‘An excellent answer.’ He came a little closer. ‘And did you tell them it was love at first sight?’
‘Of course not! I, um, I hinted that I had an interest in astronomy.’
He laughed at that.
‘Now that is dangerous ground! Your knowledge of the stars is limited to the few constellations we saw the other night.’
‘I know, but I had to say something,’ she confessed. A sudden, mischievous smile tugged at her lips. ‘Thankfully Mr and Mrs Cottingham know even less, so I was quite safe.’
‘Let us hope so.’
‘It was not a lie,’ she told him. ‘I really did find the stars interesting, and Saturn was truly magnificent. I only wish we could have seen more of the planets.’
He smiled. ‘Have you seen the orrery in the library? It is in the bay window at the far end, and easily missed if one is not looking for it. You should acquaint yourself with that, if you wish to see the way the planets orbit the sun.’
‘Thank you. Perhaps I will.’ For a moment she wondered if there was any point, since she would be leaving Adversane once the house party was over. She quickly brushed aside the depressing thought and said brightly, ‘After all, the stars will be the same wherever I am, won’t they?’
There was an infinitesimal pause before he replied.
‘Quite.’ He glanced at the clock. ‘We had best be getting back to our guests. If there is nothing else?’
‘No, nothing.’
‘Then we shall say we met at Somerset House and after that I sought you out. Agreed?’
‘Agreed, my lord.’
‘Ralph.’
‘Ralph.’
‘Good.’ He took her arm and led her out of the room. ‘You had best remain vague about any other details.’
‘How am I to do that if I am asked a direct question?’
‘You need merely blush. You look adorable when you blush.’
He uttered the words as they crossed the Great Hall, and in such an indifferent tone that it took a few moments for Lucy to realise what he had said. By that time they were entering the drawing room, and Lucy had no idea whether she looked adorable, but she knew she was certainly blushing.
At dinner Lucy was placed between Mr Cottingham and Sir Timothy Finch. Ralph’s brother-in-law enjoyed his food and Adam seemed preoccupied, so Lucy was spared too much conversation. Instead, she took the opportunity to study the other guests. It was a lively and informal occasion, although Lucy noted that Judith Cottingham, who was sitting opposite, had reverted to her quiet demeanour and said very little. Looking further along the table, Lucy observed a little stiffness between Sir James Preston and his host, but it was clear that the man was eager to bring his daughter to Ralph’s attention. Lucy thought perhaps he might have been wiser not to include Charlotte so much in his conversation, since every time he did so, she responded with a giggle that only exposed her immaturity.
* * *
‘So now you have had time to settle in, how do you like Adversane?’
Sir Timothy’s question caught Lucy off guard.
‘Lord Adversane is very, um—’
‘I meant the house,’ he interrupted her, laughing. ‘I have no doubt you are pleased with its master, since you are going to marry him. But you live in town, I believe. You must find life here very different.’
She flushed a little at her error, but his friendly manner put her at her ease and she managed to smile back at him.
‘I had many homes but all of them much closer to London, and you are correct—they were very different to Adversane,’ she returned. ‘My father was an artist, you see.’
‘Yes, Ralph told me. A case of opposites attracting each other, what? Ralph being more interested in mechanical objects than art,’ he added when he observed her blank look.
‘Now, Tim, do not be too hard on my brother,’ cried Margaret, overhearing. ‘Ralph is interested in many things, and has a real thirst for knowledge.’
‘He wants to explain all the mysteries of the world,’ put in Sir James from across the table. He gave a sad little shake of his head, indicating that he did not agree with this philosophy.
‘Adversane merely likes to know why things happen, rather than to accept them blindly,’ said Harry. ‘Surely that is a very reasonable view.’
‘Ah, but my lord will learn that not everything can be explained by man,’ replied Sir James.
Lucy glanced towards the head of the table. Ralph was in conversation with Lady Preston but he looked up at Sir James’s final statement.
‘Did I hear my name?’
‘I was saying, my boy, that logic and reason cannot be applied to all life’s mysteries. Take Druids Rock, for instance.’
‘No mystery there,’ Ralph replied. ‘The latest papers on the subject are very convincing. Hutton puts forward a logical argument for the way that rocks are formed.’
‘But not how they come to be piled up. That is the work of a great deity.’
Ralph shook his head. ‘I fear we must be content to disagree on that, Sir James.’
‘I can only hope, my boy, that age will teach you wisdom,’ said Sir James.
‘Why, I hope so, too, sir.’
‘And I hope Miss Halbrook will not be discouraged by all this talk of logic and cold reason,’ declared Lady Preston in repressive accents.
Ralph’s eyes rested on Lucy and a faint smile played about the corners of his mouth.
‘Oh, I think Miss Halbrook understands me pretty well.’
Lucy’s cheeks began to burn, and she was glad when Margaret turned the subject and everyone’s attention moved away from her. She was happy to let the conversation ebb and flow around her, quietly hoping to avoid drawing attention to herself. However, when the ladies retired she found Lady Preston at her side.
‘I am glad to see Adversane has put off his mourning, Miss Halbrook.’
Lucy thought the matron sounded anything but glad, but she murmured a response. Lady Preston followed her to a sofa, sat down beside her and proceeded to quiz her. The interrogation was subtle, but no less thorough. Remembering Ralph’s instructions, Lucy kept her answers vague where they referred to her association with him, but she saw no need to prevaricate about her family. After all, it would take very little enquiry for anyone to discover that her father had died a poor man.
‘So this is a very advantageous match for you,’ concluded Lady Preston. ‘You are very fortunate that Adversane is happy to take you without a settlement of any kind.’
Lucy was about to make an angry retort when she heard Caroline’s cheerful voice at her shoulder.
‘We think it is Ralph who is the fortunate one, ma’am, to have found a woman to make him happy. Lucy, my love, do come and try out the duet again with me....’
Caroline carried her off to the piano, saying as they went, ‘Pray do not mind Lady Preston.’
‘I do not. It must be very hard for her to see someone in her daughter’s place.’
‘It is a place she wants Charlotte to fill,’ retorted Caroline. ‘However, the child is far too young.’
‘But she is very pretty,