Page 37 of Captivating the Countess
She arranged for the actress to have her wine. She encouraged a young man to speak with Alicia about music. She discussed child-rearing with Lady Estelle and a doleful widow, Lady Dalrymple, apparently another cousin.
And when the dinner bell rang, Rainford was at her side, offering his arm.
She refused his offer. “If you will not show attention to the ladies brought here for your perusal, then I must take my meal in my room.”
“You are the highest ranking female in the room. I am only being proper.” He appropriated her hand and placed it where he wanted.
“And when has propriety ruled your actions? Your sisters are entering with their husbands and will sit with their particular friends. No one else is standing on propriety.” She stopped near Lady Estelle’s chair when his sister waved at her.
“I do not wish to discuss fashion, gossip, and the price of eggs,” he retorted, dragging her onward. “You would think at least one bloody female would express concern for my father’s health.”
“That would be rude, as is your language.” Knowing he truly was hurting to speak so, she gave in and let him seat her at his side. “Such a question would be akin to asking how soon do you anticipate being a duke.”
He laughed curtly. “That was blunt.” He tasted the wine the footman offered and nodded approval. “I suppose you’re correct. I do not know any of these ladies well, and they do not know me.”
“If you made some effort, that could be remedied.” Bell sat primly with her hands in her lap as others were served. “You could have found one among the guests each night and conversed on subjects of mutual interest.”
Looking down on her, he wrinkled his long nose and spoke in an exaggerated drawl. “My dear Lady X, I had a patient today who drank his mother’s rubbing alcohol. He was only ten. It took two purges—”
Bell kicked him under the table. “My dear Lord Rainford, I paid ten invoices for grain and feed for your horses and wrote to York asking the current price of oats because your provider’s prices are too high.”
She beamed when he scowled. Perverse. She was indeed perverse.
“My feed provider’s mother is ailing and his wife is expecting their sixth child. He knows I can afford to pay more for his oats. And why the devil are you paying accounts my agents should handle? You can’t ride into the village to pay them!”
“Because one of your agents has an encyclopedic knowledge of fields and tenants but no mind for mathematics, and he’s being cheated. The other has been helping him with his books, but he is apparently away visiting family over the holidays. Is this the kind of conversation you wish at your dinner table?”
“I can think of better.” He turned his attention to the lady on his other side.
Undeterred by his curtness, Bell turned to the gentleman on her right. She remembered he had a coin collection he liked to talk about. Before she could ask about doubloons, a door slammed above.
The chandelier creaked into motion.
And in accompaniment of an enraged shriek, a silver platter of canapés flew from a footman’s hands, landing on Teddy’s head—and beard.
Fourteen
“I thinkit is time we discussed ghosts.” Rainford attempted to keep his voice neutral as he led Bell down the wing reserved for female guests. Without clamping his roiling emotions into a modicum of control, he feared he might shout his fear—or worse yet, laugh inappropriately.
Teddy’s expression as smoked salmon slid down his beard had turned terror into hysteria at the table. His guests had chosen to believe the shriek was no more than the swinging chandelier and the footman had been frightened into dropping the platter.
Rain knew his servants better than that. From Bell’s pallor, Rain guessed she knew better as well.
“I will leave,” she said in resignation. “I’ve never had a problem this...”
“Insane?” he suggested. “It’s this house, I’m certain. My family is willful enough to reach beyond the veil. I do not blame you.”
“I fear Teddy does. Although Alicia’s hysteria was inappropriate. She had too much fun. And perhaps too much wine.”
Rainford patted himself on the back for his restraint in not joining his sister in her delirium.
The countess continued. “It was very bad of her to suggest I instigated the incident to get even with Teddy for his bad taste in consorts. Even if it did divert your guests.” Bell’s fingers dug into Rain’s arm, indicating the extent of her hurt, but her voice was as polite as usual.
They were both polite to a fault. Perhaps heshouldhave laughed—to see if she might join him. “You must admit, my cousin makes horrible choices, but my sister is simply bored and looking for trouble. The lot of them have tried for years to communicate with our ghosts. You are frustrating Alicia by having the talent and not using it.”
“And she thinks, like you, that I am depriving you of a chance to save your father. I understand. And no amount of assurance that spirits don’t know any more than the rest of us will convince you otherwise. Where, exactly, are you taking me?”
He gestured at the empty hallway. “I am attempting to be honest and direct with you and speak with you as if you were a man, except you’re not. Which means I need your help in making a few necessary decisions.”
