Page 6 of Holly and the Viscount
“I danced twice with nearly everyone,” he said mildly. “This trout is excellent, Lord Hartley. Is it locally caught?”
The earl launched into a conversation about local game, to Rose’s relief. And, clearly, the viscount’s as well, given his obvious change of subject. As soon as Lord Thornton’s attention turned to the head of the table, Holly shot her sister a narrow-eyed glance.
Rose pretended not to see, though her further attempts throughout dinner to direct Lord Thornton’s attention toward Holly were a bit more subtle. Fortunately, that made them all the easier to ignore or brush aside. When the meal finished, Holly breathed a silent sigh of relief, especially when her brother proposed the gentlemen withdraw for a glass of port.
“A fine idea,” the earl said, and as soon as Lady Hartley rose, signifying they might all leave the table, the gentlemen dispersed.
“Stop it,” Holly said quietly as she and Rose followed their mother out of the dining room.
“I won’t,” Rose replied. “You and Lord Thornton would suit one another perfectly. He ought to have seen that last year at the Christmas Ball, instead of flirting with everyone and choosing no one.”
“I must disagree. We’ve very little in common, and I don’t believe our natures are complimentary in the least.”
“Pish,” Rose said, with an airy wave of her hand. “He’s a good friend of our brother’s, for one thing?—”
“Which, considering Ash’s reputation, should not recommend his friends.”
“—and for another,” Rose continued, ignoring Holly’s interjection, “you are both intelligent, with a quiet sense of irony.”
Holly raised her brows. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely.” Rose grinned at her. “I’ve spent enough time with you to recognize the same traits in others. In particular, Lord Thornton. Not to mention that you have similar stature within theton. You’d make an excellent countess, Holly.”
“Nevertheless, I’m not in search of a husband.”
“So you say!” Rose shook her head. “Quite frankly, I think you’re deluding yourself.”
“You’re the one with delusions.” Holly paused as they reached the great hall. “You may join mother in the drawing room, if you like, but I’m retiring to my rooms for the evening.”
“Coward,” Rose said as Holly mounted the stairs. “There’s no harm in marrying well.”
Oh, but there was, if one were involved in certain causes. Holly swept up the stairs, determined to pay her sister’s words no mind. The idea of her and Lord Thornton making a match? The notion was simply preposterous.
CHAPTER 4
Despite Theo’s plans to confront Lady Holly, he let himself be distracted by Ash, and glass too many of port. The long day on the road, plus a lingering chill in his bones, conspired to send him to bed early, where he slept long and hard.
The footman stirring up the coals in the morning woke him, as requested. Theo dressed, tying his cravat in an informal knot, then went down to find some breakfast. The earl and his wife were in the breakfast room, finishing up their meal, and Theo joined them. He filled his plate from the chafing dishes on the side table, happy to see poached eggs and bangers, as well as an assortment of scones and the delicacy of fresh oranges.
“Off to Knavesmire, is it?” Lord Hartley asked as Theo settled himself at the table.
“Indeed. And, if all goes well, bound for Dovington Hall this afternoon.”
“Tea?” Lady Hartley offered, pouring out a cup when Theo nodded. “I find this idea of bringing a tree inside a bit perplexing, I must say. What if there are…creatures within it?”
“Chopping it down dislodges any stray squirrels and the like,” Theo reassured her.
“But what about spiders and such?” she asked, with a delicate shudder. “One hardly needs to introduce more insects into the home, after all. And think of the mess! Dirt and sap and needles everywhere.”
“It’s not that bad,” Theo said. “Some evergreen needles drop, certainly, but the servants can sweep them up easily enough. As for the rest, I can tell you such things haven’t presented a problem in the two years we’ve had a Christmas tree at Dovington.”
“It still seems a very strange custom to me,” Lady Hartley said, with a sniff. “No doubt it will fall out of fashion soon enough.”
“Even if the queen and Prince Albert continue the tradition?” her husband asked. “I understand such things are usual in Prussia.”
“Well.” She took a sip of her tea, then set her cup down resolutely. “Some places aren’t as civilized as England, are they?”
Theo had no reply to that, and instead applied himself to his breakfast. To his surprise, Ash appeared at half past the hour, his brown hair standing up and his eyes still heavy with sleep.
