Mother’s smile froze into place on her plump lips at her host’s insinuation that the stay at Somerton had been uncomfortable. “Lady Cupps-Foster was very kind and Somerton very pleasant. I found the estate to be lovely.”
Petra wasn’t surprised at Mother’s defense. She could be surprisingly loyal to those who captured her affection, as Lady Cupps-Foster apparently had.
Lady Pendleton’s eyes grew a bit dark and much less welcoming at being rebuked by her guest, no matter how politely. “Yes, Marissa is a lovely hostess,” she conceded.
“How odd, Lady Petra, we’ve not been introduced before today,” Katherine interjected, clearly attempting to diffuse the sudden tension between her mother and Petra’s. “I’m sure we’ve seen each other across a ballroom dozens of times, not knowing one day we would become family.”
Petra wanted to politely correct Katherine’s assumption that Petra and Simon would marry but didn’t, not with Mother standing next to her. “I’m sure you’re correct.”
“You left London shortly after Lady Petra and I met at a charitable event.” Simon reminded her. “There wasn’t the opportunity.”
Katherine’s eyes were deep, black pools. “Of course, with the death of my beloved husband I immediately retired from society.”
“My condolences on your loss,” Petra murmured noting that the pewter dress Katherine wore was trimmed with the finest Brussels lace and clung to Katherine’s numerous curves. It was hardly the type of dress a grieving widow would typically choose to wear. The neckline in particular offered an expansive view of the tops of Katherine’s breasts.
Petra looked down at her own small bosom. Barely a valley between them could be formed. Next to Katherine, Petra thought her figure to be rather childish.
“I miss him dreadfully.” Katherine said, blinking as if she would burst into tears.
“How terrible for you.” Petra suppressed a snort of disbelief. Katherine and her affairs were often the talk of the Season; even young, virginal ladies of Petra’s ilk had heard the rumors. Nonetheless, Petra kept her features schooled into the serene mask she’d worn for so long.
“I miss London. Castleton, though nearby, doesn’t offer much excitement. Thankfully, we are to have a diversion now that you and your mother have arrived.” The lips of her full mouth pulled back into an approximation of her mother’s condescending smile.
A woman appeared silently from the depths of the shadowed hallway. As broad as she was tall, her form was clothed in a severe dress of indigo, so dark Petra mistook the color for black. Silver hair had been twisted back from her forehead and formed into a tight braid wound around the top of her head like a small crown. Her eyes, though not friendly, sparkled with intelligence. A large circle of keys jangled from the belt at her waist.
“Ah, Mrs. Leonard.” Lady Pendleton waved the woman closer. “Lady Marsh, this is our housekeeper, Mrs. Leonard. She’ll see you up to your rooms and ensure you have everything you require.”
“What type of diversion?” Petra was curious. She looked to Simon who had remained mostly silent since greeting them outside, and who appeared to be slowly drifting away from the group of women as if he couldn’t wait to make his escape. As she watched, he pulled out a pocket watch, consulted the time and frowned, declining to look up at her.
Katherine clapped her hands, eyes glittering like bits of jet. “A house party.”
“A house party?” Lady Marsh stammered in surprise, discomfort clear as her eyes shot to Simon and then his mother. “I didn’t realize—”
“Nothing like what you are used to in London, of course.” Katherine’s excitement was evident. “A small gathering of what little society can be found around Castleton. We’ll have dancing and other diversions. I believe I’ve even found a fortune teller from Buxton to entertain us. It’s been great fun to plan and has helped take my mind off of poor Lord Whitfield.”
Petra and her mother hadn’t been informed of such plans. Her opinion of Lady Pendleton, already not high, dropped another notch. Simon continued to study his watch to avoid catching Petra’s eye.
“House party is a bit of an exaggeration,” Lady Pendleton cautioned her daughter. “It’s only the Divets, Baron Haddon, and perhaps a few others who will be staying the week. Barely enough to fill up our guest wing. I believe Haddon is bringing one of his daughters,” her voice grew thick with displeasure, “though I can’t for the life of me recall exactly which one. They are quite close in age and their faces all blur together in one’s mind.”
“Thank goodness we came prepared.” Though she smiled politely, Mother was furious at being ambushed in such a way. Her plump form quivered like a plate of aspic. “I made sure to instruct my maid to include a choice of ballgowns for both myself and Petra,” Mother said with satisfaction, “in case such a situation should arise.”
Katherine’s slender hand flew up to her throat. “Oh dear, I worried I would need to send for the seamstress in Castleton to assist with an appropriate gown to wear. With your delay in arriving I did worry there wouldn’t be time. I’m happy that won’t be necessary.”
Bullocks.The house party had clearly been in the works for some time. Lady Pendleton and Mother had been corresponding about the trip to Brushbriar on a regular basis. Nothing about a ball and dancing had ever been mentioned. Nor had news of the house party reached them at Somerton. If Lady Pendleton meant to unsettle them, she was sadly mistaken. Mother’s skills at overpacking and being prepared for any occasion were legendary in the Marsh household.
“Yes, how fortuitous.” Lady Pendleton echoed her daughter’s false sentiment.
Katherine gave her mother a sideways glance. “And given their assistance to our guests, I thought it appropriate we extend an invitation to Lord Morwick and Lady Cupps-Foster to attend our little party as well. I’m sure they’ll only stay a night or two.” Katherine appeared incredibly pleased with herself.
A flutter passed across Petra’s heart at the thought of Morwick here, at Brushbriar.
Simon, who had nearly managed to escape the foyer, turned at his sister’s news, an ugly pinched look on his handsome face. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve invited the Earl of Morwick and his mother to join us.” Katherine spoke each word with determination. “They’ve accepted.”
“Darling,” Lady Pendleton’s voice was curt with her own surprise. “Youneglectedto tell me you’d invited Morwick. And you say he’s accepted? He so rarely leaves Somerton. And I haven’t seen Marissa in ages.” Lady Pendleton managed with only a small curl of her upper lip. “What a delightful surprise.”
“I think given the aid offered to Lady Marsh and her daughter, an invitation to our little party is the very least we can do. It will give Simon the opportunity to thank Lord Morwick personally.”
