Page 31 of A Lady to Reveal (Sherton Sisters 4)

“Did she, now?” he asked with a degree of respect reflected in his blue gaze, so eerily similar to his father’s.

“I had been hoping you’d arrive in the morning,” Adelina explained. “Could you not have told the horses to go faster?”

The occupants of the room laughed again, but Gardner shook his head. “Smith wouldn’t allow it,” he said with obvious disdain. “And Easton wasn’t sure he wanted to be in a hurry anyway.”

“Why ever not, Easton?” Adelina demanded.

Easton grinned. “Wickham is attributing his own feelings onto me. Pay him no mind, munchkin.”

Adelina looked between the two of her brothers, clearly undecided how she felt about the entire situation. Felicity stepped into the conversation.

“Where is Mr. Smith? We had thought he might join us this evening.”

“He carried on to his home, as he’s not far from here,” Easton answered while Gardner added, “He’s too afraid of the duke to remain for a meal.”

Felicity couldn’t help glancing at Rathnelly to gauge his reaction to his son’s statement, but there was nothing to be learned from the man’s impassive expression. Hoping to smooth over the awkwardness, she offered another possible explanation.

“He was likely afraid of his mother’s reaction if she were to find out he was in the area and hadn’t come to visit,” she finally said, a trifle desperately, hoping the butler would soon arrive to announce the meal.

Her desperate but silent pleas must have been heard somewhere as in that moment, Mr. Carter stepped through the door.

“Your Grace, dinner is served.”

They all trouped behind the butler in a silent queue while Felicity wracked her brain as to how to make the situation any less awkward. Once they were seated and the footmen began to serve, she began directing the conversation.

“Wickham,” she began, wondering if she ought to address him as Lord Wickham. “Lady Adelina has been telling me about some of the letters you’ve exchanged, but she wasn’t able to tell me much about your studies. Did you have a favourite subject at school?”

“Fencing,” he answered immediately, prompting a surprised chuckle from Felicity.

“Ah, I see. That would explain why she didn’t know what you’d been studying in History or Geography classes.”

The boy’s grin was sheepish, and Felicity could see that he was unbending a little. He rolled his eyes toward his sister. “Your companion reminds me of Smith.”

“Does Smith value an excellent education then, my lord?” Felicity asked in a syrupy sweet voice accompanied by a pleasant smile to let him know that she hadn’t taken any offense but not expecting a direct response from the young gentleman.

“What about you, Lord Easton?” she asked, almost growing accustomed to addressing children as peers. “Did you have a favourite subject this term?”

“I wasn’t nearly as good as Wick at sports, so I did try to enjoy the book stuff. Mathematics was my favourite,” he said, bowing his head as though embarrassed by the admission.

“That’s wonderful, my lord. Your sister and I were just practicing our maths this afternoon while we were trying to decide how soon you’d arrive. Perhaps, you can show us some shortcuts some time.”

Felicity was again uncomfortably aware of Rathnelly’s gaze heavy upon her, but she didn’t turn her eyes to confirm, maintaining her focus on the children. She could sense that Adelina was feeling a little cowed by her brothers’ exalted presence, so Felicity tried to get her involved.

“Lady Adelina, perhaps you could find out from your brothers if they are in favour of our ideas for entertainment in their first few days in residence. And then you can also make some plans for other ideas that you and I hadn’t even thought of.”

As they began chatting away, Felicity had trouble paying full attention to the children’s discussion and trusted that Adelina would keep her fully informed as the days went on. As she kept her gaze trained on them, though, to ensure her eyes did not drift toward the duke, she thought about her sister’s latest letter and how she ought to reply.

I was sorry to hear you wish to remain ensconced at home, Grace. Do you think perhaps you are allowing yourself to become too engrained in your habits? I know you aren’t very advanced in years, so that doesn’t seem likely, but surely you ought to wish to leave home at least a little.

You are no doubt rolling your eyes as you read that. But I would argue that it is not hypocritical of me in the least.

Felicity smiled as she thought of her sister’s response to her letter and carried on with its composition.

I may not have wanted a Season, but I certainly didn’t aspire to never leave home. We just haven’t thought of something perfect for you yet. I promise, I will give it some thought.

I do wish you were here. There have been two boys added to the household. More than ever I wish we had managed to acquire a brother long before now. I can assure you I would be much more prepared for this situation.

Have you ever known someone to stare at you as though you were both the smartest and vilest person they had ever seen?

Felicity drew her thoughts to a halt. She couldn’t write that to her sister. And she ought to be paying attention to the children, anyhow. It was good timing as they wished to play a game of Follow the Leader, and she was going to need to have her wits about her.

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