“You see, children?” Edith breathed as the carriage stopped in front of the entrance. “Aldersham is still something to admire.”
Standing before the house in the drive, Marian gazed up at the old gray stone, which, viewed at close quarters, supported subtly-colored lichen. She wheeled to view the enclosing lawns, woods, and prospects. Her eagerness to explore made her giddy.
Inside, the house did not disappoint. Being some centuries old, it had inevitable oddities in the size and shape of rooms, the evenness of plaster, and the spacing of steps and lintels. But all lent charm, and the many leaded windows permitted an astonishing amount of light, which Marian would never have anticipated in such an old place.
“Must have cost them a fortune,” Edgar muttered, tilting his head to survey the two-story high glass in a banqueting room off the hall. “No wonder Sidley’s looking for an heiress,” he added, which comment sufficiently doused Marian’s enthusiasm.
She and Katie were shown to their bedrooms and large sitting room above, with a northerly view of a gently sloped valley and nestled village. Katie was at first disposed to object to the room, until Marian pointed out that it would be cooler during the increasingly warm June days. And the light-the light was clear and generous through a doubled front of windows. When Marian noticed that a dressing table sat at a somewhat awkward angle away from the windows, she wondered if Lord Sidley had requested the space cleared, in the event that she might wish to work in the room. She was convinced of it when the manservant brought in their trunks and, without any direction from them, placed Marian’s paint box beneath the windows.
It was almost six. They were told that dinner would be served in an hour. As they oversaw some unpacking and changed out of their travel clothes, Marian was grateful, as she had never been before, for Edith’s insistence on gifting her with a wardrobe, even for the short stay in town. Without her new belongings, she would have felt much at a disadvantage. As it was, she knew the other guests’ garments would easily eclipse even her precious lutestring gown, which she had donned only once before-three weeks ago for the Osbornes’ rout. Again she pointedly reminded herself that she did not signify.
“You look beautiful, Katie,” she said as the maid finished dressing her cousin’s glorious hair.
“I do hope to make an impression,” Katie confided, turning from a seat at the dressing table to face her. “In a smaller group such as this, he must see me at my best.”
“It is a very select group,” Marian cautioned.
“I am convinced it is solely for appearances, to satisfy his old aunt. I have every expectation, Marian.” With a sigh of contentment, Katie eyed her critically. “You look very well, though I do wonder that Mama had you select such a gown. You will have few opportunities to wear it.”
“I am wearing it now,” Marian countered, though the comment was-unintentionally, she knew-hurtful. She forced a smile. “And perhaps I shall wear it soon againat your wedding.”
Katie smiled back at her reflection in the glass. “I am delighted with Aldersham! So fine a site. And the improvements should not take long.”
“The improvements?”
“Only those most necessary, of course. But you must agree, the place is fusty beyond bearing. So many smallish rooms! I must look closely when we go down, but I know I shall wish to add decorative work to the walls, and more drapes about all the windows. One feels like a fish in a bowl! And all the dreary stone shall have to be covered by stucco, of course. You’ve such excellent taste, Marian, I know I will be wanting your help.”
No, Marian objected silently. By the time you are destroying Aldersham, I shall hope to be at least a hundred miles away.
When they went down to join the company, Marian was at first concerned that the group looked too large; she wished only to retreat for the entirety of the stay. But as she and Katie made their way into the drawing room, she realized that she belonged to the extensive Formsby party, which, with four, was larger than any.
Lord Sidley was absent, which prompted Marian to recognize how much she had wished to see him again, and to see him in health. But his friends Lord Vaughn and Lord Benjamin were in attendance and being most solicitous with Edith and another older lady who could only be Sidley’s aunt. Marian thought Lady Adeline’s features striking, feminine yet strong. Though her hair was graying, it had obviously once been as dark as her nephew’s.
Aunt Edith beckoned them over. “Adeline, you know my daughter, Katherine.” Katie bobbed. “But you have not met my young cousin, Marian Ware”
“Miss Ware” Lady Adeline acknowledged Marian’s curtsey. “Edith tells me she was most fond of your mother. A Satterthwaite, I believe?”
