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A maid hurried in with a tray of food. He wasn’t exactly sure what it all was, but the servings were all small and cut into nice squares, or rectangles, or shaped into nearly perfect circles.
Even naturally shaped foods weren’t enough in London. Everything had to be so perfect.
It bothered him. Like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch.
“I think it’s time I returned to the country.” Not simply because he didn’t fit in here, either. Though he wasn’t about to say it aloud, his finances were demanding he return soon regardless.
Dinah placed a few of the square things on a plate, and one of the circle ones, and held it out to him. “Was he truly such horrible company as all that? He alone has finally proved too much, and you are bent on packing and leaving?”
Seth took the plate. The food, he supposed, looked eatable enough, even if it wasn’t particularly natural. “He made some claims—nonsense is all. But he has rather reminded me of how much I dislike being here.”
Of how much he didn’t fit in. Of the fact that he was likely to drag down those he cared for in the eyes of society simply by association.
Dinah served herself a bit of food on a plate as well and rested back. “What sort of claims? And was it the claims that upset you, or the way Lady Blackmore appeared so happy to see him?”
Seth nearly dropped his plate. He righted it just in time to prevent several of the bits of food from a disgraceful death upon the parlor’s fine rug. “I never said she looked happy to see him.”
“Then she wasn’t happy?”
Seth’s teeth ground. “I didn’t say that, either.” He tried to rest back in his chair but hang it all if it wasn’t proving too elegant to be comfortable. “It wasn’t if she was happy to see him or him to see her or how happy anyone was to see anyone.”
“I see,” Dinah said, placing a bit of food in her mouth.
“It was his ridiculous claims. The man should keep his thoughts to himself if he has nothing better to say.”
“Now I’m intrigued. What did he say?”
Seth hesitated. For some reason, he hated to repeat Lord Linfield’s words, even to his own daughter. “It was in regards to The Asylum for Orphaned Girls. He said I’m the reason things are not going well for Lady Blackmore with the other committee members.”
Dinah’s smile slipped away. “Ah. That.”
Seth leaned forward, resting his elbows atop his knees. “Do you know something of this?”
Dinah placed another bit of food in her mouth—clearly trying to avoid answering. She was also avoiding looking him in the eye.
He pulled out his stern father voice. “Tell me, Dinah.”
Her shoulders dropped, and he knew she would cave. The father voice worked every time. It ought to—after two decades raising daughters, he’d honed it to a well-crafted art.
“I went to the last committee meeting with Charlotte.”
That was news to him. He’d known Charlotte had gone, but not that Dinah had accompanied her. “And?”
Dinah kept her eyes on her plate as she spoke. “Several comments were made. Comments that made it clear other members of the committee questioned the company she’s been keeping as of late.”
“Meaning me.”
Dinah’s head bobbed from side to side as though she were both agreeing and disagreeing at the same time. “Meaningus. As such, they have started to question her sense of judgment regarding other matters as well.”
Lord Linfield wasn’t the only one, apparently.
Society may wonder a bit at Charlotte’s association with Eliza, Rachel, and Dinah. But his three daughters were all now married to men of title and rank. They would look past that given a little more time. But himself? There was no doubt about it.Hewas the one causing the greatest problem.
Seth lifted his teacup, speaking over the top of it. “Then I must leave.”
“No,” Dinah said, her voice sounding no small amount like his own firm, father voice. “That is why you must stay.”
Each of his daughters was unique and beautiful in her own way. Yet, sometimes, they would do or say something that he could have sworn came out of his own mouth. He never saw it coming; it always was a surprise. And, like now, it always made him smile.
