Page 11 of Map of a Lady's Heart
“Serena and Mr. Jones are in there,” said Lady Alexandra.
Bridget’s head came up. “Arguing?”
Her sister looked surprised. “No, silly, why would they be arguing? Serena despises him. I think they’re rehearsing lines for your ridiculous play.”
“Farce,” said Bridget.
“A talking swan is ridiculous.” The young man beside her raised his brows, and she gave him a teasing smile. “Yes, Lord Gosling, I know you play the swan. I’m sure you shall do your best, but you must admit itisridiculous.”
“Not in the slightest,” declared Lord Gosling, executing a gallant bow toward Lady Bridget. “All the best actors have played swans. I hope to give the premier portrayal.” Lady Alexandra and the girl beside her burst into laughter.
Bridget’s mouth thinned. “I shall write something even better for you, Alexa.”
The other girl rolled her eyes at Justin, who laughed indulgently. Wes could see very well what was happening there: Lady Alexandra was lovely, and competition always sparked a man’s spirit. He tried to send Justin a look of warning, but his nephew deliberately avoided his gaze.
“Are we all to get special parts, Lady Bridget? I could fancy being a prince,” Justin said. Casually he propped one foot on the base of the globe beside Lady Alexandra’s settee, and rested his elbow on his knee. Wes scowled at the rakish pose.
“It depends.” Her gaze moved to Wes. “Lord Winterton, what sort of character would you like to play?”
“I?” he asked, startled.
“Yes, I’m considering adding an elderly king, in the vein of King Lear. I expect he’ll have to die so his son the prince can become king. Would that suit you? How would you like to die?”
Justin snorted with laughter. Lady Alexandra smiled, and the other young lady giggled.
“Bridget,”gasped Mrs. Cavendish. “My lord, perhaps you’d like to see the house?”
He ought to stay to keep an eye on his nephew. He burned to search the shelves for the Desnos atlas. He did not want to walk away from all the slights on his age and health without protest or at least a show of vigor. Instead he looked into Mrs. Cavendish’s desperate green eyes and said, “Thank you, I very much would.”
“I hope you feel better, Uncle,” said Justin, as Wes followed her toward the door.
“Have some tea,” added Lady Alexandra. “Cook makes splendid tea cakes.”
“And stay indoors!” Lady Bridget said just as Mrs. Cavendish pulled the door shut behind them with a bit of a bang.
Viola heaved a heartfelt sigh and rested her forehead against the door for a moment. It was silent and cool in the corridor, although perhaps it only seemed that way to her. What had got into Alexandra and Bridget?
Never mind—she knew very well. Lord Gosling was nothing short of beautiful, and had the most perfect manners she’d ever seen. Viola suspected the dowager duchess had invited the young viscount in case Serena and Frye never made up their estrangement, but Alexandra seemed to have taken matters into her own hands. Add in the also-handsome Viscount Newton, and things could only get dangerous. Viola devoutly hoped the other young people would join them soon and defuse the subtly competitive air between the two gentlemen.
In the meantime she had to deal with the Earl of Winterton, who had just been insulted and practically ordered out of the library. Bracing herself, she turned to face him.
He had a right to be very put out; instead he was grinning, and as their eyes met, he began to laugh. In sheer relief, Viola gave a gasp of laughter herself.
“I’m sorry,” she began, trying to regain her dignity, but the earl waved one hand.
“For being a sensible adult in a room full of silly young people? I assure you, your offer of a tour could not have come at a more opportune moment.” He made a face. “I could almost feel myself aging and sinking into senility. In a few more moments I would have been relegated to dozing in the corner with a cap on my head, tended by a nurse.”
She laughed. She couldn’t think of anyone less likely to be found dozing in the corner in need of a nurse than Lord Winterton. Today he was even more handsome than before, if that were possible, his blue eyes dancing with mirth. “The young ladies are a trifle high-spirited at times.”
Winterton assumed a tragic expression. “I suppose I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be young and full of life.”
“It looks very tiring,” she replied in the same grave tone.
His grin returned, and the rogue even winked at her. “For those around them, perhaps.”
Viola laughed again in spite of herself. She was astonished at her young cousins’ behavior, and was enormously relieved that the earl wasn’t taking them much to heart. She ought to have guessed that Lord Winterton, who appeared to be an intelligent and educated man, would seek out the library once confined to the house by the steadily falling snow. Tomorrow she would banish everyone from the room. Perhaps Bridget, if left to write her play without the sly goading of her sister, would embrace some form of sense, or at least hurry up and finish the silly thing.
“If you wanted a particular book, I shall have a footman brave the room to fetch it,” she said. “The Kingstag library is exceptional, and I’m sure it can supply something to suit you.”
