“What? I did not ask. I asked if it was permissible to ask.” He shrugged with a smile, like a lawyer who had figured out some loophole.
“Forgive him.” Lord Dowding addressed his comments to Aaron, pulling a smile from him. “He thinks he’s clever.”
“I’m not that dim,” Lord Bolton said in complaint.
“No, I love you, son, but you are perhaps not as clever as you think.” Lord Dowding made both Aaron and Lord Bolton laugh heartily, startled by the words. “Deep down, you know I am not wrong. Who is the cleverest of my children?”
Aaron realized a beat later just what Lord Dowding had done. He had artfully distracted Lord Bolton from Jane’s presence and the conversation at hand, ensuring they talked of something else entirely. As Lord Bolton fussed with pouring the milk, Aaron nodded his thanks to Lord Dowding. The Earl waved away the thanks with a small gesture of his hand, showing it was no bother.
“The cleverest? Well…” Lord Bolton pretended to think on his father’s question for a minute. “I wish to say, me.”
“Vain or true?” Aaron asked.
“See? He’s catching onto our ways,” Lord Dowding pointed in Aaron’s direction, chuckling all the more.
“Not true, sadly.” Lord Bolton shook his head. “The cleverest child depends on the question you wish to ask them. Fashion or music, it is best to ask Grace. On any other topic, it is probably wiser to speak to Emily.”
“Do you surpass them in any topic?” Aaron asked, humored by the way Arthur winced.
“Probably not.” His words made them all laugh warmly another time. Aaron shook his head in disbelief. How was it possible to be this happy and feel so light about life when mere seconds ago the woman he loved had come to his side, yet was permanently out of his reach?
The world looks different now.
“Lord Tattershall, we are to hold a garden party later this week.” Lord Bolton began, proffering a cigar to Aaron that he politely turned down. “It will not be a large affair, family, a few close friends.”
“I have invited your parents too.” The Earl spoke up, making Aaron’s hands tighten around the coffee cup in his hands.
“Have you invited my brother?” Aaron wished he would say no, even though he knew what was coming. It would have been rude to leave Hugh out of the invitation if the whole family were coming.
“Yes.” The Earl nodded. “Would you come too?”
Aaron paused for a minute. He had already attended two more events than he had intended to be at that week, now he was thinking of making plans for the next week too. He was beginning to think it would be wise to start avoiding Hugh and Jane again when his eyes landed on the empty chair beside him, where Lady Emily had been sat minutes ago.
He thought of the way her curls kept escaping down from the pins and the way she fussed with them, clearly concerned. He found those curls endearing, wondering what it would be like to run his fingers through those dark red tendrils.
One touch…
He attempted to snap himself out of his thoughts and looked back round, only it was not so easy. Her blue eyes slipped into his mind and her wit. If he could have such another spirited conversation about books for hours on end, gazing at Lady Emily, what harm was there in accepting the invitation?
“I would be delighted to come.”
“Wonderful.” Lord Bolton rubbed his hands together excitedly. “I will have to come up with some particularly hard riddles ahead of the day.”
* * *
“You must come to the boating next Saturday.” Arthur issued the invitation with eagerness.
“Do not forget the dinner next Friday, love.” Julia’s reminder made Emily wince and look down into her teacup.
“Is there a day where you do not all do something?” Lord Tattershall asked, looking around the table placed in the garden.
“Rarely,” Emily answered before anyone else could. She looked across the garden, seeing what was supposed to be a small affair had grown into something a little bigger. There were many tables set up on the terrace outside of her father’s house, with lots of people sat around them.
On the far side of the garden, Archibald and Charity were sat with Lord Tattershall’s mother, eager in their conversation. On a table between them, Lord Hugh and Miss Drew were sat together, not showing much interest in talking to anyone else but themselves.
Emily had suspected that Lord Tattershall would take the opportunity to talk to others at the garden party, but so far, he had drunk two teas sat at her side, and showed no intention of moving away.
“So? Will you come?” Julia asked excitedly.
