Jon smirked. “Does that mean Anthony will have a love match soon?”
They all laughed, and Philip said, “My mother hopes so.”
After they rode for a few hours, Anthony and Philip headed back to Webster Hall. Jon and his family would join them the next day. He slowed his horse down, frowning as he saw two carriages out front of the estate. Were they having guests for Christmas? They never did that. The week around the holiday was usually for family, and on Christmas Eve, they hosted a festival for the locals and staff on the estate grounds.
He glanced at his brother, who looked guilty. Anthony groaned, suspecting this was his mother’s doing. Philip rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t jesting when I said mother hoped you would find a bride soon. She may have invited a few ladies and their families to spend the week here.”
“We never have guests during the holidays,” Anthony said sulkily.
“And we didn’t while you were gone, but I think Mother hopes if you find a bride, you may be reluctant to leave England.”
Two more carriages pulled up, and his brows shot up in alarm.
“Don’t feel bad. Harriet has two potential suitors as well. Abigail has also increased her dowry. The hellion is sure to be furious.”
A man stepped out of a carriage, and jealousy filled Anthony’s chest. The gentleman was attractive. His mouth twisted in annoyance. He wasn’t sure if it was directed at the lord who’d just arrived or at himself for feeling such strong emotions about someone courting Harriet.
***
Harriet paced back and forth in the kitchen, hiding from the guests. She couldn’t believe her mother had invited suitors to Webster Hall.
The cook, Mrs. Green, said, “Lady Harriet, if you plan to hide out, you may as well enjoy some tea and a tart. Sit, and I will prepare them.”
She did as the older woman asked. Mrs. Green had fed the Webster and Barstow children whenever they were all at the hall. Harriet had learned long ago that you didn’t refuse anything she asked or suggested.
Lillian popped into the room, and the staff all curtsied. She smiled kindly. “Please continue what you are doing.”
Harriet stared at her sister, feeling betrayed. “You knew about this.”
Her sister sighed. “You know when Mother gets something in her head that there is no stopping her. At least you aren’t alone. There are ladies here for Anthony as well.”
A sourness filled her stomach, and she wrinkled her nose. It shouldn’t annoy her that Anthony would be flirting with other ladies. It was none of her concern. Lillian laughed, thinking her face was about her own suitors. “Come now, it isn’t so bad to be wooed.”
“You have no idea. You married for love and were only forced to endure one Season. Next Mother will increase my dowry.”
Lillian looked away guiltily. Harriet gasped. “She already did.”
Mrs. Green set the tea and tarts down. “You have been on the marriage mart for some time now.”
Annoyance flared in Harriet. “I’m not some farm animal to get rid of. Mother can’t just fatten the purse like you would fatten an animal.”
Mrs. Green and Lillian both laughed. Lillian said, “She isn’t doing that.”
“Why would I marry someone who didn’t want to pursue me when my dowry was less?”
Neither the cook nor her sister could provide an answer. She sighed, hating that she would have to behave and pretend to be interested in the gentlemen who were here with their families. And she couldn’t believe Sarah had done the same thing to Anthony.
“It is awful that Anthony’s own mother would try to find him a bride. What if he wasn’t over you?”
Lillian shook her head. “Anthony never cared for me in that way. He wanted to court me because the papers said I was the lady of the Season to wed.”
That was what Anthony had told her, but she couldn’t reveal that. “What makes you think his feelings weren’t real?”
Her sister shot her an exasperated look. “You, me, Philip, him, and Jon spent all our time together out here. He never once acted as if he romantically cared for me.”
“Neither did Philip.”
Her sister flushed, and Harriet added, “You would have told me.”
