Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Lydia pulled back from the morning room window and pressed her body against the wall as she panted with fright. Luckily, there was no one else in the room with her to witness her troubled reaction and inquire about its source.

She'd just watched an exchange between Joseph and Wilhelmina in the back garden, though she didn't know what words had been said.

However, two things were very clear.

First, Wilhelmina had become a threat to her and Joseph's arrangement, though she wasn't sure how that woman had discovered them on the balcony. Was Miss Underwood lurking in the dark?

Second, Joseph had just discovered that threat himself, if Lydia had interpreted the shock and anger battling across his face correctly.

She had to speak with him right away. They had to find a way to silence Wilhelmina Underwood and avoid scandal of great magnitude while locked together in the Countess Winstone's house.

Lydia raced out of the morning room and ran right into Sophia Penton.

"Oh! My lady, I apologize! I did not see you there." Lydia collected herself and curtsied. "I've been so mesmerized by exploring your beautiful home that I worried I might be late for tea."

Sophia giggled and touched Lydia's arm to help steady them both. "I'm unharmed, Lady Lydia, thank you. I believe they are serving the midday meal now, so you are not late. I'm having tea with Henry's wife Maria on the terrace in a few moments. Would you like to join us?"

Lydia almost didn't recognize Sophia Penton because she looked so happy with a new rosy glow on her pretty cheeks. She had also changed out of her rather drab clothing this morning to a soft pink dress that complemented her lovely aquamarine eyes and white-blonde hair.

"Thank you for the invitation, but my sisters will be waiting for me. Perhaps we could have time together tomorrow instead?" Lydia found herself sincerely wanting to have tea with Sophia and Maria, but she had to speak with Joseph before the soiree.

"Of course. I'll see you soon for our card games!" Sophia walked on with a lightness in her step, humming a happy tune.

Lydia watched her go and felt a twinge of jealousy. I wish I could be so happy and carefree right now!

She tried to stay calm as she searched the common rooms for Joseph as people milled about. Her last stop before the dining hall was the drawing room, but he was nowhere to be found in there either.

"Pardon me, my lady. Are you Lady Lydia Carter?" A young maid with vibrant red hair and wearing a white apron tentatively approached Lydia as she exited the drawing room. The maid seemed quite nervous as she wrung her shaking hands together.

"I am. Can I help you, miss?"

"Oh, goodness, what a relief! I've asked that question of so many ladies and finally got it right! Forgive me, my name is Bridget Kelly and it's only my second day at Winstone House. I was told by the viscount to get a message to you, but I didn't know who you were. He said to look for the most beautiful dark-haired lady in attendance, but it's alarming how many beautiful dark-haired ladies are floating around here today!"Bridget lowered her eyes and stared at her feet, perhaps thinking she'd said too much. "Anyway, I have a message for you from Viscount Winstone."

The maid held out a small sealed letter to Lydia and waited for her to accept it.

"Thank you, Bridget. And I appreciate the viscount's compliment, that's very kind." Lydia took the note and started scanning the drawing room for a private place to sit and open it.

Bridget looked up from the floor and smiled. "The viscount also asked me to serve you personally as your maid through the rest of your stay. He says the woman he's engaged to should have special treatment. What a gallant gentleman!" Bridget giggled, then smacked her hand over her mouth. "Forgive me, my lady. I am still learning how to speak properly in a house such as this."

Lydia giggled in response, appreciating Bridget's forthcoming manner. "Your secret is safe with me."

Bridget let out a nervous breath, then curtsied to indicate she was about to leave Lydia to read her note alone. "Oh! I was supposed to make sure a letter is mailed for you! Would you like me to collect it now?"

Lydia had almost forgotten about getting word to the Musgroves about being stuck at Winstone House indefinitely. "Thank you for the reminder, Bridget. Could you send a stamp and wax to my room and then collect the letter this evening? I could ring for you when I'm ready."

"It'd be my pleasure, Lady Lydia." Bridget curtsied again and walked into the hallway, only to turn around several times before heading off into whatever direction she hoped she was going.

