Chapter 16

"At last, you join us for dinner – what a delight," Aurelia's mother said, as she ushered Dawson and Roxanna into the drawing room, where Aurelia, Reuben, and Letitia were waiting to greet them.

Reuben made a beeline for Roxanna, who smiled at him as he took her hand in his and bowed, while Dawson caught Aurelia's eye and smiled. It was Aurelia who had suggested the dinner, intending it to be a chance for Dawson to practice all the things they had learned in their lessons, but after the events of the previous day – the kiss that had almost occurred between them – Aurelia's mind had been on far more than correct etiquette.

"We're delighted to be here," Dawson replied as Aurelia's father now entered the room.

"Ah, my Lord – forgive me for not greeting you as you arrived; I was lost in an experiment," he said, and Dawson smiled.

"Well, I understand that well enough. When Aurelia called on me yesterday, I was just the same. I trust your experiment was a success," he said, and Aurelia's father nodded.

"I hope it will be – I've been grafting various citrus plants together – the possibilities are endless," he said, and Dawson smiled.

"I'd be interested to see the results," he replied.

Drinks were served, and the party naturally divided – Reuben and Roxanna sitting together in one corner of the room while the others sat by the hearth, and Letitia made a poor attempt at playing the pianoforte to entertain them.

"I hear you're making all manner of improvements to the housing stock – the tenants have never had it so good," Aurelia's father said as he topped up Dawson's glass with sherry.

"Well, I believe in doing the right thing by those who depend on the estate for their livelihood. I don't want to criticize anything from the past, but … well, let's just say the improvements were necessary," Dawson said, and Aurelia's father nodded.

"Yes … Isaac had his qualities and … his faults, I suppose. A new earl will always make changes," he said.

Dawson glanced at Aurelia and smiled. She admired him for what he was doing, and there was no doubting the goodwill towards him among the tenants and local people, even as the ton's opinion was divided. Some had taken to Dawson, and others had not.

Depending on who was asked, he was either an uncouth American with no idea of proper behaviour, or a breath of fresh air, charming and intelligent. There was indifference, too – those who had no opinion either way – and Aurelia hoped, in time, those people would come to see Dawson as she did.

"Little by little, I intend to. But it's still taking time to get used to," Dawson said, glancing at Aurelia and smiling.

"Well, I'm sure you're glad to have Aurelia's help in the matter," the baroness said.

Aurelia blushed, but Dawson now agreed wholeheartedly.

"Absolutely. If it weren't for Aurelia, I think I might already have packed my bags and disappeared back to Kentucky," he said.

Aurelia was touched to hear him say this. She had not expected to have made any real difference to him – he was already a gentleman, even though some people might think the opposite. And as for which implement of cutlery to use or how to address a duchess, none of that really mattered, did it?

"I haven't done anything. Really, I haven't," she said, but Dawson shook his head.

"You accepted me when others didn't," he said, and at these words, Aurelia's heart skipped a beat.

"There you are, Aurelia – I told you, didn't I? You were the perfect choice for the task," her mother said, beaming at Aurelia as Letitia suddenly jarred the piano keys, causing them all to look up with a start.

"No one's listening to me," she complained, pouting at Aurelia, who rolled her eyes.

"You don't always have to be the centre of attention, Letitia," she replied, but Letitia now rose to her feet and slammed the lid of the pianoforte with such force as to make the whole room shake.

"I never am," she wailed, as tears now rolled down her cheeks.

"Letitia, stop making a scene," their mother exclaimed, but Letitia now stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with the same result as the lid of the abandoned instrument.

Roxanna and Reuben looked up from their conversation in surprise, and Aurelia's mother now rose to her feet, forcing her face into a smile.

"I think we'll go through now," she said, even though the gong had not yet rung for dinner.

Dawson offered Aurelia his arm, and she apologized to him as they made their way into dinner.

"She's at that awkward age, I'm afraid," she said, shaking her head.

Dawson smiled.

"Roxanna's not much better," he whispered, glancing back to where Roxanna and Reuben were walking arm-in-arm behind.

Aurelia was curious at the sight of the two of them together. Roxanna had asked Aurelia to – for want of a better explanation – dissuade her brother as to a match, yet here they were, behaving like a courting couple.

"What does Roxanna intend? With Reuben, I mean," Aurelia replied, and Dawson raised his eyebrows.

"She intends to keep me out of her business, that's what. I think they've been meeting in secret. But then she talks of going off on her grand adventure – a tour of Europe. In truth, I don't think she knows what she wants. She never does. It was just the same in Kentucky," he said, shaking his head.

Aurelia nodded. She was just as confused, and while she did not want to see her brother hurt, he was at perfect liberty to pursue the match – whether wise or foolish. Letitia did not join them for dinner, and thus, they sat down as three couples – the baron and baroness, Aurelia and Dawson, and Reuben and Roxanna.

"May I say again how pleased we are to have you in our midst, My Lord, and to raise a glass to you," Aurelia's father said after the wine had been poured.

