“Lady Sophia, I see my son has sent you his preferred breakfast. I do not care for the pancakes, but he adores them. As will you, I am sure.”
“I already adore them, Your Grace. And my sister does too.”
Ruth appreciated Sophia’s attempts at including her in the conversation but knew it was in vain. The Duchess glanced at her untouched plate of pancakes, raised an eyebrow, and turned back to Sophia. Lord Cragshade meanwhile looked at Ruth in a way that made her very uncomfortable. She knew his intention was to satisfy his curiosity when it came to her scar.
She turned her chair slightly so he could not see it as well and succeeded in diverting his attention away from her.
“Say, Lady Sophia, how did you enjoy your dinner with Lord Rotham last night?”
Sophia looked up at the young man, taken aback by the question. Noticing her surprise, the man smiled.
“I saw a footman walk past with the most delicious looking hare and questioned as to why I was not served with such delicacies in my sick room. I was told it was made especially for Lady Sophia, by request of Lord Rotham.”
Sophia smiled widely. “Yes, the hare was lovely, indeed. Lord Rotham certainly selected the most wonderful of dishes for dinner.”
Lord Cragshade laughed at this. “Did he now? I never knew my dear cousin to be quite so attentive to his guests. Especially since he told me in no uncertain terms he was against this venture of an arranged courtship. Well, I am surprised.”
He glanced at his aunt who sat with her lips pursed. A quiet rage bubbled beneath her composed surface. Ruth could tell by the way her eyes did not blink at all and by the way the woman’s shoulders stiffened.
“Lawrence, you do not know my son as well as you think, and I assure you, he has been nothing if not attentive to our guests. Has he not, Lady Sophia?”
Ruth sat back, silently wishing she could get up and leave, as she did not cherish the role of being the nearly invisible spectator.
Sophia, on the other hand, enjoyed the attention the Duchess bestowed upon her. Of course, she would. She’d grown up without a mother and unlike Ruth, she craved the maternal influence and attention the Duchess openly gave.
“He has. We are to take the air later; he will show me some of the grounds as well as the art gallery in the South Wing.”
“The art gallery? Lord Rotham?” Lord Cragshade chuckled. “My cousin is not exactly one to enjoy the arts. Once again, it sounds as though you, dear Aunt, would be the one to arrange such an outing.”
Ruth tilted her head to one side and examined the man seated across from her. He had something unkind in his eyes and it was clear he was scheming to make his cousin look bad.
He is no doubt attempting to sour Sophia to Lord Rotham as a way to prevent any marriage between them. For, if Lord Rotham marries and has an heir, Lord Cragshade’s claim to the title will be even more worthless. What a conniving louse he is. And so obvious in his sick curiosity about my visage.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes at him. “Lord Cragshade, you seem much recovered. What a wonderful miracle to see you so much better than you were just two days ago. I had feared you’d be trapped here for weeks and weeks, but it seems that will not be the case at all. How fortunate. For you.”
His lips twitched at her comment, the underlying meaning clear to all at the table.
“I am better, but far from able to travel. I will thus take up your kind hospitality for some while longer. I’ll say, I was lucky to be met with such an accident at this particular time, given that you have such wonderful company at present.”
He looked from Sophia to Ruth.
“Lady Ruth, perhaps you and I could take the air later to sit in the gazebo. We were so rudely interrupted in our conversation yesterday and I have so many more questions to ask of you.”
She swallowed at the audacity and wished for nothing more than the Marquess’ presence. He’d so valiantly stood up for her the previous day and she would have liked his interference today. However, given his absence, she was forced to rely upon her defenses to deter this unpleasant man.
“Lord Cragshade, I must decline your kind offer, as I have already made alternate plans. In any case, you will surely be very tired after your lengthy absence from your sick room and I would not wish to prolong your illness.”
The Duchess nodded eagerly. “Lady Ruth is quite right. You ought not to exhaust yourself. Preserve your strength.”
Ruth shook her head. This was the first time the Duchess acknowledged her by name this morning, and it was only because they both found Lord Cragshade’s company insufferable.
“In any case,” Sophia said, breaking the awkward silence. “My sister will be terribly busy later on today. Her Grace is taking us into the village to walk in the park. There is a beautiful collection of old statues there. Isn’t that grand, Ruthie? Faith, it would only be nicer if His Lordship could accompany us. Alas, he is busy. But it will be a wonderful day nonetheless with just the ladies.”
Ruth smiled at this surprising invitation. While she did not generally enjoy outings, the weather outside – cooler than usual for summer – meant she would be able to hide her scar under a large hood attached to her cape. The housekeeper at home in Twilightfare had taken it upon herself to modify her caps and bonnets in such a way as to provide the most concealment of her face.
Small, but meaningful gestures like these were, the very reason Ruth was so comfortable at home, and so out of sorts whenever she had to leave. The servants at Twilightfare accepted her for the person she was, they did not see the scar. Or if they did, they took it as part of her; they accepted her and not because they had to. Because they wanted to. They saw the true her.
She turned to the Duchess, intended on thanking her for including her in the outing. However, the very moment she laid eyes on the woman, she realized Sophia was mistaken once more.
