Chapter Two
“. . . and Grayson has gone off to fetch one of his American friends from the train.” Camille sank down into the wrought-iron garden chair beside her sister’s on the terrace overlooking the grounds and gardens of Millworth. A table had been set with tea out-of-doors to allow the ladies to enjoy the still delightful, late afternoon autumn day.
“Although Keech was perfectly capable of doing so without him.” Camille drummed her fingers on the table. “Honestly, I think all those years spent in America have changed Grayson in ways that I don’t understand.”
“Good ways or bad ways?” Delilah poured a cup of tea and handed it to her sister.
“That is yet to be decided.” Camille heaved a resigned sigh. “This American has come entirely too early. Why, the wedding is nearly three weeks away. But Grayson did mention the man might go into London on occasion. And, as I suspect Grayson could use some male companionship, it’s probably for the best. It will keep him occupied and out of the way.”
“Always a good idea,” Teddy said absently, her gaze locked on the notebook in front of her on the table. She jotted a quick note then looked up. “Who is he?”
“Oh, I forget which one he is.” Camille waved off the question. “Grayson has invited any number of American friends and quite a few have written that they plan to attend.”
“But you can’t remember any of their names,” Delilah said in a casual manner as if she could not care less which of Grayson’s American friends planned to attend the wedding. Not that she thought Mr. Russell would suddenly appear at Millworth Manor. No, his employer, a Mr. Moore she thought, might well travel to England for Camille and Grayson’s nuptials but she doubted he would bring an employee along with him. It would be most inappropriate. Although one never knew what an American might do. Inappropriate was probably to be expected.
“It’s right on the tip of my tongue.” Camille’s brows drew together. “I met several of Grayson’s business associates when we were in New York and I’m fairly certain our new arrival was one of them. In fact, I think he and Grayson are very good friends as well as partners in any number of successful ventures. Which makes this even more annoying. What was his name?” She thought for a moment. “It scarcely matters now, I suppose. The man will be here at any minute.”
“Which reminds me”—Teddy set down her pen and settled back in her chair—“we should go over the most recent responses to your invitations. I would hate to lose sight of how many people are actually coming to the wedding.”
“I daresay there won’t be many refusals.” Camille smiled in a smug manner. “My wedding will be a social event to be remembered.”
“As was the first,” Delilah pointed out. Their mother would have had it no other way.
Camille laughed. “It was, wasn’t it? Of course this time it’s different.”
“This time it’s Grayson.” Delilah smiled at her sister.
Camille’s first husband, Harold, was considerably older and exactly the kind of man all three sisters were expected to marry: wealthy, with a respectable title and impeccable family connections. Camille was the first to admit she had indeed loved her husband and they had had a fine marriage. But if pressed, Camille would also confess that he was not the true love of her life. Which made her wedding at long last to Grayson Elliott even more special.
“That does make all the difference.” A thoughtful smile curved Camille’s lips. “You know, I never thought this would happen to me, to us rather. I really never thought I’d see him again after he left England. Never imagined we’d have a second chance at a life together.”
“One does tend to give up hope after more than a decade passes.” Delilah refilled her teacup.
“Grayson was gone for eleven years, wasn’t he?” Teddy asked.
“Building a fortune in America,” Delilah said. “Time well spent I would say.”
“He shouldn’t have been gone at all but I suppose, in many ways, that’s as much my fault as it was his. Still, I would much rather he be rich than poor. I have my own fortune, of course, but I do think society tends to look askance when it’s the woman who has the fortune as if it’s somehow demeaning for the man in question. No one ever seems to mind when it’s the man who has all the money.”
“Although, no one queues up to marry a poor girl,” Teddy pointed out.
“It doesn’t seem fair, does it?” Camille shook her head. “A woman who marries for position and fortune, especially if she has no position or fortune herself, is often looked upon as a fortune hunter although it’s the only way, even in this day and age, that a woman has to better herself. A man who marries for money is simply considered clever. And it does seem to me that a man dependent on his wife’s money is more likely to stray.” Camille shrugged. “Still, it is delightful that money is not a concern. We can put the past in the past where it belongs. I much prefer to look toward the future.”
“I have no doubt you’ll be blissful together.” Teddy smiled then turned to her friend. “And what of you, Dee? Have you considered your future?”