“Yes, ma’am. And a Ware”
“I understand you favor her.”
“I’ve been told so, my lady”
“You must forgive Sidley, Miss Ware. I believe he intended to present you to me, but as you see, he is not yet down.”
“No doubt he had no wish to disappoint his guests, ma’am,” Marian said, and Lady Adeline’s eyebrows rose expectantly, “by dressing in too much haste”
Lady Adeline smiled. “I suspect you have the right of it, Miss Ware” She looked her up and down. “You are an artist.”
“Yes.”
Again Lady Adeline smiled. “I hope you shall find Aldersham to your liking.”
“Aldersham is splendid, my lady. And inspiring. I hope to paint the grounds”
“Sidley speaks of having you draw his portrait.”
“He claims so, yes, my lady”
“If he claims so, Miss Ware, you may depend upon its eventual accomplishment. You do not mind?”
“I am honored”
“I imagine he is the one so honored,” she said kindly. “Would you be troubled were I to observe you?”
“Not at all-if it does not distract Lord Sidley.”
“The day I manage to distract Sidley, my dear, I shall consider myself to have succeeded in life.” As she laughed, Marian smiled in surprise. She had not anticipated that Lady Adeline Pell would be so frank. “Now I must let you be introduced to the rest of our guests, Miss Ware, but I look forward to speaking with you further.”
Marian moved on with Katie and Edgar to greet Rebecca Harvey and her rather too obviously pleased parents. Lord Benjamin, hovering nearby, paid enough homage to the girl to present some nature of challenge to a smitten Edgar. Though Becca seemed unmoved by either gentleman’s flattery, Marian and Katie still exchanged glances.
“This will not be to Mama’s liking,” Katie whispered as they moved on to the next group of guests. “You’ve heard her comments on Mrs. Harvey…
“I am certain it is just a temporary flirt, Katie. Edgar has been impressed with several young ladies even during the few weeks I’ve been in town”
“Oh, but the Harveys!”
“Please, Katie. Not here”
By the windows looking out to the rose garden, Sir Philip TinckneyDwight stood with his daughter, Delia, and a young couple, the Pooles, unknown to Marian and Katie. They learned that the Pooles, brother and sister, whose parents had been off in India many years, lived not far from Aldersham. As Katie conversed with them, Marian was once again struck by Delia’s perfection. Though clearly not as pretty as Katie, Delia had a calm, courteous manner that was elegant. Indeed, the word countess came instantly to mind, as though the word were stamped across her features and her future. And Sir Philip, a distinguished man of height and lean good looks, acted as though Aldersham were already a second home.
“Miss Ware,” he said pleasantly, “I have heard much of you from my friend Lord Lascelles, who supports the Royal Academy.”
“That is most kind of him, sir. I thank you.”
“Had Delia shown an ounce of talent in that direction, I’d have been delighted.”
“I am certain Miss TinckneyDwight has many other talents,” Marian said.
And Delia acknowledged the compliment with a smile.
“I play the harp,” Katie offered rather too eagerly. “Do you play an instrument, Miss TinckneyDwight?”
“The pianoforte, Lady Katherine. But I do not play nearly as well as Miss Poole here, who is a proficient. I much prefer vocals”
“Perhaps we might have some music one evening from the ladies,” Richard “Dicky” Poole said to Sir Philip. “In fact, the convenience of a trio suggests Sidley planned it.”
“Here, we might ask him,” Sir Philip said.
And Marian turned with the rest of them to note Lord Sidley’s entrance.
She had anticipated that he would again dress to the nines, as she had last seen him on the day after Katie’s ball. But he surprised her. This evening his garb was quieter but no less refined, a superbly tailored black coat and trousers and a pewter-colored waistcoat. His complexion was almost as pale as his cravat, but his smile, and the diamond pin at his throat, sparkled.
