A sheen of perspiration formed on his wrinkled brow. He looked as if wild horses were tearing him in two. He once more glanced at the door and leaned forwards and lowered his voice in a conspiratorial manner. ‘If by some chance you change your mind, Miss Bracewell, promise me you won’t go without speaking to me first. Please? I swear I’ll tell no one else.’
He’d never ever let her down. She gave him a reassuring smile. ‘If I were to leave, I promise I will tell you beforehand.’
‘That is all I can ask, miss.’ He bowed and stalked out of the room, and somehow she had the sense she’d hurt his feelings.
Dash it. She’d told him of her longing to study in Italy. He must have guessed she would use the money from her painting to achieve her ambition.
Surely he wouldn’t interfere. He’d always helped her in the past. Still, she needed to be careful. She didn’t want her uncle guessing her purpose before she was ready. And if Snively had guessed, someone else might too.
The following day, the drawing room after dinner seemed eerily silent. Even the walls seemed to be listening for the sound of the carriage. Frederica let go a long breath.
‘Stop your sighing, girl,’ Uncle Mortimer said. His eyes gleamed over the top of his book, softening the stern words. ‘It is good to see you so anxious to meet your cousin again, I must say. You are going to make a fine couple. Do this family proud.’
If only he knew. ‘Simon said they would be here this afternoon. He’s late.’
‘They’ll be here. The hunt is tomorrow.’
She frowned. ‘We don’t have enough horses for two extra people.’
‘Don’t be absurd, child. They will bring their own. Behind the carriage.’ He made a sound in his throat like disgust. ‘We’ll have the stabling of them for a week, though, I’ll be bound. They won’t think to leave them at the inn in the village.’
‘We have lots of room.’
‘It isn’t the space, girl, it’s the cost. And there will be grooms to feed as well as valets and ladies’ maids.’
‘Just one of each I should think, Uncle. At least, that is all I have provided for.’
‘Hmmph.’ Uncle Mortimer returned to his book.
About to let out another deep sigh, Frederica stopped herself just in time. She picked up her embroidery and eyed the design. It would have made a lovely addition to the drawing room. It would never be finished. Working right-handed just took too long.
The sounds of wheels on the gravel and the crunch of horses’ hooves brought Uncle Mortimer to his feet. ‘Here they are at last.’
‘Will you greet them at the door, Uncle?’ she asked, putting her needlework aside.
‘No. No. Too draughty. Snively will bring them in here.’ He stood, rocking on his heels, his head cocked to one side, listening to the front door opening and voices in the entrance hall.
The door flew back. ‘Uncle,’ Simon cried, his round face beaming. ‘Here we are at last. Did you think we were lost on the road?’
Uncle Mortimer shook his nephew’s hand and patted him on the shoulder. ‘I knew you’d come, dear boy. Eventually. I just hoped you’d not be too late. Need my rest these days, you know. Not been quite the thing.’
The instant gravity on Simon’s face was so patently false, Frederica wanted to laugh.
‘I know, Uncle. The ague. You wrote to me of it.’ He turned to Frederica. He had to turn his whole body, because his shirt points were so high, his head would not turn on his neck. In fact, he didn’t appear to have neck or a chin. His head looked as if it had been placed on his shoulders and wrapped with a quantity of intricately knotted white fabric to keep it in place. It made his face look like a cod’s head. His valet must have stuffed him into a coat two sizes too small to make him so stiff and rigid.
He bowed. ‘Coz. I hope I find you well.’
Good lord, he had put on some weight around the middle, and was that a creak she heard? Some sort of corset?
‘Y-yes, Simon. V-v—’
‘Very well,’ Simon said. ‘Splendid.’
Frederica’s palm tingled with the urge to box his ears.
Simon turned himself about and looked expectantly at the door. ‘I want you to meet my friends, Uncle. Great friends.’
Snively appeared in the doorway. ‘Lady Margaret Caldwell and Lord Lullington, my lord.’ He promptly withdrew.
Pausing on the threshold, the lady glittered. Dark curls entwined with emeralds framed her face. More emeralds scintillated in the neckline of her low-green silk gown as well as at her wrists and on her fingers. Her dark eyes sparkled as they swept the room, seeming to take in everything at a glance. Lady Margaret held out her hand to Mortimer, who tottered forwards to make his bow.
All Frederica could do was blink. It was like looking at the sun. Compared to this elegant woman she felt distinctly drab even with her new blue gown.
Lady Caldwell sank into an elegant curtsy. ‘My lord. How kind of you to invite us to your home.’
Uncle Mortimer flushed red. ‘Think nothing of it, my lady. Nothing at all.’
The lady turned to Frederica. She tipped her head to one side. ‘And you must be Simon’s little cousin.’ She held out her hands and when Frederica reached out to take one, Lady Margaret clasped Frederica’s between both of her own. ‘How glad I am to make your acquaintance. I vow, Simon has told us all about you, hasn’t he, Lull?’
The viscount, a lean, aristocratic and tall man in a beautifully tailored black coat, finished making his bow to Uncle Mortimer, then raised his quizzing glass and ran a slow perusal from Frederica’s head to her feet. ‘Not all, my dear, I am sure,’ he said with a lisp.
Frederica felt her face flush scarlet.
‘Simon,’ exclaimed Lady Margaret, ‘Lull is right! You didn’t tell us your cousin was so charming. Absolutely delightful.’
Simon stared at Frederica, opened his mouth a couple of times like a landed fish, then nodded. ‘By jingo, Lady Caldwell, you are right. New gown, coz?’
‘A whole wardrobe of new gowns,’ Uncle Mortimer mumbled.
The burn in Frederica’s face grew worse.
Viscount Lullington lounged across the room and took Frederica’s hand with a small bow. His blue eyes gazed at her from above an aquiline nose. She had the sense he was assessing her worth. ‘Delighted to meet you, Miss Bracewell. Simon has indeed been a songbird regarding your attributes. And I see his notes were true.’
Oh, my. Had he just issued a compliment? And if so, why did his soft lisping voice send a shudder down her spine as if a ghost had walked over her grave?
Swallowing, Frederica curtsied as befit a viscount. ‘I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, my lord.’
He patted her hand. ‘Call me Lull. Everyone does.’
Not she. She backed up a step or two, looking to Simon for guidance.
He rubbed his hands together. ‘Here we are then. All ready for the ball. It will be such a grand time.’
‘Oh, it is sure to be, isn’t it, Lull?’ Lady Margaret took the seat by the fireplace and Frederica returned to the sofa. The men disposed themselves around the room, Lullington beside Lady Margaret and opposite Frederica, Simon beside the window and her uncle in his favourite armchair.
‘Without a doubt,’ Lullington said, his gaze fixed on Frederica.
Frederica