“It gets annoying.”
Forcing myself to breathe out slowly, I didn’t respond to her. My attention went to a wildflower growing by the lane. “Look, Sarah!” I said as I plucked one. “We should put flowers in your hair for the ball.”
“Everyone does that. I want to be completely original!”
I chuckled, shaking my head. I remembered going through a few months with such an attitude when I was seventeen. “I’m afraid that will be difficult to accomplish. Everything interesting has already been done in society. All you can do is imitate some of the greats and make society think you came up with it on your own.”
“Then I’ll do that.”
“Why, exactly, do you want to stand out so much?”
Thoughtfully, Sarah hummed a note as she considered. “Why not? It is no fun being on the sidelines and watching everything happen. I want to be in the middle of the scene, enjoying what’s going on around me.”
“Well, take care you’re not so busy enjoying yourself you forget to be you.”
Turning to walk backward, Sarah scowled at me. “What do you mean?”
For a moment, I struggled to find the words to explain just what I did mean. “Simply put, I’m afraid you will try so hard to be an original and end up forgetting how to be just plain Sarah Forester who loves to play the harp and play ninepins with her younger brother.”
“You think too much. I can do all that and still be original.”
I decided to allow the matter to rest there. Twirling back around, Sarah bounced ahead a few steps. “When was the last time there was a ball here?” she asked, changing the subject completely. “I can’t even think of having attended a ball before this.”
“Last fall. The Sandwoods gave a ball. You and Miss Sandwood danced every dance, as you pointed out to me for days afterward.”
Sarah laughed merrily. “Oh, of course. Now I remember. That was fun. How many times did you have to sit with Mother?”
“Most of the evening.” Even now, it hurt to remember how my outgoing little sister had been more sought after than I had. It hurt even more to remember Philip Knighton had asked me to dance with him twice. I had done so, and only later realized he had taken it as encouragement that I returned his affections.
“Well, maybe this time you will have more fun.”
Anticipation made me smile. She was right. This time, I would have Mr. Richfield to dance with. He was an elegant dancer, as I had discovered in London. “Yes, I daresay I will.”
“I want to dance and dance!” Sarah said, twirling some more. I laughed as I watched her. “There will finally be something fun to do. Archery, ninepins, Picnics and horse rides! And maybe we can play charades during the evening.”
“You have everything planned out.” I couldn’t help but be amused by her enthusiasm for the coming festivities. “I certainly hope Mrs. Knighton is prepared for you to take over the entertainment for the party!”
The look Sarah shot me over her shoulder said plainly she was not amused. A moment later, her expression changed to one of astonishment. “What is he doing out here?”
“Who do you mean?” I asked, surprised the question. Turning, I caught sight of a tall, familiar figure walking down the lane towards us. A smile parted my lips as excitement bubbled up. “Mr. Richfield!”
Chapter Ten
“Oh, please tell me you’re not about to start jumping up and down,” I heard Sarah say as I took a few steps forward. “You are positively ridiculous sometimes, Diana.”
“Miss Forester. Miss Sarah,” Mr. Richfield called out before I could tell Sarah to keep her comments to herself. There was a broad smile on his face. “I wondered if I would find you enjoying this beautiful day.”
I laughed. “Well, you nearly did not.” I gestured to where I hoped Sarah was still waiting for me. I wouldn’t have put it past her to have walked on in protest. Glancing behind and seeing for certain, though, would have required too much courage on my part. “I was happy reading a book until my sister insisted upon dragging me outside.”
“Then I am in your debt, Miss Sarah,” Mr. Richfield said, making a half bow to my right. I felt a surge of relief Sarah hadn’t been rude enough to continue on her way. “Are you walking anywhere in particular? Chasing the highwayman again?”
“We left Will behind, so we have not been searching for a hidden trail today. I don’t think we’re walking to any specific destination unless Sarah hasn’t told me something. Would you like to join us?”
