Page 27 of A Lovely White Christmastide
Miss Julianna gave a happy little bounce in her seat, but Miss Haynes’s pointed glance stopped any more expressions of excitement. For Daniel’s part he wished Miss Julianna was allowed to revel in her anticipation. It never seemed to make sense to him why they all had to squelch their emotions to within the bounds Society deemed acceptable.
“Then it is settled.” Mrs. Waverly stood and the gentlemen did likewise. “For those that are interested, I would be happy to lead you all on a tour of the house after services.”
Bingham and Daniel accepted, never having been in the home before, but the three Waverlys gave their excuses. It was no surprise as they were well acquainted with the house already. But when both Haynes sisters expressed their interest in joining the tour, the youngest one magically remembered he no longer had anything to attend to.
Daniel’s brow furrowed. He’d hoped sour-faced Waverly would leave them to their tour, but it seemed they’d have to endure the grouch for the afternoon.
He’d been right about the rector employing a curate, which both pleased and saddened Daniel. It fed his pride to know he’d readthe man right, and it turned his stomach how the rector lived off the majority of the tithes while doing little to no work himself. But such was the state of many clergymen in England.
At least the curate had seemed a good sort. His sermon had been well prepared and his intent on the people was evident in the way he spoke to each parishioner as they left. It was too bad the young man was not the one drawing the living.
In the parlor of Haverton, Daniel waited for the others to gather for their tour. He tapped the letter in his hand against his leg as he crossed to the window to view the bare trees. The missive had been waiting for him when he’d arrived yesterday, but he had yet to read it.
It must be of some import considering his friend Alfred had redirected it to Haverton. Carefully he broke the seal and read.
My dear Daniel,
I trust this letter finds you in good health and you have arrived in Westmorland safely. Would that I was free to take a holiday to see friends such as yourself. But my own ventures as his Lordship’s secretary have, by necessity, greatly occupied my time to the point where, in light of James’s marriage to Eleanor Dove, I find myself longing for the day that I, too, may enter into that felicitous state.
I do not mean to appear ungrateful for my current employment and would be pained if that is the interpretation you derive from my unfair complaints on the demands of my time. To the contrary, I shall strive to repay his Lordship for his kindness to me, and through me, my family, ‘til the end of my days. However, I cannot but wish to begin the search for a suitable companion of my life.
As I have not the time to be introduced to any suitable young women, I have very nearly decided on the resolution to advertise. Though I cannot devote any time to courtship in the flesh, I can do so through letters. I find myself of the opinionthat if two minds are of one on matters of character, virtue, vice, ethics, etc., then they are in a fair way to finding felicity in the marriage state.
Do not think I enter into this venture to find a wife tomorrow. Prudent thought shall be my guide, and for you to cite my youthful years is unnecessary as I know the jests you will make at my expense already. However, I shall suffer through them if you are of a mind to give your opinion or advise me on the matter.
I remain your esteemed friend,
Alfred Deane
Daniel chuckled. He’d seen advertisements for a companion before, but never imagined one of his friends would even consider taking one out. Alfred must be desperate indeed to resort to such tactics; then again he’d always been a logical, sensible fellow.
He would need to write to him as soon as time permitted. A wave of longing for times gone by washed over Daniel. Life had been so much easier when they were boys at Eton. He stared out the large window, visiting memories of James, Alfred, and Robert and himself playing ball during field time, or swapping stories about the masters they liked least.
Then another desire swelled in his heart. He too had seen James’s felicity last Christmas and just like Alfred, it had lit a spark inside him. Would that he could find a woman who completed him as much as Miss Dove had.
A cheeky smile and dancing blue eyes crossed his mind. Too soon, he reminded himself, but Miss Julianna’s face still hovered in his imagination.
A breeze rustled a brown leaf that clung tenaciously to one of the bare trees near the window, pulling his mind away from the pleasant thoughts. The day had been quite cold and there was some talk that it might snow, but as of yet the ground still laybare in all its dingy, muddy glory. Perhaps by Christmastide they would see some of the white powder fall from the heavens.
“Mr. Kaye,” an irritated voice said from behind him.
He turned to look at the man who had joined him, already knowing who had spoken. “Mr. Caleb Waverly. How do you do?”
“I have been better. My aunt tells me you and Lord Bingham took the liberty of denying my aunt’s nieces of their chaperone yesterday.”
“I think you mean saving them from their companion’s sharp tongue.”
“That is none of your concern, sir. If Captain Haynes sees her as a fit companion, you need not interfere.”
Daniel caught sight of Bingham out of the corner of his eye and smiled at his look of determination. Mr. Caleb Waverly did not know it yet, but he had just taken on more than he could handle.
“Neither it is any of your concern,” Bingham said. “Especially since Mr. Kaye was not the one to offer the women an escort. So if you have any grievances to take up, you should address yourself to me. But I must warn you, the law does not take kindly to insulting a peer.”
The shorter man’s eyes widened. It seemed his education had been thorough enough to know Bingham spoke the truth.
There were some definite advantages to traveling with a baron. Perhaps Daniel would take some time to make more friends in the upper echelons of Society. They came in handy when confronting short men with big opinions of themselves.
Bingham tipped his head toward Daniel’s letter. “News from home?”
