Page 36 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
Dharma wished it could be her going to spy on Fiona, but it was probably good that Rosemary went with Hawthorne.
Fencourt said, “Shall we continue on? Don’t you find this collection fascinating?”
She turned her attention to Lord Fencourt. “I can see that history fascinates you. Have you plans to travel? I think you’d love to visit Greece.”
His entire face lit up. “I’d love to travel. I had planned to travel to the Mediterranean this year but…” His words trailed out before he recovered to say, “Until I found something, or should I say someone, that captured my interest more.” He was implying he had put off traveling to court her, but that wasn’t what he was really going to say. She could see it in his eyes.
She ignored his remark. She didn’t really want to encourage him in his pursuit because she could never marry him. He wasn’t marriage material for many reasons. The number one reason was he wasn’t Devlin. But she also wanted to talk to him about his father, Lord Longton. “What did your father think of you wanting to travel?”
There was a slight hesitation. “He didn’t want me to go. He wants me to take over more of the estate responsibilities.”
She studied him. That statement was true. He wasn’t lying. “Your family has extensive estates. Do you enjoy running the family holdings?”
“I had hoped to delay for a few years yet, and travel, but father saw differently. He has me giving over most of my time to the role, but duty calls. I must buckle down and learn how to run our ‘extensive’ estates.”
She moved closer to the large windows overlooking the gardens, deciding to push for more. “Is that why society thinks you’ll be taking a wife this season? Even though you are still so young?”
His face colored as if he didn’t wish to reply to such a personal question. “Sometimes one finds something precious when one is not specifically looking for it.”
Fencourt sounded so sincere she couldn’t hide her smile. She turned to the window and spied a man standing in the shadows by the rear gate to the stables. She was just about to turn away when a flash of bright blue caught her eye. Fiona stepped into the sunlight and Dharma drew back in case she looked up and spotted her watching.
The two of them stood talking for a few moments before Fiona took a quick glance around and headed back inside.
Dharma stepped back to the window to watch the man as he casually strolled across the manicured lawns. She took in every detail of the man Fiona had met with. He was not a peer. His clothes spoke of someone from the lower classes. He also had red hair, the same color as Fiona’s. Probably Scottish, given his coloring. A brother or relative, perhaps?
She wished Hawthorne was here so he could leave and follow the man, but the stranger would be long gone by the time Hawthorne returned. She couldn’t ask Fencourt to aid her, given his father was a suspect. It would have to wait until another day.
“Lord Fencourt, can you tell me more about this statue?” She led him away from the window, so Fiona would suspect no one had noticed her meeting.
Fiona returned before the other couple, and soon they were downstairs drinking tea.
Fencourt said, “I hope you and Lord Devlin will attend my mother’s ball she’s holding in two nights’ time. Mother told me this morning that you and Lady Rosemary had already accepted. Hawthorne, I suspect you’ll be coming too.”
Fiona seemed startled for a moment, unsure of what her position allowed her to do. Rosemary said, “I’m sure my brother has simply forgotten to respond, what with only just recently returning from Scotland. It would be a lovely event to introduce you to society. Please say you’ll talk Lord Devlin into attending.”
Dharma wanted to laugh at the look on Fiona’s face. The woman obviously didn’t know how to talk Devlin into attending a ball or responding to invitations. Devlin wouldn’t be keen to escort her around town. For the first time, Dharma felt sorry for Fiona. The Scottish widow said, “I shall seek Lord Devlin and the invitation when I get home. I’m sure we’d love to attend.”
“We must all get new gowns,” Rosemary suggested. “Let’s go to Madam Flare’s tomorrow morning.”
Hawthorne laughed. “Any excuse for a new gown?”
“That would be perfect,” said Fiona. “I want to look my best, as I suspect I will come under scrutiny.”
They walked back towards the carriage and Rosemary linked her arm with Fiona’s. “I know what it’s like to be the talk of theton. I was lucky to have Dharma by my side. You’ll have both of us with you.”
Hawthorne stepped forward and said to Rosemary, “And now you have me.” All three ladies sighed.
Dharma felt her heart flood with warmth. Oh, to have a man so in love with her, like Hawthorne was with Rosemary.
Fencourt escorted Mrs. McTavish home while Hawthorne accompanied Rosemary and Dharma. “I hope I didn’t lay it on too thick with Fiona. I want her to think we are her friends, not her enemy.”
“I thought you behaved perfectly. A touch of truth will always sway those unsure,” Hawthorne said. “I’m mad that we didn’t find her. She definitely wasn’t in the retiring room when Rosemary checked.”
“She met with a red-haired man in the garden. I spied them from the window at the end of the gallery. She obviously did not know where we would be on our journey through Montague House.” Hawthorne teared his gaze from Rosemary’s at her words. “By the way, he’s not gentry.”
“Would you recognize him again?”
She nodded at Hawthorne’s question. “I think I could sketch him, too.”
