Chapter Seven
Sixteen days before the wedding . . .
“Will you be joining us for tennis today, Lord Fairborough?” Delilah smiled at Grayson’s aunt and uncle.
Beside her husband, the Countess of Fairborough suppressed a laugh.
Her husband cast her an injured look. “I don’t know what you find so amusing.” He leaned toward Delilah in a confidential manner. “I’ll have you know I was quite adept at the playing of squash in my youth. Similar to tennis but requiring much more skill and finesse.” He huffed. “And I must say, I do prefer my tennis on an indoor court. That’s the way the kings of England played and it’s good enough for me.”
“What he’s trying to say is that he will not be playing tennis today,” Lady Fairborough said with a firm look at her husband. “Nor, I’m afraid, will I. I don’t play often anymore although I have always enjoyed it. There’s little better than a hotly contested match played under the open sky in the fresh air.”
Lord Fairborough snorted in derision.
“We have a croquet court laid out as well if you’d prefer,” Delilah offered. “If I recall correctly from my childhood, both Grayson and Winfield played a wicked game of croquet.” She cast the older man a teasing smile. “And I suspect I know who taught them.”
“Competition runs in the blood.” Lord Fairborough chuckled.
Lady Fairborough sighed. “And blood was usually the end result.” She shook her head. “One wouldn’t think something as deceptively peaceful as croquet would be a blood sport but with my boys it was.”
Grayson’s parents had died when he was very young and he’d been raised beside his cousin Winfield, now Lord Stillwell.
Lady Fairborough peered around the terrace. “I saw Grayson when we first arrived but now I can’t seem to find either my nephew or my son and daughter-in-law.”
Twenty or so of Camille’s friends together with neighbors Delilah hadn’t seen in years milled about on the terrace, greeting each other and exchanging the sort of pleasantries people exchange when they haven’t seen one another for far too long. Footmen navigated between the guests bearing trays of iced champagne and lemonade. Groups of two or three or more drifted toward the courts, a ten-minute walk from the terrace. Those who intended to play were overheard making rash statements as to their sporting prowess and Delilah suspected a few friendly wagers were made.
“Isn’t that him?” Lord Fairborough squinted and pointed out a young man demonstrating how to swing a racket to an even younger woman.
“No dear,” Lady Fairborough murmured. “Perhaps if you were to wear your spectacles . . .”
“Don’t need them,” he said in a gruff manner.
Lady Fairborough sighed. “Then keep looking.”
Most of those under a certain age, men and women alike, carried rackets under their arm as did Delilah. The older guests would probably choose to play croquet. Teddy had said the courts were set up for both games. Her mistake was nowhere in sight, much to her relief.
She hadn’t seen him at all yesterday except in passing. Samuel and Grayson had been ensconced in the library deep in discussion and plans for their motorized folly most of the day, going so far as to take their meals there. Delilah had noted any number of mechanical drawings strewn about when she’d happened to walk by the library door. As foolish as she thought this venture was, at least it kept Samuel occupied and out of her way.
With any luck at all, the American had decided to forgo today’s activities as well. She hadn’t encountered him at breakfast and wondered if he had decided to return to London after all. Her spirits brightened at the thought then just as quickly deflated. She certainly wouldn’t count on that and someone probably would have mentioned his leaving to her. Samuel would no doubt appear when she least expected him if for no other reason than to be annoying. He derived entirely too much pleasure from annoying her. Which in and of itself was annoying.
Still, he had appeared on his best behavior at dinner the other night once the topic had turned to something less volatile than motorwagons. One could argue he was quite charming. Delilah too had tried very hard to be charming, or at least cordial, and thought she had succeeded nicely, all things considered. She still didn’t understand why the others couldn’t see that Samuel was wrong about the future of horseless carriages. He was wrong and she was right and there was no more to be said about it than that, even if she suspected there would a great deal more said once the blasted machine arrived.
