Page 7 of Mr. Eastwood’s Match

Jack and Juniper reached them at last, and Jack spoke first, his tone brisk. “Eastwood. What an unexpected pleasure, to see you here.”

“The p-pleasure is mine,” Lyness said, a faint hitch catching on the second word, and gone so quickly Emily barely noticed it. “Is this your first visit to the Walk this season?”

Juniper, hand still slipped through Jack’s arm, answered with her usual good humored tone. “We have been remiss. I told Jack we must take advantage of the fine weather today, and now it seems we have been rewarded with a happy meeting.”

“I-I should have called on you before now,” Lyness said, his gaze settling on Emily. She held it, perhaps longer than was polite, but he hardly seemed to mind. “Are you—” He stopped, a breath catching for a moment, then continued smoothly, “—enjoying York?”

“I am,” she said, hoping the steadiness of her tone disguised the flurry in her chest. “Though I have not yet seen all it has to offer.”

The dog had risen when he did and sat again on her haunches throughout the greetings. Emily glanced at the large, elegant animal. “Who is this soulful looking creature?”

“Oh.” He blinked and looked down, as though he had somehow forgotten the massive dog keeping him company. “Athena. She i-is my brother’s dog. A-a German board h-hound.” He put his gloved hand down to scratch behind the creature’s pointed ears.

“She is lovely,” Emily said with a grin at the dog. “I miss our dogs on the farm, though they could not have been half so large as Athena.”

“They were shepherds,” Jack said, and winced immediately. The Sterling family had the tendency to call Jack their shepherd dog. He looked after them, metaphorically nipping at their heels, protecting them from harm and their own mistakes. Which was why they had sent Emily to stay with Jack and Juniper. They trusted him to see to Emily’s well-being in a less stressful situation than what she had faced in London.

Juniper was, Emily realized, being suspiciously quiet at the moment. She cast a curious glance sideways, at her sister-in-law.

The newly wed woman, who was younger than Emily yet had a lifetime more in terms of experience in the world of nobility, was looking at Mr. Eastwood with raised eyebrows and something approaching curiosity.

When she spoke, it was with her usual cheerful politeness. “I understand your brother’s dogs are often together, rather like bookends on either side of him or yourself, Mr. Eastwood. Is your brother here today? Or the other dog? I imagine the pair of them are a sight to see when they’re together.”

“Not today, L-Lady Juniper.” He picked up the leash he hadn’t been holding before. “I am passing the t-time while my mother walks with a friend.”

Emily would have expressed an immediate desire to meet his mother, but she looked at Juniper who slightly shook her head. Would it be rude to request an introduction in that moment? As daughters of earls, both Juniper and Emily outranked a baroness and could, therefore, solicit an introduction without being perceived as rude. At least, that was Emily’s understanding of the peerage and precedence, but… Goodness. There were far too many rules.

“Please give your mother my good wishes, Mr. Eastwood,” Juniper said, tone polite. “I have heard so much about her knowledge of gardening. I hope I will make her acquaintance soon.”

Before Lyness could reply, a cheerful female voice called his name from farther down the path. Emily turned to see a handsome, dark-haired lady approaching with a parasol in one hand and an expression of unmistakable satisfaction on her lightly lined face.

Lady Hartwell, she realized. Mother of Lord Hartwell and Lyness Eastwood.

Lyness glanced toward his mother, then back at Emily, the smallest crease forming between his brows. “Perhaps my mother would agree to an introduction presently.”

“That would be delightful.” Juniper added kindly, “Only if she is presently able, though. I am certain Lady Hartwell has many demands on her time. We will wait here. Either way, it was delightful to see you again, Mr. Eastwood.”

Jack gave a sharp nod of agreement.

Emily curtsied again. “It was a pleasure to see you, Mr. Eastwood.”

“St-Sterling. My lady. It is always good to meet f-friends.” He bowed. “And you, Lady Emily.”

As they stood there, watching him go to his mother, Juniper leaned close enough for Emily to hear her murmur, “There now. At least one gentleman in York knows how to look at you properly.”

“He is Jack’s friend. Of course he would be attentive.” Emily kept her gaze fixed ahead, but her cheeks betrayed her, growing warm. As much as she wanted to believe Juniper, believe that Mr. Eastwood had given her pointed interest, she would be lying to herself. He had been kind. He had remembered her. That was all.

“Now you have done it. Here he comes, with Lady Hartwell.” Jack’s lips turned upward. “A woman considered a pillar of York society by some.”

That made Emily’s shoulders tighten. She cut a quick glance at her brother, alarm stirring in her mind.

“Hush, Jack. You will make your sister nervous,” Juniper said softly, her full attention turned to the approaching pair.

Mr. Eastwood and Lady Hartwell reached them with a swish of her embroidered skirts. She wore a gown that had to have been from a modiste in Paris or Austria, so beautiful and precise was the clothing. Emily had only seen such things depicted in fashion plates. It took effort not to look at her hat sporting a plume of beautiful peach colored feathers with awe.

“Here we are, Lyness,” the baroness said, as though she had been hunting the three of them through the entire city. “Meeting friends of yours is always a pleasure.”

“Mother,” Mr. Eastwood said evenly, though Emily noted his hand tightened a little on Athena’s lead. “Allow me to present Lady Juniper Sterling, sister of the Earl of Haverford, and her husband, Mr. John Sterling, younger son of the Earl of Benwaith. And Lady Emily Sterling, Mr. Sterling’s sister.”