Chapter 8

Dawson had been surprised by Aurelia's apology, though he was grateful for it, too. He had wondered what their next encounter would be like – after having rescued her from the river. Would she behave graciously or return to her previous demeanour? Dawson was glad to accept her apology, even as it did not change his attitude towards the ton at large.

"These people give deference to your face, then stab you in the back as soon when you're not around," he had said to Roxanna after noticing the way some of the guests were whispering about him behind their fans, having previously declaimed their delight as to his arrival.

"We were so delighted to learn of your inheritance, My Lord," one woman had said, but Dawson had later overheard her telling a group of women how horrified she was that a man from "Koontecky" had inherited the earldom.

"They don't even know where we've come from. They just don't like us because it's not here, and we're not like them," Dawson had told Roxanna.

But his cousin had a more pragmatic approach – Roxanna did not care what anyone thought of her, and she had offended and charmed in equal measure, particularly Aurelia's brother, Reuben, with whom she already seemed close.

But Aurelia's offer of helping Dawson learn the ways of the ton was gracious, and it seemed genuine. As the evening progressed, she guided him through the finer points of etiquette, pointing out who was who and telling him which of the bizarre array of cutlery he was to use and when.

"That's the Dowager Duchess of Pembroke; she outranks you. You should bow to her as a matter of course. She won't curtsey to you, but she'll acknowledge you – others she won't. You should bow to all women as a courtesy, and they should curtesy to you in return. Most of the men here should bow to you – all of them, in fact," Aurelia said, pointing to a woman bedecked in pearls, wearing a black dress.

"All right … and what about your mother and father? Can't I shake hands with them?" Dawson asked, and Aurelia's eyes grew wide with horror.

"Oh, yes … the handshaking. It's not really the done thing. I'm sure it is in Kentucky, but bowing and curtseying is how formal greetings are made. You might shake my father's hand once you've known one another a while, but not immediately," Aurelia replied.

Dawson nodded. It was all so complicated, and he was beginning to tire of these absolute ways of behaving. The rules seemed arbitrary and designed to catch people out intentionally…

"It's going to take a while to remember all this – and the cutlery," he said.

But to his relief, the evening was now coming to an end, and several of the guests were departing. Dawson was looking forward to returning to Wimbourne Hall and continuing to set up his telescopes. He was a keen amateur astronomer, and if moving to England had given him one advantage, it was a new part of the night sky to gaze on with his telescope.

"You'll get used to it, I'm sure. And I'd be happy to continue … teaching you," Aurelia said, blushing as Dawson nodded.

"That's very kind of you. I'm grateful," he said, and Aurelia smiled.

She had a very pretty smile – it lit up her face, and was a total contrast to the dour, scowling face he had encountered on his arrival at Wimbourne Hall. He smiled back at her – he really was very grateful to her.

"Well … I should be going. I …" Aurelia said, but at that moment, a man Dawson did not recognize came hurrying over, taking Aurelia's arm, and pulling her away.

"I want to talk to you," he snarled, and Aurelia had no choice but to allow herself to be led off across the room, glancing back at Dawson apologetically.

But the time had now come to leave, and having thanked his host for his generous hospitality, Dawson stepped out into the evening air. It felt cold – a far cry from the warm nights in Kentucky – and as he was about to climb into his waiting carriage, a voice behind him called out.

"My Lord, might I have a word?" Reuben asked, and Dawson turned to find Aurelia's brother hurrying towards him.

Dawson did not think they had got off to a particularly good start – Reuben's talking of hunting for sport did not sit well with his own feelings against such practices, but if like Aurelia, Reuben was intent on making amends, so be it.

"Reuben – how are you?" Dawson asked though he did not hold out his hand to Aurelia's brother, preferring to wait for him to make the first move.

"I'm very well, thank you. I wanted to ask you about Kentucky and your voyage. I'm sorry if I upset you over the hunting business. If anything, I'd be glad to simply have someone to ride out with occasionally," he said.

Dawson felt embarrassed and could only assume that Roxanna had informed Reuben of his dislike of hunting for sport.

"It's all right – back in Kentucky, we don't hunt for sport. Well, some people do. But the Indians treat animals as sacred – to kill an animal is done out of necessity, and the spirit of the animal is to be respected," Dawson said.

Reuben nodded.

