“It most certainly is useful,” I replied, striding forward. He would listen to me. This was one matter in which I would not back down. “And, as I am sure Lord Williams will inform you, what with his tastes being so very refined, the lake is the only tolerable aspect of our estate, according to modern standards.”
Lord Williams cleared his throat.
“Margaret, shouldn’t you be getting ready for dinner?” Daniel asked.
“I am ready. Father, you can’t possibly contemplate such an action. That lake has stood as a landmark on our estate for generations.”
My father sat back in his chair. “I would like to hear what Lord Williams has to say on the matter.”
I moved around the desk, my back to Daniel and Lord Williams. “Why?” I asked quietly. “Riding over the estate doesn’t provide a person with a knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the land. He can’t know what he’s saying.”
“Perhaps,” Daniel said loudly, “it would be best to discuss this after dinner.” Which meant he wished to continue the discussion when I was not present to voice objections to whatever scheme he and Lord Williams had concocted.
Mother entered. “Colin, Daniel. Dinner is in half an hour.”
“That is my cue to dress. Thank you, Eloise.” My father stood.
Behind me, Daniel and Lord Williams stood as well.
“Please, father,” I said quietly. “Please don’t do this.”
“Margaret, I know how important the lake is to you. Nothing will be decided tonight, but I would like to at least hear Lord Williams’s ideas.”
“Did you know, Margaret,” Daniel interrupted, “that Lord Williams is quite fond of music and has studied a bit himself? Perhaps you will entertain us all with a song later.”
I turned to him in shock. I rarely sang for anyone outside of the family. I could not endure the thought of the baron’s reaction to my singing when he had found my playing so atrocious. “I am certain that if Lord Williams is so very fond of music he will find no pleasure in listening to me.”
“Quite the contrary, Miss Brinton,” Lord Williams said.
“You are too kind, my lord. But you will have to excuse me.”
He bowed his head in consent and followed my father and brother out of the room.
My mother stayed at the door. “You should at least play for him.”
“You would understand why I cannot if I were to tell you of his behavior at the Hickmores’.”
“I am listening.”
Surprised but grateful for my mother’s willingness to hear my story, I relayed everything that had occurred.
When I’d finished, she said, “This engagement has never sat well with me. I will endeavor to learn more about our guest.”
Relief washed over me. My mother was on my side. She was going to help me escape. “Thank you.”
A half hour later, we assembled in the parlor. Now was the perfect opportunity to get Daniel away from Lord Williams and ask him for an update on his letter to Mr. Northam. I walked over to a pile of books on a table and rifled through them. Under the pretense of indecision, I said, “Daniel, I believe you have read most of these. Will you assist me?”
“Actually,” he said, “that is a stack Lord Williams has recommended for me. You will have to ask his opinion on which one you should read, though I doubt you will find any of them very interesting.”
I stepped back as Lord Williams rose from his chair. Why was every attempt to distance myself from him backfiring?
“There are no novels here,” he said apologetically, coming to stand near me.
“I read more than just novels,” I retorted.
“I am glad to hear it.”
It was lamentable that anything I did made him glad. “You disapprove of novels?”
“Not at all, though I believe some novels are of more merit than others.”
“No doubt you are one of those who rank sermons on conduct much more highly than novels.”
“No.” Lord Williams selected a book and turned it over in his hands. “There are far too many women who know the arts of conduct.” He handed the book to me.
I glanced at the spine. It was my favorite book of poetry. I would have blamed the incident on Daniel, but I doubted Daniel even knew I treasured this collection. “What is this?”
“A collection of poems I admire.”
I frowned. “I am surprised you find pleasure in poetry.”
“You may be surprised by a great many things about me, Miss Brinton.” He turned and resumed his position next to Daniel.
Fifteen
I sat on the bench out front after breakfast the next morning, pretending to read a sermon on conduct. The talk of the morning had again focused on changes that should be made to the estate, and my residual agitation made it almost impossible to sit still, let alone focus on the words of the book. But I didn’t give up my pretense for fear that the baron would catch me without an occupation and request my company.
A small noise on the gravel drew my attention and I glanced up, careful to make it appear I was still reading in case the noise arose from Lord Williams. Louisa’s figure rounded the bend, and I tossed the book aside and ran to her. “Oh, Louisa! You came!”
“Of course. Tell me everything.”
“Come sit with me.”
To my surprise, she pulled away. “Perhaps we could walk?”
“Why?”
“I think it better if I do not meet with your brother.”
“What has happened?”
Louisa studied her gloved hands. “The last time we met he seemed ill-pleased to see me. If . . . something has changed . . . regarding his intentions—”
I suddenly understood. Daniel’s reaction at the stairs had caused her to believe his affection had transferred to someone he’d met at the Hickmores’. “He loves you, Louisa, and no one else.”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, so I continued, “He has been acting peculiar ever since Lord Williams appeared. But yesterday morning he was upset with me because he thought I was pressuring you into staying. He did not wish for you to stay if you had no desire to.”
“I understand.” She smiled, but doubt still shone in her eyes. Then her smile turned to a frown. “Tell me—your guest, Lord Williams—he is the same man you told me about?”
I nodded.
“What is he doing here?”
I surveyed our surroundings. No one appeared to be outside, but still I dragged her across the lawn to a bench on the path near the woods, relaying how the baron was the man my father had arranged for me to marry and everything that had occurred since.
“Oh, Margaret.” She clasped my hands. “What are you going to do? What does your brother think?”
“Daniel is practically in love with the baron himself. My whole family is enchanted by him.”
Louisa frowned, a line of thought creasing her brows as she murmured, “He did appear quite attentive yesterday when I chanced upon you.”
I rolled my eyes. “When you discovered us, I had been trying to make my escape. The baron mistook my desire to return to the house as a bout of illness and forced me onto the bench to rest.” I hesitated, debating whether I should tell her how he asked me to call him by his first name. I decided against it, fearing that if I told her, his lack of insistence on formality would appeal to her. With my family so against me, I needed her support.