“We were walking this way,” he called out.
“I am returning to the house.”
He trailed me. “Do you eat so early?”
“No. I am going to . . . sew.”
He was beside me a moment later. He would probably follow me even if I broke into a run. I kept my gait steady, resisting the urge to test my theory. The stairs were just down the path.
He wasn’t in the least troubled by the quick pace. “You find sewing an invigorating pastime, I must assume, since you are so eager to give up this fine morning and sew before breakfast. However, if this is your normal routine, I would advise you to allow for a little more exercise in your day.”
I stopped, my hands clenching into fists. “My lord, if you must know, I detest sewing. But I’m finding this walk too taxing for me this morning.”
“You are ill?” To my astonishment, he clasped my elbow with one hand, my hand with his other, and propelled me backward onto the bench. I fell with a plop. “Can I get you anything? Would you like me to fetch you a glass of water?” He retained my hand and crouched before me, meeting my gaze with his own steady one.
What had just happened? Was this another way for him to ridicule me? Yet he seemed sincere. “No. You misunderstand. I am not unwell.” I slipped my hand from his grasp. “My lord—”
“Gregory.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My name is Gregory. I’d prefer for you to call me Gregory.”
“I am not going to address you by your Christian name.”
“Why not?”
He had to be jesting. This was all just part of his game to make me look ridiculous. “I do not know what you are about, but I believe this carries it too far.”
He tilted his head. “It is, perhaps, uncommon. But given our circumstances, it is not carrying things too far.”
“I do not believe it will ever be appropriate to address each other by our first names.”
“Seeing that we are engaged—”
I jumped up. “We should not be engaged, and you know it.”
“Margaret?”
I looked with dread to discover a very astonished Louisa standing in the path a little way from us.
“Louisa!” I had to wait for Lord Williams to stand so I could maneuver around him. The slowness with which he did so prolonged the awkward situation Louisa had stumbled upon, causing my face to heat. When he’d finally stood, I scrambled around him and strode to my friend. “How are you? Have you come to join us for breakfast? My family will be delighted.”
Louisa glanced at me meaningfully, then looked steadily at Lord Williams. I sighed.
“Louisa, allow me to introduce Lord Williams.” Louisa’s brows shot up, but I continued, “Miss Rosthorn is a particular friend of the family, my lord. Her family’s estate borders our own.”
“Miss Rosthorn, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Louisa curtsied with an elegance of which I had always been jealous. “I did not mean to intrude. Margaret’s morning walks around the lake are as routine as the rising sun, and her absence this morning left me worried. However,” she continued, her gaze flicking to me, “now that I see you are in perfect health, I shall return home.”
“Oh, please stay for breakfast.” My voice was calm and natural, but I tugged at her arm.
“Will it not be too great an inconvenience?”
“You know it would be no inconvenience whatsoever.”
“What would be an inconvenience?” Daniel’s voice made all three of us look to where he’d just appeared around a bend.
“I am trying to persuade Louisa to join us for breakfast,” I replied.
Daniel’s eyes widened and his shoulders straightened as though he’d just noticed her. “Good morning, Miss Rosthorn.” His tone was unusually formal.
“Mr. Brinton,” Louisa answered quietly.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Margaret, if she does not wish to stay, don’t pester her. Miss Rosthorn, please give our regards to your parents.”
“Of course.” Louisa said, pulling her arm out of my hand.
“But—”
“I will visit you later,” she interrupted. “I had best return. My parents will wonder. . . .” She fled down the path back toward the lake and her own home.
I spun around. “Daniel, what is the matter with you? Why did you not convince her to stay?”
“She is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. You should not work so hard to get others to bend to your will.” He turned and strode up the stairs.
Daniel’s insulting correction of my behavior left me stunned.
“Shall we return?” Lord Williams asked, offering me his arm.
Daniel’s harshness no doubt had something to do with the baron’s presence, and it was with him that the blame should lie. “Yes.” Ignoring his arm, I strode ahead of him into the house.
Thirteen
The first thing I noticed when we entered the breakfast parlor was that my chair was much closer to Lord Williams’s chair than it had been at dinner. Daniel’s smirk left little doubt as to who had moved it. Unable to think of any immediate action I could take to exact revenge on Daniel without embarrassing myself as well, I vowed to find some horrible way to repay him. Quickening my pace, I determined to slide my chair away without anyone noticing, but Lord Williams reached it at the same time I did and pulled it out for me. I had no choice but to sit.
We were uncomfortably close. I tucked my elbows into my sides as much as I could while eating, but still my arm occasionally brushed his coat. I blew out some air in frustration, causing my mother to glance at me. I sent her an “I didn’t do this” look and her stern expression settled on Daniel, but it was wasted since he was too engrossed in eating to notice. I wouldn’t have minded a public set-down for him; he certainly deserved it. But my mother would never vocalize her disapproval considering the present company.
Immediately after breakfast, Daniel and Lord Williams went out to tour the estate. I paced the morning room in my spencer, bonnet, and gloves, anxious to get out and finally have my walk around the lake. But I couldn’t do so until I was certain there was no chance of meeting the gentlemen outside. When I deemed enough time had passed, I slipped from the room.
The sound of a carriage arriving greeted me when I opened the front door. Panic shot through me.
Mr. Northam was already here.
I slipped back inside and slammed the door, cringing as the sound echoed in the hall. Then I raced to the window and drew back the curtain. But instead of the expected coach or chaise, a tilbury driven by two women pulled to a stop in front of the house. Peering closer, I groaned and dropped the curtain back into place.
Catherine and her mother had arrived, no doubt in an attempt to poach Lord Williams. If only they’d come a few minutes earlier, I would have thrown the door open myself and left them to it. But without the object of their visit being present, the Johnsons were sure to be sour company.
I turned on my heel, intent on sneaking out through the back.
The bell rang just as I passed the morning parlor. Inside the room, my mother glanced up from where she was giving Alice her morning lessons. “Margaret, who is at the door?”