"I find all that fascinating, you see. I'd be glad to learn more about it. Between you and I, I feel somewhat stifled by – all this. I want adventure and to think of the places you've been and the things you've seen. It fills me with a longing for the same," Reuben said.

Dawson smiled. It seemed Reuben, like Aurelia, wanted to make amends for his previous behaviour. Dawson was not the kind of man to bear a grudge, and he nodded, holding out his hand to Reuben, who shook it.

"Back in Kentucky, it sometimes feels as though you could ride for a thousand days and never reach the horizon. There's a freedom there … well, it's hard to describe. There's land enough for everyone there – and the frontier keeps moving further and further west," Dawson said.

His words made him think longingly of what he had left behind to come to the old country. He understood now why those first Pilgrim Fathers had set out from Plymouth all those years ago – they wanted religious freedom, of course. But they wanted freedom, too. It was surely the dream of every settler on that great continent – the freedom of a new world and new opportunities.

"It sounds … remarkable. I'd love to see it for myself one day. I really would," Reuben said, and Dawson smiled.

"Then I hope you do. I wasn't sure about coming here. And I'm not sure about staying here, either. But as long as I've got my memories, that's what really matters," Dawson said, smiling at the thought of the Kentucky landscape, with its rolling hills and endless opportunities."Do you feel … out of place here?" Reuben asked.

It was a direct question – unexpectedly so from an Englishman – but a pertinent question, nonetheless. Dawson did feel out of place in England, and he nodded, even as he knew Aurelia had offered to help him overcome his difficulties in fitting in.

"At the moment I do, yes," he said as Reuben's parents passed them by, nodding to Dawson as they did so.

"Well … I hope our family can do something to help you in that respect," Reuben replied, holding out his hand in return to Dawson, who smiled and shook it.

"And I'm sure adventure awaits you, Reuben. Perhaps an adventure we can have together," Dawson replied.

They said goodnight to one another, and Dawson now watched as Aurelia emerged from the house, hurrying towards her father's carriage as though in some distress. He wondered who the man was that had so forcefully pulled her away, and now he watched as she climbed into the carriage, exchanging an angry word with her sister as she did so.

"You and Aurelia seem to be getting on well – you rescuing her from the river was the talk of the evening," Roxanna said, joining Dawson by the carriage.

He smiled and shook his head.

"I'm sure she's just being polite," he replied, for he did not think Aurelia would have done what she had done had it not been for the fact of the rescue.

But his cousin shook her head.

"Why don't you give her a chance? She seems nice enough – without the mask on," she replied.

"Like her brother, perhaps. He was keen to tell me he wanted an adventure," Dawson said, and his sister laughed.

"He told me just the same thing. I wouldn't be averse to a little company on my travels," she said, winking at Dawson as she climbed into the carriage.

Dawson stood watching as the carriage carrying Aurelia and her family pulled away. Aurelia was looking out the window, and she caught Dawson's eye as they passed, smiling at him and nodding. He held up his hand to wave at her, but she quickly shook her head as though to suggest it was not the done thing, and instead, he simply smiled and gave a curt nod as they passed.

The light was fading now, the last of the evening sun reflecting on the marble fa?ade of the house. It was all so different from Kentucky, where the sunsets radiated as though a vast fire was burning on the horizon. Here, everything felt smaller, more contained, and Dawson could not help longing for home – the place he still called home …

***

"Joseph and Lilith invited us to tea this afternoon – I didn't refuse. I accepted the invitation for us both," Roxanna said as she and Dawson sat at breakfast that morning.

Had it been the previous days, Dawson might have made an excuse. Still, given the events of the previous evening – his conversations with Aurelia and Reuben – he nodded, glad to accept an invitation to tea. However, he hoped there would be no one else there.

"I still don't like it much," he said, and his cousin raised her eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Tea – everyone here drinks it. Why don't they drink coffee?" he asked.

The servants, too, had been surprised at Dawson's insistence on drinking coffee, even at times when – apparently – tea was the choice of drink. But despite the many changes in Dawson's life, drinking tea instead of coffee would not be another one.

"Well … you might have to. We've been invited for tea – not coffee. Lilith said something about an orangery. The baron's a keen botanist, apparently. Reuben told me Canford House has one of the finest collections of tropical plants and citrus trees in the whole of Europe – and I suppose that means the world," Roxanna said.

Dawson smiled.