Not encountering him yesterday had been a welcome respite. Now that the shock of his arrival had passed, Delilah vowed to do a better job of treating Samuel like a new acquaintance. It wasn’t much of a plan but it was better than nothing. Especially as every time his name came up, Camille studied her with a speculative eye. Delilah wasn’t sure why treating him as she would anyone else was so bloody hard to accomplish but then nothing seemed to be especially easy in her life at the moment.
Even today’s garden party was awkward. Delilah was considered an accomplished hostess and it was decidedly odd today to be something less than a hostess and more than a guest. In truth she wasn’t sure what her role was. This business of being a dutiful sister was new to her, although she had decided to simply be as pleasant and helpful as possible. As long as she avoided the American she might be able to manage that.
“Have you met Miranda?” Lady Fairborough asked.
“Briefly.” Delilah smiled. “At the wedding.”
“Yes, of course.” The older woman shook her head in a disparaging manner. “You were there. I don’t know where my head is some days.”
Lady Miranda Garret had wed Winfield shortly after his cousin, Camille, and Delilah had returned from their trip to New York. Where, of course, she had made the biggest mistake of her life. Why was it that anything anyone said on very nearly any topic brought the blasted man to mind?
“Excellent choice on Winfield’s part.” Lord Fairborough nodded his approval. “I was beginning to lose hope.”
“Nonsense.” Confidence sounded in Lady Fairborough’s voice. “I knew he’d find the right woman. Eventually.” A triumphant smile graced the older lady’s lips. “I like her a great deal. She’s quite progressive you know and very modern.”
“How nice.” Delilah forced a weak smile. Why was everyone so concerned with progress all of a sudden? What was wrong with leaving things as they had always been?
“She talked Winfield into installing electricity when the hall was rebuilt.” Lord Fairborough shook his head. “Can you imagine such a thing? Electricity at Fairborough Hall.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?” Delilah asked.
Certainly more and more areas of London were being electrified but her house had yet to be wired. This was another one of those ways of the future she thought one should be cautious about. Still, while she’d prefer not to admit it to certain parties, electricity was, well, intriguing. And if her house remained her house, perhaps it was time to take a tentative step forward. As long as that step was solidly on the ground and not into a self-propelled motorwagon.
“We are still getting adjusted to it but I like it.” Lord Fairborough nodded. “It’s certainly not without a few awkward problems—”
“That poor cat . . .” Lady Fairborough shuddered.
“But all in all, I think it’s most exciting. I like being at the forefront of progress. Even Winfield is pleased and I don’t mind telling you, he was adamantly against it in the beginning. It took a bit of convincing on Miranda’s part to change his mind.” Lord Fairborough nodded in a sage manner. “But I suspect that’s when Winfield realized she was the woman for him.”
“There’s nothing more conducive for romance than argument or being on the opposing sides of an issue.” Lady Fairborough smiled in a satisfied manner. Did all mothers smile that way or just the ones Delilah knew? “That was my advice to Miranda and needless to say I was right.”
“Regardless, I doubt Delilah has need for your advice,” her husband said.
“I am always grateful for words of wisdom.” Delilah cast the lady a genuine smile even if she wasn’t entirely certain of the validity of Lady Fairborough’s advice. “And I shall certainly keep it in mind.”
They chatted for a few moments more, then the couple headed down the terrace steps toward the playing fields. A light supper would be laid out on the terrace while the guests were playing croquet and tennis or cheering on those who were. Teddy mentioned there would also be music and perhaps even dancing if anyone was so inclined.
The crowd on the terrace had thinned. No doubt most of the guests had already made their way to the courts. She would have to hurry if she wished to play. Lady Fairborough was right. There was nothing like a well-fought game of tennis to make life look a bit brighter.
Perhaps Samuel was already at the courts. He was still nowhere in sight. For that matter, she didn’t see Grayson and Camille or Winfield and his wife. Not that she cared where Samuel was but it would be convenient to know his location if she was to avoid him.
