“All of your guests will be gone in two days,” Felicity said. “And Elizabeth and I are leaving in a week. Won’t you please come to London to us? There aren’t many parties in winter, only a few routs and dinners, but I promise to entertain you as well as I can.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask Mother. You know just being with you is entertainment enough for me. I shall talk to Mother about it today.”
Leorah excused herself to visit the retiring room, but when she was in the hall, she recognized Mr. Hastings talking to someone, their voices echoing from the shadowy nook under the back stairs.
A man’s voice answered, “We can take her to the workhouse and still have time to get back to the rally in Surrey. You have the gun?”
Leorah was nearly certain the other voice was that of Mr. Pinegar. But it seemed a strange conversation. Taking someone to the workhouse? Of course, as a Member of Parliament, Mr. Pinegar would probably attend a lot of political rallies, but a workhouse, a rally, and a gun seemed to have nothing at all to do with each other or Mr. Pinegar and Mr. Hastings.
The men’s voices seemed to get lower, so Leorah continued on down the hall.
The day of the dinner at Lord Withinghall’s family seat finally arrived. After the two-hour ride to Grimswood Castle, Leorah leaned her head out the window of the carriage to catch sight of the castle. She could smell the salt sea air, and even above the sound of the carriage wheels she could hear the roar of the waves against the rocky crags of the coastline.
As the carriage rounded the bend in the road, the castle rose out of the lonely hill ahead. Not a single tree grew near the castle, and even grass was scarce on the stony ridge. The dark-gray towers of the castle rose high against the sky, which was streaked with a few wispy clouds.
“What do you think?” Felicity asked.
“I think I’ve never seen a more inviting castle.”
Leorah sat back so Felicity could take a look.
“Inviting?” Felicity’s voice rose. “It looks a bit frightening, as if a knight might ride down the rocks on his war horse and challenge us to a joust.”
“I think it looks wild and ancient and . . . wonderful.” Indeed, Leorah’s heart was beating hard and fast as Felicity let her have another look out the window. White sea birds screeched as they circled the highest tower, and mullioned windows winked at them, reflecting the late-day sun and blue sky. Perfectly uniform crenellations ringed the top of two of the towers, while the other three rose into pointed rooftops. A flag with the Withinghall crest and colors flew from one such point.
This magnificent castle—mysterious, formidable, traditional, and intriguing—fit its owner perfectly.
The castle was just as impressive up close as it was from far away, and they were greeted by friendly servants and soon by Lord Withinghall himself.
“Welcome to Grimswood Castle,” he said and led them to an enormous drawing room that also doubled as a library. The ceilings soared high over their heads, and one entire wall was lined with tall, arched, mullioned windows revealing both white clouds and blue sea.
Leorah couldn’t resist walking over to a window. Below lay the dark, rocky crags, a narrow beach, and frothy waves. Her heart swelled at the wild beauty of the view.
“Does it meet with your approval, Miss Langdon?”
She turned to find Lord Withinghall standing behind her, gazing at her.
“I have always especially enjoyed this room,” he went on, looking past her shoulder.
“It is beautiful. I am not sure I’ve ever seen such an interesting view. It’s both relaxing and invigorating.”
The rest of her party, including Felicity and Elizabeth, Leorah’s mother and father, and Nicholas and Julia, joined them at the windows, and they all exclaimed over the delightful prospect of the sea.
An older man and woman entered the room, and Lord Withinghall said, “Miss Langdon, allow me to introduce to you my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. William Dixon.”
His aunt immediately clasped her hand and smiled up at her. Mr. Dixon was a portly but gentlemanly man with a polite manner. They all made the required small talk, after introducing Felicity and Elizabeth.
“I have heard so much about you, Miss Langdon, from Edward,” Mr. Dixon said as Mrs. Dixon was talking with Felicity.
“Oh dear. Now you make me worried, Mr. Dixon. Lord Withinghall and I have not always been the best of friends.”
“I am surprised to hear that.” He raised his brows at Lord Withinghall. “Edward has spoken of you in the highest terms—a courageous and charitable young woman more concerned for the poor than the frivolities young people concern themselves with these days.”
“Lord Withinghall is very kind.”
The viscount briefly met her gaze and cleared his throat. “My uncle is often here at Grimswood and takes care of many of my business matters when I am away.”
“Our only child died at a very young age,” Mr. Dixon said, “and Edward and his mother—my sister—were our only family. Family is very important, don’t you agree, Miss Langdon?”
“I do most heartily agree, Mr. Dixon.”
Lord Withinghall seemed more relaxed in his own home as they conversed with the man who must have been a better model of a man than his own father.
Leorah’s father strode over and began dominating a conversation with Lord Withinghall and Mr. Dixon, so she moved back to the window and to Felicity’s side. A few moments later, someone said, “Miss Langdon?”
Lord Withinghall was standing by her shoulder, and they turned toward him.
“Would you and Miss Mayson and Miss Elizabeth like to take a tour of the castle?”
They assured him they would, and Leorah got the impression that Lord Withinghall was hesitant to ask the rest of the guests. But he was too polite to leave anyone out, and soon they were all following Lord Withinghall out of the library and up the old stone steps to the next level of the castle.
The viscount showed them several rooms and gave them some historical facts about various famous people who had stayed at the castle, including two kings.
He also took them to the top of one of the crenelated towers. Because of the wind, only the men would venture out—except for Leorah. Lord Withinghall smiled and extended his arm to her when he saw she was willing to sacrifice her hairdressing to the wind so that she might see the view from every side of Grimswood Castle.
The sun was painting orange and pink streaks across the sky, leaving enough light that they might enjoy the prospect. As she gazed across the wild landscape of grassy hills on one side and rocky cliffs on the other, Lord Withinghall said, “It is a beautiful evening.”
“Yes, very beautiful. I could imagine it being very difficult to leave such an invigorating landscape. You have everything here, every natural beauty—woods, hills, and rocky coast.”
“I must admit, it is more enjoyable to see it through your eyes. I am accustomed to it, as I’ve lived here since I was born.”