Lydia wasted no time taking a seat at a corner desk in the drawing room. It was partially hidden from view by a set of thick drapes hanging from the tall window next to her chair. She ripped open Joseph's seal and unfolded his note, but before she paid attention to his words, she noticed his handwriting for the first time. It was oddly exciting to learn another intimate detail about him in this way that she wouldn't otherwise know.

To The Nymph and Stern Guardian of All Magical Springs,

Danger is lurking and scandal's afoot,

Please take your pretty face out of your book.

But do not be frightened for I have a scheme,

Meet me at midnight where goddesses dream.

Oh, and Bridget is now your personal maid.

She has no idea what she's doing, but then neither do you.

Lydia pressed Joseph's note against her chest and beamed, then read it again and again. He wrote me a poem and a riddle!

She had no idea yet where in this house goddesses might dream, but she hoped he wasn't referring to her own bedchamber.

Lydia refolded the note and tucked it deep into her bodice, where it would stay until she was in the presence of its writer again.

***

The soiree was in full swing when Lydia rejoined her family, though she still hadn't seen her father or brother all day. Because the men were playing cards in another room, she wasn't likely going to see either of them until tomorrow.

Lady Briarwood, Eleanor, and Charlotte were at a table with Maria Penton playing a game called Whist. Lydia's mother and Maria were on a team with Eleanor and Charlotte as their opposing team. Lydia stood and watched them play for a few moments without announcing herself.

"You're too late the join the game, sister." Charlotte studied her cards without looking up.

"How did you know I was even here?"

"The strong scent of your indignance."

Charlotte and Eleanor tittered as Lydia's mother suppressed a smile.

Thankfully, Maria Penton was much more accommodating. "Lady Lydia, please pull up a chair so we can chat. You can replace me in the next round. I'm not feeling all that well this afternoon and could use some rest."

"Thank you, Lady Maria. I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well."

"Oh, it's nothing a nap and some sunshine won't cure. If we ever see the sun again!"

Lydia turned and put her hands on an empty chair to pull it over to the table when a large masculine hand covered one of hers.

"Best leave the heavy lifting for a man, miss."

With instant irritation at being spoken to with such rude dismissiveness, Lydia pulled her hand back and turned around to admonish the man responsible.

"William, you brute! I almost smacked you!" Lydia pushed her laughing older brother away from her and grinned. She adored him so much that it was impossible to hide it. "Where have you been all day?"

"Shoveling mud, repairing fencing, and generally behaving like an overdressed stable boy. It was magnificent. And you?" William turned another empty chair around and sat in it backwards, with the back of the chair directly under his chin.

"Upon my word, William, we are honored guests at Winstone House. Please behave like a gentleman. And do not spend all your time playing in the dirt." Lady Briarwood leaned to her right to see her son behind Eleanor's head, then turned her attention back to her card game when she was certain he hadn't entered the room wearing muddy clothes.

"I was helping the Pentons recover from the storm, Mama. The work is far too much for the Winstone hands to handle themselves." William sighed and scanned the room full of card-playing ladies. "This doesn't look like your kind of crowd, Lydia. No one is milking a cow or teaching one how to read."

All the girls at Lady Briarwood's table giggled except Maria Penton. Lydia noticed that Maria had become very quiet when William appeared.

"Very funny, brother. Your jealousy of a cow's higher capacity for literacy is no reason to stop trying to read on your own. I'm sure you'll be a natural someday."

"Oh, the hilarity! You are a wicked wench like no other, sister!" William was in highs spirits today, proven by his boisterous teasing.

Much to Lady Briarwood's chagrin.

"William, please!" She glared at her oldest child. "This is a ladies' soiree. Please go join the men or find another amusement away from here."

William winked at Lydia. "Good luck winning a hand in this house, sister. I think the odds are against us all."

Maria Penton clutched her belly and moaned. "Oh dear. I fear I need to bow out of our game now, ladies. Thank you for the great company."

William reached to help slide out Maria's chair as she pulled her body upright. "Can I help you, Lady Maria? Do you need me to find your husband?"

