Page 17 of Lady Fiona's Tall, Dark Folly
Chapter 4
Fifi silently rejoiced minutes later as Charlton's carriage turned into the circular drive of Courtland Hall. Charmed as she was by the earl, she needed to get away from him, his humor, his kindnesses, his carefree discussion of weather and weddings. Northington's and Esme's. Princess Charlotte's and Saxe-Cobourg's. How had she been so blind?
She gave a laugh at herself. Well, shewasblind. In more ways than one!
Another coach had pulled up ahead of Charlton's and Fifi recognized the escutcheon on the door as that of the Earl of Seaford. Ivy and Grace Livingston were Seaford's twin daughters and good friends of hers and Mary's from their years away at Miss Shipley's finishing school. Ivy and Grace, plus Willa Sheffield, the earl of de Courcy's daughter, formed the core of a group who had comprised many more, including Esme. The others were wed long ago. Esme would soon be, day after tomorrow.
Fifi buttoned up her pelisse and brushed down her skirts, ready to greet her old friends and escape the lure of Charlton in all the fuss and bother of arrival. Her Aunt and Uncle Courtland would coo and exclaim about her own arrival and Mary's, too. There'd be much ado. When Fifi saw that her cousin Esme greeted them in the open door to the foyer, she girded herself for the fireworks. Esme was never one to stand back and let others take the stage.
"You will not move," Charlton told her as his groom opened the door of his coach. "I will assist you down and into the house."
"Oh, my lord, no." He might be the most tender man she'd ever met, but he was also very domineering. She could not let him win every debate. "Please do not trouble yourself."
"That will be my pleasure."
She could lose this argument.
"Youarestill in pain, aren't you?” he asked pointedly.
"I am."
“Ah.” He arched his brows, teasing her. “So you see, I am essential."
"How can I argue?" Smiling, she led him on and she mustn't.
Mary and Lord Bridges stepped out of the coach to greet those on the threshold. Mary's maid Welles, who always came along to the annual Frolic to serve both her mistress and Fifi, followed.
Next Charlton climbed out and drew Fifi ever so easily into his arms. When she would have stood, he whispered, "No," and marched into the foyer of the Hall as if she were his prize of war.
In a flurry of welcome, Fifi lost track of who knew whom. She did notice that Lord Courtland, her uncle, greeted Charlton as if he'd met him before. Had her aunt? Trepidation chilled her. She must speak to her aunt alone and learn if she had any knowledge of why her father disliked the earl's family.
All the while, Mary did the honors to give an account of how they'd met the men and how they had saved them on the road.
Lord Courtland was effusive in his praise for their rescue. "Shall I send my grooms to right the flyer?"
"Yes, sir," said Charlton. "They may need a wheelwright and a blacksmith to help repair the wreck."
Esme, glorious in a springtime confection of green and white, beamed at Fifi and took her hand. She bent near. "Delightful to have you with us. I'd like us to talk privately. Would you?"
"A fine idea. Later?"
Esme gave her a genuine smile.
Odd, but for the first time in her life, Fifi thought Esme was not pretending friendship. Perhaps Mary had the right of it when she said that Esme could be changed by true love. Fifi hoped that was what had happened to her cousin who was known among Miss Shipley's girls as proud and self-indulgent.
"Oh, Fifi!" Aunt Courtland cupped her cheek. "We must see to your recovery. All of you must have had a terrible fright. Do go right up to rest. You look quite ashen, my dear girl."
Lord Courtland summoned one of his footmen. "We'll have Thomas here carry her up and relieve you, Lord Charlton."
"Unnecessary, sir," said Charlton with ease. "The lady is secure in my embrace."
"But you must be tired," Fifi argued. In fact, he grinned at her. He was enjoying this and so was she!
A ghost of a smile curved his mouth. "Never. You are light as a bird."
At ten stone, Fifi could best a fat buzzard. She bit her lip to kill her laughter. "You are too kind."
Charlton turned to the footman assigned to assist him. "Thomas? Onward, man!"
