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It was not criticism, exactly, but she could hear the meaning hiding beneath her mother’s words.

You must teach your husband, Adele, that he cannot neglect his responsibilities.

She lifted her chin. “I’m certain there is a good reason he is delayed, and he will join us when he is able.”

Mercifully, no one questioned this, and James rose to offer Mrs. Barnes his arm while Papa juggled his stick to give Mama his. Adele, Margot, and Miss Barnes all saw to themselves.

In the dining room, she swiftly pointed out everyone’s seats and then, when Mrs. Jarrett approached, quietly gave instructions to keep Guy’s place at the table but to only serve seven bowls of soup.

“Very well, Mrs. Whitley,” said Mrs. Jarrett.

Adele stole a look at her cousin, noting that Margot looked a little less peaky than she had that morning. She’d been worried about her cousin since Margot had missed tea with Mrs. Barnes the previous week, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was the matter. Sometimes, Margot seemed her usual serene, quiet self, while at other moments she looked delicate enough to shatter if touched.

“You are smiling,” said Margot.

“I was simply thinking what a great pleasure it is to see you and James so happy together,” she said.

“I should hope so. It was the happiest day of my life marrying your cousin,” he said with a smile.

“We were so pleased you could be there, Adele,” said Margot, joining the conversation.

“I remember how excited Mrs. Whitley was to be embarking for London,” said Mrs. Barnes with a sly smile. “Perhaps even more so than she was to wed.”

“It was a state of equal bliss, I assure you,” said Adele with a laugh.

The light tsking sound Mama made did not escape her notice.

“Elizabeth is quite keen to visit London,” said Mrs. Barnes, glancing at her daughter.

“What I really wish is to travel to Paris,” said Miss Barnes.

“What is it that draws you to Paris, Miss Barnes?” asked Adele.

“It is where every fashionable lady orders her clothing,” said Miss Barnes.

“That is rather unfortunate, my dear,” said Mrs. Barnes, “considering the time I spent in the dressmaker’s this morning.”

“You are having some things made? How fun,” said Margot.

“Now that I have left school, my wardrobe is entirely unsuitable,” said Miss Barnes.

Mrs. Barnes shook her head with a resigned smile but said nothing.

“Am I right in thinking that your new gardener has moved into the caretaker’s cottage at Rosewood House, Adele?” asked Margot, gracefully moving the conversation along.

“Yes,” she said. “I believe it was his intention to begin clearing the land this morning.”

“Adele has great plans. It will be beautiful when it is done,” Margot told the table.

“What does Guy think of your plans, Adele?” asked Papa. “I imagine he has some thoughts on landscape given the beauty of the Andalusian’s and Colorado Grand’s grounds.”

“He cedes all matters relating to Rosewood House to me,” she said.

It was true. Mostly. When she had told him of Macalister’s wage, Guy had grumbled a bit, but she pointed out that it was Guy himself who had encouraged her to keep her mind occupied and the gardener was necessary to executing her plans.

“That was a ball,” he had said.

“And now that the ball is over, it makes sense for me to put my energies to use somewhere else.”