Kit did not comment. What was there to say about a young woman whose life had been so dogged by tragedy? Apart from the limp, one would not know she had suffered at all. She smiled a great deal and was charming and personable.
How impossible it was, he thought just as if he were making a startling new discovery, to know people from their outer demeanor. How myriad were the masks people wore.
Lauren Edgeworth’s back was rigid with ladylike dignity. Yet less than half an hour ago she had smiled with sunny exuberance and flung herself into his arms. Simply because for the first time in her life she had floated on her back.
He smiled with silent amusement and at the same time felt a curious ache in his throat, almost as if he were on the verge of tears.
Chapter 10
Lauren was not late for breakfast, as she had feared she would be. There was even time for her maid to do something to disguise the dampness of her hair after she had changed her clothes. She went down with Gwen and her aunt, both of whom called at her room first to tell her how favorably impressed they were with their welcome to Alvesley, and how well they liked Lord Ravensberg. And how happy they were for her, of course.
The whole family was assembled for breakfast, with the exception of the dowager, who always remained quietly in her own apartments for most of the morning before going out for her daily walk, the countess explained. The earl himself seated the ladies, placing Lauren to his right, Aunt Clara to his left.
“You went riding with Ravensberg this morning,” he observed to Lauren. “I saw you leave the stables.”
“Yes, my lord.” She smiled. “The early morning air was fresh and invigorating. We rode through the woods to the temple folly on the far bank of the lake. The view from there is quite splendid.”
“Yes, indeed,” he said.
“You have been on an outing already this morning?” Aunt Clara asked, all astonishment. “ You, Lauren? Riding?”
And swimming too, Lauren thought. How terribly mortified she would be if the earl had witnessed that too. But she had floated. Alone. And then she had lost her head—something a lady never did—and launched herself at Kit in her excitement. And he had kissed her. Or had she kissed him? But that possibility did not bear thinking of.
Gwen was laughing. “Lauren has never been an early riser,” she said. “And riding has never been her favorite form of exercise. I believe you are having a positive influence on her, Lord Ravensberg.”
“I do hope so. But perhaps, ma’am,” he replied, mischief in his eyes, “it was merely the effect of coercion. I threatened to haul her out of bed in person if she did not appear in the stables of her own volition.”
Lauren felt her cheeks flame.
“Kit!” his mother said reproachfully.
Aunt Clara laughed.
“That would do it,” Gwen said gleefully.
“The exercise has whipped a healthy glow into your complexion, Miss Edgeworth,” the earl told her. “Sydnam, will you be ready after breakfast to help me inspect the new roofs on the laborers’ cottages?”
“Certainly, sir,” his son replied.
Kit, Lauren noticed, was not invited to join them. Neither did he suggest it himself. Of course, Mr. Butler was his father’s steward. But even so . . .
The countess planned to call on her neighbors during the morning to deliver personal invitations to the festivities for her mother-in-law’s birthday.
“Kit will attend you this morning,” she said to her guests.
“But may I not be of some assistance to you, ma’am?” Lauren asked.
“That is extremely kind of you.” The countess looked approvingly at her. “Yes, thank you, Miss Edgeworth. It would certainly be appropriate for me to introduce Kit’s betrothed to the neighborhood. Lady Kilbourne, Lady Muir, would you care to accompany us too?”
It was decided that all four of the ladies would go visiting.
It was Sydnam Butler who introduced an awkward note into the discussion of the various morning plans. “Will you be calling at Lindsey Hall, Mother?” he asked. “Will you be taking an invitation there?”
“It is rather far,” she said. “I believe I will have a servant take over a card.”
“When all the other invitations are to be delivered in person?” Kit said. “It might be construed as something of a slight, might it not, Mother?”
“I daresay,” she said briskly, “they will not be able to attend anyway. Though of course an invitation must be sent. Now, I believe we ought—”
“I will ride over there and be your messenger,” Kit said. “It will give me something to do this morning.”
There was an awkward little silence.
“But I would like to come with you, Kit,” Lauren told him. “Can you wait until after we return? It would appear strange that I have been introduced everywhere else except Lindsey Hall.”
The earl cleared his throat but then, when everyone looked his way, appeared to have nothing to say.
“I do understand all the awkwardness of the present relations between Alvesley and Lindsey Hall,” Lauren assured the earl and countess. “I know what has happened, and I have explained it to Aunt Clara and Gwen. I really do believe that Kit and I should do our best to prevent any permanent estrangement. We should go together this afternoon. How the Duke of Bewcastle receives us and whether he and his family attend the birthday celebrations will be their decision.”
“Oh, my dear.” The countess sighed. “There is really no need for you to do this. The duke and his family can be very . . . Well, they do not take kindly to having their will crossed. This is entirely a problem for us to handle.”
“But I am to be one of your family, ma’am,” Lauren reminded her.
“It is certainly the right thing to do. I applaud your courage, Miss Edgeworth.” The earl was looking at her with considerable respect. “Ravensberg will wait for you.”
Kit, Lauren saw when she looked across the table at him, was regarding her with steady, unsmiling eyes.
The rest of the morning was busy, but it offered nothing beyond the range of Lauren’s experience. They called upon six families, three in the village, three in the country beyond it. Partly in fulfillment of her bargain with Kit, partly because it was second nature to her anyway, she made herself agreeable and charming. She was, of course, the focus of everyone’s curious attention as the affianced bride of Lord Ravensberg. She had her main reward when for a few moments as Mrs. Heath showed off her flower garden to Aunt Clara and Gwen before they returned to the barouche, she walked at the countess’s side.
“You are an extremely pleasant surprise,” the countess said.
Lauren looked inquiringly at her.
“We have heard very little that is good about Kit since his return to England last year,” his mother said. “We were quite dismayed when he came home two weeks ago and told us about you. We expected the worst, I must admit. It is an enormous relief to discover that he has chosen a perfectly charming lady.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Lauren flushed with pleasure. “But were you very disappointed? About Lady Freyja Bedwyn, I mean?”
“Redfield and the Duke of Bewcastle—both this man and his father before him—have always dreamed of an alliance between our two houses since our lands adjoin,” the countess explained. “Our eldest son died before he could marry Lady Freyja. Redfield thought a match with her would suit Kit. We both did. We were taken entirely by surprise when he came home with news of his betrothal to someone else. I cannot say I am entirely disappointed, especially after meeting you. I think you will do very well for my son. Perhaps you will be able to persuade him to settle down at last.” She sighed. “And to be happy again.”
There was no time for any further conversation together. Soon they were in the barouche and Aunt Clara was exclaiming over the beauty of Mrs. Heath’s garden.