“A man of good sense,” Miss Mayton said.
They had come to the first room and Lady Theodora opened the door and showed them in. “These rooms are connected to one another, by that door there.”
Miss Mayton bustled over to confirm the idea. Upon opening the door, she found a long dressing room with ample closets that led into a charming sitting room and then on to another bedchamber.
“I chose this especially for you, as it does have that lovely little sitting room and the view is of the lake.”
Cordelia went to the windows. The view was spectacular. It was also highly interesting. She could see two men just pulling their boats up on the banks as a third looked on. Though it was at a distance, she would recognize Lord Harveston by his height anywhere.
“Now, you are not to worry that the place is haunted by ghosts if you were to suddenly hear voices coming from somewhere and seeming very far away. It is a quirk of the chimneys that carries the sound from one place to another. Anything you hear will come from above and will be no more ghostly than a valet informing his gentleman of what coat he is to wear.”
“Goodness, I’m glad you said, I imagine that would be rather alarming,” Cordelia said.
Confidentially, Lady Theodora said, “One time, I heard from two floors up. Two maids were comforting each other over our housekeeper’s stern words to them. I told them of it and now they only gossip in the basement, where they cannot be overheard.”
As Miss Mayton went through the connecting doors to view her own bedchamber, Lady Theodora came beside Cordelia.
“That is my father, my brother, and Lord Harveston at the lake,” the lady said. “They have been practicing like madmen for the regatta.”
“There is to be a regatta?” Cordelia said. What she really thought was how interesting that Lord Harveston knew how to sail. She would not have thought it.
“May I tell you a secret?” Lady Theodora said.
Cordelia’s heart sank. The only reason a lady wished to tell another lady a secret was a gentleman. Was she poised to hear that there was something between Lady Theodora and Lord Harveston?
Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a fist.
“It was not my mother’s idea to invite you early,” Lady Theodora said. “It was my brother’s idea. He convinced Mama that it would be better for the two of us to have a quiet evening together before the other guests arrived. But, I think he really meant that you and Lord Harveston should have some time together.”
Lady Theodora looked at her intently to see what she would say to it.
“Did he?” she said weakly. She was delighted that Lord Hamill should have had such an idea, but she did not dare admit it.
“I am certain of it,” Lady Theodora said. “Lord Harveston dropped his spoon when he discovered you would come.”
“Dropped his spoon?”
“At dinner. It positively clattered. Then, he went to great lengths to sing your praises. Your family is a delight and you have made your mark at his salon.”
“Did he say that?”
“Indeed he did,” Lady Theodora said.
Cordelia was most gratified, but there was still this niggling idea about how charming Lady Theodora was.
“I suppose, though,” she said slowly, “that Lord Harveston must sing your praises too. After all, Lord Hamill has told me you are a very great intellectual.”
“Has he?” Lady Theodora said, with peals of laughter. “Goodness, how did I ever land in such a family? The truth is—I adore poetry and novels and read the occasional treatise on some subject or another. My brother thinks anybody who steps foot into a library is bookish.”
“So then…you are not…” Cordelia hardly knew how to ask such a question. She hardly knew because there was not a way to answer such a question.
Nevertheless, Lady Theodora understood her meaning.
“Not a jot,” she said. “My particular interest lays elsewhere. He is a neighbor and will come on the morrow. Do not say a word of it, though. He is only a baron and my mother and father are determined I have a season, so we will not say anything until I have gone through it. Then, they shall hear the awful truth.”
“The view is heavenly!” Miss Mayton called from the other room. “And look, Cordelia, mark me that is Lord Harveston.”
Both ladies giggled. Lady Theodora said, “I will leave you on your own now, your maid and your luggage should be up shortly. By the by, do call me Theo.”
