"My lady?" the butler replied, coming to her side for further instruction.
"When Sir Warren returns, whenever that may be, he is to leave at once"
"I will inform his valet to prepare for their departure." Huxley bowed and set off to deliver the message.
"Thank you." Standing there for a moment, Augusta stared at the two orange trees flanking the arched window. Each bore only three fruit. She hadn't remembered them looking so bare.
Glancing around, she could not imagine where everyone had gone. Charlotte, Muriel, Mrs. Parker, the ladies, the gentlemen guests ... amusing themselves somewhere, no doubt. Determined to join them in whatever activities they had chosen to occupy their time, Augusta first headed abovestairs to change her clothes.
Not two minutes after her abigail Lydia finished touching up Augusta's hair, there was a hurried knock at the door and Charlotte and Muriel entered the bedchamber.
"Char-Char and I have decided, Gusta," Muriel stated straightaway.
"Decided what, pray tell?" Augusta regarded her profile in the glass and moved the curled tendrils away from her face.
"You cannot settle upon Fieldstone," Charlotte informed her.
"Even Char-Char believes he is deadly flat," Muriel added.
Augusta's severe gaze darted to the middle sister, who stood composed. "Char-Char, how could you say such a thing?"
"That is not what I meant ... not precisely," she con fessed. "I merely wondered about his ability to see the humor in any situation ... especially amusing ones. Although he does not seem to find much of anything to laugh at-for I have not observed him to even smile." It did not seem as if Charlotte were jesting in the least. "He appears to be awfully serious, Gusta. Do you think Viscount Fieldstone is able to laugh?"
"He is dull beyond belief!" Muriel interjected with a loud groan. "That man does not find humor in any situation! And Char-Char is correct. I cannot say I have ever seen him share in any of the amusements with the other gentlemen, not once. He did not even smile when he learned of the dismissal of several competitors that first night."
This treatment of Viscount Fieldstone was beyond enough. "Of course he can smile." Augusta quickly came to his defense. She tried to recall a single occurrence when he had graced her with a smile. To tell the truth, she could not think of one.
If he did not or could not find joy in any circumstance, was that cause to believe he had a temper? Surely everyone was angered at one time or another.
If Augusta married him, would she discover she had wed a thunderous ogre when his morning toast was near burnt? Would he rage out of control if he came across a smudge on the toe of his Hessian boots? But most importantly, could he, would he, ever share a comfortable laugh with her?
Augusta left her sisters in her bedchamber and headed for the hedge maze behind the rear gardens, thinking of what they had observed regarding Lord Fieldstone. She paced around her mother's statue in the center of the maze, somehow finding strength in her maternal parent's marble presence.
"What ails you, Gusta?" Richard's voice startled her.
"What?" Augusta spun to face him.
"I'm not disturbing you, am I?" Why should he ask? She always welcomed his company.
"No, Richard." She flashed a nervous, quick grin to show he was welcome and motioned for him to approach. "My sisters came to me, asking if ... They had questions about the merits of . . "Augusta felt a bit embarrassed, and thought she was behaving silly when she hesitated to utter, "Lord Fieldstone."
"Ah, Viscount Fieldstone," Richard repeated thoughtfully. "He is an admirable choice."
And he always had been very much admired up until now.
Augusta had hoped Richard knew something of Lord Fieldstone. Some unsavory behavior that would make a match with him impossible.
"Do Char-Char and Moo find fault with him? How? His reputation is unmarred. He would make an excellent match. I cannot see how even your father could reject him." Richard glanced at her. "If you find him agreeable ... He is one of the eight gentlemen remaining."
"Eight?" Last Augusta had heard, ten remained. "Who has left us?"
"Lord Tremaine and Lord Stanton. Caught wagering with Sir Nicholas Petersham, who, by the bye, has been asked to make himself scarce. Your father was quite upset"
"Wagering on what?" She hadn't exactly kept abreast of the day's goings-on, but she was certain Muriel could provide an exact account. No doubt this was where Richard received his updates.
