Page 60 of Waiting for Love

Olivia snickered. “That doesn’t mean what you think it does, Mama.”

Vanessa’s eyes lit with amusement, but she kept her lips pressed tight.

The dowager said, “It means what I say it does.”

Mr. Boring chose that moment to unroll his paper, revealing a chart the size of a battle map. It showed every date from March through June, covered with notes. “This demonstrates every significant Season event planned thus far and a good number of the insignificant ones.” Benjamin was impressed by the way he captured his audience. Then Boring put his finger on a spot. “April the eleventh. This would be the best night for the ball. Assuming Lady Olivia can receive her invitation to Court prior to this.”

The dowager nodded. “Leave that to me. You hire the musicians and have the invitations printed. We’ll need Johnston and Tabbs to cater.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, my lady,” Boring fretted, indicating his chart. “They will have been reserved for the twelfth by the Wingsinghams, and they won’t do balls two nights in succession.”

“Nonsense,” scoffed the Duchess. “They simply need to be coaxed. I will speak to Tabbs. And to Lady Jersey about an invitation to Almacks. Lady Olivia will need permission to waltz before attending too many balls.”

The dowager and duchess exchanged determined nods. Boring rolled up his chart, looking smug. Olivia caught back a sigh.

“Are you all right with this, Olivia?” Georgiana asked.

Attention shifted. Olivia squared her shoulders and smiled, but her face was wan. When she spoke, her voice was too bright. “Yes, of course. Tell me what to do and when, and I’ll do it.”

“Good,” Jasper said, rubbing his hands together.

This seemed to be the signal for everyone to start talking at once. Benjamin used the opportunity to murmur, “Excuse me.” And slip out of the room. He couldn’t bear to listen to more.

*

In the morning, Benjamin reviewed in his head the list of things he meant to do, then decided he would first ride out to the cottage. He had Fergus saddle Goose. The weather was questionable, so he did not take Hannah. That enabled him to bypass the folly.

The sight of the old stone building lifted his spirits. He liked things that were solid. That endured. And this home would be his for as long as he endured.

After dismounting and slogging through mud toward the house, he heard a noise from within.

“Hullo!” he called out. There was no answer. He didn’t expect to find trespassers. Not this deep into the Taverstons’ estate. An animal, perhaps? “Hullo!” he called again.

A man filled the doorway. It took Benjamin a moment to recognize the wiry, grizzled Willy Pyle.

“Ah, Mr. Carroll, sir. I didn’t know ya were back. I had a few hours.” He made a vague gesture at the house. “Come to see, have ya?”

“Yes. Yes, I’d like to see how the work is going.” He paused. “I thought you were finishing the boathouse before starting here.” He’d told Willy that work for the earl took precedence.

“That’s done. Timmy’s just finishing the caulking and painting. The earl will have his boats in place before the weather warms.”

“Oh. Very good.” He added a ride to the lake to his list of tasks. That trip to London had put him behind.

“Come in, then.” Willy stepped aside. “Let me show you the trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“T’ain’t nothing much. It’ll fix. Come in.”

Benjamin stomped his boots on the stoop, then entered the hall. To his left was a good size parlor. To his right was a smaller receiving room. Down the hall further was a stairway and beyond that, a kitchen and pantry and workrooms and storage. He took in the improvements. The place had been scrupulously cleaned. The broken windows had all been replaced. Then he noticed another difference.

“Where are the doors?”

“Ah, see, that’s the trouble. I had to take them all out. Nothing hangs square anymore.”

“All the doors? Upstairs, too?”

“Every bloomin’ one.” Willy practically beamed with delight. “But don’t be worrying. I can reframe the doorjambs and make new doors. They won’t be square, but no one notices so long as they open and close.”