Page 19 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“I...” He was about to agree that he absolutely did, categorically, but then a noise made him look up and he tensed.
“Bastien!” Aunt Tessa called, using the nickname she always gave him. She was dressed in a dress of charcoal taffeta, her long hair that was mostly gray but with streaks of auburn still visible piled up under a charcoal turban-style hat. Her long, thin face was a picture of startled surprise.
“Oh...” Eleanor whispered, standing still on the path. Sebastian reached over protectively. He knew Aunt Tessa very well and liked her, but he had no idea how she might react seeing Eleanor dressed like that. She was, after all, particular about the heir to Ramsgate and she might disapprove of the future countess being dirt-covered and dressed in simple clothes.
He rested a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder, his own heart racing, his palm tingling. But before he had a chance to speak, to introduce the two formally, Aunt Tessa gave a big gasp.
“Oh!” she murmured. Her gaze moved over Eleanor where she stood in her dirty boots, her hair tumbling about her shoulders, her face smudged and dirtied. “Oh. She is the one.”
Eleanor looked up confusedly, and Sebastian glanced at her, then back at Aunt Tessa. He felt just as confused and disbelieving as Eleanor.
“Aunt?” he asked cautiously. “Can you explain what you mean?”
“She is the one, Bastien! She is the one.”
Sebastian let out his breath in a sigh. He knew his aunt. She was always like that—she said the strangest things on occasion, and she never felt the need to explain.
“Aunt, I’d be delighted if you could step inside and join us for breakfast, if you’d like? Or at least a cup of tea. But first, allow me to introduce Lady Glenfield formally to you. Aunt, this is Eleanor, the new Lady Glenfield. Eleanor, please meet my Aunt Tessa, Lady Waddingham.”
“Delighted,” Eleanor murmured, giving a low curtsey. Aunt Tessa, watching Eleanor, let out a sigh.
“She is undoubtedly the one. Come, my dear,” she said, turning to Eleanor. “Come. Let us go indoors. It’s far too cold out here. You haven’t a cloak with you to keep you warm.”
Sebastian grinned to himself, watching Aunt Tessa shepherd Eleanor towards the house. Aunt didn’t so much as glance his way. He felt his grin broadening as he realized how unmerited his worrying had been. She was clearly enchanted with Eleanor, to the point that her favorite nephew, as she always called him, paled into inconsequentiality.
He was still smiling as he wandered up the stairs towards the house.
The ladies had taken the long path towards the front of the house, but he had to take Starburst to the stables first, so he took the path to the kitchens, patted his horse fondly and left him in the care of the groom, then wandered around to the terrace. As he stood there, considering the gardens, he heard a sound.
A coach approaching.
“Oh, for...” He swore. He glanced around. It was a coach, indeed, and he recognized it. It was Lady Aldford and her daughter, Miss Hatfield. He swore again and ran to the door.
“Eleanor?” he called, but he could hear steps on the stairs, and he guessed that Eleanor and his aunt were already in thebreakfast room. He glanced at the clock. It was already nine o’ clock. No wonder people were coming over to call in on them.
He raced up the stairs, wanting to alert Eleanor before the guests descended. Aunt Tessa was one thing, but strangers, especially Baroness Aldford and her daughter, were another. It was no bother to be in a more casual state with family members, but having the local nobles find one in a state of disarray was another thing.
“Eleanor?” he called, breathless as he ran to the breakfast room. Aunt Tessa was pouring tea, while Eleanor sat at the table, looking a little baffled. She looked over at him as he ran inside.
“Is there...” she started, but he interrupted.
“There are guests. Coming for tea.” He drew a breath. “Nobles from a neighbouring estate.” he gasped, still exhausted after running up the stairs.
“Oh!” Eleanor glanced around, clearly frightened. Aunt Tessa waved a hand.
“Do not agitate and fret, my dear,” she said at once. “I’ll sit with them in the drawing room. You can go and ready yourself. Then you can come and preside in the drawing room. Not so, Bastien?” She looked over at Sebastian, who blinked.
“Yes. Good idea.”
Aunt Tessa smiled at him as if everything made perfect sense. Sebastian nodded again and inclined his head, indicating that Eleanor might step out into the hallway, if she wished to.
“Aunt Tessa has a good idea,” he said to her gently. “You go and ready yourself, and I’ll ask the butler to send them up here. I’ll see you two in a minute,” he added swiftly, looking around hastily. “I have some urgent business to attend to.”
He took a pastry from the basket on the table, since he hadn’t yet broken his fast, and hurried downstairs to tell the butler.
Chapter 8
“What can I wear? Oh, what can I wear...?”
