The other gentleman, also wearing an impeccable riding costume, had blond curls à la Byron, boyish good looks, and laughing blue eyes. Standing side by side, it appeared as if an angel and one of Satan’s own had declared a temporary truce. The angelic one noticed Eleanor standing on the stairway and said, “Ho, now, what have we here?”
A butler, who seemed to appear out of thin air, proffered a folded message on a silver salver and whispered something into the blond man’s ear.
“Thank you, Tuttle,” he said, dismissing the servant with a wave before stepping toward her. “My dear cousin, please allow me to welcome you. A bit belated, but no less sincere.”
She descended the stairs in a state of confusion. Did the festival have an official host? If so, they’d chosen well. He must be a politician or used car salesman in his real life. Unlike the taller dark-haired man who stood glowering, this man was open and friendly.
“I’m so pleased you are arrived in time for the house party,” the host said. Her puzzlement must have shown on her face. “Come now. I can’t have changed that much.” When she didn’t respond, he continued, “But maybe I have. I’m Lord Digby in case you haven’t guessed.” He made a low elegant bow, one leg forward. “But I insist you call me Teddy, as you did when we were children. After all, you are a member of our family.” He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something.
Eleanor tipped her head slightly to the side, trying to make the circumstances fit into a logical framework. Had some attendees of the festival assumed a persona like reenactors sometimes did? Nothing in the conference literature had mentioned role-playing. Maybe they had hired actors to play the residents of the manor who lived during the Regency.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she said. And that was the truth.
“My sisters will be pleasantly surprised you have finally arrived. We passed their carriage on the road, so Deirdre and Mina should be here shortly.” Digby turned and motioned his companion forward. “Lord Shermont, allow me to present my cousin from America—”
The rest of the introduction was lost to her. Shermont’s presence was the undeniable last straw. Eleanor could no longer rationalize everything that had seemed out of place. As she was descending the last stair, the unbelievable truth hit her mid-step.
Omigod. The ghosts had actually done it. She’d really traveled back in time.
The enormity of the realization caused the earth to drop from under her feet by at least two inches. Or so it seemed as she stumbled forward. Shermont steadied her by supporting her elbow. Even so, she nearly fell into his arms.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, regaining her balance and pulling free. She crossed her arms and surreptitiously rubbed her elbow, still tingling with the warmth of his touch.
“Meeting you is a … unique pleasure,” Shermont said with a wicked, teasing smile that sent her blood racing.
“Here now,” her erstwhile cousin said. “I’d heard of females throwing themselves at you, Shermont, but I never thought to witness it myself.”
“Mind your manners, Digby,” Shermont said in a low, just-short-of-threatening voice.
The younger blond man only laughed at the reprimand. “This is the Age of Sensibility, and man must follow his penchant. It is my nature to be too honest and forthcoming.”
“Also known as rudeness.”
Digby frowned. “If that comment had come from anyone other than you, Shermont, I might be obligated to defend my honor.”
Surely Regency men wouldn’t duel over such a silly reason. Eleanor felt she should say something, but she had no idea how to diffuse the situation she’d inadvertently caused. Quick, quick, what would Jane Austen do? The scene that came to mind was when Knightley criticized Emma after the picnic where she had treated Miss Bates so badly.
“Gentlemen, isn’t the essence of good manners to make sure no one is uncomfortable?” Eleanor asked.
Shermont quirked an eyebrow in recognition of her riposte.
She continued, refusing to acknowledge the heat his tacit approval ignited. “Please don’t compound my embarrassment by turning my clumsiness into an affaire d’honneur.”
Both men were immediately contrite, verbally stumbling over each other in attempts to absolve her of any responsibility and to assure her their sparring was only good-natured jibes between friends and of no consequence. The impromptu competition of flowery apologies was thankfully cut short by the arrival of Deirdre and Mina. The sisters looked exactly like their ghostly counterparts, only the live ones were more vibrant in coloring and manner—more … alive.
Lord Digby interrupted the girls’ enthusiastic greeting of Eleanor to present his sisters to Lord Shermont.
“Haven’t I had the pleasure previously? You both seem quite familiar,” Shermont said. He rubbed the spot where a faint one-inch scar marked his forehead.
“I don’t think so,” Deirdre said. She made a slight pout with her lips as if trying to remember.
“No doubt we would—”
“Highly unlikely that we have met,” Deirdre said, interrupting her excited sister. “Neither of us has been presented at court as yet, and therefore we have not been in attendance at any functions of London society.”
Mina rocked forward on her toes. “Our brother promised next spring we—”
“Perhaps you have been a guest at another country house in the area?” Teddy offered. “Perhaps last summer?”
“Unfortunately, my affairs usually keep me in London year-round,” Shermont said.
“Then I insist there will be no discussion of business this entire week.” As Teddy spoke the footman closed the front door. “Where is Uncle Huxley?” Teddy turned to his sister. “Didn’t you delay your homecoming so he could accompany you?”
“He went with the coach to the stables,” Deirdre said as she removed her bonnet. “He brought his new filly along and wanted to see her settled properly.”
“I dare say he thinks more of horses than people,” Mina said as she handed her bonnet to the maid who waited nearby.
“Then we shall go to the stables to welcome him,” Teddy said.
“And perhaps take advantage of the opportunity to show off your new stallion,” Shermont said.
“I have been caught out,” Teddy admitted with a laugh. He turned to his sisters. “I’m told the fairest of our guests are in the parlor, and I’m sure you would prefer their company. If you will excuse us?”
“You are excused, but only because you are not properly dressed to be considered desirable company,” Deirdre replied to her brother. She turned to Shermont. “A dancing master has been engaged to demonstrate the latest steps. I do hope you will join us later this morning, even though you probably know all the new dances from London.”
Shermont gave a slight bow. “One can never be too well-versed in the pleasures of the dance.”
Though his answer was noncommittal, Deirdre smiled and preened under his direct attention. Eleanor easily decided Deirdre must be the sister who was seduced.
When the gentlemen were gone, Deirdre turned to Eleanor. “Dear Cousin Ellen,” she said. “We are so pleased you have arrived safely. I can hardly believe it’s been eleven years since your father took you off to the Colonies.”
“You look just the same,” Mina said. “Well, maybe a little older, but your teeth are still good. That’s an advantage in the marriage mart, believe me.”
“I’m not—”
“We won’t talk about marriage just yet,” Deirdre said. “Ellen just arrived.”
“Such a long time-consuming journey,” Mina said.
She didn’t know how right she was. “Actually, my name is Eleanor Pottinger, and I must tell you—”
“And we want to hear everything, absolutely everything. You’ve had such a terrible time these past three years, losing your father, your house, your fortune, and your husband to the war. May God rest Captain … what was his name again? Oh, yes, I remember. May God rest Captain Pottinger’s soul.”