Marian was fascinated to watch how quickly the three separate groups in the drawing room gathered as one about Lord Sidley. The attraction was not merely that of a host, for she recalled the sensation he had caused at the bookstore and at Katie’s ball. She watched his eager guests and wondered how she should paint such effortless appeal; she wondered if it would reveal itself on a flat canvas-if she were even capable of capturing so immaterial an attribute. Close on that thought came another that was wildly reassuring; others reacted to Lord Sidley just as she did-she was not the only one susceptible. So when he briefly caught her gaze and smiled, she did not crumple to the floor.
He tapped his cane against that floor and addressed Lady Adeline. “My dear aunt, why have we no carpet?”
“You’ll recall we ordered a new one, Sidley, due within the week. You thought it more fitting for a blue room.”
“Ah, yes. Well, my friends, what do you think of watered silk upon old Aldersham’s walls?” He waved at the drawing room walls. All agreed that the subtle color, obviously just applied, was most appropriate.
“But, Lord Sidley, as the floor is bare, perhaps we might have dancing in here?” Katie boldly voiced the request.
“Indeed, Lady Katherine, a charming idea. Though I believe our numbers-ladies over gentlemen, that isare somewhat uneven, particularly as my steps have proved the same”
Again Marian felt his quick glance, but she looked away.
“We were just discussing, Sidley,” Richard Poole said, “that some of the ladies might provide us with music. M’sister might play the pianoforte.”
“Admirable, Dicky. But then who should play the piano when I wish to dance with Miss Clara?”
“I might do that for you, my lord,” Delia offered.
Sidley smiled at her. “I do not plan to trouble any of my guests with furnishing entertainment, but the offer is most kind, Miss Delia.”
And Marian, hearing his tone and gauging his smile, thought Katie must resign herself to failure.
Katie, however, clearly had no thought of surrender. She insisted on remaining at Sidley’s side, even as he moved to greet each of his guests individually, and she seemed to believe her greatest rival was Rebecca Harvey. This despite evidence that Becca was no more partial to Lord Sidley than she had been to Edgar or Lord Benjamin.
“I fear Katie has not read this correctly,” Edith whispered softly to Marian. “Do see what you can do to prevent-” She stopped and sighed. “My dear Marian, I suspect there is not much any of us might do”
“It is the first evening, Aunt. Katie will settle. You shall see”
“Ah, but Marian, these first impressions are everything!” She went to speak with the Harveys, which cost her an effort, but an effort that Marian was proud to see was not at all apparent.
Clara and Richard Poole drifted to her spot by the hall door. “What do you think of Aldersham, then, Miss Ware?” Dicky asked.
“It is most impressive. I had heard some talk in town that the estate had fallen to ruin. So you can imagine my astonishment.”
“‘Tis true the estate has weathered some hard times,” Dicky said. “But even before his return, Sidley arranged for improvements. His aunt used to spend half of each year here and plans to do so again.”
“You know it well, then, Mr. Poole?”
“We live but five miles away, Miss Ware. And I was at school with Sidley’s older brother, Simon. Clara and I visited often, before the many tragedies that have beset this family.”
Noticing how troubled Clara Poole looked, Marian attempted to engage her by asking if she had been in town during the spring. “Not at all. I was … I was indisposed much of this past season,” she said softly.
“M’sister was most attached to Simon Pell, Miss Ware,” Dicky Poole explained. “His loss was very difficult for everyone. Lee-that is, Lord Sidley-idolized his brother. It has made his situation that much more painful, as you can imagine.”
Marian expressed her sympathies. To keep all of them from dwelling on Sidley’s painful situation, she asked the Pooles about their home and the country surrounding Aldersham.
“What can you be saying, Miss Ware,” Sidley asked on coming up to them, “that has the Pooles looking so solemn? And on our very first night as well! I expected you to thrill them with the latest on dits from town”
“Oh, but I might do that!” Katie volunteered.
“If you would be so kind, then, Lady Katherine, as to cheer the Pooles,” Sidley said, “I must reprimand Miss Ware.”
Katie laughed and launched upon a tale, while Marian, in some irritation, allowed herself to be led apart. She tried not to think of Sidley’s gloved hand upon her bare elbow and, once he released her, concentrated upon his diamond cravat pin.
