Chapter Thirteen
Although Tabitha secretlylonged to spend every waking moment with Jack, she forced herself to avoid him.In this, she was abetted by Louisa’s clear need of a lieutenant to run errands and generally help with last minute preparations for the evening’s ball.
She took time away from this hectic activity only to be sure Lily was safe under the temporary chaperonage of Amelia’s mama, who was seated in the garden beneath a chestnut tree while a group of young people sat around her, alternately reading, chattering excitedly about the evening’s ball, and playing pall-mall.
Tabitha had glimpses of the duke, when she cast him a distracted smile, but never paused to speak to him.Even at luncheon and tea, she sat close to Lily and tried not to look at him.He seemed to spend much of the time listening patiently to his uncle, and to the chaplain she gathered had never been a favourite with him.No doubt they were still trying to persuade him into marriage with Lily.Oddly enough, his relief from this dull work was with Lord Durward, who made him laugh.An unlikely friendship appeared to be forming there.Aching, Tabitha thought it would be good for both of them.
“Has Ralph been pestering you?”Tabitha asked Lily quietly as they walked back toward the house.
“Oddly enough, no—or not beyond remarking once how well his grace had turned out and how lucky his duchess would be.Which is true, you know.”
There was a soft gleam in the girl’s eyes that Tabitha had never seen before.It caused a stab of fierce pain.
Is that how it is to be, after all?
It must be for the best.
If,if, it leads to her happiness and his...
Dinner was early, as tea had been, a formal but light affair to which several of the Hawthorns’ favoured neighbours had also been invited, some from quite some distance away.More yet would come to the ball.
But the biggest surprise at dinner, was the guest accompanying the local vicar.
Tabitha and Lily had just arrive at the pre-prandial gathering in the gallery, when they were joined by the duke.
“I suspect either my uncle or your cousin has been importuning Lady Hawthorn,” he murmured to Lily.“For I am to escort you to dinner.”
“Oh, bad luck, your grace,” Lily laughed.
Tabitha smiled a little blindly as he transferred his gaze to her.“I believe you are with Lord Durward.”
“Then at least I shall be entertained,” she said.
As Lily turned to greet Amelia, he leaned closer.“Is something wrong?”
“Of course not,” she said brightly.“Apart from the presence of Ralph and...”
“Indeed,” he interrupted softly.His gaze had flitted beyond hers and she turned her head to see the approaching group of people, one of whom seemed to be vaguely familiar though she could not quite place him at first, out of context as he was.
Then Chivers made his announcement, and she realized he was the vicar’s guest.“Mr.and Mrs.Teague, and Lord Sark.”
Hunter Lisle stood between the vicar and his wife and bowed in the sudden silence. The Hawthorns hastily welcomed their guests.Louisa’s colour was considerably heightened, and Tabitha gathered their hosts were as shocked as the other guests.
Someone let out a rather delighted giggle.Through the hum of excited conversation starting up, Tabitha distinctly heard Ralph’s voice blustering, “Outrageous!Utterly unacceptable!”
“It is certainly blatant,” Jack murmured.“Now they are both using the title neither is quite entitled to as yet...”
“Oh dear,” Lily said torn between nervousness and laughter.“Cousin Ralph will be incandescent...”