Camille chuckled. “With her two older daughters now settled and happy with their second husbands, I daresay Mother has certainly considered the question of Delilah’s future. I know a good portion of those invited to the wedding at Mother’s urging are unattached gentlemen in need of a wife. I suspect she thinks it will be fertile hunting ground for you.”
“I allowed Mother to direct my life the first time I married. I do not intend to allow her to do so the next time. However, I don’t mind her assistance as I do intend to marry again. She is very good at this sort of thing. And as she, and you of course, have been so thoughtful as to gather potential husbands here for your wedding and my perusal, I further intend to begin my search in earnest among them.” She turned toward her friend. “A bigger question than that of my intentions, Teddy, is what do you want?”
“I have always loved the way you manage to turn attention away from yourself when there is a question you don’t wish to answer.” A wry smile curved the corners of Teddy’s lips.
“Not at all.” Even to her own ears her objection did not ring true. “I simply can’t imagine you wish to plan other people’s social events for the rest of your life. I have no idea what your plans are. You’ve been so busy this past year organizing weddings and parties that I’ve scarcely seen you at all.”
“Then you should have more parties.” Teddy grinned.
“I shall certainly keep that in mind,” Delilah said in a prim manner then returned her friend’s smile.
She and Teddy had been as close as sisters since they had first met at Miss Bicklesham’s Academy for Accomplished Young Ladies and had vowed to be good, true friends for the rest of their lives. While officially the purpose of the relatively new but already established academy was to prepare young women of the noble classes for the positions in life they were intended for, Miss Bicklesham’s faculty had an unsuspected rebellious streak. Delilah and Teddy had both left school with a solid grasp of not only how to host a hundred people for dinner and manage a grand house but with a basic understanding as well of Latin, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and economics. None of which had come in particularly handy thus far in Delilah’s life although she did credit her ability to handle any conversation with aplomb and confidence to Miss Bicklesham’s unusual curriculum.
“Or a wedding,” Teddy added.
Delilah sipped her tea. “I shall keep that in mind as well.”
Teddy also knew most of Delilah’s secrets just as Delilah knew most of Teddy’s. Others might suspect the truth of it but Delilah was certain she was the only one who actually knew Lady Theodosia and her mother, the Countess of Sallwick, were not merely amusing themselves with their wedding and party planning services but needed the income.
“I do intend to marry,” Teddy said. “I just find it remarkably difficult to find the right man.”
“Yes, there is that,” Delilah said under her breath. A vision of Mr. Russell’s enticing smile flashed through her mind. His face had an unnerving tendency to appear from nowhere whenever the topic turned toward desirable men and marriage, especially now.
Delilah had tried to put him completely out of her mind and indeed there had been days when she scarcely thought of him at all. Unfortunately, he was there very nearly every time she closed her eyes. It was both annoying and pointless. She would never see him again after all. But ever since her return to Millworth, recollections of him had stubbornly taken up residence in the back of her mind. It was due no doubt to the upcoming wedding and all those bloody Americans who would soon be invading.
It was certainly not because he was the right man. Far from it. Mr. Samuel Russell was the complete opposite of the type of man she planned on for her second husband. Aside from any number of other reasons, he was an American. That would never do. Besides which he was an adventure. Adventures were meant to be brief, enjoyable, and finite. And best kept to oneself. He was one secret she would never share even with her closest friend.
“Well then.” A wicked gleam sparked in Camille’s eyes. “We should indeed go over the guest list. We might be able to pick out your future husband as well as Delilah’s.”
Teddy laughed. “I would much rather pick him out in person than from a list, thank you very much.”
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you don’t already know every single person on that list already.” Camille tapped Teddy’s notebook with a pointed finger.
“Nor would I.” Teddy wrinkled her nose. “Which is no doubt part of the problem. I should like to meet someone new. Someone different.” She thought for a moment. “Someone who, I don’t know, doesn’t know my family, my background. Someone I haven’t known, who hasn’t known me, for much of my life. Which I think is one of the problems of the society we live in. There’s never any new blood. It’s just the same people, the same families, it’s just so . . . Well, I think expected is the right word. I would like something or rather someone unexpected.”
“An adventure,” Delilah said under her breath.
“Exactly.” Teddy beamed at her friend. “I want a man to be an adventure. To be unknown and new and exciting.”
“And make your heart race,” Delilah said without thinking.
Camille and Teddy stared at her.
“Isn’t that what an adventure does?” Delilah said quickly. “Make your heart race? Doesn’t Grayson make your heart race?”
