“Northumberland is farther north than I usually travel to,” Barry said. “I should arrange a visit. What remarkable places should I see first?”
“I . . . I could not say,” Miss Lewis said. She seemed distracted, her head slightly bent toward me and away from Barry. Had Barry offended her earlier? Regardless of what was bothering her, I could not sit idly by and watch. As Augusta’s companion, her comfort was my responsibility.
“You cannot recommend anything about your home?” Barry asked.
I leaned close to Miss Lewis and answered Barry for her. “The many old castles there are remarkable. Wouldn’t you agree?” I glanced over at Miss Lewis, who was far closer than I realized. The emerald green of her dress complimented her ivory skin and raven hair perfectly.
Her breathing seemed to accelerate. Or was it my own?
“Yes. The castles. They are beautiful,” she said.
Barry glared at me and shoved a spoonful of soup into his mouth.
I reached over and selected a roll and placed it on Miss Lewis’s plate. In a lowered voice, I whispered to her, “Lady Timbrell always serves an excellent faire. I hope you enjoy it.”
Her spoon lay untouched beside her soup, but at my prompting, she reached for it. I watched until she placed the food in her mouth, in case she changed her mind about eating. It was then I realized that perhaps it was not just one person who upset her, but the dinner in general. Didthe party remind her of what she had lost when her family had fallen into hard times?
Miss Lewis broke a piece off her roll but did not eat it or take a second bite of soup. When Barry began a conversation with Mary Anne—probably to disparage me—I tipped my head to Miss Lewis again. “Are you unwell?”
She glanced up at me and shook her head. “I am well enough.”
I could not tell if she was being earnest or putting on a brave front. “Would you like to return to Rosemont Court?”
She shook her head more furtively. “I would never cut short Augusta’s night, and I imagine she will insist on accompanying me back.”
“You are probably right. She is rather attached to you.” I glanced across the table to catch Augusta watching us with a knowing grin on her face. “Why is she looking at us that way?”
A small laugh bubbled out of Miss Lewis. “I have one guess, and you do not want to hear it.”
Was Augusta scheming to get Miss Lewis and me together? This was a thought to ponder later, but not here at the table. “No, I think you’re right. The less I know about what my sister is thinking about, the safer I am.” I examined Miss Lewis once more, who had shifted her body away from Barry. She did not appear ill, and her laugh was proof that she could be distracted from her mood, but there was something clearly bothering her. Once more I lowered my voice and tipped my head toward hers. “I owe you my thanks for your brave words earlier. I am sorry if the company tonight upsets you.”
She pushed aside the roll that was now in several pieces. “It is kind of you to be concerned for me when you have reason to be upset as well.”
Whispering like this would not go over well with Mother, or the rumors Barry was likely to spread about me and Miss Lewis, but I didn’tparticularly care at the moment. “Not all friendships are meant to last. Sometimes they impede your progress and must fall by the wayside.”
“Those couldn’t have been true friends.”
I glanced at her sincere brown eyes, now as concerned for me as I had been for her. “I don’t suppose they were.” I wondered what she would think if she knew what kind of gentleman I had been six months ago. Part of me wished she would never know. It was nice having someone in my life who knew the new me. Because, at times, it felt like no one in the world did.
I blinked away my self-disparaging thoughts. Miss Lewis needed a distraction, and I would be the one to provide it.
The second course was placed on the table, giving me an idea. I turned to our host, and as soon as she was between conversations with Mrs. Goodwin, I caught her attention. “Lady Timbrell, might I ask what entertainment you have planned for the night?”
“Music, of course,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You know how I adore it.”
Indeed, I had predicted as much.
“Splendid.” I waited a moment for conversation to resume and leaned back toward Miss Lewis. “With all your musical talents, do you sing, Miss Lewis?”
“I can sing, but I prefer an instrument.”
“I, myself, do not sing well. But I will make you a wager. Whoever eats the least tonight must perform a solo for Lady Timbrell.”
Miss Lewis raised an unamused brow. “That is an unfair wager. Even if a man does not generally eat more than a lady, he has the advantage of not wearing a corset.” She had practically mouthed the last word, and her cheeks colored when she had finished.
“Ah, I have heard about tight-lacing to achieve those remarkably small waistlines above those ridiculous petticoats. I think the practice inhumane, particularly if it prevents one from overindulging on the delicious fare before us. Please do not tell me that I must be disappointed in my competition.”
She gave me a dry look. “If your motivation is to get me to eat something, I will humor you. But if it is to be a wager and a bit of sport, perhaps you might think of something more challenging.”
