distastefully tepid.
The next afternoon Jane wandered into the stillroom, a sheaf of papers in her hand and a frown pulling her brows together. "I think a dinner followed by dancing is what we should plan for the day our guests arrive."
Lady Elsbeth did not look up from the herbs she was grinding between mortar and pestle. "If you say so, my dear, I certainly have no objection; however, I thought it was your intention to plan country entertainments that Serena would dislike. I doubt she will fault dinner and dancing."
"I know, but I have decided our first task is to turn her attention from my state of spinsterhood. If we include Lord Royce in our invitation, Aunt Serena and Millicent will be diverted before they implement whatever devious plans they have for me."
"Gracious! How can you be sure they possess devious plans?"
Jane shrugged and laid her papers on the workbench. "They did once. I see no reason for them not to do so again."
Lady Elsbeth pursed her lips, studying her niece. The afternoon sun, streaming in the high, narrow windows of the cool subterranean stillroom, bathed Jane in a glow of light. Oh, how she wished to be in Jane’s confidence! She was so outwardly self-assured, yet inwardly she hurt from some disappointment unknown to Elsbeth. Possibly it was suffering caused by the very contretemps lying between her and Serena. No matter, little by little she would discover the particulars. She only hoped it would be sooner than later, for she placed no confidence in the earl dancing attendance on Millicent. As the widow of David Hedgeworth, Millicent possessed wealth, but nothing compared with Jane’s holdings. Being, as she understood from the voluble Mrs. Chitterdean, on a repairing lease, Lord Royce could well turn his attention to Jane as the wealthier of the two, and that would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons. And she could envision that circumstance, for though she deplored the public persona Jane adopted in London society, she was dismayed to perceive it faltering in the earl’s company. She had never witnessed that before. It boded ill.
"Pass me that bottle of oil, if you please, Jane," said Lady Elsbeth calmly. "What other plans are you making?"
"An alfresco breakfast on the terrace followed by some games, such as pall mall or an old-fashioned round of battledore and shuttlecock. Then perhaps we’ll encourage the gentlemen to play court tennis, billiards, or shovelboard; activities that will keep them together and away from the ladies."
"Serena will not find favor with that circumstance."
"Precisely."
"It might work," Lady Elsbeth said while measuring the mixture into a clean glass bottle.
"Of course it will work. Particularly since I intend to encourage the children’s company during all our daytime activities. If I know those boys, they will take Lady Tipton’s measure soon enough and delight in plaguing her. "
"Jane! I will not have those boys playing nasty tricks like—like toads in beds or—or worms in drinks."
Jane laughed. "Rest assured, though I have no love for my Aunt Serena, I would not descend to that level. After all, she is my mother’s sister, and I know Mama would disapprove of such measures. No, I will merely encourage them to be attentive."
Lady Elsbeth shook her head doubtfully. "You have a devious mind. I wonder why I never noted it before."
"Devious?" Jane laughed, her green eyes shining like emeralds. "If I am, my relations have proved apt teachers. Between Aunt Serena and Cousin Millicent with their machinations, and Bertram and Edward with their high pranks. I’ve had a liberal education."
Lady Elsbeth raised an eyebrow. She shook fresh herbs into her mortar and continued working her pestle in thoughtful silence.
Jane wandered over to a long, narrow shelf lined with varicolored glass bottles. Absently she began straightening the haphazard row, her fingers leaving tracks against the smooth patina of dust. Her mind turned fretfully to the memory of
The next afternoon Jane wandered into the stillroom, a sheaf of papers in her hand and a frown pulling her brows together. "I think a dinner followed by dancing is what we should plan for the day our guests arrive."
Lady Elsbeth did not look up from the herbs she was grinding between mortar and pestle. "If you say so, my dear, I certainly have no objection; however, I thought it was your intention to plan country entertainments that Serena would dislike. I doubt she will fault dinner and dancing."
"I know, but I have decided our first task is to turn her attention from my state of spinsterhood. If we include Lord Royce in our invitation, Aunt Serena and Millicent will be diverted before they implement whatever devious plans they have for me."
"Gracious! How can you be sure they possess devious plans?"
Jane shrugged and laid her papers on the workbench. "They did once. I see no reason for them not to do so again."
Lady Elsbeth pursed her lips, studying her niece. The afternoon sun, streaming in the high, narrow windows of the cool subterranean stillroom, bathed Jane in a glow of light. Oh, how she wished to be in Jane’s confidence! She was so outwardly self-assured, yet inwardly she hurt from some disappointment unknown to Elsbeth. Possibly it was suffering caused by the very contretemps lying between her and Serena. No matter, little by little she would discover the particulars. She only hoped it would be sooner than later, for she placed no confidence in the earl dancing attendance on Millicent. As the widow of David Hedgeworth, Millicent possessed wealth, but nothing compared with Jane’s holdings. Being, as she understood from the voluble Mrs. Chitterdean, on a repairing lease, Lord Royce could well turn his attention to Jane as the wealthier of the two, and that would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons. And she could envision that circumstance, for though she deplored the public persona Jane adopted in London society, she was dismayed to perceive it faltering in the earl’s company. She had never witnessed that before. It boded ill.
"Pass me that bottle of oil, if you please, Jane," said Lady Elsbeth calmly. "What other plans are you making?"
"An alfresco breakfast on the terrace followed by some games, such as pall mall or an old-fashioned round of battledore and shuttlecock. Then perhaps we’ll encourage the gentlemen to play court tennis, billiards, or shovelboard; activities that will keep them together and away from the ladies."
"Serena will not find favor with that circumstance."
"Precisely."
"It might work," Lady Elsbeth said while measuring the mixture into a clean glass bottle.
"Of course it will work. Particularly since I intend to encourage the children’s company during all our daytime activities. If I know those boys, they will take Lady Tipton’s measure soon enough and delight in plaguing her. "
"Jane! I will not have those boys playing nasty tricks like—like toads in beds or—or worms in drinks."
Jane laughed. "Rest assured, though I have no love for my Aunt Serena, I would not descend to that level. After all, she is my mother’s sister, and I know Mama would disapprove of such measures. No, I will merely encourage them to be attentive."
Lady Elsbeth shook her head doubtfully. "You have a devious mind. I wonder why I never noted it before."
"Devious?" Jane laughed, her green eyes shining like emeralds. "If I am, my relations have proved apt teachers. Between Aunt Serena and Cousin Millicent with their machinations, and Bertram and Edward with their high pranks. I’ve had a liberal education."
Lady Elsbeth raised an eyebrow. She shook fresh herbs into her mortar and continued working her pestle in thoughtful silence.
Jane wandered over to a long, narrow shelf lined with varicolored glass bottles. Absently she began straightening the haphazard row, her fingers leaving tracks against the smooth patina of dust. Her mind turned fretfully to the memory of
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