A toast was duly made, and the soup was served. Seeing Reuben and Roxanna together was as though they were a courting couple, and the sight made Aurelia wonder what others might think of her and Dawson. They had come so close to a kiss the previous day, and the memory of that intimacy lingered, even as Aurelia told herself it was hardly proper to think such things.

She liked Dawson – she liked him a great deal – but the question of Silas remained, and Aurelia had still not replied to his letter. The more she thought about it, the more strange – and inappropriate – it seemed, and her feelings for him, at best, were confused.

"Tell us, Roxanna – do you miss Kentucky?" Aurelia's mother asked, and Roxanna looked up and smiled.

"I miss showing my neckline," she said, and Aurelia's father spluttered into his wine.

"Roxanna," Dawson hissed, but Aurelia's mother only smiled and nodded.

"I'm sure the freedom was palpable. But you're enjoying English life," she persisted, and Roxanna nodded.

"For now. But I still intend to make my grand tour in due course. I can't stay here forever," she said.

Aurelia stole a glance at her brother, wondering what he thought about Roxanna's words. He had not indicated his intentions, but there was no doubt from his behaviour about his feelings towards her. But despite the resolve in Roxanna's voice, it seemed Reuben was unperturbed, and he nodded and smiled, as though he, too, intended such a venture.

"The grand tour – Venice, Florence, Rome – how wonderful," he exclaimed, and Roxanna nodded.

"I might never come back," she said, raising her glass to him.

It was a strange scene; one Aurelia reflected on in the days to come, not knowing what her brother intended from this apparent romance that would surely prove an impossibility. But as the dinner ended, her thoughts returned to Dawson, and what had passed between them the previous day. The force of her own feelings had taken Aurelia by surprise. She had assumed their arrangement to be one of business – pleasurable enough and with a sense of a growing friendship, but as for romance …

"Aurelia, I was wondering … perhaps you could do a silhouette of me before I leave. It's growing dark now – the perfect conditions," Dawson said as they returned to the drawing room after finishing the dessert.

Aurelia smiled and nodded. She had made several more sketches from memory since the day he had sat for her – though she had no intention of telling him so. They were private, drawn from her own amusement, and now hidden in the drawer of her bedside table.

"I'd like that, yes," she said, and he smiled at her.

"All right, tell me what to do. I suppose I have to keep still again, don't I ?" he replied, and Aurelia laughed.

"Perfectly still, yes. We'll use the back wall of the drawing room," Aurelia said, pointing to the opposite wall, where no paintings or portraits hung.

There was still no sign of Letitia, and with Reuben and Roxanna now talking to Aurelia's parents by the hearth, Aurelia and Dawson were alone at the far end of the room.

"Should I stand like this?" Dawson asked, and he drew himself up as though standing at attention, making Aurelia laugh again.

"You're allowed to breathe. But wait a moment, I need to get the candle set up – it's easier if you sit down, actually, then sit up straight," Aurelia said, and she gestured for him to move a chair into position as now she placed a candle on a vase stand, the light of which cast a warm glow onto the white wall behind.

The chair was positioned, and Dawson sat up straight, his shadow now cast on the wall behind. Aurelia brought some paper and a piece of charcoal from the bureau, positioning herself in front of Dawson to have the best view of the silhouette behind.

"Do I just keep looking forward?" he asked, and Aurelia nodded.

"Yes, keep looking straight ahead. Don't move. I need to get the outline just right," she said, and Dawson smiled.

"I've got a big nose, haven't I?" he said.

"I think you've got a very nicely proportioned nose, actually," Aurelia said, as she began sketching the outline.

"And my lips stick out too far," he continued.

"You're not pouting – I think they look just right," Aurelia said.

"And my Adam's apple – are you making it stand out? It does, doesn't it?" Dawson said, and Aurelia rolled her eyes.

"You'll spoil it. You look perfectly in proportion. An excellent subject – if only you'd keep still," Aurelia said.

But despite her exasperation at his teasing her – for he had neither an overly large nose, protruding lips, nor an exaggerated Adam's apple – Aurelia was enjoying herself. Being with Dawson was like being with no one else. The curt formalities of English society were replaced by an easygoing manner and a sense of fun. He was forever teasing her and joking, and while Aurelia might have found it infuriating at first, she was beginning to see it was his way – a way she found endearing.

"Who else have you made silhouettes of? Silas, I suppose. And who else?" Dawson asked as Aurelia continued to sketch his outline.

"Silas, yes. But the family, too. They're on the wall over there but don't turn your head to look. You can see them afterwards," Aurelia said, and Dawson smiled.

"And what of Silas? You're not going to see him, are you? Like he asked …" Dawson said, still facing forward, as Aurelia blushed.

"I haven't replied to him. I didn't like the thought of meeting him alone. It didn't seem right," Aurelia replied.

"I think that's a wise decision. Don't get me wrong, you're the one who knows best, but … well, I don't think a gentleman would ask you to do that," he said, and Aurelia shook her head.