What on earth was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she face being around him? And why did every word out of his mouth set her teeth on edge? Other people apparently found him quite likeable. Of course, he had never seen them in the throes of unexpected and unbridled passion. How did women like Beryl—who’d had any number of illicit affairs before she and her husband had fallen in love with each other—manage to function in public, where she might come face-to-face with a former paramour? Delilah shuddered at the thought. Why, Delilah couldn’t face the one lover she’d had let alone the scores Beryl had left in her wake. If she and Beryl were closer, Delilah might turn to her for advice. Perhaps someday, not now of course and not in the foreseeable future, but someday when they were both old and gray and, at least for one of them, over the embarrassment of encountering one’s mistakes. Although Beryl probably didn’t consider them mistakes as much as adventures. For Delilah, it was one in the same.
“Where have you been?” Teddy appeared before her, her ever-present notebook in her hand and a touch of panic in her eyes. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Apparently not. I’ve been right here.” She studied the other woman. “You, on the other hand, look as though you are quite done in.”
“Not yet.” The always efficient Teddy looked anything but competent at the moment. “I know we talked about this when we came to Millworth so much earlier than I have ever arrived to make certain a wedding goes smoothly. I agreed to take on all these other parties Camille had envisioned because you are my friend and Camille is spending an outrageous amount of money. And, admittedly I was grateful for the opportunity to escape my mother’s house. Besides, I didn’t think it would be at all difficult. And you said you would come early as well.”
“I had nowhere else to go.”
“Not that you mentioned that. And you should have, you know.”
Delilah nodded. “I do. And if I am ever threatened with destitution again, you will be the very first one I will tell.”
Teddy’s lips twitched with a restrained smile. “I shall take that as a promise.”
“As I meant it.”
“Good.” Teddy nodded. “As I was saying, my mother is not here to help, for which I am eternally grateful,” she added quickly.
“As are we all.”
Teddy’s mother, while well meaning, had never been able to get over the fact of Teddy’s failed engagement—apparently even death was not a legitimate excuse—or her daughter’s refusal to marry the distant cousin who inherited her late husband’s title and property. Just as Teddy had never been able to forgive Phillip for his transgressions against Delilah, Delilah had never been able to entirely see past Lady Sallwick’s treatment of her only child.
“I need your help. Usually, my mother is with me for assistance along with several members of her household staff.” She sighed. “I am only one woman and I cannot be everywhere at once. Why, even now I am expected at the tennis court to assign partners and, let me tell you, that will require the wisdom of Solomon as there will be those who wish and expect and have requested to play with their friends or relations and those who have specifically asked to play against them.”
“Just tell me what you need and frankly I’m grateful to do it. I’ve felt a bit like a fish out of water myself not knowing quite what was expected of me.”
It struck Delilah that perhaps this was what she might do for the rest of her life if she was indeed left penniless. Teddy’s organization of weddings and various social events was not amassing her a fortune but it was keeping her financial head above water and allowing her to keep up the pretense that nothing had changed with the death of her father. If there was one thing Delilah knew how to do and do well it was host a party. Perhaps Delilah could join forces with Teddy and her mother. If they’d have her, of course. Still, that was a matter for the future, if the future turned out to be as dire as Delilah feared.
“Although I must say you are doing an excellent job thus far.”
“Thus far.” Teddy gave her a half-hearted smile. “Thank you but in ways too numerous to mention I am balancing a house of cards. Still . . .” She drew a deep breath. “All will be well momentarily, as soon as I herd everyone to their respective playing courts and the servants can begin setting up here. However . . .” Teddy glanced from side to side. “A fair number of the guests are not at the courts and seem to have disappeared.”
Delilah drew her brows together. “What do you mean—disappeared?”
“I mean they’ve vanished. They’re gone. Missing. I don’t know what happened to them.”
“Maybe they just went home?”
“They can’t go home.” Teddy glared. “This is home!”
Delilah stared in confusion. “What?”
“Camille and Grayson have vanished.” Teddy counted the missing guests off on her fingers. “As have Lord Stillwell and his wife and a handful of others I think, including . . .” Teddy narrowed her eyes. “Sam.”
“You needn’t look at me like that. I haven’t done away with the man.”
