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“To Haddon Hall?” Alec said, matching Chet’s mocking smile with one of his own.
“This is the second time I’ve seen her in Bakewell.”
“That’s probably because she’s staying in Bakewell.”
“What a coincidence.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Alec despised Chet. He couldn’t imagine what Cara had seen in him but that was neither here nor there at the moment. “Considering you’re doing the Bakewell great house circuit, I expect you’ll be heading to my home, Langley Park, next.”
Chet’s smile slipped slightly. “Langley Park?”
“Yes, It’s just ten miles from here. Not very far at all.”
“We’ve been there. Last Sunday.” Chet studied Alec more intently. “It’s the home of William Sherbourne. He’s an earl, isn’t he?”
Alec’s head inclined a fraction. “Yes, as well as my father. I’m Viscount Alec Sherbourne.”
That muffled Chet, and for a moment there was just a long lovely awkward silence that pleased Alec to no end. Of course, the silence couldn’t last. Chet was too curious to not ask questions. “How did you meet Cara?”
Alec glanced across the room to where Cara was inspecting a pretty cashmere scarf. “It’s a long story, but the best story.” He looked at Chet. “I never thought I’d feel this way again. But you know what I mean. You’re recently wed. On your honeymoon, I understand?”
Chet was struggling for words. “Yes. Yes, we head home soon, we’re flying out Christmas Eve.”
“In that case, you and Alison should come by the house tonight and join us. We’re hosting the annual candlelight tour. It’s a special tour with a champagne toast. It’s sold out but I know Cara would love to show you a few things not on the public tour.”
Chet’s perplexity increased. “Are you and Cara…”
“Oh, yes. You didn’t know? We tried to keep it hush-hush for a long time—the last thing I enjoy is the paps chasing us around with their cameras in our faces.”
“The paps?”
“The paparazzi. They’re terrible. Obsessed with the peerage. But I guess that’s natural. In America, you don’t have titles, do you?”
Chet cleared his voice and rocked back on his heels. “I’m baffled, to be honest. I can’t see her—well, she’s just quite headstrong. And very independent. Have you found it difficult managing her?”
“Manage her? Is she a woman or a horse?”
Chet laughed. “That’s actually a very good comparison, and to be fair, she has a good heart and generous nature—her whole family does—but unlike her brothers, Cara isn’t very disciplined, and has no ambition. She’s been at the university in the same position for years, and it’s practically minimum wage, but she doesn’t care. Says she’s happy. Loves her job. But she could be making twice as much if—” He broke off as Cara and Alison faced each other by the register, comparing purchases.
“What is she buying now?” Chet muttered.
“Cara?” Alec asked.
“No, Alison. She has to buy something wherever we go.” He forced his attention to Chet. “Do you let Cara do that?”
“I don’t let her do anything. She’s her own person. I want her happy.”
“Yes, but we both understand that happy doesn’t pay bills. Happy isn’t a goal, it’s a byproduct of success.”
Alec watched Cara approach. She smiled at him, and as she smiled her eyes crinkled at the corners, and her full mouth curved, revealing straight white teeth.
He was glad she was returning because he couldn’t stomach another minute of conversation with Chet.
“How did you do?” Alec asked Cara.
She opened her shopping bag so he could see inside. “Postcards and a mug for my dad that saysKing of the Castle. It has a picture of Haddon Hall’s tower with turrets. I think he’ll like it.”
“But this was never an actual castle,” Chet said, as if she’d just shared the contents of her shopping bag with him. “If you’d been on the tour, you would have heard them say that the turrets and parapet are purely decorative, for aesthetic value.”
