Page 32 of A Gentleman to Avoid (Sherton Sisters 3)

She cleared her throat and tried to carry on a conversation with the gentleman, despite her reluctance.

“I was sorry to hear about your father’s passing. How are you settling into your new responsibilities?”

The expression that crossed his face was a mixture of pleasure and surprise, making Vicky wonder if perhaps she shouldn’t have asked such a question. She didn’t think it was so very controversial. While it was an awkward situation for a man to have to await his father’s death in order to inherit, that was the way of life, so it shouldn’t be a remarkable topic.

“I was most fortunate to have a father who had not begrudged my interest in the estate. In fact, in recent years I had taken on much of the responsibility, so it wasn’t much of a transition,” he finally answered.

“Well, that is probably for the best, since it must be such a challenge to be in mourning in addition to needing to learn how to run a large estate.”

“True. But perhaps it would lessen the grief if you could be truly distracted with your labours.”

Vicky, always imaginative and compassionate, began to think of how it must be to inherit from a much loved father and felt tears well in her eyes.

“Oh, my dear Lady Vigilia, I do apologize if I’ve caused you distress.” Lord Cranston was quick to regret his words.

Vicky tried to wave away his concerns. “Please, don’t be troubled. It just made me think of my brother. I do hope he doesn’t inherit for decades to come.”

“Of course,” Cranston commented, despite how uncomfortable he appeared.

The tingle along the back of her neck alerted Vicky to the fact that Ashford was likely looking her way. She debated about catching him at it but worried that she was imagining things. With a sigh of relief, Vicky noticed that the servants were beginning to clear away the meal. She wasn’t in the least bit disappointed when Lord Cranston excused himself from her side. She might regret that there hadn’t been the least spark between them, but she was glad to have the interlude over with.

“Was your repast more enjoyable than mine?”

The low voice that sent shivers down her spine could belong to none other than Ashford Northcott. Vicky wasn’t sure how he had managed to approach her without her notice, but perhaps she had been more preoccupied with dissecting her conversation with Cranston than she had realized. She turned toward Ashford with her eyebrows elevated.

“It’s doubtful, Mr. Northcott, seeing as your companion was doing far more laughing than I or mine were.” As soon as the words had left her mouth, Vicky wished she could recall them as they clearly revealed just how aware she had been of whom he had spent the picnic with.

“I didn’t ask about our companions, my dear,” he countered with a twinkle in his eye.

~~~

Ash hadn’t picked Lady Delilah at random. He had hoped she might be able to ensnare his attention enough to keep it off Lady Vigilia. He had been wrong. While she seemed like a nice enough young woman, and he appreciated her quiet attentiveness, she wasn’t as bright as he had at first thought and despite her easy-going manner and sense of humour, she hadn’t struck him as a good companion for his life. He understood that most didn’t make such decisions on a brief acquaintance, but he was used to relying on instincts and deciding matters on first impressions. While she might grow on him with time, she had not been able to prevent his eyes from straying across the table to see how Vigilia was faring. Lady Delilah was not for him. And it wasn’t even the giggling that had done her in for him, he thought with wry amusement as it dawned on him that Vicky had noticed.

“I didn’t really think Cranston was the sort to tell jokes, so I’m not surprised that you weren’t laughing as much as we were.”

“So, were you the jester or Lady Delilah?” Vigilia surprised him by asking.

He fought a surge of embarrassment. He wasn’t even certain why. “Neither, really,” he finally replied, hoping he wasn’t blushing like a debutante as her eyebrows rose in surprise.

“You were just laughing for the joy of life, then?” she asked, the sound of suppressed laughter evident in her voice.

“You make that sound like a bad thing,” he replied, trying to make her laugh with his tone of complaint. It worked. She was struggling to climb back up into her saddle as she shook with laughter. Ash was ridiculously gratified at his success.

It was fortunate that she wasn’t heavy, as she still had her foot in the cup of his hands. He hoisted her a bit higher to assist her in gaining the saddle. Her eyes were bright and her face was split with a grin as she muttered her thanks in between her giggles. As he quickly climbed onto his own horse, he glanced over at her. She was waving her hand in front of her face and trying to regain her composure.

“It wasn’t even that funny,” she said. “I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing about it.” Now, the girl sounded nervous. Ash hoped the ride would put her at ease and they could have a better visit than they had on the ride to the ruins.

“Did you enjoy this excursion as much as you had hoped?”

He was watching her closely and was thus able to catch the clearly conflicted feelings that flitted across her expressive face before she smiled and nodded.

“Oh yes, the ruins are marvelous, aren’t they? I do hope I can return again to explore when there are perhaps fewer people.”

Ash smiled. One of the things he liked about her was her apparent comfort with her own company. Some young women seemed to require being in a group at all moments. Lady Vigilia didn’t seem averse to others, but she also seemed quite content to enjoy quiet and solitude. It amused him to watch her seem to realize that she might have insulted him. She didn’t always appear to mind insulting him, but Ash had noticed she wanted it to be deliberate, not accidental.

“That is to say, Mr. Northcott, that it’s a trifle more enjoyable to explore when it’s truly an exploration rather than a social event.”

He nodded as though in understanding but then had to ask, “What would be different for you if it wasn’t a social event?”

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