She had thought Silas was a gentleman. He had seemed so – he had behaved as such when they had first met. But in the past few days, Aurelia had felt a creeping sense of fear about Silas' true motives. The question of her dowry had been even on her mind, and it was beginning to seem as though it was on Silas' mind, too …

"No, you're right. A gentleman wouldn't. He shouldn't have asked me. It's not right," Aurelia said, as now she finished the outline of the silhouette.

"Have you finished? Can I see it?" Dawson asked, still not turning his head towards her.

"You can look, yes," Aurelia replied, and Dawson now turned as she held up the finished piece.

He looked at it and smiled.

"Is my hairline really that far back?" he asked, and Aurelia raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sure your hairline's in just the right place – and perfectly well proportioned," she replied, glaring at him as he laughed.

"It looks very nice. May I keep it?" he asked, but Aurelia shook her head.

"I still need to add the finer details. And I'd like to put it into a frame for you if I may," she said.

Aurelia wanted it to be a gift – a token of her affection and in gratitude for rescuing her from the river. He smiled at her and nodded.

"That's very kind of you," he said, as now they went to join the others by the hearth.

"Roxanna was just telling us of her plans for her grand tour of Europe – it's very impressive," Aurelia's mother said.

"Well, my cousin's always been ambitious about travelling. But we should be going. I've got an early start tomorrow. I'm meeting some of the tenants from the estate up at Longmeadow Farm. We're going to discuss how we might use some land in the gardens at Wimbourne Hall to create a space for experimental crops," Dawson said.

"A commendable idea – perhaps I could take some space in the rose garden to …" Aurelia's father said, but her mother interrupted him.

"Absolutely not. You've got plenty of room for your experiments in the orangery. Please don't give him any ideas, My Lord," Aurelia's mother said, shaking her head.

Dawson and Roxanna now took their leave, and Aurelia could not help feeling a sense of elation as to the memory of the evening spent together. Dawson was a delight, and there was no question of his not being the perfect gentleman – he had already been one, and now Aurelia found herself comparing him to Silas and finding the latter wanting.

She had been so caught up in Silas' words about love and romance that she ignored the fact of his obvious interest in her dowry – and that of his mother, too.

"Will I see you soon?" Dawson asked as he and Roxanna took their leave.

"I hope so, yes. It's been a wonderful evening," Aurelia said, and Dawson smiled.

"You've been very kind, Aurelia, Truly, you have," he said, and taking her hand in his, he raised it to his lips, looking up at her with a smile.

They said goodnight, and Aurelia stood on the house steps with her brother, watching as the earl's carriage drew away. Aurelia sighed, glancing up at her brother, whose expression was one of rapture.

"Isn't she wonderful?" he said, and Aurelia smiled.

"She's a free spirit, Reuben. You can't tame her," Aurelia said, for she felt certain there would be heartbreak if Reuben continued pursuing Dawson's cousin.

But he only shook his head and smiled.

"I don't want to tame her. But I find her … remarkable," he said, and Aurelia rolled her eyes.

But despite her amusement at Reuben's obvious infatuation, her own feelings, too, were confused, and as they returned inside, Aurelia was surprised to find her father waiting for her in the hallway.

"I trust you had a pleasant evening?" he said, and Aurelia nodded.

"Very much so," she said as Reuben returned to the drawing room, leaving them alone in the hallway, where candles cast a flickering light across the marbled floor and the moonlight shone through the landing window above.

"What do you make of him?" her father asked, and Aurelia looked at him curiously.

"The earl? Well … I like him. I like him very much," she said, and her father nodded, furrowing his brow as though lost in thought.

"Yes … but he's very different to Silas, isn't he?" he said, now looking up and narrowing his eyes.

Aurelia blushed. She did not know why her father should be saying something like this. He liked the new earl and had done much to make him welcome. If anything, he should surely be delighted about Aurelia's liking for Dawson over Silas. Was that not what her parents wanted?

"He is, yes. Does it matter?" Aurelia asked, and her father sighed.

"Aurelia. You rush head-on into things without really thinking them through. If you're falling in love with Dawson, I advise you to hold back – just as I did when you announced you were in love with Silas after barely a few days of knowing him. Your impulses could well be your undoing, Aurelia," he said.

Aurelia had not expected this – just as she had not expected her feelings for Dawson to grow, either.

"But … I thought you'd be pleased, Father. Isn't it what you want? You don't like Silas. You said as much – that I don't know him well enough," Aurelia replied, but her father shook his head.

"And you don't know Dawson, either. I admit, he's a good man and a far better prospect than Silas. But still, I advise caution. You only know the silhouette of the man, not his true image," he replied, and leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek, before saying goodnight.

Aurelia was left feeling confused. She did not know what to think about her father's words, as she still did not know what to think about her unexpected feelings for Dawson, either. It was all so confusing. But as she went to bed that night, Aurelia thought again about the silhouette.

Her father was right. She knew Dawson's outline – just as she knew Silas' – but behind the silhouette, there was still a great deal left to discover.