“You obviously don’t like him.”
“Nonsense.” She waved off the charge. “We simply have a difference of opinion that’s all.”
Teddy scoffed.
“Regardless, even if I detested him, I would not slit his throat and throw his lifeless body in the pond.”
Suspicion glittered in Teddy’s eyes.
Delilah huffed. “Clearly, you are overworked and it has affected your mind. I could never do something like that.” The very idea that she could dispatch the American was absurd. Although, given her behavior around him, it was not entirely far-fetched. “Not without help anyway.”
Teddy stared at her for a moment then smiled reluctantly. “And, as I am the only one here you would trust to help you with such a thing, I suppose he’s safe enough.” She paused. “Do you think you could find him and the others while I go on to the courts?”
“I think that’s well within my abilities.”
“And as quickly as possible would be appreciated.” Teddy nodded and moved away, pausing at the first group of guests she encountered, appearing calm and smoothly efficient. Delilah doubted anyone she spoke to would so much as suspect she was not in complete control.
Delilah glanced around the terrace. There was only one way to find her missing sister and the others. Delilah stopped a passing footman.
“William,” she said with a pleasant smile. “Lady Theodosia is attempting to usher the guests toward the games but I fear we have misplaced Lady Lydingham and Mr. Elliott and a few others. Have you any idea where they might be?”
“I really am not certain, my lady.” An uneasy look shaded William’s eyes.
“Your best guess, then.”
“Well.” He shifted nervously from foot to foot.
Delilah studied the young man closely. There was no reason for him to wish to keep the whereabouts of Camille and Grayson and Sam from her. Unless . . . “It has arrived, hasn’t it?”
“I’m afraid I don’t . . .” He winced. “Yes, ma’am.”
There was no need for further explanations. She didn’t doubt for a moment that the servants were well aware of the debate at the dinner table. There were no secrets at Millworth.
“Where?”
For a moment, she felt sorry for the poor boy, torn as he was between answering her question and the avoidance of additional conflict in the household.
“I am not certain but I think, well . . .” He drew a deep breath. “The carriage house, Lady Hargate. It was put in the carriage house.”
“Thank you, William.” She nodded and turned to go, then turned back. “Did you see it?”
He nodded. “It arrived shortly before the first guests.”
“And? What did you think of it?”
“It’s not my place to say, ma’am.”
“Come now, William, I’m simply asking your opinion.” Goodness, did the poor boy think she would disembowel him if he disagreed with her? “I promise I will not hold it against you.”
“Of course not, ma’am. I never imagined . . .” William drew a deep breath. “It’s quite the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen. Smaller than I expected. I have not seen it run yet though and—”
She held up her hand to stop him. “I daresay you’ll get your chance soon enough. Thank you, William.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He hesitated.
“Is there something else?”
“Begging your pardon, ma’am, for asking but . . .” The young man squared his shoulders. “Some of us were wondering, well, hoping that perhaps Mr. Russell’s man, the one who arrived with the vehicle, might possibly give us rides in it. Not now, of course,” he added quickly. “But when we’re not otherwise engaged.”
No doubt everyone in the household would want to ride in the blasted thing. Although that might well keep Samuel occupied. “I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you, Lady Hargate.” He nodded and started to leave, then turned back to her. “And if I might ask another favor?”
“You don’t want me to mention this request to Clement? Is that it?”
He nodded with relief. “He would see this as overstepping, my lady.”
“He would be right of course but . . .” She sighed. “It’s understandable that you and the rest of the staff, as well as my sister and everyone else in existence, would be curious about this piece of mechanical nonsense. I won’t say a word to Clement.”
“Thank you, my lady.” William nodded and hurried off.
The carriage house and the adjoining stables were in the opposite direction of the tennis courts from the manor and no more than a five-minute walk. Delilah started toward it at a brisk pace. She would not allow Teddy’s efforts to make this event a success go to waste simply because Samuel and his infernal machine were irresistible to some members of the company.