“I can think of nothing I would enjoy more,” he said, holding his arm out. Smiling, I looped my arm around his and sent a glance at Sarah. She was already walking away. “Mr. and Mrs. Forester left today, didn’t they?” He paused. “I mean your aunt and uncle, of course. Not your parents.”
“Yes, they did,” I said with a laugh.
“I suppose you are accustomed to others having to clarify which Forester they are speaking to.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You haven’t seen anything yet. My father had two brothers, both of whom married and had children. Any large family event results in an abundance of Mr. Foresters and Mrs. Foresters and Miss Foresters. It must take the county at least a month to recover from such a wedding.”
“Are weddings the only family event your entire family attends?”
Why had the word wedding been the first word to leave my lips? Horrified I had used that particular example, I said, “No! Of course not! Well, most of the time, I suppose but—.”
There was no telling how long I would have tried to recover from my verbal misstep. I was so caught up in trying to explain myself I failed to watch my step. My foot found a rut in the lane, and I found myself off balance. With a cry, I fell forward, mentally preparing myself to meet the ground face first.
Instead, I found myself with my face against the front of Mr. Richfield’s long coat. “I’ve got you,” he said as he helped me regain my balance.
“Oh, thank you. I thought I was about to become intimately acquainted with the ground.”
“I would not have let that happen.”
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes met his. Mr. Richfield’s right hand still grasped my arm, and his other hand was at my waist. I knew I should step back, but I couldn’t force my legs to obey that particular command.
“Are you well?” he asked, his voice low.
“What happened?” Sarah’s suspicious voice asked, interrupting the moment.
Looking over, I saw my younger sister standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at us. My face flushed red as I moved back. Mr. Richfield let go of me and cleared his throat. “Your sister stepped wrong and nearly fell. I was able to keep that from happening.”
“Right,” Sarah said, her tone disbelieving. “Diana, I am ready to return home now. I think I know exactly where my arrows were stored.”
Why was I not surprised? “That’s good,” I said, shocking myself with how steady my voice sounded.
“I will walk you both home,” Mr. Richfield said.
Her face twisting into a scowl, Sarah strode forward and positioned herself in between he and I. “Wonderful. Let’s be on our way. Are you going to be joining the house party at the Knightons’, Mr. Richfield?”
That question was not as bad as I had expected. “As a matter of fact, I will,” he said to her. “Mr. Philip Knighton extended me an invitation personally.”
The feeling of relief that had begun fled when I realized what name he had just spoken. Instead, I felt as though I couldn’t breathe at all. “Oh, you have met Mr. Knighton then?” Sarah asked, her tone becoming sincerely interested. “We grew up together, as I am sure you must have realized. We were practically brother and sister.”
“I had assumed you grew up together, but did not imagine your families were as close as that. Mr. Knighton didn’t mention it.”
Once he said that I could breathe again. This was a situation I hadn’t considered. How would Mr. Knighton react if he were to find out I was being c
ourted? Since he had ridden away that day and then left for who knew where I had not seen him. I could only hope he would not cause a scene at the house party.
“Oh, look, Diana,” Sarah said, getting my attention. “Isn’t that Mr. Knighton coming towards us now?”
My head jerked up. Just when I had begun to calm down, I found myself in the middle of the situation I had hoped to avoid. It was Philip Knighton riding towards us, and an unfamiliar man accompanied him.
“Knighton!” Mr. Richfield said, raising his hand in greeting.
I saw my brothers’ closest friend hesitate. Holding my breath, I prayed he wouldn’t just ride past and ignore us. That would result in a terrible conversation I did not want to have.
“Richfield,” Knighton said, slowing his horse to a stop beside us. He nodded once, his eyes moving past me in a second. “Miss Forester. Miss Sarah. How are you today?”
“Well, enough,” Sarah said. There was a strange note in her voice, and when I glanced at her, I saw her gaze was on the strange man with Mr. Knighton. “Are your guests arriving for the house party?”
