Page 4 of The Recluse of Wolfeton House (Ladies of Devon 4)

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Hattie strode into the dining room, careful to look pleasantly surprised when her eyes fell upon her brother and his wife.

“Sorry I’m late, Papa—oh! Jeffrey, Lucy, you’ve arrived! How wonderful. Did you have a smooth journey?”

“Yes,” Jeffrey said, standing upon her entrance. His observing eye did not waver from her. “So smooth, in fact, that we happened to arrive earlier than planned.”

She smiled and took her seat across from her brother and his wife, holding Jeffrey’s gaze. She would not allow her brother to trick her into any sort of confession about her poor manners from earlier in the day. Indeed, it was his fault she had been forced to act so shabbily. His and Lucy’s presence on High Street had caught her unawares. What else was she to do but pretend she had not seen their carriage nor heard Lucy’s calls when they had so rudely appeared without any sort of notice? She’d been under the impression that she had another hour free of their company.

But she also had a feeling that were she to voice these observations aloud, no one else would see her logic.

“We thought we saw you earlier today, in fact,” Lucy said, her blue eyes wide. “But it must have been someone else.”

“I’ve spent a good deal of time riding this afternoon and came away so frozen it took nearly an hour to thaw by the fire,” she said. A change of conversation was exactly what they needed. “These Novembers are growing colder every year, I believe.”

“Perhaps,” Papa said from the head of the table. He flicked his wrist forward. The footmen stepped toward the table and began serving roasted fowl and asparagus onto the plates.

Lucy watched her with interest, and it was all Hattie could do to keep her eyes on her plate and feign interest in the browned meat. Did Papa have a larger fowl than her? It was only fair, she supposed.

“Hattie,” Jeffrey said from across the table. “Do you have any intention of attending the assemblies in Melbury next week? Papa told me that you haven’t gone to the last few.”

Maintaining her focus on the bird as she cut her dinner, she replied, “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because they are in Melbury,” she said. Was that not explanation enough?

Jeffrey scoffed lightly, chewing around a bite of meat. “Do not tell me you still hold a prejudice against Melbury.”

“They cheated at cricket just this summer,” Hattie said in defense. “I believe it is perfectly justified.”

Jeffrey scoffed again.

“And they stole two of my horses,” Papa added.

“Oh, bother. That was one man,” Jeffrey said. “Surely you cannot hold an entire town accountable for his actions.”

“I can, and I will.” Papa cut a bite of meat and shoved it into his mouth, unrepentant. “I told you before, and I shall say it again: I will never force Hattie to attend a Melbury assembly.”

Hattie turned her attention to her asparagus, gratified by Papa’s support.

“Dash it, Jeffrey, do you realize what could happen?” Papa said, his thick eyebrows pulling together as though he was considering the implications of such an event. His chin tucked in, his lips turning down at the ends. “Hattie could meet a Melbury man and find him to her liking.”

He stated this with such distaste that Hattie had to make a concerted effort not to spit her wine across the table. She swallowed, coughing discreetly to the side.

“Would that be such a terrible thing?” Lucy asked.

Papa glanced at her sharply. “Indeed, it would. Did you not hear us earlier? They cheated at cricket this last summer and stole my horses.”

Lucy blinked. “Did Jeffrey not just say that it was only one man responsible, not the entire town?”

“Oh, bah,” Papa said, shoving a bite of meat into his mouth. He shot Hattie a long-suffering look, and she felt her cheeks warm.

She might not like Lucy’s pushy nature, but the woman was family. One ought to be more circumspect in their dislike. It was time to turn the tide of the conversation.

“How long do you intend to stay in Graton?” she asked, directing a pleasant smile toward Jeffrey and Lucy. “Your letter mentioned something about a fortnight?”

Lucy smiled back, though she was not skilled at hiding her irritation, and it was plainly obvious that they were trying her patience. The thought crossed Hattie’s mind to press her advantage here. If she could anger her sister-in-law enough, would Lucy then force Jeffrey to return to London earlier than expected?

No, that was unkind. Suppressing her desire to drive them out of the house, Hattie turned interested eyes on Lucy. It was time to be kind and engaging. “I heard that green silk is all the fashion now. Do tell me what you’ve seen in London.”

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