"Some of the gentlemen were discussing the odds of other gentlemen in attendance. Sir Nicholas merely covered the bets." No doubt, Richard must have heard this from Muriel.
"It serves them right." Augusta huffed and exhaled and- Well, this did not please her. "When will anyone learn there is nothing to be gained by wagering?"
"I should not say that to Moo. She won a guinea from Sir Nicholas just this morning," he mumbled, and it did not go by unnoticed.
"Well, then, I suppose Sir Nicholas deserves to be outwitted by a twelve-year-old."
"She's thirteen now. You've forgotten her birthday again," Richard gently reminded her. "Where were we?" Apparently, he was anxious to move their conversation away from Sir Nicholas, or his wagering, or Muriel's besting of Sir Nicholas. "Ah, I believe we were discussing Lord Fieldstone's difficulty. Your reservation must be greater than his suitability, I wager"
Augusta shot him a sharp look at his last words.
"Oh, sorry." Richard cleared his throat, perhaps even trying to hide a bit of laughter, realizing his faux pas. "What do Moo and Char-Char find objectionable?"
Augusta exhaled, dropped her arms to her sides, and closed her weary eyes. "He may be most agreeable and all that is good, but they insist I should not have him."
Richard remained quiet and allowed her a moment of contemplation. Augusta did not want to tell him what she and her sisters had discussed, but she wished to confide in someone.
"Lord Fieldstone does not seem to . . " Embarrassment caused her to stop, but Augusta decided she must tell him if she were to hear his opinion. "Richard, I do not think I can spend my life with a man who cannot laugh or show the least amount of joy, for that matter."
"Is he that type of man?" Richard seemed to doubt it as much as she had. "Then I suggest you do what you must to make sure he is not that kind of man"
"I should attempt to make him smile?" What a very odd thing to do.
"Oh, Gusta, if you are so concerned he is without humor, make him laugh!" That made Richard give in to his own deep, hearty laughter, stemming from his belly. "I'll admit Lord Fieldstone may be on the serious side, but I'm sure he is quite capable of displaying some type of humor. Come now, everyone is."
Perhaps Richard was right. Augusta should make the effort. That in itself sounded very silly. And what if Muriel and Charlotte had the right of it and the Viscount was devoid of any sense of frivolity?
"One never can tell what another finds humorous," Richard managed after calming himself. He'd stopped laughing, but the lingering joy in his eyes was evident. "I have an idea. Why don't you tell him the story about the time we went fishing. You had just turned ten and told me that you were old enough to bait your own hook and from then on you would be doing it yourself"
"That was not funny" She stood in firm disagreement. "That was a horrible ordeal-not only for the worm but for me as well"
"It was funny to everyone except you." Richard laughed as he always had in recalling what Augusta believed was a very painful tale.
Richard's words gave Augusta much to consider during her toilette that evening for the supper and music that would follow, where she would perform.
Augusta thought the meal was pleasant and fairly uneventful. The guests chatted amicably with those seated next to them. She enjoyed conversation with Lord William and Lord Marsdon. When the meal ended, she led the women to the Oriental Parlor so the men could enjoy their port.
"I cannot think of a single gentleman who would possibly be interested in any other youn
g woman but Lady Augusta," Lady Sutherland complained. "They are all hers to do with as she likes!"
"You could not be further from the truth, Lady Sutherland," Mrs. Greenfield-Jones replied. "I caught one or two of them studying my Stanza here" Her daughter, Miss Constance, blushed.
If only the gentlemen could see that becoming reaction, Augusta thought, Miss Constance would quite capture their hearts.
"Now, now, Lady Sutherland," Mrs. Wilbanks, neighbor and friend to Augusta's family, addressed the accusation. "Every young lady has an equal chance with any of the gentlemen guests. If, indeed, a match is forthcoming."
"But it seems so obvious that the only reason we have been invited is to add some propriety to Lady Augusta's situation. It could not be clearer that every gentleman attending is a beau of hers!" The countess would not be silenced.