As soon as the carriage house was within sight she could see a small group clustered together. She drew a deep breath, plastered a friendly smile on her face, and started toward the others, determined to be pleasant no matter what feelings Samuel might provoke within her. She was nearly there when the gathering parted, as did the clouds above, allowing a shaft of sunlight to illuminate the vehicle. The motorwagon, for surely that’s what it was, gleamed in metallic splendor. Good Lord. She cast an annoyed look heavenward. You too? Although it was more likely the American had positioned the contraption to its best advantage and not that it had any sort of celestial blessing. Why, she wouldn’t be at all surprised if Samuel hadn’t arranged as well for a heavenly choir to burst into a song of praise at any moment.
“Delilah.” Camille caught sight of her sister. “What are you doing here?” She cast an uneasy glance at the machine.
“I haven’t come to ruin your fun, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“She would never think that,” Grayson said, although doubt lingered in his eyes as well.
Samuel and another man, tall, dark haired, and not unattractive, American by the sound of him, pointed out various parts of the vehicle to Winfield and Miranda, who appeared quite taken with the thing. They didn’t notice her arrival, which gave her a moment to look at the machine.
“Why are you here?”
Delilah raised a brow. “Nervous, are you? As to my intentions?”
He studied her closely, then laughed. “No, of course not.”
“I don’t believe you but I shall give you the benefit of the doubt.” Delilah directed her words toward Grayson, but her gaze was on the vehicle. “Just because I think it’s silly doesn’t mean I’m not curious.” She stepped closer.
William was right. It was smaller than she had expected, resembling a small phaeton with three wheels instead of two. The back wheels were considerably larger than the one in front. There was room for no more than two people on the leather bench seat. Something that was probably a steering mechanism, a lever of some sort, was affixed to wooden floorboards directly behind the front wheel. The motor was positioned behind the seat. It was at once the most absurd thing she had ever seen and just possibly one of the most intriguing. Not that she intended to admit that. Nor did she wish to ride in it but she was curious to see if it did indeed run.
“Well?” Sam said, without warning at her side.
“Well what?” She cast him a pleasant smile.
“Well, what do you think?”
She met his gaze directly. “Do you really want to know?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid I do.”
“In that case.” She studied the vehicle for a moment. “I think it’s . . . interesting.”
He laughed. “That’s better than I expected.”
Her brow rose. “What did you expect?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” He grinned. “A scathing comment. A diatribe on the ills of progress. An impassioned speech about the joys of tradition. Something along those lines.”
“I am sorry to disappoint you.”
He leaned close and spoke softly, for her ears alone. “I doubt you could ever disappoint me, regardless of how hard you tried.”
She struggled not to let her surprise show on her face. What on earth did he mean by that?
“I think it’s fascinating.” Lady Stillwell’s eyes shone with eagerness. “Winfield should be the first to order one.”
“I think we should wait to see if it works first,” her husband said wryly.
“Oh, it definitely works,” the other American said. “At least it did when it left Benz’s hands.”
“Jim, allow me to introduce Lady Hargate,” Samuel said. “Delilah, this is Jim Moore, my assistant. Delilah is Lady Lydingham’s sister.”
“The sister?” Mr. Moore’s eyes widened.
Samuel winced.
“One of them.” Delilah refused to let his obvious wariness annoy her. What had the man been told? She cast him her brightest smile. “Delighted to have you at Millworth, Mr. Moore.”
“My apologies, Lady Hargate.” Mr. Moore grimaced. “I must have left my manners on that last train.” He shook his head. “It’s been a long journey.”
“No need to apologize.” Delilah shook her head. “I know all too well how wearing travel can be.”
“While I was dealing with Benz,” Samuel began, “Jim was learning all he could about the motorwagon. He’s more in the business end of my projects now but he started as an engineer.”
“I can’t build one from scratch, not yet anyway. But it’s not as complicated at it looks.” Mr. Moore’s gaze returned to the machine. “I should be able to keep it running.”
“When can we see it run?” Lady Stillwell asked.
“More to the point.” Camille grinned. “When can we ride in it?”
