“Thank you. Is your father nearly ready?”
“He assured me that he would be done in a few moments.”
They nodded at each other and Cole racked his brain, trying to find something interesting or witty to say to her, but sadly coming up blank. She stepped over to a table which held her reticule, bringing her closer to him, allowing him to smell her perfume, a light and fruity concoction, with something like cinnamon and sandalwood undertones.
Cole breathed deeply but froze as she looked his way, worried that he had been caught behaving improperly.
“Is your room acceptable?” he asked as he exhaled.
“Yes,” she smiled. “It’s lovely, thank you.”
“And… is there anything you are waiting for?”
“I don’t believe so. You have taken very good care of us.”
“Good, that’s … good.”
She looked into his eyes then and he found himself quite unable to look away. Seemingly she was as trapped by his gaze, as he by hers.
“Ah, there you are,” Lord Copley said, exiting his room and fiddling with the cuff of his shirt. “I apologise for my tardiness, a misplaced cufflink is to blame, dratted thing fell from my fingers and rolled for a good few feet.”
“Quite understandable,” Cole assured him, pleased of the interruption which saved him from appearing like a fool.
“Would you like some help?” Thea said, stepping towards her father.
“No, no, I’ve got this. Escort Thea, would you, Cole? I don’t want to make us any later.”
“My Lady?” Cole held his arm out and she placed her hand on his.
He noticed that her demeanour had suddenly changed and while she had seemed shy before, she now appeared nervous, with a slight tremor in her hand. He wondered for a moment if she were frightened of him but eventually concluded that she was probably fearful of facing a large party at dinner.
“Don’t trouble yourself,” he said as they left the room. “They will not bite, with the possible exception of my step-mother’s dog.”
She smiled. “Oh, I have quite a way with animals,” she assured him.
“Oh? You must tell me your secret.”
“Bribery,” she said with a smile. “While it may be considered cheating, I find that almost all animals can be easily persuaded to like you with a little edible inducement.”
“I must remember that. Tell me, does this trick work on people?”
“Only the gluttonous but I have been told that women are inclined to those who flatter them, and men to ladies who flatter them.”
“Have you tried that?” he asked conversationally.
“I have, but it seems I have little skill for flattery. I become nervous around new people and inclined to say whatever is on my mind which unfortunately, is usually honest but not always welcome.”
He wondered how he could ease her mind about this evening.
“You seem so confident in your ability to charm dogs, I wonder if you might accept a small wager?”
“I am not usually inclined to betting, other than on cards.”
“Then we will wager something else, perhaps a dare?”
“What kind of dare?”
“Well, that’s where the risk lies. Should you win, I will perform one errand of your asking. Should I win, you must do whatever it is I ask of you.”
“And what if your, or my, for that matter, dares are too risky, perhaps improper or unsafe?”
“Then we shall ask your father to approve of the dares first. I make this suggestion not because I hope to embarrass you with a dare, but rather to enliven what will surely be a dull and superficial evening. Besides, if you are right, then you are risking nothing.”
“Very well,” she smiled. “How long do I have to accomplish this?”
“Until bed this evening.”
“Then we shall need to stop by the kitchen.”
“No matter, my step-mother likes to serve canapés before dinner.”
Thea frowned. “Couches?” she asked with such sincerity that it took effort not to smile at her.
“No, small bites of food served with the apéritifs, although in fairness, they are named for the French word for couch as not only does the idea come from France, the food sits atop a slice of bread or toast, much as one sits upon a sofa.”
“I look forward to trying them. Very well, I accept your challenge, but we must tell no one before the bet is over.”
“Why ever not?” he looked askance at her.
“I wouldn’t want to lose on a technicality, if you were to, for example, ask your step-mother to keep the dog away this evening.”
“You pay attention to the details,” he smiled. “Good to know. Do you have any more conditions?”
“No, I believe the terms are sufficiently fair, I must only be careful that I do not distract myself with dreaming up ridiculous challenges for you when I win.”
“When, not if,” he noted. “Let’s hope your confidence is justified.”
They had reached the parlour and he was pleased to note that her tremors were gone. He turned to see her father behind them, perhaps ten paces back, still playing with his cuff.
Cole might not possess the sharp intelligence of Thea, but he could recognise a father’s attempts to give his daughter some privacy, without leaving her unsupervised.
“Here, Father, let me.” Thea let go of his arm and stepped towards her father, clearly she had not seen through his ruse.
“No matter, it is done,” he looked up and smiled.
“Then let me introduce you both to our guests,” Cole suggested. “Or perhaps I should call them, our suspects.”
He opened the door and with his hand unconsciously resting in the small of Thea’s back, ushered her into the room and began the introductions. He noticed that while her father paid attention to the people and small talk, Thea was distracted by his step-mother and her annoying little dog.
People were spread throughout the room and by the time they made it to the sofa where Selena and Mrs Dale were holding court, he had seen Thea palm two foie gras canapés.