"I beg your pardon, Lady Sutherland," Miss Skeffington interjected. "That is not precisely true"
"Well, it just so happens that you have a prior, standing engagement to Mr. Wilbanks. Do you think you could ever bring him up to scratch on your own?" Lady Sutherland glared at Miss Skeffington most severely. "I think not."
"Lady Sutherland, you are being quite rude," Aunt Penny interrupted. "I beg you, do not distress the young ladies during this time. If my niece, or nieces, have an advantage, it is through no fault of their own."
"Imagine thinking that having an advantage is a fault!" Emily chuckled.
"I must assure you that no one, with the exception of Miss Skeffington here, has a claim over any gentlemen," Mrs. Parker assured her.
The deep rumble of male voices silenced the women, who immediately returned to their best behavior. Within minutes the guests conversed freely.
Sir Benjamin and Mr. Allendale managed to have a word with Augusta, having not done so during supper, but she could not dismiss thoughts of Lord Fieldstone and the dilemma he posed. She glanced in his direction. He stood in conversation with Lord Sutherland and acknowledged her with a nod.
Next to those two gentlemen, the very young Sir Samuel, who conversed with Charlotte and Mrs. Parker, did not prove to have such difficulties. Her father, her aunt, and both sisters liked him very much.
"We have a short program planned for tonight," the Duke finally announced. "I fully expect our other guests to honor us with a display of their talents in the evenings to come"
Murmurs circulated throughout the room of who might be talented at which instrument and which piece might be played for the evening.
"Shall we proceed?" The Duke offered his arm to Charlotte and led the procession down the corridor to the Music Room.
Lord Arthur Masters was first to offer to escort Augusta.
"You are to play for us tonight?" he asked. "What a delight! I have been looking forward to this since the end of the Season"
"I managed to avoid it in Town but cannot do so in my own home. It should be quite rude of me."
"Shall you favor us with a selection on the violin?"
"We shall see, my lord," she teased him. "We shall see."
They stepped into the Music Room. Candles lit the large ornate walls, illuminating the coffered ceiling and decorative friezes. Four rows of chairs, ten wide with an aisle down the center, faced forward where the piano and harp sat.
Upon spotting the harp, Lord Arthur's eyes went wide. "Is it possible that you play the harp and not the violin?"
Augusta caught his steady gaze moving from her gloved hands to her wrists and up her forearms. Did he wish to grasp her arms and reexamine the musculature in her extremities, as he had before, to discern which instrument she played?
"You must be patient, my lord." Augusta relinquished her hold on his arm and moved away, allowing him to find a comfortable seat to observe the performance.
The short, puffed sleeves of her gown would give her ease of movement whether playing the harp or the violin. Augusta drew off her long kid gloves, exposing her forearms as she prepared to take up her instrument.
The case of nerves she felt had nothing to do with her performing, for she had played the pianoforte for most of her life, starting at a very young age, as had her sisters. They all took up additional instruments when proficiency of the pianoforte had been mastered.
Emily and Charlotte moved past the guests, settling to their chairs, joining Augusta. Emily sat at the pianoforte. Charlotte took her seat by her harp. From the credenza, Augusta retrieved her violin and bow, turned forward, and glanced at Lord Arthur, who winked at her in an I-knew-it manner.
The soft tapping of Emily's slipper on the pedal indicated the tempo and they would begin playing on the silent count of three. The music began.
After the first two measures, Lord Carlton murmured, "She plays like an angel!"
If Penny had not been sitting next to Lord Carlton she might not have heard his words.
"Yes, Lady Augusta is quite accomplished," Mr. Skeffington, who sat to Lord Carlton's right, acknowledged.
"No ... Lady Charlotte" Apparently the act of uttering her name made him emotional. Lord Carlton's subsequent gasps were followed by a whimper.
Penny leaned in his direction to ask, "Are you quite all right, sir?"
"I have never heard such heavenly music in all my life!" was his reply. A heart-wrenching sob ensued.
"Lord Carlton, please," Penny said. "Come now, you must control yourself."
Miss Jessop, who sat behind him, was good enough to hand him her handkerchief, laying it over his shoulder.