She avoided William's eyes and refused the hand he offered to help her walk. "No, my lord. I think you've helped the Pentons enough, have you not?"

William let his hand fall to his side without a word as Maria slowly made her way through the maze of tables.

Lydia studied her brother's face after Maria's comment, but his flat expression gave no clues as to how that exchange affected him.

"I should take Mama's advice and find other amusements. See you at dinner, ladies." William locked eyes with Lydia for a few seconds, then walked toward a door opposite the one that Maria left through.

Lydia watched her brother leave and felt her belly fill with nervous butterflies.

First Sophia and now Maria? What secret uncomfortable connection does William have to the wives of Penton men? And what will happen if it is revealed?

"Lydia! Sit down and quit gawking like a curious child. Let's start another game!" Eleanor, still as cranky as she'd been that morning when trying on borrowed dresses, scooped up the playing cards and dropped them on the table in front of Maria's empty seat. "You deal, sister, but be careful. Your team could lose everything."

Lydia stared at the cards and nodded. That truth was becoming frightfully clear.

***

Later, after a fine dinner of roast beef and all the trimmings with the other guests, Lydia spent her evening hours alone in the sitting room attached to her and her sisters' bedchamber. She found the seal and wax that Bridget had apparently placed on the desk, then sealed her letter to send to the Musgroves as soon as possible.

When Bridget arrived to retrieve the letter, she brought a gift tucked in the small pocket of her apron.

"It's a chocolate, my lady. They have a whole bowl of them in the kitchen! We were allowed to take two each, but I wanted you to have one of mine." Bridget dropped the flat, round chocolate with white sugar sprinkles in Lydia's open hand and smiled.

"Thank you, Bridget. That's very sweet. Literally!"

The two young woman laughed as Lydia popped the chocolate in her mouth and enjoyed its rich, decadent taste.

"Is there anything I can get for you, miss? I mean, m'lady! I'm sorry!" Bridget chewed her thumbnail and cast a worried glance at Lydia.

"Bridget, I am probably the least ladylike lady you've ever met. Please don't worry about being so proper with me. Where did you work before joining Winstone House?"

"This is my first job, my lady. I'm from Ireland, so I'm far from home. I miss it terribly, but many women in my family found work with the Winstone aristocrats, so here I am. My mother's pride and joy!" Bridget blushed, making her rosy cheeks even rosier, then pointed at the desk. "Is that the letter you'd like to have posted?"

Lydia nodded and gave the sealed letter to her maid. "I hope you feel at home here soon, Bridget. Thank you for the chocolate and for helping me feel at home in this house, as well."

"My pleasure, my lady! It's nice to know someone as kind as you. Good evening." Bridget curtsied and then nearly tripped over the rug as she slipped back out the door.

Lydia giggled, grateful for Bridget's sweetness. She was one of the brighter highlights of the past two days.

As was Joseph's poem, which was a shocking treat from such a beastly gent. But what about the clue in the poem's ending? She must solve the riddle first before finding Joseph at midnight, when they could discuss his apparent scheme to keep Wilhelmina Underwood from ruining their reputations, if that indeed was her plan.

Lydia pulled Joseph's folded note from her bodice and read it again.

Danger is lurking and scandal's afoot,

Please take your pretty face out of your book.

But do not be frightened for I have a scheme,

Meet me at midnight where goddesses dream.

"Where in this house do goddesses dream?" Lydia wondered aloud as she paced back and forth in front of the sitting room desk.

The library? The garden? She mentally retraced her steps back down the corridors and through the common rooms, then the answer came to her.

"The gallery!"

The Winstone House art gallery was full of many marble busts and statues, including Greek goddesses. One particular life-size statue was of two goddesses sleeping among the flowers. It was a magnificent piece and had to be what Joseph was referencing in his poem.

Lydia would soon find out if she was right. She checked the time on one of William's old pocket watches that he'd given to her years ago and decided to crawl into bed before her sisters returned from more card playing.

She would snuggle under the quilt fully clothed and get a few hours of sleep before it was time to sneak out and meet her beastly poet, who was becoming a little less beastly by the day.