Mollified, Lady Agatha said, “Now I suppose that is right. Servantsdoget it wrong so often.”
“We’ve brought flowers, they are in Lady Agatha’s carriage, just as you asked,” Mrs. Robinson said. “I daresay if we can get in now we can set them up in good time.”
“Say no more, Mrs. Robinson,” Lady Rawley said. “I will lead the way.”
Miss Mayton was helped down, and then Cordelia. Reluctantly, she followed the determined group of matrons to the doors. Lady Rawley used the door knocker very forcefully.
When there was no response, she called, “I know you are in there, Makepeace. Open this door at once!”
Slowly, the door opened. The butler stood there grave and said, “It is not yet eight o’clock.”
“Stand aside, you saucy man,” Lady Rawley said.
Makepeace did stand aside, though he did not look very happy doing it. They entered the house and Lady Rawley pointed at the two footmen. “One of you bring the flowers in from Lady Agatha’s carriage, the other fetch every vase in the house.”
The footmen looked to their butler for confirmation of these orders. Makepeace nodded reluctantly.
Lady Rawley, seeming victorious over the whole thing, stared at Makepeace and said, “Now, we will have a look at the sideboard and see what we think of it.”
Makepeace had his hands balled into fists and Cordelia was certain that he’d like to throw himself in front of Lady Rawley to stop her progress if he could do so without becoming unemployed.
She sailed into the drawing room and Cordelia reluctantly followed.
The sideboard looked as it had last time—very well composed. Lady Rawley eyed it critically, while Lady Agatha and Mrs. Robinson took charge of the incoming flowers and vases.
“It will do, I suppose,” Lady Rawley said.
Makepeace turned on his heel and stalked out of the drawing room. Cordelia supposed he would take himself to some far away closet, close the door, and shout for a few minutes.
“Goodness,” Miss Mayton said, watching the activity around her, “that is an awful lot of flowers.”
Her aunt told no tales—Lady Agatha and Mrs. Robinson had brought enough flowers to fill a farmer’s cart. Lilies, delphinium, and overblown peonies dominated, though there was also a large pot of sage. Cordelia stifled a laugh, guessing sage was thought to be appropriate for an evening of sage discussion.
Lord Harveston entered, trailed by his incensed butler. Cordelia’s breath sped up though she willed it otherwise. He was looking very well in his close-cut coat. His neckcloth was superbly done in an understated manner. Goodness, she always forgot how tall he was.
The lord looked about him and said, “Aunt, this is completely unnecessary.”
“Nonsense, my boy,” Lady Rawley said. “Just look at how much more cheerful and welcoming it is.”
“It smells like a hothouse,” Lord Harveston said.
“Well it would,” Lady Rawley said, brow wrinkling. “It’s from the flowers. By the by, Makepeace barred us at the door, Nephew. I had to positively barge my way in.”
“I gave Makepeace instruction that the doors were not to open until eight o’clock. There was no cause for anyone to arrive before then.”
“Yes, yes,” Lady Rawley said, waving her hands, “but we are hardlyanyone.”
Before Lord Harveston could say whether he thought they were anyone or not, the footmen began to lead in guests as they arrived.
Cordelia was perhaps more astute about what she was seeing than she had been the last time. On their first attendance she’d known so little about what to expect or who would attend. Now, she could see that certain sets of gentlemen were eager to see one another.
Nobody seemed particularly interested to see Lady Rawley’s acting troupe and Cordelia began to feel as if they were being treated as pariahs. That feeling was further confirmed by the various glares at the vases of flowers, which nobody seemed to appreciate.
Therefore, she was very surprised when an older gentleman who she’d taken as a bit ornery last time approached their party.
“Ladies,” he said, “I will be so forward as to introduce myself. Bertram Haventops, Oxford Fellow.”
Cordelia curtsied. At least one gentleman had some manners and friendliness.