"You know it doesn't. English people might think their country to be the centre of the world, but there's a lot more to this planet than the district of Wimbourne," Dawson replied.

But despite his joke, Dawson was pleased at the thought of visiting their neighbours – unexpectedly so. He was glad to think he would have the chance to spend more time with Aurelia, for having broken through her icy exterior, he was keen to know more about her – and about the man who had so forcefully dragged her away.

"Perhaps it's a suitor," he thought, though neither she, nor her parents had made any mention of a suitor in the days gone by.

As it was, later that afternoon, Dawson and his cousin found themselves pulling up at the door of Canford House. It was a handsome dwelling, built of red brick, though much of it was covered in ivy and purple flowering wisteria, making the house appear almost an extension of the sizeable and mature gardens surrounding it.

"The family are in the orangery, My Lord," the butler said, and he led Dawson and Roxanna through the house and into a magnificent orangery, the likes of which Dawson had never seen.

It extended the full length of the house at the back and was framed by an enormous creeper, from which large purple seed pods hung, the enormous green leaves casting dappled shadows across the tiled floor. Citrus trees – some identifiable, others a mystery – grew in large terracotta pots, each with spreading branches, adding to the sense of a canopy above.

A delightful scent – a perfume reminiscent of the Orient – filled the air, emanating from the thousands of flowers growing all around. It was as though they had been instantly transported to some far-off land, to the jungles of India or China.

"How extraordinary," Dawson exclaimed as the baron rose to greet him.

"Do you like my little greenhouse?" he asked, and Dawson laughed.

"Like it? I think it's remarkable," he exclaimed, shaking his head in astonishment.

The rest of the family were gathered there, too, and Reuben came to greet Roxanna while Aurelia and her sister held back. Dawson smiled at Aurelia, and she blushed, curtseying to him, as Letitia stepped forward.

"You got everything wrong last night," she said, looking up at Dawson and tutting.

Dawson did not know whether to laugh at these words or take offence, though the baroness shushed her.

"Really, Letitia," she exclaimed, but Letitia only looked at her and shrugged her shoulders.

"But that's what you said, Mother. You said …" she began, and the baroness interrupted.

"I said it'll be lovely to have His Lordship and Miss Roxanna to take tea with us. We've got a great deal to discuss. Including last night," she said, silencing Letitia with a look.

Dawson wondered what they had been discussing, though he was readily willing to admit he had got a great deal wrong – just as he was more than willing to admit he did not particularly care. He had already made up his mind he preferred the company of the likes of his tenants and estate workers to the ton at large, though he was certainly warming towards the baron and his family – despite a somewhat shaky beginning.

"Come and sit down, My Lord, and you here, Miss Roxanna – next to Reuben," the baron said.

"I'm very interested in your orangery, sir. I'm a scientist myself, and I've read about many of these plants, though to see them for myself is … remarkable," Dawson said, looking around in awe at the astonishing array of plants on display.

"Is that so? A scientist, you say? But how wonderful. I didn't realize," the baron said, and Dawson nodded.

"I'm not just a rancher who rounds up horses," he said, glancing at Aurelia, who smiled.

"We never thought you were," the baroness said, offering Dawson a cake from one of the plates.

Aurelia poured the tea, and Dawson dutifully took his cup, glancing at Roxanna, who smiled.

"My cousin prefers coffee," she said, and Dawson blushed.

"No, tea will be just fine," he replied, not wanting to make a fuss or do something wrong.

He feared he would be judged for not taking tea at teatime, and though he did not particularly care for the drink, he was willing to stomach it for the sake of harmony.

"Are you sure? I can have them bring coffee if you'd prefer. We usually drink it at breakfast," the baroness said, but Dawson shook his head, glancing again at Aurelia, who smiled.

"No, it's quite all right – really," he replied, taking the cup and saucer.

Letitia looked as though she was about to pass another comment, but to Dawson's surprise – and relief – it was Aurelia who now rescued him from further embarrassment.

"Tell us more about your scientific endeavours," she said, and the baron nodded.

"Yes, absolutely, My Lord – we must hear more," he said, and Dawson now found the family's attentions entirely fixed on him.

"Well … it's farming, mainly. That's what I'm interested in – how new strains of crops can be developed to increase yield. I've always been fascinated by plants, and back in Kentucky, I was experimenting with all kinds of different crops – with some success," Dawson said.