Focusing on their bet and the task to come had relaxed her quite a bit and after introductions were made, she bent forward and held her fingers out to the pug, who was barking at them, with Selena making no attempt to stop it.
“What an adorable creature,” Thea told Selena. “What’s his name? Or her name?”
“Her name is Ann,” Selena practically beamed. “But you must be careful, she’s very choosey who she likes, and I would hate for you to get bitten.”
“I’m sure she won’t hurt me, will you, Ann?” Thea’s fingers had touched the pate and as such, the dog sniffed, then licked them with interest.
“Would you look at that!” Mrs Dale remarked with wonder. “You are honoured indeed, Lady Athena, Ann hardly likes anyone.”
Thea withdrew her hand, “How old is she?” she asked, as her fingers pressed into the pate canapés in her other palm.
“She is six now, and quite the prettiest dog in the land.”
When Thea held her hand out again, the dog once more licked her fingers and when finished, she slipped a hand behind the dog’s head and scratched behind her ears, making Ann lean her head into the hand.
“Might I hold her?” Thea asked.
“Well, I suppose, if you are careful with her.”
“Oh, of course. She is too precious to be handled with anything but the greatest care.” She discreetly placed the canapés into her reticule before reaching for the dog, who settled into her arms as she once again scratched behind its ears.
“You are far more formidable than I had given you credit for,” Cole said, taking care to keep his voice low. Thankfully Selena and Mrs Dale seemed content to talk with Lord Copley for a few moments.
“Nonsense, as I told you, animals are easier than people.”
“For you, perhaps.” To demonstrate his point, he reached out to pet Ann, and received a snarl and snap as his reward.
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Ann also looked surprised when Thea shook her and called in a stern voice, “No!”
“I say, what’s going on?” Selena asked. “Are you upsetting Ann again, William? You know she does not like you! It’s not good for her to be worked up!”
“It’s not good to allow a dog to snap at anyone,” Thea countered. “Dogs must be respected but that does not mean coddled and you cannot let them have free rein. Imagine how dangerous she would be if were she the size of a lurcher?”
“Give her to me! She isn’t a lurcher, is she? She is a small dog, a pet and companion, not a working dog.”
As Thea handed the dog back, Cole was surprised by how quickly a pleasant conversation had turned to an argument but he finally understood what Thea meant, when she said that she spoke before thinking. She did speak the truth but of course, Selena did not want to hear the truth.
“Come, Lady Copley, let me introduce you to Lord Grady.”
With a hand once more on her back, he guided her away.
“You have made an enemy for life there,” he informed her. “My step-mother’s favour, once lost, is lost forever. Or until she wants something from you, whichever comes first.”
She realised he was trying to cheer her and she smiled.
“I am well used to being unpopular,” she said. “I shall take some cheer however, in thinking up your dare.”
“Do be gentle with me,” he pleaded. “I must remain here once you are gone and I should hate to be the talk of the town.”
“I could not be so cruel,” she assured him. “I shall however, give this very careful consideration.”
He smiled, enjoying her pleasure, even if it was at his expense.
The rest of the hour went well, until Miss Eliza Buchan approached their party. Eliza had been rather flirty with him since her arrival, and seemed displeased with the attention he was showing Thea.
“Your skin is a marvellous shade of caramel,” Eliza remarked to Thea. “And those freckles, quite pretty in certain lights.”
“I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially riding,” Thea answered, taking the words as a compliment, rather than the subtle insult that they were.
“I’m surprised you spend so much time outdoors without a parasol, given how unappealing many say dark skin is. It perfectly suits you, however.”
“I find the fresh air is invigorating, for both body and mind.” She had finally noticed the implied insult. “Besides, my primary purpose in life is not to look as someone else deems I should, but rather to broaden my mind and try to leave the world a better place than I found it.”
“I suppose that is just as well then.” Eliza apparently did not take kindly to having her intellect or superficial nature questioned.
“I think she looks very well,” Cole came to Thea’s defence, since her father was engrossed in a conversation with Lord Buchan. “I have always thought that a pale face speaks of frailty and sickness.”
“Yes, of course.” Eliza was better able to read people than Thea, and clearly realised that she had offended Cole. “Perhaps we could take a walk in the grounds while you are here, Lady Copley.”
“Yes… perhaps.” Thea’s tone said that it was highly unlikely.
Before things could become any less comfortable, the butler called dinner and the guests made their way to the dining room.
Cole sat at the head of the table since his father was feeling unwell that evening, and Thea sat to his left. Both Copley’s were relatively quiet, observing those around them rather than venturing their own opinions, unless specifically asked.
As the dessert plates were cleaned away, conversation turned to the troubles in Ireland, how awful things were and how they might be improved.
“It is quite a state,” Lord Small said. “But I am not sure what can be done about it.”
Thea had been becoming rather agitated as the conversation progressed, and Cole saw her open her mouth to reply but she evidently decided against it.
“Did you have something to add?” Mr Garwood asked. He had land in Ireland and had been playing down the severity of conditions there, brought about by the potato famine.
