“Welcome, Miss Neves,” Lady Charlotte said, her voice formal and far from welcoming. “I do not know the name Neves.”
“It is not an English name, my lady,” Ines said. Lady Charlotte’s eyes widened slightly when she heard Ines speak. “I am from Portugal, though I live in London now.”
“I see. And what brought you to London?”
Ines could hear the next question already—and what brings you here?
But Duncan interrupted. “Mother, you have nae greeted Mr. Fortescue. Lady Charlotte, Stratford Fortescue.”
Fortescue gave a deep bow. “Lady Charlotte, I am honored.”
She offered her hand and he took it and kissed it.
“Your father is a baron?”
Stratford nodded. “He is.”
“And you fought with my son under Colonel Draven.”
“I did, my lady.”
“Well, then, you are most welcome.” Her eyes slid to Emmeline and then briefly to Ines. “All of you.” She ushered them inside and bid them follow her into what Ines soon saw was the dining hall. “One of the little boys from the village ran ahead and told me to expect you, so I have had Cook keep the midday meal long enough so you might settle in then eat. But it appears there is little to settle in.” She looked at Duncan. “Your trunks arrived a day or so ago, but no other luggage came ahead of you.”
Ines did not know why she did it. Perhaps because she’d grown used to Emmeline’s brashness. Perhaps because the high, vaulted ceiling of the dining hall, the huge hearth that took up almost an entire wall, and the flickering candles in the wall scones all about made her nervous and feel as though she had stepped back in time to when knights roamed the land. Ines said, “We do not have any luggage, your lady. Just the clothes on our backs.”
Silence slammed down so quickly that Ines could hear the rattling of pots in the distant kitchen.
“It’s a long story,” Duncan said.
“It always is.” Lady Charlotte gestured for everyone to take their seats and then rang a bell. A footman came in with a tray of steaming towels. Using tongs, he handed each of them one to clean their hands. Ines was impressed. She had not ever thought about such things being done at a dining table, but obviously she was the only one not familiar with the ritual as Emmeline and Duncan knew exactly what to do. She might have stared at her towel curiously if she had not watched the others. It seemed everyone in London considered Scotland a land of barbarians, but clearly those people had never traveled to Scotland. Aside from the reivers, it was a land of kind and generous people. More than thirty years here had not obliterated all of the social customs from Lady Charlotte.
When the footman collected the towels and exited, Lady Charlotte steepled her fingers and said, “I am breathless with anticipation.”
Duncan rolled his eyes. “I can simplify it for ye. Miss Wellesley is Fortescue’s cousin.”
“We are not technically cousins,” Emmeline said.
“Our mothers have always been close, and they called us cousins,” Fortescue explained.
Duncan glared at them. “As I was saying,” he began again when they quieted. “Miss Wellesley wanted tae visit her grandmother in Cumbria. Stratford went along tae escort her.”
Lady Charlotte looked at her son then looked at her guests. “I feel compelled to point out, this is not Cumbria.” She looked at Mr. Fortescue. “And you, cousin or not, are not a proper escort for a young lady.”
The door opened, and the footman had returned with a tureen of soup. The conversation ceased as he served each of them then placed a basket of warm bread on the table. Ines was suddenly so hungry, she was dizzy with it. She tried to remember her manners, but she feared she attacked the soup as a wolf might a rabbit.
“Perhaps Miss Neves is your companion and chaperone,” Lady Charlotte said. Hearing her name, Ines dropped her spoon and lifted her head from the bowl. “Though she seems a bit young for the task.”
“Actually,” Emmeline said, “it is I who decided to accompany Ines to Scotland. She wanted to see Mr. Murray’s home, and I have always wanted to see this country and came along.”
“And how do you know my son, Miss Neves?”
Before Ines could answer, Duncan said, “That’s a long story better saved for later. How are James and Moira?”
“Your brother and sister are well, Duncan. And I have time for a long story. Now you have piqued my interest. Please allow Miss Neves to enlighten us.”
“We have a mutual acquaintance,” Duncan said before Ines could say anything. “And there was a misunderstanding.”
All of the careful wording and sidestepping seemed quite silly to Ines. Obviously, Lady Charlotte would find out the truth one way or another. She might as well know it now.
“My sister is married to Colonel Draven,” Ines said. “I was trying to avoid a suitor and hid in the coach of Duncan—Mr. Murray. Before I knew it, we were outside of London.”
Lady Charlotte set her unused spoon on the table. “You stowed away in his coach?”
“By accident.”
She turned to her son. “Why did you not return her to London immediately?”
“I wanted tae, but—”
“But I pretended not to speak English,” Ines said, breaking a piece of bread in two. Telling the truth was quite freeing. She felt better than she had in days. “I did not want to go back to London right away. I wanted an adventure. And, truth be told, I wanted more time with Duncan. He is most handsome.”
“I see.” It was difficult to know what she thought of this statement by Ines as his mother’s expression did not change.
“I am a lacemaker. A shopkeeper. I wanted an adventure.”
“You are young, Miss Neves, and perhaps did not think through your plans. You are related to Colonel Draven. That makes you more than a shopkeeper. Your brother-in-law will insist you marry my son.”
Ines shrugged. “I will decline. After all these days with Mr. Murray, I find I do not want to marry him.”
Lady Charlotte’s eyebrows shot up. Ines did not know if she was more shocked at the idea of her son being forced to marry a shopkeeper or that same shopkeeper refusing to consider her son as a suitor.
“I am certain my brother-in-law will arrive soon, and I will be out of your way.” She looked at Duncan. “You will not ever have to see me again.”
Lady Charlotte harrumphed. “And if Colonel Draven is half the man the rumors would have him to be, you know that is ridiculous. He will force my son to marry you.”
Ines stood. “And if you knew me, my lady, you would know that I do not do anything I do not want. Excuse me.” She threw down her napkin then started away. But she quickly turned back, grabbed the breadbasket, and took it with her.
EMMELINE
Emmeline started to rise to follow Ines, but Lady Charlotte pointed at her. “Sit down, Miss Wellesley. It is quite enough to have one guest storm from my table, but I will not have two.”
Emmeline started to lower herself again then stood. “I am sorry to disobey, but Miss Neves is my friend.”
“Your friend? She is a shopkeeper.”
“She is an artist and dearer to me than my own sisters. Excuse me.” Emmeline thought Lady Charlotte nodded her head in approval, but she was probably mistaken. Emmeline walked quickly away. In the entryway, she saw the door was open and followed it into the courtyard, where Ines stood near where they had ridden in, a wet Loftus at her side. She was feeding him bread. Emmeline crossed the courtyard to her and put her arm around her shoulders.