He had produced greater yields of crops in recent years with new strains of wheat, and he had left behind several promising experiments in fruit production, too. Dawson was keen to continue his work, though the English climate would take some getting used to.

"How fascinating – you must continue here. I grow flowers myself – and the citrus trees, too. But with the land you have on the estate, there's no end to the possibilities you could explore," the baron said.

Dawson liked the idea and had every intention of pursuing his scientific work, even though the duties of the earldom were now taking up a great deal of his time.

"I'm very keen on the idea – once we've settled in," he said, glancing at his cousin, who nodded.

"I think we're settling in very well – and we're lucky in our new friends," she said, raising her teacup as though in a toast.

Dawson smiled – even he knew that was not quite proper behaviour – and now he glanced at Aurelia, who was trying hard not to smile. Her icy exterior was gone, and it pleased him to see the way her face lit up – she was very pretty …

"Roxanna, would you like to see the boating pond? There's a small island in the centre with a folly. Perhaps we could row out to it?" Reuben said as they finished their tea.

Dawson's cousin clapped her hands together in delight and nodded.

"I'd adore that – it's getting warm in here. I could do with some fresh air," she said, rising to her feet.

Dawson thought he should perhaps insist on a chaperone for his cousin – that was the English way, even as his cousin did as she pleased back in Kentucky. But to his relief, it was the baroness who appeared to sense the propriety of the situation.

"Take Letitia with you – I can see she's not going to sit still much longer," she said, and the youngest of the siblings glared at the baroness and pouted.

"I can sit still as well as anyone," she said, and her mother laughed.

"Take her with you, Reuben," she said, and it seemed the matter was settled.

Roxanna followed Reuben out of the orangery, and Letitia trailed behind, leaving Dawson with Aurelia and her parents. He wondered if this was intentional, though he certainly did not mind if it was. He was growing to like the family, and certainly, they had proved themselves different from first impressions. There had been curiosity on both sides – understandably so – but the more he came to know of his new neighbours, the more he liked them …

"We'll discuss the possibility of crop experiments when the ladies aren't here," the baron said, and Dawson smiled.

But before he could reply, Aurelia had interrupted.

"I'm sure "the ladies" are perfectly capable of understanding the nuances of crop experiments, Father," she said, and Dawson blushed.

Aurelia was certainly a formidable woman. She spoke her mind, and there was no question of her being treated differently because of her sex. The baron smiled.

"I'm sure they are, Aurelia – forgive me. But there're other matters to discuss now. Forgive me, My Lord, but I wanted to ask – Lilith and I wanted to ask – if you're finding life with us here in England … difficult," he said.

Dawson smiled. It was kind of the baron to ask him, even though the answer was somewhat embarrassing. In truth, Dawson was finding life in England difficult – though he was beginning to adapt to English ways. But there were so many unwritten and unspoken rules and expectations, and at times, it had felt to Dawson as though those around him wanted him to fail to make a point of laughing at him – as cruel as that might sound.

"I'm learning," he replied, and the baron nodded.

"Yes … but I promised Isaac I'd do what I could to help you. The ton can be a cruel and unforgiving place, My Lord. We want you to be happy in England – truly, we do. Lilith and I were wondering if … well, perhaps Aurelia might be able to help you," he said.

Dawson was taken by surprise – he did not know what Aurelia could do to help him, though she had offered to do so – and now he glanced at her, wondering if she had truly meant what she had said or had merely been polite in saying it …

"Well … that's very kind of you," he said, but the baron shook his head.

"Not at all. We want to help. And so does Aurelia. Don't you, Aurelia?" he said, glancing at Aurelia, who nodded.

"I'd be pleased to," she replied.

"Thank you," Dawson said, not knowing what else to say, as the baron and baroness appeared pleased.

"Then why don't the two of you walk in the garden, too – one of the maids can act as chaperone, and I'm sure the others won't be far away," the baroness said.

Dawson nodded. He did not know why the baron and baroness should be so keen on this apparent match, though he could not be certain he had understood the reasons behind their insistence on Aurelia helping him to understand English society. It was kind of them, though Dawson had already decided he preferred the tenants on his estates to the men and women in the ballrooms.

"Shall we?" Aurelia said, gesturing towards the door leading to the gardens, and Dawson nodded.

"Lead the way," he said, and Aurelia smiled.

"I think it's you who should lead," she replied, and Dawson blushed, realizing he had made yet another mistake …