“They will be tomorrow.” Knighton gestured to the gentleman on his right. “This is my friend, Mr. John Ward, from London. Ward, Miss Forester, Miss Sarah Forester, and Mr. Richfield.”
My eyes widened at the introduction, and I heard Sarah gasp. We should have been given the opportunity to indicate whether we wished to be introduced to this Mr. Ward or not. Mr. Knighton had just forced upon us an acquaintance we had no notion whether would be to our benefit or harm our reputation entirely.
“A pleasure,” the man said, nodding once in a bored manner. He did not indicate whether he caught the implied slight to Sarah and I or not.
Mr. Richfield stirred, making no verbal acknowledgment of the introduction. A moment of awkward silence formed. I expected Sarah to have something to say, as she usually did, but she kept quiet. “Kindly give your mother our regards when you see her,” I said as it was the only polite thing to come to mind.
Knighton glanced at me. “Certainly, Miss Forester. Good day, ladies. Richfield.”
I could not have felt happier they were riding on and we were walking in the opposite direction. “Brother and sister, you said?” Mr. Richfield said to Sarah. “I never would have guessed it.”
Oh, perfect. “Well, he has been gone for some time now,” I said, hoping it would be enough of an explanation. “And then, of course, I was in Town with Aunt and Uncle.”
“You appear flustered. Is something wrong?”
Sarah snorted, seeming to take an interest in the conversation. “Diana is always flustered. It is practically a part of her daily personality.”
“Thank you for that, Sarah,” I said with a sigh. Happily, though, we seem to have moved on in conversation.
Mr. Richfield laughed. “You never told me your family was this amusing, Miss Forester. I can understand why you would want to return to them.”
“Oh, I am so glad we amuse you, sir!” Sarah said, sarcasm lacing her tone. “That was, of course, our whole purpose for existing.”
And at that point, I decided I had put up with quite enough of my sister’s antagonism. Never mind Mr. Richfield was laughing at her again, taking it all in stride as he did so well. Sarah was taking her odd dislike too far. I reached over and grabbed her arm, answering her glare for glare. All too easily, Sarah shrugged. She stayed between Mr. Richfield and me, and I couldn’t think of any plausible reason to make her move.
“So you have an interest in archery, Miss Sarah?” Mr. Richfield asked, attempting to ease the tension.
I held my breath, waiting for Sarah to snap at him. “A lady has to have something to occupy her time.”
“That is true, I suppose,” Mr. Richfield said, sounding skeptical.
“You suppose?” Sarah’s tone became cold. I covered my face with my hand. This afternoon was quickly spiraling out of control. “
“I have heard the men will be having a championship of events during the house party!” I said quickly. I needed something, anything, to redirect the conversation. “Will you be participating in that, Mr. Richfield?”
“I had not given it much thought. I am not much of a sportsman, you know.”
“Men have so many other things to think of than whether or not young ladies are entertained, Diana,” Sarah said before I could reply.
With relief, I spotted the path Sarah, and I usually took as a shortcut. “You have taken us far enough,” I said, pulling Sarah towards the path. “We will see you at the house party then. Enjoy the rest of your day, Mr. Richfield.”
“Good day Miss Forester, Miss Sarah,” Mr. Richfield called after us, sounding surprised.
“And you think I’m rude,” Sarah said, jerking free. “Goodness, Diana. You act so strange sometimes.”
It took all my self-control not to retaliate because deep down I knew she was right. He must think me odd now, and it hurt to admit it to myself. How dare she force me into this situation? Why couldn’t she have let me walk with Mr. Richfield in peace?
Why was I cursed with a sister who provoked me so much?
MOTHER HAD NOTHING to say when I told her we had crossed paths with Philip Knighton. The only reaction I received from her was when I complained about Sarah’s topics of conversation with Mr. Richfield. She promised to speak to Father and then told me to go back to my book.
