statement, and he turned to look at her.
“But you did have a season, I thought?”
Jane sighed. “I did. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like a petulant child. I had two seasons, but as my aunt would say, I ‘didn’t take’. I’m much too quiet and my dowry much too small to compensate for my lack of beauty.”
“Miss Shaw, you are....”
“Oh please don’t.”
He stopped and looked at her, and with their arms entangled, she found herself once again close – too close. “What?”
Jane shook her head. “Don’t offer compliments. That’s not what I was trying to gain. I was merely stating the facts. You see, I am grateful I wasn’t married for money, but on the other hand, I never will without. It is an odd conundrum, that is all.”
“Miss Shaw, I am not the sort of man who offers pretty compliments to women. I am, according to my brother, a horror at flirtation. So when I tell you that you are a remarkably pretty girl, there is no artifice in that statement.” He looked at her, and she blushed.
“Thank you.” They walked in silence for a while, and as the trees cleared, the manor came into view. A small sigh escaped him, and his pace slowed.
“Miss Shaw, might I impose on you for some help?”
“Of course, my lord, what can I do?”
“I was hoping you would write your steward and create an introduction for me. I do not wish to steal him from your uncle, but I should like to discuss the details of your father’s improvements and see what I might do to my own property.”
“That is....of course! But he no longer works at Prennage. My uncle let him go.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“Yes. My uncle is...of the opinion of your grandfather, I believe. In fact, I find a few memories have been made much clearer for having received this information. I have a name though, and...” she stopped for a moment and stared in the distance. Lord Harrington stopped to watch her. “I believe my uncle’s solicitor would have his direction. I will write directly if you wish.”
He smiled. “I do – thank you.”
“I shall attend to it today.”
“Thank you. Miss Shaw, I do not wish to be rude, but I see the carriage has passed the hill over by Dewhursts, and I should like to beat them home.”
“Oh heavens, you’d best hurry!” She smiled at him as he grinned back, throwing himself on his horse and galloping away.
***
“MY LADY, HAVE YOU NOTICED the growing...mmm... attachment between your son and...” Lady Wyndham tilted her head, hoping Lady Harrington would take the conversation in hand.
Lady Harrington set down her tea, and sat up straight. “Lord Petersham is friendly with everyone. This is, I assume, a passing fancy, and even if it were not, I would never give my consent. But surely you already knew this?”
She picked up her tea once more and took a sip, eyeing Lady Wyndham and her daughters who had begged a private conversation with her. It was not a hard request to grant, but her curiosity was slacking.
“She means Lord Harrington, my lady.” Lady Harrington’s eyebrows rose appreciatively. Miss Pratt was always direct when required.
She waited a breath as she eyed Cynthia. “I have noticed some moments when he seems to prefer her company, but nothing to signify.”
Miss Pratt and her mother exchanged glances, while Miss Annabelle looked at her tea.
“My lady, have you not heard of their morning rides together?”
Lady Harrington pursed her lips. “I am aware of it, yes. I assure you I plan to have a conversation with her tomorrow morning that I believe will open her eyes a little wider.”
Gentle smiles were exchanged, and the topic turned to pleasanter things. No one noticed the few drops of tea Lady Harrington spilled as she set down her cup.