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Warmth spread in her chest at the thought of meeting a kindred spirit. “I couldn’t agree more, regarding the serenity, at least. I’m not much for the natural sciences, though I’m sure the topic is full of fascinations.” Her mother had never let her even peek at a single tome containing what she’d deemed ‘manly’ occupations, lest Arabella be given the death sentence of a bluestocking label. ‘You’d become like that pitiful Miss Balfour, twenty-five with no prospects in sight,’her mother had said with dramatic horror. All the good that policy did, Arabella thought with an inward snort.
“Oh, it is a most fascinating subject, Miss Hughs, and I am happy to find someone who agrees with me on that front.” Cecily’s eyes all but sparkled. “This estate has been rife with a rich variety of wildlife.”
“Here we go,” Lord Lockhart muttered under his breath.
Aside from a mild glare in his direction, Cecily ignored him and continued with her impassioned conversation. “I had a wonderful time observing the lake. It is not often I am able to observe things in such a tranquil setting, me being in London more often than not. Mama prefers it, you see.” Cecily ended that statement with poorly concealed derision.
“You don’t like London, I take it?”
“Despises it, actually,” Lord Lockhart chimed in, before continuing with his meal.
Cecily took a sip of wine. “For once, he is correct. Town is far too loud and dirty for me. I much prefer the endless green, fresh air, andsolitudeof the country. But enough about me. How did your sketching go? I noticed you had supplies with you when we crossed paths.”
And just when she thought she’d finally driven Milton from her mind, Cecily’s innocuous question brought on the image of his stupid face in full force. “Fine,” she blurted, her gaze straying across the table once more. Caroline was going on about something that seemed to interest her greatly, her eyes alight with joy as she talked at a rapid pace. Milton nodded along politely, but Arabella couldn’t discern anything else from his expression. He darted a glance at her, their eyes meeting for a moment before she looked back at her table-mate, heart hammering. “The lake was beautiful. I may turn the sketch into a full painting upon my return to London.”
“How lovely,” Cecily replied sincerely. “There are many such beautiful sights about, or at least I was told by Lord Thurmont during the tour he gave me of the house.”
There was a choke to her left. Lord Lockhart set down his wine and lightly smacked his chest. “Thurmont took you on a tour?”
Cecily raised an eyebrow. “Yes, and it was lovely. He told me of many interesting areas peppered around the estate. Speaking of which,” she turned her attention back to Arabella. “Apparently, the ruins of the original medieval keep are only a half hour’s stroll from the house. The foundation and an outer wall are still standing. I was planning to go there tomorrow morning with Mrs. Parson. Would you like to come along? I’m sure it would make for an excellent sketch.”
“Mrs. Parson?” The name was unfamiliar.
Cecily leaned closer and discreetly pointed farther down the table. “The lady in grey, next to Miss Russel.”
Arabella spotted the infamous heiress, the daughter of a prominent shipping magnate, and then the lady in question. Despite the drab gown she wore, Mrs. Parson was quite the beauty, with sleek dark hair and a delicate face. She was sipping her soup as Miss Russel chatted animatedly, glancing warily about every once in a while. “I see her.”
“She’s Miss Russel’s paid companion. Rumor has it that she was hired to teach her charge proper deportment amongst the Ton. No one knows who she is, however, except that she is a young widow.” Considering that Miss Russel’s reception into society had been lukewarm at best and downright hostile at worst, as happened with most heiresses of trade, the explanation made sense. Mrs. Parson seemed a peculiar young woman, but if Cecily liked her, then she was surely of good character.
After a moment’s consideration, Arabella nodded. “I would gladly accept your invitation.” Anything to keep her mind off Milton.
“Wonderful! I’ll look for you in the foyer come dawn.”
The two shared a smile before continuing on with their meal. They continued discussing tomorrow’s plans, with Lockhart chiming in with some barbed comment or another directed at Cecily, who replied without missing a beat. Arabella found their banter amusing, and it almost distracted her from the distinct sensation of another’s eyes on her.
Almost.
* * *
Nathan took a bracing sip of his wine as the soup course was laid before him, doing his damndest to pay attention to Miss Caroline Hughs and not her sister across from him and further down the table.
“This must be one of the most extravagant house parties I’ve ever attended,” his companion mused as she took a graceful spoonful of soup. The sapphires and diamonds in her hair glittered as she moved, adding to the shine of the diamond parure she wore. It was just a tad too garish, he decided, the overwhelming glow it encased her in more off-putting than alluring.
“Yes, it is quite extravagant,” he said absently as his gaze strayed to Miss Hughs once more. She quietly sipped her soup, her flaxen hair styled into a simple chignon and decorated with a single emerald comb matching her green dinner gown. The lady looked positively pretty in a real sort of way that he found far more inviting. She had a mouth made for smiling, and he had the urge to be the one to put the expression on her face. Her eyes lifted, and he quickly averted his gaze lest she catch him staring. Miss Caroline said something, and he turned his attention back to her. “I beg your pardon?”
She smiled patiently. “I asked if you’ve had a chance to further your acquaintance with my sister. I understand that your first meeting did not go well?”
“I have not, unfortunately,” he lied. Every meeting with her had been improper as improper could be, and he certainly would not tell her about that note. Nathan wondered if Miss Hughs had read it yet and what she thought of it. He’d been quite sincere in his apology and hoped she hadn’t taken too much offense.
“That’s a shame, for she is wonderful company. I’m not sure what I would do without her grounding my more fanciful notions.”
Now here was a topic he was interested in. “You are close?”
“As close as sisters can be,” she replied. “To be honest, I think she is the only person I truly trust in this world. I wish others could see her finer qualities. Beauty isn’t everything, you know.”
The statement held not a hint of artifice. He’d have expected her to prop herself up with such wise words, but Miss Caroline seemed to genuinely believe them. A knot formed in his throat. Gregory likely would have spoken similar words. “That is a wonderful bond to have with one’s sibling. And I must agree. Your sister is perfectly lovely.”
“So you have spoken.”
