Page 28 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
Alas, I would be entirely out of place at your mother’s house party. But please accept my thanks for your exceptional kindness.
Yours sincerely,
Elissa St. Cyr
The following day,the elegant hand from the first letter had returned.
Miss Elissa,
How I have enjoyed reading your feeble attempts to get out of attending my house party, after I have specifically requested your presence. I have found them ever so diverting. I would not have thought there was a corner of England, much less of Gloucestershire, where my reputation did not precede me, but as you do not appear to know with whom you are dealing, I regret to inform you that I am the most manipulative woman in all of England, and I always get my way.
Checkmate.
Yours,
Georgiana Cheltenham
PS- You need not worryyourself on account of the pigs. Although my husband is renowned for his herd of Gloucestershire Old Spots, we keep them fenced.
PPS- You will want to hide this letter and get out the first one I sent you before your sister comes bursting through the door.
Elissa frowned as she complied.What on earth did that—
The door to her room slammed against the wall as Cassandra came flying in, a letter clutched in her hand. “Oh, Elissa,” she cried, “you will never believe the good news! I have received a letter fromLady Anne Astley—that is to say, she is Lady Morsley now, of course, as she has married the marquess’s son. She says her mother, the Countess of Cheltenham, is hosting a house party in just a few days’ time. And we are to be invited!” Cassandra pressed the letter to her chest. “Lady Morsley lives just two miles away from the house and will be in attendance daily. Her brother, Harrington, told her about my admiration of her charitable society, and she condescended to write and say how much she is looking forward to meeting me.Me!” Cassandra pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, Elissa—it is too wonderful. I will get to meet my heroine!”
Elissa stared at Lady Cheltenham’s letter in wonder. She felt no annoyance at having been bested, only awe at the countess’s display of tactical superiority.
It seemed that war was about to resume with France. Elissa wondered if anyone had considered deploying Lady Cheltenham to the Continent.
Cassandra looked at Elissa hopefully. “Did you receive an invitation from the countess?”
“I did,” she said, passing it to her sister.
“Oh, my gracious—she is sending the Cheltenham carriage for us! We only have two days to prepare. We will need to start packing immediately.”
Cassandra proceeded to flutter about the room, planning, while Elissa pulled out a sheet of paper to compose her surrender.
CHAPTER11
On the day the house party was to begin, Edward was in the front parlor trying to convince himself to open the copy of Euripides’Hippolytus, one of several volumes he had brought from the library so he could finally get some studying done when his father appeared in the doorway.
He sprang up from the Chippendale writing desk. “Good morning, Father.”
The earl nodded as he entered the room. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his waist trim even in his fifties, and had the same dark hair as Edward. Other than the blue eyes Edward had inherited from his mother, he was almost a mirror image of his father.
The earl gestured for Edward to resume his seat but did not sit himself. “I’m surprised to find you in here. I went looking for you in the library.”
“I wanted to be near the front of the house so I could greet our guests as they arrive.”
The earl squinted at the stack of books on the desk. “Although it looks as if you have brought the library with you.”
“That contest taking place at Oxford is only one week away. I was hoping to do a little studying. I did go over the numbers from last month earlier this morning. I wouldn’t want you to think I’m neglecting—”
“I know you would never neglect the estate. And next week at Oxford, I’m sure you’ll trounce the lot of them. You always make the family proud. Unlike your brother.” The earl raked a hand through his hair. “You’re not the one causing a scandal with some opera dancer.”
“Truly, Father, that wasn’t Harrington’s fault. The girl was unattached. That Markham fellow has a reputation for being a hothead and could not handle his disappointment when she chose Harrington.”
The earl snorted. “Yes, well, I never have to worry aboutyougetting challenged to a duel over some bit of fluff.”