“At this moment, and for just a moment, none of my guests needs anything at all,” he observed easily. And looking over the room, Marian saw that that was indeed the case; none of his guests looked in the least neglected. “Will you not look happy about it?” he asked.
“I must be `happy’ to be reprimanded, my lord?”
“No other lady here has been so distinguished,” he said with a smile.
“I should rather not be so `distinguished,’ when I am undeserving.”
“Are you undeserving?”
“Of a reprimand, certainly.”
“Perhaps. And yet, Miss Ware, I feel I must reprimand you. For yours is a most becoming gown, which you have worn in my presence only once before.”
“You are mistaken, my lord. This is the first time I have worn this gown in your presence.”
“Is it?”
“It is. The gown was new three weeks ago, Lord Sidley, and I have worn it on only one other occasion-to the Osbornes’ rout.”
“Yes ! Ozzie’s rout”
“You did not attend the Osbornes’ rout”
“Did I not?”
As she met his gaze, Marian read the amusement there, as well as the truth. He must indeed have attended the Osbornes’ rout and remembered her in the gown.
She wondered how she had missed him or, more particularly, how Katie had missed him. The Osbomes’ had been a noisy, stifling crush, it was true, but failing to note Lord Sidley seemed incomprehensible.
As she gazed up at him, she thought she must look stricken. For she realized might have met him more than a week earlier than she had; she would have delighted in simply knowing of him those few additional, precious days.
His own look had sobered. “That will teach you,” he said softly, “to ignore the attentions of gentlemen” He glanced away from her. “I see that my aunt gives me the gimlet eye. We must parade ourselves to dinner.” And smoothly surrendering Marian to Dicky Poole, who would escort her into the dining room, Sidley freed himself to lend an arm each to both his aunt and hers.
Vaughn, Sidley thought, could not fault him this evening. He had paid scant attention to the girl, even declining to introduce her to his aunt. And he had given Lady Adeline free rein with the seating, whichfollowing precedent as closely as an informal gathering might allow-placed Miss Ware a
t the center of the table, practically out of hearing. That Sidley should chafe at the fact was something Vaughn need not know.
Each time she turned to Dicky Poole, on her right, she turned toward Sidley’s end of the table. Thus he caught all of her smiles for sunny Richard. There appeared to be too many smiles. And Dicky’s manner this evening was much too raffish, out of keeping for the steady country squire he had become.
“Lord Sidley,” Mrs. Harvey simpered, drawing his attention, “you have a most hospitable dining chamber here”
“I thank you, ma’am. I am surprised, as we rarely dine in it. ‘Tis rather cavernous for two”
“No doubt that will change, my lord, when you entertain more,” Lady Katherine suggested.
“If I do, dear lady, I hope you will often be in the company.”
At that she worried her lower lip. Lady Katherine was a lively enough girl, and certainly decorative. Sidley could only hope she would outgrow her affectationsbut not, please heaven, on his watch.
He thought he should be particularly attentive to Delia TinckneyDwight on his left, as he considered it probable he would be offering for her. But he knew he would not be doing so until Miss Ware had run off with her sailor.
“Goodness, my lord, what a frown!” Katie exclaimed. “Is the idea really so distasteful? I understood from your aunt that you were used to attending the local fair!”
For a moment he could only stare at her. “The fair. Yes. I beg your pardon, Lady Katherine. I have been inattentive. Whatever you might wish will always be acceptable to me. ‘Tis a pleasant enough outing. Should you like to try it?”
“Above all things! Perhaps tomorrow, if the weather is fine?”
He gave Lady Katherine a tight smile and turned to Delia. “I know you are well-acquainted with the county, Miss Delia. Have you a fondness for fairs?”
“Indeed, my lord,” she said with a smile. Yet what Sidley heard was Marian’s voice, farther along that side, teasing-yes, teasing-Dicky Poole about the planting of hops. Vaughn, seated to Miss Ware’s left, was not distracting her at all, as he was fully occupied in keeping Benny and Lord Formsby from coming to blows over Becca Harvey’s attentions.
Lord Sidley's Last Season Page 7