Page 72 of The Lady Glass
“Thank you, Marcus. I will think on it.” But Rolland didn’t want that for her. There would always be the risk of her being exposed and the damage being irreparable. Muffled voices came from the other side of the wall, making him sit forward in his seat. “What is that?”
“It sounds like the front door. Cadogen must’ve finally returned, and not a moment too soon.” Marcus stood and rounded his desk, Rolland following him.
In the entrance hall, Mr. Hobson, the butler, was taking the traveling cloaks of an older couple and a young lady. Rolland did not recognize any of them.
“Lord and Lady Caspar,” Marcus said in greeting. “What a surprise.”
Lord Caspar? Rolland’s stomach plummeted. What was he doing here?
“And Miss Shields, so good to see you again.”
Rolland reluctantly looked her way. She was a pretty thing, with yellow curls and a slender face. Many would appreciate her, he was sure, but the sight of her just made him ill.
“The honor is all mine.” Miss Shields gave a shy smile and dipped a quick curtsy.
“Forgive me. Do you know Lord Barrack’s son, Captain Reese?” Marcus stepped aside to give Rolland more attention than he cared to have.
Lord Caspar took his measure and grinned like a hungry man hovering over a fine cut of meat framed with all the fixings. “I have been anxious to meet you, Captain. You’re one of the reasons His Grace has to put up with unexpected company.” His smile was coy, but it was unamusing to Rolland. There had never been worse timing, as far as he was concerned.
Lady Caspar hurried to Marcus’s side. “I hope it’s not too inconvenient for you to have us, Your Grace. We did write about our sudden change in plans, but by your reaction, I am certain our carriage beat the post here.” She was a good fifteen years her husband’s junior and was overdressed for traveling.
“Not to worry, Lady Caspar. Such a thing has happened before.” Marcus was a master at hiding his emotions when he wanted to, for he did not bat an eyelash at the obvious stressthis would place on him and his wife. “Mr. Hobson, please let Mrs. Kirk know to prepare rooms for our new guests. In the meantime, why don’t you all rest in the drawing room. Dinner should be ready within the hour.”
“Excellent,” Lord Caspar said. “Lord Castlereagh sends his personal thanks for your protection of his committee. We are anxious to recommence our business, which is largely why I am here.”
Voices from the top of the stairs drew Rolland’s attention upward. His mother was coming down the stairs arm-in-arm with Theresia. His father was not a step behind them. Rolland opened his mouth to call and stop them, but there was naught he could do. Like an enemy ship coming in for attack, sometimes retreat was impossible. Fate had already put in motion a plan he could not stop.
Chapter 34
“Remember our conversation from ourwalk the other day?” Lady Barrack asked, patting Theresia’s arm as they descended the stairs for dinner.
It was hard not to be caught up in the kindness this woman gave her. It was more maternal attention than Theresia had received from anyone but Mrs. Bedrich in many, many years. “I remember.” How could she have forgotten the way Lady Barrack had implicated her and Rolland as a potential couple?
Lady Barrack stole a glance behind them to her husband and then leaned closer, her voice taking on a conspiratorial note. “Well, I am more certain of it now than ever.”
Theresia couldn’t restrain her smile. She never thought to dream of such a man as Rolland caring for her. He had made certain she was never alone through the entire day, even sending his mother to bring her down to dinner. “I—” Her words caught in her throat when she realized the people gathered at the bottom of the stairs were not members of their house party.
“But who is this?” Lady Barrack pulled her more quickly to the base of the stairs.
“Lord Caspar,” Lord Barrack said, reaching the landing just after them. “By George, you came after all.”
Lord Caspar? Theresia’s eyes skirted past the short man to her stepmother and stepsister, Helena. The blood seeped from her face and upper body in a rush. Lord Barrack stepped in front of her, hiding her momentarily from view. She clung to Lady Barrack’s arm to keep her legs solid beneath her. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t real.
“It turns out that none of us wanted to miss this house party,” Lord Caspar said. “We did everything we could to cut our last trip short.”
“Splendid. And I see you’ve met my son already.”
“Yes, and he’s met our daughter. I can already see what you have. They will make a fine couple.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lord Barrack said. Their words made Theresia’s world sway. Lord Barrack wantedHelenafor Rolland? This was too much.
Lady Barrack’s hand flew to her heart. “What a thing to say! They don’t even know each other.” She swatted her husband’s shoulder. “And in front of Lady Glass.”
“Lady Glass?” The question fell from her stepmother’s lips; hers was a voice Theresia would recognize from her nightmares.
Before she could gather her strength to run, Lady Barrack pulled her from behind her husband. The rest all happened so fast.
Theresia met Rolland’s gaze from across the room, her eyes beseeching him as Lady Caspar gasped. Her gut feeling from that morning had been right. It was the beginning of the end for Lady Glass.