“Only that a lot can be done to better the situation and only greed keeps landowners from improving matters.” Thea said with confidence.
“Such as?” Mr Buchan asked.
“Middlemen for a start. The land owners must ensure that they are fair with tenants. Secondly the profits are being taken out of Ireland, which keeps Ireland poor.”
“But our agents collect the rents and pocket the difference, and they live there so they spend the funds there.” Mr Garwood explained, as if Thea were a simpleton.
“And yet an estimated six million pounds leaves Ireland each year. Landowners are draining the people and land dry.”
“Ridiculous, we’re providing employment.”
“On land that was confiscated from the Irish and then denied them by law.”
“That’s how conquering works, my dear,” Mr Buchan laughed, as if her misinformation greatly amused him.
“So that makes it acceptable to strip the land and the people of every penny they have?”
“That is the business of the middlemen.”
“Who only exist because you do not want to tend your own estates. You would rather be here, spending Ireland’s money, caring nought for the suffering your money is earned on the back of.”
“We have no control over our agents. If the government has a problem with them, then they must legislate.”
“In one breath, you call them ‘our agents’, and in the next absolve yourself of all responsibility. The truth is that you simply don’t care to discover what life is like on your estates.”
“Girl, you know nothing of my business.”
“Then when was the last time you visited Ireland, Mr Buchan? Prove to us how much you care about your land and tenants.”
Mr Buchan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, no longer finding her amusing.
“Lady Copley,” Lord Buchan attempted to sweet talk her, giving his brother a break. “I realise this is a subject that you are passionate about-”
“People are dying in their thousands, anyone with a heart would be passionate about it.”
“Quite,” he gave her what was probably supposed to be a charming smile. “However, I believe you are misinformed.”
“Yet I have read the Royal Commission’s findings, the commission that your government set up. Have you?”
“Now, Lady Athena, telling untruths does no one any justice.”
“I am not lying, Sir. The findings of the Commission were that the Irish people, and I quote ‘forbear expressing our strong sense of the patient endurance which the labouring classes have exhibited under sufferings greater, we believe, than the people of any other country in Europe have to sustain’. They call your middlemen ‘land sharks’ and ‘bloodsuckers’ and ‘the most oppressive species of tyrant that ever lent assistance to the destruction of a country’. Such oppression and tyranny represses ingenuity and enterprise.”
“This is hardly polite dinner conversation!” Selena interrupted. “You must wait until the women have withdrawn to speak of such awful things!”
“But Lady Copley’s opinion was sought,” Cole reminded her. “And she will be unable to give it once the ladies are gone.”
“Her opinion means nothing!” Selena reminded him. “Women have no business interfering in such matters.”
“Just because they do not like her opinion, does not mean that they should not hear it!” he said with conviction, then turned to Thea. “Please go on. What would you suggest?” Cole asked, growing rather tired of her being maligned when, although he did not claim to be as well versed in the matter, from what he had read, she spoke the truth.
“The system in Ulster seems to work far better, creating an atmosphere of prosperity. Tenants there have some rights and are rewarded for improvements made to their properties. Further, between thirty and fifty shiploads of food l
eave Ireland every day, to be sold elsewhere, while Ireland’s inhabitants, who grow and farm it, are dying in their thousands. Banning exports from Ireland, at least temporarily, would solve the famine overnight.”
A chorus of discord rose from many of the men at the table, all of whom were yelling over each other to explain why she was so wrong, and why the landowners couldn’t do without their profits from selling corn and grain, how they were entitled to make a profit and how she was suggesting communism.
“I am suggesting nothing of the sort.” She answered in a quiet voice, so quiet that only Cole, seated beside her, could hear. However, it silenced the men, who were keen to hear her next words, probably believing she had repented. “Irish landowners of course have every legal right to sell their crops, I am only suggesting that they be limited to selling them within Ireland.”
“Selling to peasants?”
“Perhaps if they were paid more and not milked for every penny, they would not be peasants,” Cole suggested.
He could tell that Thea was flagging however and he doubted her quiet reply was from a clever attempt to gain their attention, and more from a sense of disappointment combined with lethargy. She had after all, travelled quite a distance on horseback today.
“And now Gentlemen, I must ask you to excuse me and the Copleys. I have a few matters to discuss with them before bed.”
The gentlemen grumbled their assent.
Cole held the door for them and as he went to step through after, he heard Mr Garwood mutter, “Put her in her place!” probably meaning to show affinity.
“Why would I do that?” he asked, a wry smile on his lips. “Especially after she has done such a good job of putting you in your places.”
He nodded to the men who had not entered into the argument.
“Goodnight, Gentlemen.” He closed the door firmly. “Would you like a nightcap?” Cole asked Thea and Lord Copley.
“I am well used to such reactions, Mr Cole, I do not need alcohol to soothe me.”
“Perhaps you don’t need it but it also cannot hurt.”
“I apologise for my behaviour in there, Sir, I will try to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
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