“He always has.” Camille’s satisfied smile had returned. “Perhaps one of Grayson’s American friends would suit for your adventure, Teddy. They’re not titled but I’m fairly certain they all have tidy fortunes.”
“I’m not sure I wish to go all the way to America for a suitable match.” Teddy sipped her tea thoughtfully. “Although that would certainly be unexpected and quite an adventure.”
“You have no idea,” Delilah said more to herself than the others. Especially if they were deliciously handsome with hard bodies and laughing brown eyes.
Camille studied the wedding planner for a moment. “Aside from the unexpected, Teddy, what do you want? What are you looking for in a prospective husband?”
“I don’t know really. I do know I want someone who isn’t looking for a debutante in her first season. I have, after all, reached the overly-ripe age of twenty-six.” Teddy cast the others a rueful smile.
“As have we both,” Delilah said mildly.
There was nothing she could do to alleviate Teddy’s concern about age, a concern Delilah shared to a certain extent. But Teddy really had nothing to worry about. With her tall stature, rich red hair, and air of competence and intelligence, she was at once classic and unique. Delilah had long thought Teddy fit in far better in terms of appearance with Camille and Beryl than Delilah did. The twins were tall and blond and annoyingly perfect beauties. While the blue of Delilah’s eyes did match her sisters, she was several inches shorter, her figure a bit fuller and her hair a definite, dark brown. Regardless, her mirror said she was quite lovely even if she had always felt rather plain when standing next to the goddess twins. As such, she could certainly understand Teddy’s concern about a real or imagined flaw. “And I’m not the least bit worried.”
“You’re a widow. You’ve been married. If this was a game, you’ve already been chosen once. You’re simply playing again. No one has ever chosen, or rather married, me.” Teddy stirred sugar into her tea.
“That’s not entirely true, is it?” Delilah pointed out.
“That was a dreadful mistake.” Teddy’s tone hardened. “I wasted nearly a year in an engagement to a man who was not at all right for me. I consider myself lucky that I did not marry him.”
Camille’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
Teddy sipped her tea, her manner matter-of-fact. “He died.”
Camille winced. “Oh dear.”
“You needn’t look like that, Camille,” Delilah said. “It’s not as if she did away with him.”
“Although I might have had to resort to that if we had actually married,” Teddy said with a shrug and a sharp look at Delilah.
This was not something Teddy liked talking about and Delilah knew better than to bring it up. “But you have had other offers since then. None of which you’ve accepted.”
“Fortunately I learn from my mistakes and I have very high standards.” Teddy adopted a lofty tone. “And on the vine of matrimonial bliss, I have yet to be . . .” She rested the back of her hand against her forehead in a theatrical manner and heaved a dramatic sigh. “Plucked.”
Delilah tried not to choke. That was one secret of Teddy’s she’d take to her grave.
Camille laughed. “I wouldn’t let my mother hear you say that. She claims she is not the type of mother to interfere in her children’s lives but we know better. She simply can’t resist meddling.” Camille traded a long-suffering look with her sister. “Even though you’re not her daughter, Teddy, she would take your comment as a challenge. She’d have you wed in no time regardless of your standards. But you have evaded my question. Unexpected is not a good answer.”
“I suppose if I knew the answer to what I was looking for, I would know where to find it. Or him.” Teddy thought for a moment. “I suppose all I want is what you and Grayson have found.” She toyed absently with her spoon. “It’s quite remarkable you know and terribly obvious to anyone around the two of you. I can’t tell you how many weddings my mother and I have planned when neither the bride nor the groom looked especially happy about their union . What you have is exceedingly rare.”
“No one is more aware of that than I am. And no one is more grateful.” Camille smiled. “I hope the two of you find that one day.” She glanced at Delilah. “If that’s what you want of course.”
“Well, I for one, have a plan,” Delilah said. “I find things have always worked out quite nicely when I have a plan.”
Camille and Teddy exchanged glances as if each knew Delilah well enough to know what she was thinking. Absurd of course. While Teddy probably knew Delilah better than anyone in the world, Camille scarcely knew her at all. Camille and Beryl were five years older than their younger sister, old enough that their lives had never particularly included her. Although admittedly all three sisters were making an effort to change that. Why, hadn’t Delilah accompanied Camille and Grayson on their brief trip to the city of New York for the exact purpose of getting to know her sister better?
And hadn’t that worked out well? a little voice whispered in the back of her head.
