The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

hand. “But this? To be a viscountess? One of thehighest-ranking ladies in the area? And your sister the other. Oh, I may beovercome.”

She fell back on the sofa with a thump.

Hester sat beside her. “Please, Mother, do not refine onthis. Now that he is the viscount, Rob Peverell is one of the most eligiblebachelors in England. Dozens of ladies with impressive family lines,connections to royalty, deep dowries, and more claims to beauty than I willever possess will be waiting to charm him.”

Her mother drew herself up. “And not one of them moredeserving or any better than my daughter.”

Hester reached out and hugged her close. “Thank you forthat. I love you, Mother.”

“And I love you, darling, more than you can ever know.” Hermother pulled back, smile watery. “Now, we must strategize. You’ll need a newdress, new gloves. Your cloak may suffice, but perhaps new shoes as well.”

Hester laughed. “Mother, if I was good enough to be invitedto dinner, I see no reason to change.”

“Not change,” her mother said. “But presented in your bestpossible light.” She rose. “Come with me. We must study our wardrobes, see whatcan be contrived. You must appear a viscountess, and I must appear the motherof one. Together, we will show Viscount Peverell and his sister just howimpressive the Denbys of Upper Grace can be.”

~~~

 

Rob had never managed a dinner party before. Well, Elizabethwas managing it, but his part was still larger than he would have thought. Whenhis parents or brother had given a party, all he had had to do was agree to hisvalet’s choices for evening wear, appear downstairs some time before dinnerstarted, and smile his way through the evening before it was safe to escape toone of the gentlemen’s clubs or a friendly gamblingestablishment.

Now, apparently, he must approve every detail,because Elizabeth kept finding him to ask his opinion.

“We didn’t bring the Crown Derby from London,” sheannounced, wandering into the study early Monday morning with two porcelainplates in her hands after he’d heard Mr. Chalder’s report. The night watchmanwas a thick-bodied fellow with a wide nose and narrowed eyes. He seemed givento quick, simple answers, but he claimed to have seen nothing, not even CaptainSt. Claire.

“We have the Chelsea and the Bow,” Rob’s sister explainednow. “Which do you think Hester would prefer?”

He couldn’t imagine Hester caring about plates, but henodded to the one with the flower and stem splayed across the glazed porcelain.“That one.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Why?”

“Unless I am mistaken, that’s an apple blossom. She smellslike spiced apples.”

Elizabeth giggled, but his answer must have satisfied her,for she wandered out.

She found him again that afternoon while he was attemptingto determine which of the village plots and houses heactually owned. His father and Thomas could probably have pointed them outeasily enough. He wanted to be able to do the same.

“Where shall we gather before dinner?” his sister asked,approaching the desk and cocking her head as ifstudying the map he’d spread out.

“Whichever room is open at the moment,” Rob said, gaze returningto the colored lines.

“A useless answer.”

He raised his gaze to meet hers. “Why? I thought it would beeasiest for you.”

“It should not be our convenience but Hester’s enjoymentthat should motivate us,” she informed him primly. “I’m considering the thirdfloor withdrawing room at the front of the house.”

“Too many patterns,” Rob complained. “The wallpaper, thecarpet, those inlaid sideboards. I feel like I’m going cross-eyed every time Iwalk in the door.”

“Perhaps Hester and her mother like patterns,” she said,chin coming up. “But I could add some vases of flowers for a focal point.”

“No,” Rob said, straightening. “The apple blossom on thedinner plate is sufficient. I can’t imagine Hester is overly fond of flowers.Her father died in a bed of them.”

Elizabeth stared at him. “You’re making that up.”

“I wish I was,” Rob told her, spreading his hands. “He was aRiding Officer who was murdered trying to stop a gang of smugglers. Hester andher sister discovered the body.”

Elizabeth pressed her fingers to her chest. “How horrid.Well, no additional flowers then. Besides, I suppose it is a lot of walking toreach that one.”

Relieved, Rob tried to focus on the map again.

But Elizabeth wasn’t finished. “What about after dinner?Should we open the music room?”

Rob sighed. “No. We can retire to Mother’s withdrawing roomoverlooking the Channel. Hester isn’t the Queen Mother, Elizabeth.”

“Well, you ought to treat her as well as the queen,” she said,but she had the good grace to leave him be until dinner.

When she laid out a dozen possibilities for the menu.

Rob was almost glad when Mercer showed up Monday afternoonwith more papers and advice. At least that allowed Rob to shelter in the study.Who knew what else his sister might need his advice on? Rearranging thepaintings in the family gallery to a more pleasing pattern? Fussing aboutwhether the drapes should be opened or closed? Wondering about wood or coal forthe fire? Even dealing with his persnickety steward was better than the endlessquestions.

“A few trivialities to tie up loose ends,” Mercer assuredhim before pulling out a sheath of papers from his ever-present portfolio.“Leasing agreements for some of the houses and businesses in the area, theenclosure plan for the Wiltshire estate, and the like. All I require is yoursignature.”

A few signatures would put him out of the study and into hissister’s company far too soon. Rob drew the stack closer and began reading.

Mercer shifted beside him. “They are the usual sort, mylord. Nothing that need concern you.”

“You are sweating, Mercer,” Rob said, moving to the secondpage. “That alone tells me I should be concerned. Have a seat. I imagine thiswill take some time.”

It did, but by the eighth lease affirming that so-and-sowould be taking such-and-such business at this location or that for a certainamount of time for a certain amount of money, the words were beginning to runtogether. He moved quickly enough through the next set that he nearly missedit.

Rob frowned as he held up one of the documents. “This is alease for my pier.”

Mercer, who’d been fidgeting in his seat across the deskfrom Rob the entire time, stilled. “Yes, my lord, just as you