Whether Father spoke to Sarah again about her attitude, I did not know. But the next day, Sarah became wholly devoted to her archery. She had found her arrows hidden in the corner of the attic, and practiced out on the lawn every hour she was free.
The first day, I joined her in the exercise. My arms ached after only a few shots. It had always been Sarah’s hobby, and I was indifferent to it. By that afternoon, I sat on the grass and watched Sarah aim at the multiple targets she had convinced Will to set up for her.
On the second day, I spent the morning making calls with Mother. When we returned, Sarah was still shooting arrows at her targets, growling in frustration whenever she hit slightly off center. Her competitive streak was showing by this point.
“How long do you think she will keep at it?” I asked, walking over to stand by Will to watch our sister.
“I have no idea.”
I glanced over at him. “I am surprised to see you outside of your room. Did you finally tire of playing against yourself?”
Will scowled at me. “Yes,” he said. I did try not to smirk, but I could not help it. And made my brother’s glare deepen. “You planned all of this!”
Laughing, I watched Sarah pulled her arrows out of the targets with too much force. “I can’t say I planned exactly for Sarah to do this. But yes. I knew how you would react when you saw Mr. Richfield teaching me some tricks. I had to do something to make you two stop plotting behind my back.”
“You’re sure he isn’t the highwayman?” Will asked, looking less disgruntled.
“Yes, I am.”
Frowning, Will tore his gaze away. “Your reaction to it all was so amusing,” he said mournfully. “Now what am I supposed to tease you about?”
“Oh, Will,” I said, looping my arm around his. He immediately shook me off, giving me a disgusted look. “I cannot tell you how much I look forward to you meeting a girl and I can repay you for everything you plan on doing to me.”
“Oh, I will never get married.”
That made me laugh again. “Will, you amuse so much. You cannot know at this moment that you will never marry.”
“Miss Forester!”
I cringed at the female voice that called to me. Beside me, Will tensed and gave a low groan. “Miss Sandwood,” I said, turning to face our visitor. Charlotte Sandwood was crossing the garden, smiling brightly. “How lovely to see you today. Again.”
“I came to see Sarah since she has not been over to see me,” Charlotte said, looking over towards my sister. “We had so much to plan before the house party, and that begins tomorrow you know.”
“Pla
n?” I asked with suspicion. “What kind of plan do you need?”
Miss Sandwood laughed. “Surely you cannot have forgotten. I am convinced that introducing a potential highwayman into a house party would be disastrous. He will know who will have the most funds for him to steal. We must prevent this at all cost.”
So, my sister and brother may have been diverted from their plotting, but Miss Sandwood had not. I could only be glad I knew how to fix this. She feared losing out on her London Season, and all I had to do was maneuver a way to bring it into the conversation.
“Why would it make a difference?” Will asked. “He already knows there is to be a house party, and the invited members are coming from London. He will be able to attack them on the road to the Knightons’ manor. What difference does it make if he meets them afterward?”
Have I mentioned just how clever my younger brother is? “Oh,” Miss Sandwood said in surprise. “I had not thought of that.”
“Do you think your father will approve of this?” I asked, deciding to take advantage of the opportunity that had presented itself.
My question caused a frown to form on her face. “What do you mean, miss Forester? What does my father have to do with it?”
“He was not happy with your questioning of Mr. Richfield the other evening,” I said pointedly. “I also know your parents have warned you any outrageous behavior will result in you losing the opportunity to enjoy the next London Season.”
Feeling victorious, I watched the younger woman go pale. “I see.”
“Don’t let Diana bully you, Charlotte,” Sarah said. “She has been doing that to Will and I for far too long, and someone should stand up to her.”
Annoyed at being called a bully, I glared at my sister. “Miss Forester, I appreciate your concern,” Miss Sandwood said, her tone formal. “However, it is misplaced. My father would thank me if I were to uncover a criminal in our midst, especially one who has been residing with my family.”
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