They were playing against Emmeline’s mother and Mr Giles Calloway in the drawing room at Croston Hall.
Emmeline had been pleased to be invited back into Mr Calloway’s home, finding it a most warm and welcoming atmosphere. However, she had nursed a secret doubt and had worried to some degree that the Duke and Duchess of Galcross would be there. But, of course, they were unlikely to be spending the afternoon playing bridge in Mr Calloway’s home. They had welcomed him into the area by attending the summer ball and showing due manners, and Emmeline should have known better. But still, the idea that she would come face-to-face with Felicity Burton, the Duchess, was not one that she relished. Emmeline never wanted to see such raw emotion again as long as she lived.
“I do play, but perhaps not today,” Emmeline said and turned to look at her cousin briefly.
“What a shame,” he said with a bright smile.
“I think I would struggle for concentration today, Kent. You would find me a truly dreadful partner.” She tried to return his smile, but she knew it was nowhere near as bright.
“I am sure that I would find you nothing but a delightful partner, Emmeline,” he said in a low voice.
When they had accepted the invitation to play bridge, Emmeline and her family had not realized that Kent Fitzgerald would be in the county. And even if they had, they would have been unlikely to have sought to have the invitation extended to him also.
However, Kent Fitzgerald had very quickly fixed on to Giles Calloway as a man who was easy to fall in with in the county. Being a newcomer himself, Mr Calloway was open to all company, without real discernment of any kind. In truth, she did not blame him for it, for he was an extremely friendly man and just about one of the nicest she had ever met.
She had been taken by surprise when, as she and her mother and sister had been heading for the carriage to set off for Croston Hall, Kent Fitzgerald had come after them.
“If you are heading to Croston Hall, might I beg a seat in the carriage? I am heading that way myself you see, for Mr Calloway has invited me to play bridge.” He had smiled at them and, as he climbed into the carriage, Constance caught her daughter’s eye.
“Of course, you must travel with us, my dear,” Constance said, and only Emmeline would have recognized that she did not speak with genuine warmth. “I must apologize; I had no idea that you were also bound for Croston Hall this afternoon. You must forgive me.”
“Mrs Fitzgerald, really there is no need. I had not realized that you were to attend either until I saw you making your way to the carriage. Even then, I was simply guessing.”
“You are finding Mr Calloway good company, cousin?” Emmeline could not help quizzing him a little.
“Oh yes, he is extraordinarily good company. He is the most welcoming person I have met in the county.” He paused for a moment and winced. “Present company excepted, of course.” He bowed awkwardly in his seat.
“Please, Mr Fitzgerald, there is no offence.” Emmeline smiled and hoped it was not quite as watery as she imagined it would be.
“Kent, please,” he said and smiled back at her.
They were due to meet Hunter Bentley and Algernon Rochester at Croston Hall, for the two were leaving there immediately afterward for dinner at Braithwaite House. Emmeline could not help wishing that the Earl had once again collected them in his carriage on the way, and she wondered if her cousin would have had the audacity to invite himself in then.
Emmeline did what she could to make cheerful conversation throughout the journey, all the while thinking that she was very much less likely to enjoy the afternoon now that she knew she would be forced to spend a good deal of it with Kent Fitzgerald.
By the time they had arrived, it was to find the Earl and Mr Rochester already settled at a table in want of an opposing pair. Mr Calloway had been keen to play against them and had immediately asked Constance if she would care to partner him.
Rose, who had seen one of her young acquaintances in attendance, had quickly disappeared into a corner for some tea and conversation. And so it was that Emmeline found herself at the mercy of her cousin for a while and heartily wished that he would move around the room and find some other company.
“Shall we take some tea?” Kent asked and looked around to catch the eye of one of the maids.
Emmeline, realizing she could hardly escape the invitation, nodded meekly and walked with a heavy heart towards a small couch but a few feet away.
“Thank you,” she said when the maid set out a tea tray for them on a low table.
“Well, how very nice to have this little bit of time together whilst everybody is at the card tables, Emmeline.”
“Quite,” she said and knew her response lacked conviction. “Tell me, are you in the county long this time?” She smiled and tried to appear interested rather than irritated.
“I have a good deal of business in the area over the coming weeks, so I daresay that I shall be falling upon the mercy of your dear mother. Such a wonderful hostess.”
“Indeed.”
“And, of course, business is always a pleasure when one also gets the chance of some very fine company, is it not?”
“I daresay it is, Sir, but since I have never been involved in business of any kind, I could not say conclusively.”
“Indeed.” He laughed and reached for his tea.
As he took a few sips, she found herself studying him out of the corner of her eye. He was well turned out, and there was certainly nothing to criticize in his appearance at all. And yet he seemed to lack so much that she could not really explain it.
She peered over towards the Earl of Addison and, quite without thinking, began to compare the two men. The Earl was just a little taller and just a little broader, very nicely built, although nothing near the size of Algernon Rochester, who must surely be the most healthily built man in the entire county. But in comparison to her cousin, the Earl seemed somehow very much more masculine.
It was not that her cousin was particularly feminine in his appearance, but more that he was somewhat androgynous not only in appearance but mannerisms.
She was not sure she had her description entirely right, but what she did know was that he paled into insignificance in the presence of the Earl, not just in appearance, but in presence. Not, of course, that it mattered at all; after all, she was not being asked to choose between the two men.
For a moment, the thought gave her some amusement, and she almost laughed.
“Are you well acquainted with the Earl of Addison?” her cousin asked so suddenly that she paused in reaching for her tea.
“Yes, I am well acquainted with the Earl,” she said and felt a little uneasy; it seemed such a curious question.