“You can’t ride in it now,” Delilah said, her voice a bit sharper than she had intended. She adopted a more congenial tone. “I was actually sent to fetch you. The games are about to begin and frankly, your absence is delaying everything. It is awkward, you know, when the hosts have abandoned their guests.”
Camille wrinkled her nose. “You’re right, of course. I simply lost my head in the excitement of seeing the motorwagon.”
“And I would not want to do anything to delay the festivities,” Samuel said. “We should be joining the others. Besides, we have had to send into the village for fuel so we can’t start it up yet anyway.”
“Something to look forward to then.” Delilah gestured toward the road. “Shall we?”
Camille, Grayson, and Lord and Lady Stillwell started off, chatting about the motorwagon, Delilah a step behind them. Samuel stayed to exchange a few words with Mr. Moore.
“I’m afraid I haven’t played in a long time,” Miranda said to Camille. “I’m quite out of practice. In truth, I stopped playing with anyone in my family years ago.” She shuddered. “They all have a tendency to be quite cutthroat and it’s no longer a game but warfare.”
“Oh, this should be just a friendly game.” Camille laughed. “And no one is expected to be very good.”
Grayson chuckled. “There’s no such thing as a friendly game when Winfield plays.”
“I do intend to beat you into the ground,” his cousin replied. “So tell me about this plan of yours and Russell’s to market . . .”
Goodness, it was like herding recalcitrant sheep. Delilah was tempted to smack Camille’s bustled backside with her racket to get them all to walk a bit quicker.
“I hope you’re a good player.” Sam caught up to Delilah.
“I am.” She cast him a smug smile.
“Good.” He chuckled. “As I requested you be my partner.”
She stopped in mid-stride and stared at him. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“Because I am no fool, Delilah.” He hooked his arm through hers and started after the others. “I am not stupid enough to allow you to be on the opposite side of the net with something as potentially lethal as a tennis ball at your disposal.”
She tried and failed to stifle an amused smile. “Frightened, are you?”
“There are any number of emotions you invoke in me, my dear.” Amusement curved his lips. “Fear is not one of them.”
“Perhaps then you’re not as clever as you think.”
“Perhaps.” He chuckled. “Besides, if we are attempting to act as if we have never met before, I don’t think playing against one another is wise. Your irritation at my very existence is already proving harder to disguise than you expected.” He glanced at her. “Or am I wrong?”
“No.” She sighed. “You’re right. It is hard to keep my feelings entirely to myself.”
They walked on in silence for a few minutes.
“Why are you so angry with me?”
“I’m not . . .” Why deny it? He wouldn’t believe her anyway. “Well, yes, I suppose I am.”
“Why? What have I done?”
“Nothing, really. Nothing specific, that is. It’s just . . .” She stopped and glared at him. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
He frowned. “Are you going to stamp your foot?”
“Of course not. That would be childish.” Although she had come very close to doing exactly that.
“Delilah.” His voice softened and again he took her arm and they started after the others. “I am here and I don’t intend to leave. I am sorry if that upsets your plans but we will both have to make the best of it.”
“Now, you’re being reasonable.”
“You find it annoying, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.” She paused. “But then you know that.”
“I do.” He chuckled.
She sighed. “I do wish you wouldn’t find everything I say quite so amusing.”
“It’s annoying, isn’t it?”
“You know full well it is.” She blew a long breath. “You probably wanted to be my partner because it would be easier to annoy me.”
“Not at all.” He paused. “Although it’s not a bad reason.”
“Hmph.”
“But aside from the fact that I didn’t think it was a good idea to be on opposing sides, you strike me as a competitive type of woman.”
She glanced at him. “I’m not sure if that is a compliment or a criticism.”
He shrugged. “I suppose it depends on how you look at it.”
“I simply think if one is going to play a game, one should play to win.”
“My sentiments exactly.” He grinned. “And that, my dear Lady Hargate, is why I wanted you as my partner.”
“Because you like to win.”
“Because I too play to win.” A wicked smile quirked his lips. “And I never accept defeat.”