"Thank you," Penny whispered. Lord Carlton nodded, apparently unable to speak.
A rippling arpeggio flowed from Charlotte's fingertips, which caused the tone of Lord Carlton's uncontrollable bawling to climb with the ascending notes. The concert continued; the musicians remained focused on their piece.
Penny motioned to the footmen standing in the doorway to approach. Mr. Skeffington moved from his seat, allowing the footmen to escort Lord Carlton from the seated guests and out of the room.
Once he had left, Penny glanced about to ascertain how much of a disturbance he had created. Of course, everyone had heard him cry out, more than a few times, and could not but notice him bodily removed from the Music Room.
It was embarrassing and disgraceful, for Lord Carlton and the observers. Penny settled into her seat and focused forward, trying to put the incident behind her. She expected that once he managed to pull himself together, he would come to his senses and do what was expected: remove himself from Faraday Hall.
The next morning after breakfast, Augusta had managed, without much difficulty, to persuade Lord Fieldstone to accompany her to the Lapidarium, a natural outcropping of stones, named by Muriel, that comprised a garden overlook that had been formalized when the Duke had a roof and steps added some years back.
While walking from the terrace to the Lapidarium, Augusta thought perhaps this might be her chance to sate her curiosity.
"I enjoyed your performance last night," he told her. "Some believe that it is quite risque for a lady to play the violin."
"It is only an instrument, my lord. Drawing the bow over its strings would no more cause me to go to the devil than playing the harp would guarantee me entrance into Heaven"
"I believe Lord Carlton declared it probable last night."
Had that been a joke? Augusta stared at him. The Viscount was not laughing, nor had the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile.
He turned from her and took note of their surroundings. "I must commend your family on their upkeep of your home," Lord Fieldstone told her after she fastened the ribbons of her bonnet and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. "Faraday Hall has splendid grounds, immaculately cared for."
"We have always enjoyed living here," Augusta replied. "As children we made good use of the maze in particular." She watched his responses carefully. "We also helped ourselves to the carrots out of the garden to feed to the horses, and we thought the kitchen staff would never miss them."
His eyes widened just a touch befo
re he commented, "I would venture to say that you were wrong"
"Probably, but they never scolded us"
"Ah, you were wild children then," he jested, at least Augusta hoped it was such.
"Completely out of hand!" She chuckled, hoping he would follow her lead and do the same. "Here we are"
They came to a halt before the ivy-covered, small stone elevated structure off in one corner of the rear gardens, and most important, just outside the maze.
She lifted the hem of her skirt and preceded him up the five steps.
"My word, what a sight," Lord Fieldstone exclaimed, taking in the view. "This is amazing."
"Papa had this small pavilion built so we could see the center of the maze, just in case we were to lose our way" She pointed at the tall hedges. "You see the animal topiary on the outside? They mark the different paths"
"I see a camel, a lion, an elephant, and a giraffe."
"That's right. I believe the real reason for constructing this lookout was so he could find us when we hid from him. We were wild children, if you will recall."
"Ah, yes. Your father is an astute man. There is no use fighting what he cannot control"
"Exactly." Augusta glanced at him from the corner of her eye to see if she'd managed to coax even the smallest smile from him.
She had not.
Sterner measures were called for. Augusta thought perhaps it best if she were to ask him outright. "Lord Fieldstone, do you ever have any fun?"
"Fun?" Lord Fieldstone gazed at Augusta, narrowing his eyes. "I have had my fair share of fun, I can assure you."
What concerned Augusta was that he did not deny it with a smile.
"I enjoy many pleasurable activities, from collecting snuff boxes to walking sticks, and drizzling on occasion."
That was a relief to hear. He did engage in enjoyable pursuits. Although tugging gold threads free from old tapestries was not how she imagined him passing his free hours. Augusta could not find it in her to become excited at the thought he might have some lovely spool boxes that rivaled his snuff box collection.
Still the Viscount did not smile, nor did he elaborate on his hobbies. What he did was abruptly change the subject. "What lies beyond the conservatory?"
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