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Chapter Three
From her bedchamberwindow at Elm Park, Bella watched the distinctive pale green coach carrying the count and countess wend its way through the splendid trees of the park. Had the baron come with them?
She hurried to the mirror. She had deliberated for an hour over her choice of gown and finally selected a Pomona green with a white satin bodice, her hair twisted through a bandeau.
The door opened, and Carrie’s head appeared. “They have arrived. Come down and greet them.”
Bella followed her sister downstairs. In the great hall, the count and countess were shedding their coats and hats into the arms of a footman, while the butler, Abercrombie, remained at the open doors. Someone had yet to arrive. Was it the baron? Her eye on the door, she curtsied to their guests, who chatted to Carrie about the pleasant journey and the beautiful scenery.
A tall shape loomed beyond the long windows, and a moment later, Friedrich Christian, Baron Holstein of Augustenburg, walked inside with athletic grace. A greatcoat swirled about his booted ankles. He smiled at everyone, then his gaze settled on Bella as he removed his hat.
“My brother prefers to ride when he can,” the countess explained with a fond smile. “He is a man who prefers the outdoors.”
How different he looked than the gentleman at the ball dressed in exquisite finery as he shrugged off his coat to reveal tight breeches, hugging muscular thighs. And how devastatingly handsome. She had thought him more suited to elegant drawing rooms.
“Then we must take the guns out early in the morning,” Nicholas said, overhearing the countess’s remark as he entered the hall to welcome them.
The baron bowed. “I should like that very much.”
As a footman escorted the guests to the salon for a glass of wine, the baron held back until he walked beside Bella. “It is good to see you again, Miss Leeming.”
Enchanted to find herself in his company, Bella’s gaze traced the features of his handsome face, as if committing them to memory. His noble nose had a slight bump, which she found endearing, because it showed he wasn’t entirely perfect. She had expected their meeting to be awkward, but his natural charm made it impossible.
“I should enjoy riding over this wonderful estate,” he said as they entered the salon.
“Nicholas will be happy to take you.”
“And you, do you ride?”
“I do.”
“Then might you join us?”
“I will.” Everyone seated themselves. After Bella sat on the cream damask sofa, the baron selected the matching one opposite. A maid brought in wine and biscuits. Carrie turned from talking to the countess to observe her. In an attempt to look unaffected, Bella smoothed her gown over her knees. Carrie’s curiosity was obviously piqued, but Bella, smiling into the baron’s blue eyes, couldn’t make herself care. She intended to enjoy these two days.
“This evening, shall we play checkers?” she asked him. “I warn you, I never lose.”
He laughed. “There is always a first time for everything, Miss Leeming.”
Yes, she thought, a first time to play the harp before an audience—who enjoyed the finest musicians that come to perform in London—and have them applaud her. And the first time to meet a man she could so easily fall in love with. She could almost hear her sister’s voice saying:Didn’t I tell you, you’ll fall in love and want to marry, Bella?
Her sister was right, but there would be no marriage.
*
Friedrich crossed hislegs, his fingers curled around the slender stem of the crystal wine glass half-filled with crimson liquid. His sister had asked Miss Leeming a question, which she answered without hesitation. She intended to continue performing. “I shall work hard until I am old enough to embark on a musical career.”
“In Vienna, a protege would study at the Viennese School with musicologist Raphael Georg,” Maria said. “Haydn and Mozart were members of the school.”
As they retired to rest and change for dinner, Friedrich managed a quick word with Miss Leeming. “I am most interested to see the gardens. Would you be my guide before dinner?”
She smiled. “It’s a pity it’s not springtime, but I’ll be happy to show them to you.”
“Shall we say, five o’clock?”
She nodded and slipped away, joining her sister on the stairs.
He gained his chamber as the valet laid out his evening clothes. “A superb estate, Roald. What do you think of England?”
