“I did not,” Lord Willowdale replied. “I told you, I received a message saying he would arrive, when and why. It gives you about an hour to get yourself changed and ready to meet him.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then you insult him, and damage our family’s good name.”
Thea narrowed her eyes, glaring at her brother. “I think you set this up.”
Lord Willowdale shrugged. “Think what you like but I did nothing of the sort. I am honoring your wishes to permit you to help in the choosing of your husband. It is hardly my fault that Robert has taken it upon himself to court you.”
Do not look at Thea, do not look at her.Liam managed to take his own advice, yet it was a near thing. Liam knew one thing, however – if Robert came to court her, then she would need a chaperone. She would also need a servant, and he wondered how he could manipulate things so it was Liam who waited upon them.
“I expect you will chaperone?” she asked Lord Willowdale. “I do not feel safe with him, nor would it be proper for me to meet him alone.”
“If you desire, I will act as your chaperone,” Lord Willowdale replied. “But I warn you, I will stand aside to give you both privacy.”
“No.” Thea set her wine glass down hard enough to slosh wine over the rim. “We will be in the drawing room and you will sit with us. Or I do not meet with him at all.”
Her brother sighed. “Very well. Just do not throw your wine in his face. Please? For me?”
“Might I spit on him then?”
“Thea.”
“It would, at least, let him know how I truly feel about him.”
“Just go get yourself ready. You are giving me a headache.”
Offering him a nasty smile, Thea rose from her place at the table. Her eyes passed across Liam’s, and he recognized the anger and desperation in them. He longed to go with her, to encourage her, but he could not. His anger grew again at their social differences and knew this was a battle Thea must fight on her own.
Shortly after, Lord Willowdale also rose and left the dining room, permitting Liam and the other footmen to begin clearing away the remains of the meal. Working, focused on keeping his anger reined in, he started up when he discovered Mr. O’Bannon at his elbow. He gave the butler a short bow.
“I will have the kitchen maids assist in finishing here,” Mr. O’Bannon said. “I need you three footmen, to attend the Lords and the Lady in the drawing room. There is little enough time to get other footmen to wait on them right now.”
“Yes, sir.”
His heart rejoicing, Liam bowed again, and with the other two footmen, left the dining room to stride quickly to the drawing room. They would have to make certain there was plenty of alcohol in the decanters, glasses ready to hand, a fire built in the hearth, and that the place was in proper order for their master and mistress to entertain a guest.
Liam and his comrades made everything ready, and took their places against the wall, ready to serve. They had not long to wait before the door opened and Lord Willowdale arrived with the despicable Cartwright with him.He is Lord Ampleforth, Lord Ampleforth.As before, Liam set his neutral expression into place and dared not look long at either lord as they settled themselves into armchairs. Instead, he gazed past them, but his ears picked up every word.
“My sister was caught unprepared by your visit, Robert,” Lord Willowdale was saying as they sat down. “She should be down soon.”
“I say, old chap, how did you get that remarkable bruise on your head?” Lord Ampleforth asked with a gesture toward Lord Willowdale’s face.
“Someone took a shot at me,” he replied. “Hit my horse, however, and I, of course, went down with him. I am lucky to be here.”
Lord Ampleforth gaped. “Someoneshotat you? As in, tried to kill you?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“How extraordinary. Why would someone wish you dead, Freddie?”
Without seeming to, Liam studied Lord Ampleforth unobtrusively, which was not hard as the lord had taken a chair in Liam’s direct line of sight. Ampleforth paid Liam no attention at all, as though neither he nor the other footmen were there at all. Wishing he had the skills to read the lord’s mind, he had to content himself with simply being invisible.
“I say,” Lord Willowdale said, raising his hand. “What do you prefer, Robert?”
“A brandy, thank you.”
At his lord’s gesture, Liam went to the table and poured two tumblers of brandy and took them to the two lords. He bowed low as he set them near to hand, keeping his eyelids down to cover his very unique green eyes. Lord Ampleforth did not seem to notice him at all and did not appear to have been alarmed as he was the last time he visited. Liam returned to his place along the wall just as Thea entered.
