Page 42 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
Grace was at her side in an instant. "Caroline," she said with a bright smile. "Here, let me help you." Grace was about to lead her out of the room and upstairs to change, no doubt. However, Lord Highclere entered at that moment.
She was still reeling from the conversation she had had with her father-in-law earlier that day, and the sight of him set her off again. She had wanted to speak with James about it, but he was again nowhere in sight. Caroline resigned herself to having to play hostess in her bedraggled state.
"Ahh, daughter. Good of you to join us," Lord Highclere looked her up and down. "What happened to you, then?"
"I was out walking and—" She looked down at her rain-spattered cotton dress. "I was caught in a drizzle."
"Ahh, well, you will dry quickly. Come and sit down. See who has come to call!" Her father-in-law waved her over. She supposed her conversation with James would have to wait until after dinner or tomorrow if Sir Gerald and Lady Beatrice were staying for the evening.
"Come and sit beside me," Lady Beatrice coaxed. She was the last person she wanted to sit by, but Caroline did not want to be rude. She followed Grace to the sitting area, where the gentlemen moved away so they could have their own conversation.
Grace shot her a worried glance as Lady Beatrice took Caroline's hand. "I cannot say how thankful I am to you, Lady Caroline. It is really too generous."
Caroline furrowed her brow. "Oh? And why is that, Lady Beatrice?"
"Ahh, Caroline, is the Viscount calling for you?" Grace interrupted, looking quite frantic.
Caroline turned toward the parlour door and was tempted to say he had. However, she was not one to lie, for she had seen what trouble it had made for her father. "No, I did not hear anything."
Grace closed her eyes, hanging her head.
Lady Beatrice took up right where she had left off. "You are so modest, Lady Caroline. As if you did not know. Why I am referring to Lord Highclere's and the Viscount's invitation that I stay here while my husband is away on business," she said smugly. She could see that Lady Beatrice knew very well that Caroline had no idea about the invitation.
"Oh, of course," Caroline feigned knowledge.
It would seem she would have quite a lot to discuss with her husband when he had the courage to show himself. She folded her hands demurely in her lap, trying not to show how they shook with anger and jealousy. James had promised her they would not be bothered with Lady Beatrice again for some time.
"Remind me how long you will be with us?" Caroline asked.
"Oh, Sir Gerald says he will be gone for anywhere from six to eight months. Travelling on the Continent is so unpredictable."
Lady Beatrice seemed positively delighted with the prospect of being separated from her husband for such a long stint. Caroline wondered what eight months of living with this woman would do to her marriage. Would she even have a marriage to speak of at the end of what seemed like a prison sentence stretching before her?
"It will be so nice to have some female company for a change," Lady Beatrice went on. "I do not have the luxury of closeness with my fellow noblemen's wives up in Inverness."
Caroline almost responded with a sarcastic remark.I cannot imagine why.Perhaps the other wives felt threatened by how she flirted with everyone's husbands.
Lady Beatrice scooted over on the settee and linked arms with Caroline. She shifted uneasily on the seat. Caroline had the distinct feeling Lady Beatrice was trying to "get in" with her. If she found her on Caroline's good side and could get her to trust her, what kind of damage would she be able to wreak on her marriage?
Anyone with eyes could see that Lady Beatrice still had feelings for James, as she did nothing to mask them—even in front of her husband. Either her husband was too obtuse to realise, or he simply did not care.
They talked on for about twenty minutes, Caroline staying as quiet as possible so she did not say something she would regret. Lady Beatrice had only been there for an hour, and Caroline was already sick of her. Perhaps it was jealousy, or maybe she was just an annoying type of person.
Whatever it was, her heart grew increasingly ill. How was she to survive the next eight months with this woman, let alone her marriage?
"Ahh, finally! Look, the rain has stopped! Shall we go for a walk? I do love to go for a walk just after it rains and smell the wet grass," Lady Beatrice said. She stood and went over to join the men and extend the invitation.
Lord Highclere and Sir Gerald refused, but Sir Knowles was happy to join them. Caroline was about to excuse herself when Lady Beatrice linked arms with her. "Please walk beside me. I feel we have so much to catch up on."
Beatrice half-dragged her out of the parlour and onto the patio. Caroline tried to refuse. "I really should go up and bathe and change before dinner," she pleaded. She could feel her blonde ringlets starting to frizz as they dried, and she did not want to give Lady Beatrice any more reason to look down on her.
"Nonsense. It is not even two in the afternoon. The gong will not sound until five." Beatrice kept Caroline’s arm securely trapped in hers, and they set off down the patio steps toward the fountain. Grace and Sir Knowles fell into step with each other, trailing behind her and Lady Beatrice. Caroline gritted her teeth.
"I have been very eager to get to know you better, Lady Caroline. It seems we have a lot in common." Her words dripped with honey, but Caroline wondered if she meant any of them. She had difficulty believing they were but kept her thoughts to herself. She could not think of one good reason Lady Beatrice would want to get to know her better—other than to destroy her.
Grace and Sir Knowles stopped at the fountain while she and Lady Beatrice kept following the winding trails toward the green.
Lady Beatrice sighed contentedly. "I have always loved this place. So many happy memories spent with James right in this garden." Lady Beatrice surveyed the garden. "He has done a lot of work to improve the grounds as of late."
