I waited to see whether Catherine would catch Lord Williams as her escort or be left with Daniel. Either would have satisfied me. What I did not expect was Lord Williams to willingly extend his arm to her. I was further surprised when he requested Catherine sit next to him. I sat in my regular seat next to my father, James between me and his sister. Across from me, Mrs. Johnson beamed at her daughter.
After dinner was served, James leaned close. “You were saying, Miss Brinton?”
I peeked around him. Catherine was completely engrossed in a conversation with Lord Williams, her plate forgotten. Lord Williams appeared to be just as engrossed in the conversation. What could they possibly be talking about? Catherine couldn’t have many interests in common with Lord Williams, since her only interest was finding a man to marry. Though, come to think of it, he seemed to have marriage as his primary interest as well.
I straightened. Why was I the only one he insisted on being disagreeable to? “I was saying there is no need to pretend an interest in me. I know what you are about, and I will not interfere.”
“You think my interest is feigned?”
I rolled my eyes. “Mr. Johnson, we have known each other too long to play games.”
He smiled. “Exactly.”
“I do not take your meaning.”
“My meaning is that people change. Feelings change. Why does it seem so impossible that my intentions toward you may not have changed?”
I stabbed a potato with my fork. “Are you saying that you have developed a tendre for me, Mr. Johnson?”
“I’m only saying that it isn’t impossible.” He lifted his napkin, pretending to wipe his mouth.
He was unsuccessful in masking his grin. “You forget that I have a brother,” I said. “You may tease me as much as you wish, but I will not be fooled by your antics.”
Mr. Johnson replaced his napkin, fully revealing his smile. “Your brother is extremely blessed to have a sister such as yourself.”
“Perhaps you should remind him of his good fortune.”
Daniel grimaced at something Catherine had said and commenced picking at his food. He should not display his irritation so openly. Although, had not I done the same the night Lord Williams had arrived?
“Mr. Brinton, your guest certainly appears to be a charming young man,” Mrs. Johnson said. “It was very kind of your daughter to extend an invitation to dine while he is here.”
“Yes,” my father replied. To his credit, he gave no indication of the annoyance he must have felt at the situation.
“And he is here merely visiting as . . . ?”
“He has come to consult on improvements to our estate.”
I raised my brows. My father had not mentioned the engagement. Why not announce it? Surely he meant for the banns to be read this coming Sunday.
Mrs. Johnson glanced at me. “I see. Miss Brinton, what do you think of your guest?”
Would she not even attempt to disguise her intent? “I think him an honorable acquaintance.”
She examined me a second too long before she looked back down the table. “He seems quite amiable. His estate is to the north, I believe?”
She no doubt knew more about Lord Williams than I did. Being isolated from the town these past few days, I had not had the advantage of village gossip to inform me of all the facts and rumors regarding Lord Williams. But when Mrs. Johnson refrained from making any more inquiries, I began to doubt that word of the engagement had gotten out.
In the sudden hush at our end of the table, I heard Lord Williams say, “I very much enjoyed the company of Miss Rosthorn today. Is she in any way related to Mr. Edward Rosthorn?”
The room stilled, Dr. and Mrs. Johnson both glancing at me while James set down the bite of food that had been halfway to his mouth. My father cleared his throat. “Uh, yes. Edward is Miss Rosthorn’s elder brother.”
Lord Williams nodded. “I thought there might be some connection. The family should be very proud. Though I have never met the couple, I hear he and the former Lady Swenson are very happy.”
“No doubt her large fortune aided in their felicitous union,” I muttered.
Next to me, James chuckled. My comment must have been louder than I expected, because Lord Williams said, “I understood that, though her family was against the union, the couple could not be separated, that theirs was a love match. Miss Brinton, you believe it to be otherwise?”
It did not matter what I believed. Nor did the shadow of the old ache in my chest matter. Nothing about Edward, his mistresses, or his hasty marriage to the former Lady Swenson mattered. “No. You must be correct.” And for the former Lady Swenson’s sake, I hoped he was.
My mother said something then, to which Dr. Johnson responded. I forced myself to eat, though the whole table was now doing its best to pretend I didn’t exist.
Mrs. Johnson endeavored to restart conversation, and my father and James rallied to the task. Even so, I heard Daniel ask, “How was the boat ride, my lord? I hope you heeded my warning and did not allow Margaret to row. I would hate for you to have suffered a drenching.”
Did Daniel know? Even if he didn’t, there was no reason for Lord Williams not to confess what had happened. This had to be one of the most humiliating dinners I had suffered through.
“No, your sister did not touch the oars while I was in the boat,” Lord Williams replied. I waited, but he failed to elaborate. The conversation turned to the remarkable weather we’d been enjoying.
Lord Williams hadn’t outed me. He’d respected my wishes that the incident remain undiscovered. And he had kept the secret without lying.
Why?
Alice was waiting for us when we retired to the drawing room. Catherine greeted her briefly before making her way to the piano. Mrs. Johnson ignored Alice completely and imprisoned my mother in conversation.
I sat next to Alice and answered her questions regarding the dinner with more excitement than I felt.
When the gentlemen entered, Catherine stood from the piano to greet them. I knew what she was about. By her position, she associated herself with music, yet in refraining from playing when the men entered she gave the pretense of modesty. She was practically begging someone to ask her to display her musical talents.
She wasn’t disappointed. James and Daniel made their way to me, but Lord Williams hesitated only a second before striding to Catherine.
“Do you play, Miss Johnson?”
“A little.”
“Perhaps you would do us the honor.”
She would. Catherine would never pass up an opportunity for display.
She lowered her gaze to the floor. To a man her maneuver might seem bashful, but I had studied the same arts she had and knew she was merely pretending. “I would not wish to displace Miss Brinton.”
I nearly snorted. She’d derive great pleasure in doing just that.
I waited to be addressed so that I might assure them of my disinterest in performing. But Lord Williams didn’t consult me. He didn’t even look my way. “I think you will find Miss Brinton is rather averse to the idea of playing before the present audience.”
“Really?” Catherine studied me as though trying to discern my true motives for passing on such an opportunity. “In that case, I would be happy to sing.”
Daniel let out a low snort of impatience. Before he could say something rude, I said, “Miss Johnson, we would be delighted if you would honor us with a song.” Better her than me.