Page 22 of A Taste of Miss Honey

Izzy frowned. “Who is he?”

Her father sighed, taking a seat in the chair opposite hers.

“Lord Alveston. Baron Alveston, actually. He seems charming enough, though rather a dandy and a little high in the instep. He seems to have an excellent opinion of himself, at least, and you know I don’t fare well with such fellows. I’m bound to put my foot in it.” He looked a little gloomy as he added, “He knows the bishop. A family friend, so I’m told.”

“Oh, Papa.” Izzy laughed despite herself. The last thing she wanted was to have dinner with some snooty fellow, but her father’s rather frank manners had got him into trouble with the bishop before now.

“Of course, if you’re not well—” he said, worry creasing his brow.

Izzy shook her head. The last thing they needed was a visit from the bishop, who was a dreadful bore and would sermonise at her father about the proper way to lead his flock until Papa lost his temper. Then they would be in the basket. “I’ll be fine. I’ll have a little nap and a bath and be fresh as a daisy.”

Though Izzy dreaded the evening and did not know how she would stay awake or away from Boreas, her father’s relief was palpable. “That’s the ticket. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I had better return to the Bevins’ farm.”

“How are they?” Izzy asked, feeling wretched for not sparing the poor people a thought these past days.

Her father sighed, looking every bit as weary as she felt. “Mrs Bevin is taking it hard, but I’ll give Mark his due, he’s a good fellow and doing everything he can. He’s determined to repay Lord Stonehaven’s kindness in not pressing charges against him by being the best man he can be. I’m proud of him.”

“I’m proud of you, Papa. Things might be very different for him and Lord Stonehaven if not for you.”

Her father waved this away. “No, no. Stonehaven is an honourable man and Bea did far more to help him through than I did. I knew once his anger wore off, he’d do the right thing. It was never in doubt.” He bent down and gave her a whiskery kiss on the cheek. “You have a quiet day, Izzy, dear. I’ll send his lordship away and we’ll face him together over dinner.”

Izzy nodded and was asleep again by the time her father closed the door.