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“It sounds quite daunting,” I said. I tried to draw Eddie into the conversation by looking his way, but his gaze was fixed on a point just beyond his father’s head.
Tynan nodded. “It would be, I believe, were it not for Cad’s almost superhuman efforts.” I couldn’t help feeling it was rather tactless of him to keep emphasising that point, when it clearly unsettled Eddie to hear of his brother’s expertise. “Now, of course, it is time for both my sons to work together. This illness of mine is a timely reminder of the need for Eddie to pick up the reins.” I was relieved when he changed the subject. “But my manners are sadly lacking today, my dear. These are conversations for the estate office, not the house. Tell me about your journey. The channel crossing can be most unpleasant at this time of year.” We passed another ten minutes in an exchange of idle pleasantries. I relaxed further when Eddie finally joined in the conversation, entertaining his father with an account of my reaction upon being introduced to an item called “black pudding” during my first—and, I vowed, last—English breakfast. I was still of the opinion that this supposed delicacy, a type of sausage made from dried pig’s blood, was a practical joke played by the entire English nation on the rest of the world. I was content, however, to let Tynan and Eddie’s laughter wash over me, since this signalled that the difficult conversations were at an end. For the time being, at least.
Eddie and I took our leave of his father and went to get ready for dinner. A maid showed me to my bedchamber, but, once inside, I realised I had left my purse in Tynan’s room. Clicking my tongue impatiently at my own carelessness, I hurried back along the corridors to get it. The door to the earl’s suite was open, and as I approached, I heard Tynan talking to Lucy. I paused guiltily at one side of the doorway. They were discussing me. Their disapproval was clear, but, I was forced to concede, hardly surprising.
“I cannot like this engagement, Tynan,” Lucy was saying. “We know nothing of this girl, only that he met her in Paris. I have every respect for Harris’s efficiency as a solicitor. And when we asked him to find out about Eddie’s life in France, he reported that our son was living with a woman. One, moreover, whom he described as being of easy virtue. I’m sure you will agree that Harris is not a gentleman given to exaggeration, and I remember distinctly that he told us Eddie’s mistress was known amongst the artistic community for her extortionate prices. It does not take a great leap of the imagination to guess what she was charging for! The future Countess of Athal is nothing more than a common prostitute!”
“We do not know that this girl is the same one. If she is, I agree, it is hardly an ideal situation,” he replied. “But only consider, hweg, this marriage may be exactly what Eddie needs to make him settle down and take his responsibilities to the family and the estate seriously at long last.”
“Nonsense!” she replied briskly. “He has fallen in love with her face.”
“Ah, but what a face!” Tynan interrupted her. “My God, Lucy, Mother Nature must feel very proud of her achievements whenever her gaze lights on our prospective daughter-in-law.”
“But don’t you see, Tynan? That is not love. Eddie has always been overly susceptible to beauty, and, you are right, the girl is dazzling. You can’t base a marriage, however, especially this marriage, on looks. He wants to paint her or write poems about her, or whatever his current artistic fancy may be. Well, let him. But why on earth he had to propose marriage, bring her here to our home…”
“To be fair to him, hweg, I suspect he wants to do more with her than just get her likeness down on canvas or extol her beauty in rhyming couplets! As well as being quite heart-wrenchingly lovely, she also exudes a remarkable physical energy. A sensuality that makes even a sick old man’s heart sing a new song. Initially, I thought her hold on him must be purely sexual, but I noticed how much calmer he is in her presence. She may be exactly what is needed to rejuvenate this family. God alone knows how hard it was for Eddie to return. I consider it a positive development that he has a beautiful woman at his side to take his mind off the transition from feckless wanderer to eminent landowner and businessman.”
