“Needless to say,” Lord Cosford continued, “we’ll be making some adjustments to our activities.” He looked to his wife once more. “I know my darling wife has alternate plans, so rest assured there will be amusements for all. Now, I think it’s time I had a brandy!” He turned toward the nearest footman, then stopped. “I nearly forgot. If you haven’t yet received your map, raise your hand, and Vernon will bring it to you.”
Genie swallowed the rest of her second sandwich, then looked at Satterfield. “What map? If we can’t go outside, why would we need a map?”
The earl cocked his head, looking at her…dubiously. Again, Genie had an odd sensation. And she was finally beginning to realize that she was missing something.
Satterfield raised his hand, and a moment later, the butler delivered a folded parchment to him. “I already have one,” he said to Genie. “This one is for you. However, I take it you don’t know what it’s for.” He frowned slightly. “Did Lady Cosford not explain the purpose of this party?”
Purpose? What purpose did a house party have aside from providing social opportunity and amusement? Genie took the map and opened the parchment. “Is this the house?” She glanced over at the earl.
“Upstairs, to be precise.”
She could see that. In each bedroom was written someone’s name or initials. She found hers—at least she thought DDK meant her, the Dowager Duchess of Kendal. Why on earth would they give out maps of everyone’s bedrooms? Unless… No, that was too scandalous.
Genie looked around the room at the people assembled. Not one wife. Not one husband. No one was a couple, save their hosts. In fact, Genie was fairly certain every woman in attendance was a widow. What the devil kind of party was this?
Standing so quickly she upended her plate, Genie felt heat rush to her face. Before she could bend down to pick up the biscuits that had tumbled to the floor, as well as the plate, Lord Satterfield did it for her.
When he stood, he took a step closer, so that there was scarcely any space between them. Their proximity both terrified and excited her. She hadn’t been this close to a man in some time. She hadn’t been this close to a man who wasn’t her husband ever.
“I’m sorry you didn’t know,” he said softly. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
Genie couldn’t move. Her heart beat faster, and she wondered if he could hear it. He turned and walked away, taking her plate and biscuits with him. Which was fine since she’d quite lost her appetite.
She located Cecilia across the room, standing with her husband, and made her way quickly in that direction. “Cecilia, may I have a word?” Genie tried to keep her voice pleasant.
Cecilia turned toward her, smiling. “Of course.”
“Welcome to Blickton, Duchess,” Lord Cosford said cheerfully. “We’re so glad you came.”
Genie narrowed her eyes slightly before pinning her attention on Cecilia. “Privately, please?”
Concern flashed in Cecilia’s gaze. “Certainly.” She walked with Genie from the drawing room. Once they were several paces away from the doorway, she stopped and turned toward Genie. “Is there something amiss?”
Holding up the map, Genie struggled to keep her emotions in check. “What is this?” No, that wasn’t the right question. Genie knew what it was. What she didn’t know was why it was. “What is this party about?”
Pink dotted Cecilia’s cheeks, validating the shock and distress Genie felt. “Oh dear, I can see you’re upset. I should have told you straightaway, but I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
She was damn right Genie wouldn’t have come. “Everyone here is unmarried.”
“Yes. Our hope was to provide an opportunity for those who are unwed and perhaps wish to be wed again to meet and establish connections.”
“What sort of connections?” Genie glanced toward the paper in her hand. “You provided a map with everyone’s bedrooms.”
The color in Cecilia’s face deepened. “Ah, yes, we did. We are also providing an opportunity for more…intimate connections, should someone desire.”
Genie stared at her, unthinking, for a moment. “This is mad.”
“It isn’t, really. Lady Greville hosted a party like this a couple of years ago, and it was a great success.” Cecilia’s fixed on Genie with a half smile, her eyes shining with empathy. “I actually thought of hosting it precisely for you.”
“You can’t think I would want to wed again. Or…anything else.”
“Why not?” Cecilia’s russet brows gathered together. “You’re young, beautiful, intelligent. There’s no reason you should be alone.”
“No reason at all, except that I want to be. I’m leaving.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized departure was impossible.
“You can’t. The road—”
“Is impassable.” Genie ground her teeth. “I feel as though you tricked me.”
Cecilia reached out to touch Genie’s hand, but Genie stepped back. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I truly thought you would be amenable. You’ve always been the most cordial— even gregarious—woman.”
“That doesn’t mean I want to marry again. Or have an affair. I was looking forward to a house party, not…whatever this is.”
“Forgive me.” Cecilia’s face fell, and she twisted her hands together. “This can still be just a house party for you.”
Genie wasn’t sure she believed that. She opened her mouth to respond, but, deciding there wasn’t anything she could think to say, she simply turned on her heel and began to walk away. Thankfully, the inconceivable map would show the way to her room.
“I’ll see you at dinner!” Cecilia called, her tone bursting with hope.
Again, Genie didn’t respond. Because she didn’t know what she was going to do.
Chapter 2
Edmund Holt, Earl of Satterfield, sipped his port as male conversation rumbled around him in the dining room. He’d spent dinner across the table from the Dowager Duchess of Kendal, or, as he remembered her from his youth, Miss Aldwick. He recalled seeing her, the daughter of a viscount and the youngest of five sisters, at one of the very first balls he’d attended at the age of twenty.
Tall, with a grace and elegance that had seemed at odds with her youth, she possessed piercing gray eyes illuminated with intelligence, she’d caught Edmund’s attention immediately. But he’d been on the verge of his Grand Tour and had no intention to marry, while she’d been on the Marriage Mart—delayed a few years due to the deaths of her parents. She was two years older, a fact that hadn’t bothered him the slightest then and was still inconsequential.
She’d had a wonderful laugh, and a smile that dazzled the entire ballroom. Edmund hadn’t gathered the courage to ask her to dance. He’d also assumed all her dances were claimed given her popularity. For the weeks that followed until he departed, he kept a distant eye on her, watching as she had her pick of the gentlemen available that Season. It seemed she would choose the Marquess of Ravenglass, but then his father, the Duke of Kendal, had died in an accident, and that match seemed unlikely. The next Edmund had heard—the following winter—she’d wed the new duke. It had been heralded as a love match, with Miss Aldwick waiting patiently for Kendal as he mourned his father and took his place as the duke.