Lieutenant Meade said diffidently, “Since our destination is the same, may I escort you, ladies?”
Beneath the table, Lily’s foot pressed on Tabitha’s.Well, it was one way of getting to know the young man, and since the outriders were with the baggage coach, an extra man might well prove useful.
“How very kind,” Tabitha said affably.
They saw no sign of their hosts as they paid their shot to the maid and departed.No doubt their late night had caught up with them.James the coachman certainly had nothing good to say about the house.
“Slap-dash care for the horses—had to do most of it meself.And a racket going on all night.They’re up to no good, my lady, mark my words.Shouldn’t even be stopping at a place like this never mind staying the night.I’m only surprised you weren’t robbed blind.”
“Well, I own I’m grateful that we had nothing of value with us.But take heart, James, we have survived.On to Hawthorn Court.Lieutenant Meade here will accompany us.”
James gave him the usual sharp-eyed stare but made no objection.
The journey, remarkably easy in the daylight, passed pleasantly enough.Tabitha even nodded off at one point, soothed by the chatter of the younger people.
It was just after midday when Lady Hawthorn welcomed them with literally open arms.In fact, she was so genuinely delighted that Tabitha remembered all over again why she was so fond of her friend.
She drew Lily forward, “Louisa, this is my stepdaughter, Lady Lily Lisle.Lily, Lady Hawthorn, your kind hostess.”
Lily curtseyed gracefully.“It was so very kind of your ladyship to invite me, especially when I am not quiteout.”
“My, you are so pretty you will break hearts!You are very welcome, my dear.How ridiculous, Tabitha, that you should have a grown-up daughter!”
“There are less than seven years between us,” Lily confided.
“But I am still the strictest of chaperones,” Tabitha said lightly.She knew Louisa Hawthorn would accept that as the warning it was, pass it on to those most likely to try to overstep, and keep her own watch as hostess.“Oh, and I believe you know Lieutenant Meade, who has been gracious enough to escort us on the last stage of our journey.”
“Why, Nat, I would never have known you,” Louisa exclaimed.“What a fine officer you make!You must know that your family has been prostrate with worry since you did not arrive yesterday evening.”She swung on her butler who was standing patiently to one side.“Chivers, send word to Mrs.Meade that the lieutenant has arrived, and take him up to his room.Make yourself at home, Nat, and do join us in the garden whenever you wish.Tea is at four...Come Tabbie, I have the perfect rooms set aside for you.Your bags are already unpacked, of course, since your woman arrived with them yesterday...”
Tabitha saw at once why her old friend described the rooms as perfect for her.She had said that she would rather share with Lily than have the girl any further away than next door, when it was her first ever house party.Louisa had done better.She had given them rooms with a connecting door, a lockable door at that from Tabitha’s side.As if she would indulge in any affairs, discreet or otherwise, with Lily under the same roof!
For no clear reason, Jack popped into her mind.He had been doing so all day at both convenient and inconvenient moments.
“How lovely,” Tabitha said hastily, admiring the tasteful wallpaper, picked out in blue to match the hangings.Lily’s room was decorated in palest pink.
“Then I’ll leave you to settle in.You have a view of the garden Tab.Do feel free to wander down whenever you like.Today, everything is informal since people are still arriving at all sorts of odd hours...”
She fluttered off, clearly enjoying the sheer busy-ness of her first ever house party.
Lily came dancing through the open connecting door.“My room is delightful!Perfectly charming.But so is yours.Everything looks so smart and new compared to Sark Park.Do you think Ralph is a penny-pincher?”
“Either by inclination or necessity.Let us not think of him when we are here to enjoy ourselves.”
Tabitha lay down on the bed and stretched luxuriously, but any intentions she might have harboured of indulging in a short, reviving nap, were thwarted almost at once by a knock on the bedchamber door.
Sighing, Tabitha sat up and climbed off the bed.“Come in.”
The door flew open and her brother Barty sauntered in, grinning.“Well met, Tabs!”he said carelessly before his eyes widened as he noticed Lily.“Greetings, Squib,youbrush up pretty well, don’t you?”
Lily laughed but repressed her usual retort to Barty’s teasing since someone else had followed him into the room.With annoyance, Tabitha saw that it was Lord Carily, who had pursued her in Brighton.She had considered being caught, for he was an attractive man and entertaining, but she had chosen to leave the town for Sark Park and keep her appointment with Lily.
“My lord,” she said distantly.“I did not expect your presence here.”
“Fortunately, fair Lady Hawthorn was won over by my charms,” Carily said winningly.“Or at least, she took pity on me languishing in the outer darkness of separation from you.”
“Well, languish elsewhere,” she said, making shooing motions with her hands.“Barty, my bedchamber is not a salon for meetings of your friends.Go away.”
“Fair enough,” said Barty, who clearly had no real desire to be there.