She pushed the thought aside. She had come to know Camille, and even Beryl, much better in the months since Christmas when they had vowed to make an effort to be, well, sisters rather than merely blood relations.
“A plan?” Camille’s brow rose. “What kind of plan?”
“Oh, Dee always has a plan of some sort.” Teddy cast her friend an affectionate smile. “She’s had plans for as long as I’ve known her about one thing or another.”
“I’ve heard about your plans,” Camille said slowly.
“From Mother I assume.”
Camille nodded.
“Then you have heard the majority of them turn out most successfully.”
“Well, yes, I have heard that as well.” Camille nodded.
Teddy wisely held her tongue.
“Perhaps you have forgotten.” Delilah ticked the points off on her fingers. “I had a plan for exactly the kind of man I intended to marry. No less than a viscount, a sizable income, and no previous wives or children to muck things up. I married exactly as I was expected to.”
“I thought that was our mother’s plan,” Camille said in an aside to Teddy.
“Regardless it was an excellent plan,” Delilah said. And exactly the same plan followed by her older sisters. “And proved to be exceptionally well thought out.” Although admittedly she had not thought Phillip would die at such a young age. He had scarcely passed his forty-third year. Dashing, charming, unobtainable Phillip.
“After Phillip died, I decided upon a plan whereas I would actively begin looking for a new husband once he had been deceased for three years.” She paused to collect her thoughts. “I must confess though it’s not entirely my idea. Phillip left a letter along with his will in which he suggested I mourn no more than six months and remarry again after two to three years. That time has now passed.”
“Wasn’t that thoughtful of him,” Teddy offered with a pleasant enough smile that wasn’t the least bit genuine. It was the mark of a true friend that while Delilah might have forgiven Phillip, Teddy never would.
“It was thoughtful,” Delilah said firmly. “But I haven’t had a plan since Phillip’s death and now I do.”
“I see.” Camille considered her sister thoughtfully. “And does your plan include the name of your future husband?”
“Don’t be silly.” Delilah scoffed. “I haven’t selected my next husband. I don’t know that I’ve met him yet but it’s possible that I have. I have more, oh, requirements, I suppose than an actual individual.” Once again, she counted the points off on her fingers. “One, I want a title at least equal to my own.”
“One would hate for you to have to give up being Viscountess Hargate for simply being Lady Whoever,” Teddy said.
Delilah ignored the sarcasm in her friend’s voice. “Exactly. One should always marry up. It defeats the purpose to marry down. Two, he should have a fortune again at least equal to my own. I agree that a woman should not be wealthier than her husband.” She paused. “Although I shall follow Beryl’s example in terms of legalities and make certain my funds remain mine.”
“Very wise. One never knows what might happen in life.” Camille nodded.
“I want him to be intelligent. Perhaps even of a scholarly nature.”
“Scholarly?” Doubt rang in Teddy’s voice.
“I cannot abide stupid men.” Delilah shuddered. “I prefer a man who can carry on an interesting conversation. One who isn’t overly amusing—”
“Can’t have that,” Camille said.
“Although I wouldn’t mind a droll sort of wit. And above all, I want a gentleman of honor, of good English stock. A man who understands the value of tradition and heritage. One who treasures the symbols of that heritage like Millworth Manor and Hargate Hall.” Delilah’s gaze shifted between her sister and her friend. “Is that too much to ask?”
“Probably.” Camille chuckled then sobered. “But what of love?”
Teddy shot Delilah a quick look.
“You haven’t mentioned love or passion,” Camille continued. “This time, Delilah, don’t you want that?”
“Not necessarily. With the right match, love will surely come in time. Love is much more difficult to find than a suitable income and much less important.” Delilah refilled her cup. “And a suitable income would come in handy at the moment.”
“What do you mean?” Camille’s eyes narrowed. “Phillip left you a fortune. Don’t tell me you’ve gone through it.”
“That’s not all like you, Dee.” Teddy stared at her friend.
“Of course it’s not like me. And it’s nothing of the sort. It’s a . . . oh, a legal difficulty I would say.” Delilah braced herself. She couldn’t continue to hide the truth forever. Still, she had avoided it up till now and had hoped it would be resolved before she had to mention it to her family and her closest friend. She chose her words carefully and adopted a casual tone. As if this was of no importance whatsoever. “While I had always assumed Phillip had no heirs, indeed he thought the same, there seems to now be a claim on his—or rather my—properties and fortune and, well, everything from some scoundrel in Leister or somewhere thereabouts.”
