Lavender rolled her eyes at him, getting to her feet. “Very well. I shall check in on the status of the workers and then return home. I shall be back within the hour.”
“You may take more time—”
“Before the hour,” she repeated on her way out the door.
Once she was in bedchamber, Lavender picked up the pace. She didn’t pay that tremor of excitement any mind. She wasn’t excited to see the earl at all. It would only be good to get out of the house for a while, to get some fresh air. That was the only reason why she’d chosen one of her favorite walking dresses with her matching bonnet and parasol.
Her brother called for a carriage to be prepared so it was ready for her by the time she made it outside. Betty seemed to be in a good mood as well, as if she was also looking forward to leaving the house as Lavender’s chaperone.
Before long, they arrived at the house. It was in markedly better condition than yesterday, she noted. The front porch and window had been fixed. And there seemed to be twice as many workmen trudging in and out than there had been before. Perhaps Austin was getting impatient regarding the speed of the repairs.
“Miss Lavender!” The anxious butler came rushing up to her with sweat dotting his forward. “I did not know that you were—”
“Don’t worry,” she told him. “I did not send word that I would be coming. Is Lord Derby here?”
“He is not, miss. He stepped out just a short while ago and did not say where he was going.”
“Did he take a carriage?”
“No, miss. He left on foot.”
Perhaps that meant that he would not be gone for long. Not that she cared overly much. She’d come here to check on the renovations after all.
She said as much to the butler and he nodded eagerly. “I could take you on a tour through the house, miss, if you wish.”
“That would be nice. You can also tell me what changes you intend on making as we go along.”
“Certainly, miss.”
Lavender followed the butler inside. He took Betty and her to the drawing room first, showing her that the wallpaper had been replaced like she’d suggested. Lavender felt a bite of pleasure when he said that Austin had seemed pleased by the sight of it.
The next room was a parlor. And then a sun-room. All rooms clearly had not been touched by the workmen yet because there were little repairs done to the dilapidated states, but the butler informed her of the plans for each room, which left her with hope.
Then they came to the dining room. The first thing she noticed was the large portrait hanging over the mantle across the room. Lavender hadn’t noticed the lack of portraits in the house until she spotted this one.
A pair of deep blue eyes watched her from across the room. The woman in the portrait was a subtle beauty, bearing a small, kind smile. Lavender had a suspicion of who she was even as she asked, “Who is she?”
“She is the late Countess of Derby, miss,” the butler responded.
“Is her portrait the only one in the house?”
“Yes, miss.”
“How…sad.”
“P-pardon me, miss?” The butler sounded taken aback.
Lavender drew closer, admiring the soft brushstrokes despite how sad she found it. “There is a certain emptiness to having this portrait as the only one in the house,” she said. She heard something behind her but didn’t turn to look, clasping her hands behind her instead. “I had heard that the late countess had borne no ill will to the earl and Austin but it is still quite sad to see that neither is displayed throughout the entire house. Perhaps I could speak with Austin about it when I see him next.”
“Miss Lavender…” came Betty’s soft whisper.
“Or is that a bad idea? He doesn’t think very highly of me. He may think I am being nosy.”
“Miss Lavender,” her chaperone’s voice came again. “Perhaps—”
“What is it, Betty?” Lavender turned to look at her. Only to find that it wasn’t Betty standing slightly behind her but Austin.
How hadn’t she heard him come in? The butler was nowhere to be found. Lavender wouldn’t be surprised if he had run off the moment his master appeared. Betty was standing a few paces away, a fearful look on her face.
