Page 45 of Everything But the Earl
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of getting the guests settled and issuing instructions to the staff, and by the time they settled down to dinner, Grace was feeling overwhelmed and a little nauseous.
“The staff here has such charming accents,” Elizabeth said over their second course.
“It is the native accent,” Grace said. “Most of the folk I’ve met here sound like that. A few don’t even speak much English.”
“Is it true your husband owns a castle?” asked Helena.
“He does. We can visit it this week, if you like. It’s not really habitable, but the family is repairing it. The earl’s aunt can take us on a tour of the grounds, perhaps.”
“I had no idea the earl was so wealthy,” said Lady Lenora.
“Oh.” Grace had no idea how to respond to that. “Well, I—”
“Let us not be so frank with Grace.” Penny rolled her eyes. “Discussing the earl’s finances without his presence here is gauche, don’t you think?”
Lady Lenora bristled. “I suppose.”
When the time to retire finally arrived, Grace was exhausted.When Penny inquired about how she was feeling, she said, “I am fine, but I had become accustomed to my solitude here, I suppose. I’m finding all the company a bit overwhelming. Not that you aren’t welcome. I am enormously happy that you—and everyone—are here. I am truly happy to see you, Penny. I just need a little time to adjust to hosting.”
They were seated in the drawing room, just the two of them after the Hastings ladies went to bed.
“Do not worry about anything,” Penny said. “You’re a fine hostess. Maybe we can find something to occupy Lady Lenora’s time so she is not so…blunt. Honestly, though, she has been like this for the entire week it took to get here, and I am quite ready to throw her into the sea. Just give the word if she bothers you.”
“Oh, she’s fine. No worse than my mother.”
“True.”
“Penny, I am grateful to see you. Although I am happy to say that I am not as lonely here as I expected. Owen’s aunt, who runs the castle, comes for dinner once a week and is delightful company. I’ve befriended a few of the women in the family that runs the wool operation. And Owen has a cottage a couple hours ride from here where I’ve set up my pottery studio, and I’ve made a few friends in the town there. The people here are kind and friendly, and the sea air is refreshing.”
“So you are happy here, is what you are saying.”
“I missed you! I would not have invited you to visit if I didn’t. But yes, I am actually happy here. I love it here in a way I do not love London. And there’s so much to do that I am rarely bored.”
“I am glad to hear it. I worried about you being so far from home.”
“I’ve missed you, my friend, but I feel content here.”
“And how was your husband while he was here?”
“Nothing but pleasant. He’s given me permission to style the cottage however I like and to make a few changes here. Most of thefurnishings are things he chose and I haven’t really felt inclined to change them, but I think he believed that he was stranding me here, and thus gave me permission to do whatever I needed to feel at home here, cost being no object. I just bought those blue chairs. Do you like them?”
“I do. A handsome addition to the room.”
“It’s everything I always wanted. I just wish my husband were here, too. I find some days that I miss him.”
“He’s been busy at Parliament, I hear,” said Penny. “Peter keeps mentioning seeing the earl there.” Peter was Penny’s older brother.
“Tell me about what’s going on in London. Have you any suitors yet?”
“I’ve done a bit of promenading,” Penny said with a wink. “Actually, Baron Beckwith has shown some interest.”
“He is a handsome fellow.” It was largely agreed by the young women of London that Baron Theodore Beckwith was the best-looking eligible bachelor in London. “How do you feel about him?”
“I certainly would not turn away his affections. I just hope he does not meet someone new before I return to London.”
“You are beautiful and charming, Penny. How dare he look at anyone else.”
Penny smiled at that.