“Good Lord.” Camille stared.
“My solicitors have assured me this is nothing more than a momentary annoyance. It should be resolved in no more than a few months although it does seem to be taking forever. Unfortunately, my assets are not available to me until this matter is settled. So you see . . .” Delilah cast them her brightest smile. “There is nothing to worry about at all.”
“Nothing? Delilah.” Camille leaned closer and put her hand on her sister’s arm. “Nothing is exactly what you could end up with. And you are not the type of woman to survive long without money.”
“I admit, it is a bit awkward. I have had to economize,” Delilah said smoothly but then she had known she would have to reveal her predicament eventually and she had practiced. Why, the word economize scarcely stuck in her throat at all now. “I have closed Hargate Hall and the house in London for the immediate future. I intend to stay here at Millworth until this is settled. With any luck at all, it will be over before the wedding.”
“And if it isn’t resolved in your favor?”
“I shall cross that road when I come to it.” That was a possibility Delilah tried not to consider even if it loomed in her mind nonetheless. “I am confident this is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.”
“When did you learn this?” Teddy asked.
“Oh, let me think.” Delilah forced an offhand note to her voice. “Six weeks or so I believe, something like that.” Six weeks, two days, and twenty-some hours but she couldn’t be exact without looking at a clock.
“Delilah.” Camille chose her words with obvious care. “I know we haven’t been especially close in the past—”
Teddy choked then coughed and smiled apologetically.
“—but I shall of course provide you with whatever funding you need.”
“Thank you, but it hasn’t come to that yet. And I doubt that it will.” Delilah had practiced that air of confidence as well.
“Are you sure?” Worry colored Camille’s face.
“Quite. But I do appreciate the offer.” She drew a deep breath. “And if you don’t mind, I’d much prefer not to discuss it further. It does tend to make my head pound.”
Teddy nodded. “Understandable.”
“So you can see why a suitable income would be appreciated,” Delilah said in hopes of steering the conversation in a different direction.
This was not something she wished to talk about, even with her sister and her dearest friend. It was bad enough that it was scarcely ever off her mind. Bad enough that a heavy weight that felt suspiciously like doom had settled in the pit of her stomach the moment she’d been informed about this difficulty, six weeks, two days, and twenty-some hours ago. She had never been an especially patient person and waiting to find out her financial fate was wearing on her nerves. The only time her finances were out of her mind was when her thoughts turned to Mr. Russell. Which was every bit as disconcerting.
“Even so.” Camille studied her sister. “Don’t you want to find what Beryl and I have found? Don’t you want to be happy?”
“I fully intend to be happy. However, it’s been my observation that love does not ensure happiness. One only has to look at the trials and tribulations you and Grayson have experienced to see that. No, I think life is much easier without allowing emotions to muck things up.” Delilah shrugged. “I shall be quite happy with a man with a respectable title and impressive fortune.”
“And should he be handsome as well?” Teddy teased. “Tall and broad-shouldered with a square jaw and a twinkle of amusement in his dark, smoldering eyes?”
“Goodness, Teddy. You’ve been reading romantic novels again. I am not so shallow as to judge a man on his appearance. Why, that would be the very definition of shallow.”
The other women glanced at each other then burst into laughter.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Delilah huffed. “And choosing a man for his position and his fortune is not the least bit shallow. It’s practical.”
Teddy grinned. “So you wouldn’t refuse to consider a man who was handsome?”
“That too would be silly, if he met all of my other requirements. This is absurd.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I will confess, I don’t want a man whose visage would make small children run in fear. I will have to share his bed after all. He should be of acceptable appearance. And I would prefer that he not be more than ten years older than I. I would like my next marriage to last longer than the mere five years my first marriage did.”
“I see.” Camille glanced at Teddy’s notebook. “Do you have the list of everyone we have invited?”
Teddy turned a page then slid the notebook across the table to Camille. “It starts here.”
“Let me see.” Camille studied the list.
Delilah didn’t like the look of that. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you with your plan.” Camille ran her finger down the page.
“Oh?” Delilah arched a brow. “I had the distinct feeling you were not impressed with my plan.”
“It’s not a bad plan, as far as it goes, although I think there are any number of variables you have not considered. In truth, I have always believed in plans and in being prepared. I have had quite a few excellent plans myself in the past.” Camille’s voice was absent, her gaze on the list of names before her. “The weakness in my plans has always been that I was not fully prepared. Or perhaps they were not well thought-out,” she added under her breath.
