Page 45 of A Baron's Disguised Lady
“I was in the district,” she said, and Archie, though he did not wish to appear rude, could not think of anything he desired less.
“Well… I need to change first. I can’t sit in these dirty clothes,” he said, for like Lavinia’s dress, his own clothes were covered in mud from their walk across the estate.
“I’ll wait,” Wilhelmina said, and it seemed Archie was not going to rid himself of this apparent obligation.
He considered it an impertinence on Wilhelmina’s part—an imposition. There had been no invitation, and no encouragement on his part, even as he feared Lavinia would think there had been. She was standing quietly by the open doors leading onto the terrace, her eyes averted from the scene, even as Wilhelmina looked at her haughtily.
“Very well. I’ll go and change,” Archie replied, hoping he could get rid of Wilhelmina as soon as possible.
He did not like to think Lavinia thought him interested in pursuing a match with the woman, even as it seemed Wilhelmina was determined to make it appear so. Now, he retreated from the drawing room, sighing as he made his way upstairs to change.
Archie had intended to spend the rest of the day in his study, trying to piece together more of the evidence surrounding his sister’s death. But it seemed he would be forced to spend it in polite conversation with Wilhelmina, at Lavinia’s expense.
“Why can’t she just leave me alone. Doesn’t she realize I’m not interested in her? A dance… it was just a dance, and now I’m to be saddled with her attentions,”he ranted out loud to himself, as he pulled off his muddy clothes before changing into clean ones.
He took his time, in no rush to return to the drawing room and the awkwardness of the situation. Outside, on the estate, in Lavinia’s company, life had seemed far simpler. It always did with the vast expanse of sky above, and the fresh air filling one’s lungs.
Once again, the house took on an oppressive air. It was a place Archie could be found—by Wilhelmina, by his mother, by whoever was demanding his attention at one time or another.But outside, he was free, and in Lavinia’s company, that freedom had been even more palpable.
“Come along, Archie—Wilhelmina’s waited quite long enough for you,” his mother said, as Archie returned to the drawing room a few moments later.
He found the atmosphere somewhat stifling. His mother, Wilhelmina, Lavinia, and her mother were sitting around the tea table, now set with an ornate teapot and china cups, as though it was the afternoon, and not the middle of the morning.
Lavinia was looking pointedly down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs, and her mother was sitting with her arms folded, seemingly not knowing what to say. Wilhelmina glared at Archie as he entered the room, but he chose to ignore her, sitting himself down next to his mother, and waiting for someone else to speak first.
“Well… how nice,” Wilhelmina said, as Archie’s mother poured the tea.
“Yes… I’m sure,” Archie replied.
“The two of you… walked together this morning?” Wilhelmina persisted, and Archie nodded.
“Yes, we did,” he said.
He knew he was being rude, but Wilhelmina, too, was rude. He knew why she had come—jealousy. She was jealous of Lavinia, and she had come to Sarum Lacy House to assert the apparent advantage she believed she had. But Wilhelmina was wrong—she had no advantage, and Archie had no intention of encouraging her. Her presence was not welcome, and it seemed she was beginning to realize it.
“Tea, Wilhelmina?” Archie’s mother asked, handing the cups across the table.
“Yes, I will. Thank you,” Wilhelmina replied, taking the cup she was offered.
Archie’s mother handed him one, too, and the party took a collective sip, silence once again prevailing.
“Tell us, Wilhelmina. How is your family? Is your father well? I heard he was suffering with gout,” Archie’s mother said, and Wilhelmina nodded.
“Yes… that’s right… he suffers terribly with it. Sometimes, he can’t move from his chair for days at a time,” she replied.
“I’m sure you keep him company when that’s so,” Archie’s mother replied.
“Yes… how terrible for him,” Archie said, raising his teacup to his lips.
“He takes his suffering nobly,” Wilhelmina replied.
Silence once again fell over the stable, broken only by the occasional clink of a cup against a saucer. But Archie had no intention of making an effort. He wanted Wilhelmina to realize she was not welcome at Sarum Lacy House—nor was she welcome to assume more about their relationship than was the truth.
They were casual acquaintances, that was all, and it was only out of jealousy she had come that day, believing herself better than Lavinia, who had remained silent since Archie’s return to the drawing room.
“The flowers in the garden are very beautiful at this time of year. Did you enjoy your walk this morning, Lavinia?” Archie’s mother asked, and Lavinia nodded.
“Oh, yes, thank you—I did. Archie… His Lordship, showed me all manner of beautiful places on the estate. It’s like another world, it really is,” she said, and Archie’s mother smiled.
