Page 14 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“She could take her maid with her,” Daniel insisted.
Miss Julianna leaned in. “We did not bring our maids on this trip. My aunt promised she would have plenty of help for us when we arrived at Waverly House.”
Thatwasa problem. “Would it be any comfort to you to know that Lord Bingham’s valet would also be along in the carriage?”
“No, it would not. One of you is welcome to ride in the carriage with myself and the girls, but I will not risk their reputations by having them ride unescorted with unrelated males.”
Bingham caught his attention and scowled. What had he done wrong? He was not trying to compromise anyone; simply save them from the need to ride with their overbearing escort.
He glared back at Bingham and the man’s face cleared. Turning, he said, “Mrs. Barker, I believe it would be acceptable for the girls to ride together in my carriage and you may ride with my valet.”
“It would not be?—”
“It would be perfectly acceptable as they may attend to one another; besides, there is nothing untoward about an elderly widow riding with a servant.”
Mrs. Barker’s eyes widened in shock. Daniel braced himself for the tirade of words that he knew would spew from the woman at being called elderly, but they did not come. She sputtered a few times, then became so occupied with cutting the kipper on her plate that he wondered if she would answer Bingham’s request.
Then again, it had not actually been a request. It was more like a polite demand. Apparently Bingham was not as ignorant of the hardship it would be on the two sisters to travel with their companion. Either that, or he had his own motives for the switch.
Daniel’s gaze roamed over the faces at the table. Miss Haynes appeared serene as she daintily placed a bite in her mouth, but a subtle crinkling about her eyes showed her delight in the change. Miss Julianna, on the other hand, sported a full smile, her eyes dancing in that way that left him giddy. She was just as excited at the prospect of spending the whole day together as he was.
But it was his friend’s expression that had him puzzled. Bingham leaned back, slowly chewing, his focus on nothing of importance. He did not appear happy, but neither did he appear content. His left hand moved his knife so it lay exactly a quarter inch from his plate, then moved to place his fork perfectly even on the other side.
He must be especially nervous to be organizing the silverware without thought.
Reaching for the linen on his lap, Bingham dabbed at his mouth, then, laying it on his lap, his right hand holding it in place so it did not fall, he folded the cloth into a perfectly crisp square. Definitely not at ease, perhaps even a bit distraught.
Daniel would have to corner him before they were shut up with the two ladies to find out what was bothering him.
When they had finished their meal, everyone agreed to meet in the courtyard in a quarter hour. The impish smile Miss Julianna cast left him impatient to further his acquaintance with her.
“You know you have placed us in a precarious position, do you not?” Bingham eyed him, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
“In what way?”
“Think how it will appear to arrive with the Misses Haynes in our coach.”
“You mean gentlemanly. Come now, Bingham, both you and I know it must have been tedious to travel with Mrs. Barker. That is why you came to their rescue, is it not?”
“Only because you forced my hand. If you had not opened the subject and created an expectation of relief, I would not have intervened.”
“Really, man. You would let those sweet ladies listen to the irritating complaints and demands of their chaperone for nine whole hours with only short breaks at inns as intermissions. Are you that cruel?”
“They have withstood her thus far; I am sure a handful of hours would not be their undoing.”
“No, but when you could offer relief…”
“Ihaveoffered, so there is no need to berate me. I only hope you realize the expectation you are raising not only in the Misses Haynes, but possibly in the entire house party when we arrive.”
“Who says it is a house party?”
“Do not play innocent with me. You know as well as I that if Mrs. Waverly has invited us in addition to her nieces, there are most likely other guests. You yourself claimed there would be other officers.”
Daniel did know. It had been part of the plan. Mrs. Waverly had hopes of organizing a small gathering of acquaintances to lift everyone’s spirits, not just the general’s. From his mother’s description of Mrs. Waverly, General Waverly was not the only one in need of some uplifting company. How would it be for a vivacious woman to be sequestered in a far-off corner of the kingdom?
“Perhaps she did mention a few others.”
“I knew it.” Bingham’s expression of triumph was short-lived. “Why did you not tell me earlier?”