As evidenced by Camille’s Christmas plan to substitute a theater troupe for her family to impress a prince into a marriage proposal, not well thought-out was something of an understatement.
“Here’s an excellent possibility. In fact there are several.” Camille glanced up. “Mother has done a very good job. Better than I would have thought.” She looked back at the guest list. “Most of these gentlemen meet all your requirements including that of age. Let me see, there is Lord—”
“Goodness, Camille, that’s enough.” Delilah blew a long breath. “Any other time, I would quite relish this discussion and perhaps later we can look at every eligible gentleman on the guest list and debate the possibilities. But right now I would really rather discuss something, anything, else.”
Teddy cast her a sympathetic look. But then Teddy, far more than Camille, could understand how the fear of becoming penniless might well take the fun out of debating the relative merits of one prospective husband over another.
“Of course.” Camille smiled affectionately at her younger sister. “There’s time enough for this later. Why, there’s no hurry at all, really.” She turned to Teddy. “And aren’t we supposed to be discussing the flower arrangements?”
Teddy nodded, pulled her notebook closer, and flipped through the pages. “We’ve ordered nearly everything at this point but unfortunately, the . . .”
Perhaps Camille did understand, at least a little. After all, it was one thing to wish to marry a man with a suitable income and position and quite another to need to. Regardless, Delilah had no intention of leaping into an ill-advised marriage simply to save herself from poverty. She did hope for a certain amount of affection in a new match. If nothing else she wanted to like the next man she married. She intended to spend the rest of her life with him after all. But as much as she wanted to marry again, and there was no doubt as to the type of man she wished to wed, the idea of having to do so for financial reasons did indeed make her feel like a fortune hunter. Still, she had no intention of becoming a poor relation either.
No, Camille was right. There was no hurry at all. Besides, this claim on Phillip’s estate was more than likely bogus and would be settled any day now. Once the sense of imminent disaster hanging over her like a black cloud had abated she could look for a new husband unfettered by the slightest doubt. Nonetheless, she fully intended to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Camille’s wedding and accompanying social events to inspect suitable candidates. It would be foolish to let this opportunity slip away. She would engage them in intelligent conversation. She would be charming and flirtatious, she had long enjoyed being flirtatious, and by the time Camille was wed, Delilah would be headed in the direction of the altar as well.
All things considered, and barring any unforeseen complications, it was an excellent plan.
“There you are, Camille,” Grayson’s voice sounded in the doorway behind Delilah. “Clement said I would find you on the terrace.”
Her sister’s eyes lit with pleasure at the sight of her fiancé and the slightest twinge of what might have been envy stabbed Delilah. She ignored it. It was all well and good that Camille and Grayson had found love, and Delilah wished them nothing but happiness, but she had no interest in love. Not this time.
“It’s such a lovely day, it was a shame to stay indoors.” Camille stood and moved toward him.
Delilah twisted in her chair to get a look at the newcomer. But he stood in the shadows of the doorway, a step behind Grayson. He was tall, Delilah could tell that much. But then it did seem that all of Grayson’s Americans were tall. Apparently, they grew them that way.
Grayson raised Camille’s hand to his lips and gazed into her eyes in that manner he had that made Teddy and even Delilah want to sigh with the sheer romance of it. “And do you remember my good friend—”
“Of course I do.” Camille pulled her hand from her fiancé’s and stepped around him. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Delighted to see you again, Lady Lydingham,” the American said smoothly. Camille blocked her view and it was impossible to get a good look at him. His voice was vaguely familiar but then Americans did sound alike. “I must apologize for my early arrival. I hope it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.”
Delilah and Teddy exchanged skeptical looks.
“Not at all. Millworth is huge and there is more than enough room to spare,” Camille said in her best gracious hostess voice. “But you must be famished from your travels. Do join us and I will ring for something for you to eat.”
Delilah reached for her cup and drained the last of her tea.
“If it’s no trouble,” the American said.
“None whatsoever.” Camille returned to the table. “Allow me to introduce Lady Theodosia Winslow. She is coordinating the wedding plans. And I’m not sure if you met my sister when we were in New York.”
Delilah affixed a pleasant smile, turned her head, and looked up.
And stared into the dark brown eyes of her grand adventure.
And worst nightmare.