I took an involuntary step back. Not that she would strike me before we made our way downstairs—to Aunt Agnes, appearances were everything.
“I am sorry for my absence last night, Lady Everdale.” I used her title per her request when we were away from home. “Yesterday’s long journey tired me. I hope I did not displease you.”
She peered at me closely, clearly doubting my words. “And how did you pass the afternoon?”
“In my room, my lady.” I spoke the truth, if not the whole of it. It would be revealed soon enough.
“I see. Well, be assured you will stay for the entirety of this evening’s events.”
I nodded, knowing no escape would be possible. Or probably necessary, since we could very well be asked to leave the minute we made our appearance downstairs.
“Come. We should not leave our hosts waiting.” She bade me follow, and with the tiniest of sighs, I obeyed.
We entered the small drawing room adjacent to the formal dining area. Hugh and Robert smiled, coming forward to greet us with a bow.
“Hugh, Robert.” Aunt Agnes took Hugh’s arm and led him in a direct line toward the duchess. After a sharp look from his mother, Robert followed. I wondered if Aunt Agnes knew of Robert’s feelings for me. I couldn’t imagine her approving, for she found very little to admire in me—least of all my paternal heritage.
Lady Ellen approached as they crossed the room. “Miss Graham, I trust your afternoon passed well?”
I curtsied. “Yes, I thank you. And you?”
She winced. “It was . . . interesting, at best. Mother and Halstead had the most fantastic row.”
At her mention of the duke, I stiffened. Was this before or after my confrontation with him? If she cared to look, Lady Ellen might have seen the guilt that was surely written across my face.
Instead she glanced around and lowered her voice. “I hope you won’t think less of me, but I quite enjoyed it. It was the most exciting thing to happen around here in ages.” A grin lit her face, her delight infectious.
“My dear Lady Ellen, you are shocking.” I feigned exaggerated horror, my eyes wide. “Especially when one considers that we arrived yesterday. You do our arrival a great injustice.”
She laughed. “I do, indeed. There is nothing more exciting than visitors descending upon one’s residence, knowing one will be forced to converse in the requisite pleasantries for the next several weeks.” A sigh escaped her lips, along with another smile.
Tilting my head toward her, I whispered quietly, “I understand you perfectly and shall endeavor not to mention the weather or the latest fashions for the duration of my stay.”
“An ally at last!” She grabbed my arm, her face filled with joyous animation. “I knew from the minute I saw you we would be friends. I was sorely disappointed when you were not present last evening. But tonight we are seated near one another at dinner—a stroke of good fortune.”
Her last few words hung in the air, which had grown silent without our notice. A quick glance at the other guests drew my attention to the door. There, cane in hand but with his back ramrod straight, stood the duke. His gaze swept over the room, and I felt a jolt of panic as his eyes caught mine for the briefest moment.
His mother recovered first and hurried over. “Halstead, how glad I am you could join us this evening. Dinner will be announced at any moment. But first, let me introduce you to the guests of our small house party.” She motioned over my aunt and cousins and began making introductions.
I edged back, hoping to escape notice. All the while, tension thrummed through me. If Lady Ellen spoke, I did not hear it, for my every awareness was centered on the Duke of Halstead, who stood in this very room. Why would he make an appearance now, when he had not graced us with his presence yesterday evening? Could it be he had come only to dismiss me in person? My hand rested on my stomach, trying to push away the queasiness that threatened.
To my great relief the butler came in and announced dinner. He led the way as couples paired off, and Robert hurried to my side. I still hadn’t torn my gaze away from the man I was certain would bar me from his home at any moment. It was only once Robert linked my arm with his that I was awakened from my daze. He gave me a questioning look, his face soft. I grew flustered under his attention, for I could sense the hope my promise had given him. He saw me to my seat and then made his way down the table.
The duke’s cousin, whose name I could not recall, sat on my left. Hugh sat to my right, and Lady Ellen took her place across from us.
Thankfully, we were seated three quarters of the way down from the head of the table, where the duke sat. I kept my gaze steadily on those around me as I removed my gloves and placed my napkin in my lap.
The duke’s presence seemed to fill up the room, making me aware of how empty it had been the night before. I caught little hints of his conversation drifting down the table, the deep timbres of his voice so familiar, despite my having spoken to him only twice.
“Hugh,” I said, doing my best to maintain some semblance of normalcy, “you’re looking remarkably tanned. Did you spend the remainder of the afternoon out of doors?”
He nodded cheerfully as one of the footmen set a bowl of soup in front of him. He must have sensed my lapse in memory because with a slight nod of the head, he motioned to my dinner companion. “I went fishing with Lord Aberdeen.”
Ah, that was his name. Perhaps Hugh could be forgiven for torturing me earlier with the gardens. “Ah yes, I’d forgotten you all went fishing. And how did you find it, Lord Aberdeen?” My voice sounded unnaturally high to my ears as all of my concentration was on not looking toward the other end of the table.
He patted his cravat as if to ensure not a single ruffle had moved out of place. “We spent two hours at the lake. I admit there was some reluctance on my part to leave, even when it was time to return and dress for dinner. This is the first time I have been invited to stay at Shaldorn. The countryside is beautiful, is it not?”
I shook my head. “I have only had the pleasure of seeing the gardens, but from my view through the carriage window as we arrived, I can imagine your compliments are not undeserved.”
Lady Ellen dabbed at her lips with her napkin. “We must remedy that, Miss Graham. Perhaps we could go riding tomorrow, if that pleases you.”
The thought of a ride was thrilling, for it was a pleasure Aunt Agnes often denied me, unless it served some social scheme of hers. “Oh yes, please,” I said.
“Very good.” I found myself warming to Lady Ellen more and more. I could only hope Hugh might endeavor to deserve her.
Our soup was cleared away, and the footmen set out the next course.
“Juliet is not the only one who enjoys riding,” Hugh chimed in, fishing for an invitation. I’d never seen him so taken with a woman before, though perhaps he was only smitten with her dowry. Aunt Agnes rarely missed an opportunity to remind him he needed to marry money.