Chapter 4

The following day, Tamsin gathered with her friends in the sitting room they used at the Weston Hotel. With wide windows that overlooked the ocean some half mile away, the room was decorated in pale blues with ivory accents and had a cozy fireplace that they used from time to time, even in August. They'd begun meeting here four years ago, and the hotel owner knew that for the month of August, they would occupy the space every afternoon.

They drank tea, ate scrumptious cakes, watched the ocean in the distance, and, most importantly, talked about everything. Today's conversation was, as expected, focused mostly on yesterday's luncheon, which one of their number—Pandora—had not attended.

Though Pandora had recovered somewhat from the scandal of her and Bane's compromising situation, she still preferred to avoid social gatherings. In this case, she was avoiding Bane's friends, whom she had no desire to spend time with, her brother-in-law Wellesbourne notwithstanding. He had reformed, and Pandora had embraced him as family. Wellesbourne had also done all he could to help Pandora last year after the scandal. While she wasn't yet entirely welcome in society, she wasn't given the cut direct. Though she had been, just not recently.

Tamsin understood Pandora's hesitation to expose herself to others. She'd been completely in love with Bane and had expected they would wed. Then he'd broken her heart into bits and married someone else. In Tamsin's opinion, Pandora was perfectly entitled to her bitterness. Tamsin just hoped it would continue to ease in time.

Min looked around at everyone after setting down her teacup. "I've been working on convincing Sheff to allow us to accompany them to Steep Holm tomorrow. I do think my offer of organizing an extensive picnic may have won him over. While he could simply ask the cook to prepare one, he thankfully—and unsurprisingly—hadn't thought of that."

"I don't know that I want to go," Persephone said. "But Acton does, so I will try and hope I don't become ill."

That reminded Tamsin of Droxford, not that he'd been far from her mind. She'd thought about him a great deal since yesterday. She wondered what he'd decided regarding the excursion. Would the lure of a delicious picnic persuade him to face his fears?

Not that he needed to. He'd suffered a terrible ordeal in his youth, and Tamsin couldn't blame him if he didn't want to risk repeating it.

"Pandora, will you consider coming?" Gwen asked hopefully.

Pandora shook her head. "While it sounds exciting, I am not yet ready to spend that much time with those who would still call Bane friend."

"Droxford does not, if that helps to know," Tamsin said. "He even suggested Bane is a blackguard."

Min looked at her with great curiosity. "You and he took a lengthy promenade yesterday."

"Did you?" Pandora asked, also with avid interest.

"He invited me to promenade so he could apologize again for spilling his wine on me." That mishap had already been discussed, and Pandora had heard about it after the luncheon from Persephone, as she was residing with her sister and Wellesbourne at their cottage.

"It wasn't his fault," Min said with a brief glower. "My brother was entirely to blame."

"Sheff apologized to me as well," Tamsin said, recalling his very sincere regret at ruining her gown. Though her gown wasn't, in fact, ruined because her grandmother's housekeeper was incredibly skilled at cleaning just about anything.

"I'm glad to hear it," Pandora said. "So, your promenade with Droxford wasn't eventful?"

Eventful, no. Interesting, yes. Tamsin had found the baron incredibly intriguing as well as attractive. She'd been disappointed when he said he wouldn't be staying long. "I found him charming, actually."

"Droxford?" Ellis asked. "Forgive me, but I've come to know him somewhat the past few years he's stayed at the Grove—as well as one can since he is so reserved—and charming is not a word I would use to describe him. And I mean no offense by that. He seems perfectly…fine."

"Perhaps he revealed a part of himself to Tamsin that he doesn't to anyone else," Gwen suggested. "I imagine he's looking for a wife, or will be at some point." Her inference was clear, at least to Tamsin.

"He made a point of telling me he doesn't stay in Weston long," Tamsin said. "We had a friendly promenade and nothing more. In any case, I've news to share if you want to discuss potential courtship and marriage." She paused as they all stared at her with rapt attention. "My father wrote to inform me that he has a suitor in mind for me to wed. Before you ask, I do not know who it is."

Pandora wrinkled her nose. "Why am I not surprised he left out vital information? He barely spoke to you while I was visiting."

"That's not true," Tamsin said in defense of her father. "Of course he spoke to me. He just did so privately." That he'd allowed Tamsin to have a guest for so long had been remarkable. Her father didn't generally care to be around people, particularly those he didn't know. The only people he spent any measurable time with were other scholars who shared his passions.

"Even so, he didn't seem terribly interested in what you were doing," Pandora continued. "I don't mean to disparage him. I'm just making an observation."

She wasn't wrong. Tamsin's father was dedicated to his work. He always had been. Which meant Tamsin was used to his behavior and didn't feel slighted. "It is the way things are," she said without rancor. "He works too much, and I don't mind." At least he was present. He hadn't left like her mother had.

"I do wonder who this suitor is," Pandora mused. "Beware of matchmaking parents. Look what ours tried to do to Persephone." She sent her sister a half smile.

Persephone rolled her eyes. "First they tried to marry me to Acton, and when I refused because he was a rake, they moved on to Mother's cousin's son." A shudder passed across her shoulders as she looked toward Tamsin. "I will hope your father is not trying to marry you off for his own reasons, as my parents did. Rather, that he has your best interests in mind."

"I'm sure it's the latter." Her father had no self-serving reasons to see her wed. Indeed, he liked having Tamsin at Penrose House, and he'd certainly discouraged courtship thus far. It was that last part that made Tamsin skeptical. Why was he seeking to marry her off now?

"Do you even want to wed?" Min asked. "You've never talked about it."

Tamsin cocked her head. "I hadn't given it much thought until my father's letter. I am not in a position to have a Season like all of you." She sent a sympathetic look to Pandora, who would not have a Season either after what happened last year. "I imagined I'd live in St. Austell, probably as a spinster. Or perhaps a handsome gentleman would miraculously sweep into town on a white horse and carry me away to his Cornish castle." She made the comment in jest, but since learning her father wanted her to wed, she'd begun to imagine something similar. Her ideas were too fanciful, but she enjoyed them nonetheless.

"But what about a family?" Persephone asked softly. "Now that I'm to be a mother, I didn't realize how much I would want that."

Motherhood was not something Tamsin had contemplated at all. Was that because her own mother had been such a disappointment? Tamsin had few pleasant memories of the woman who'd left when she was just eight years old. She'd read to Tamsin and occasionally sang to her, and that was about all Tamsin remembered. The rest was a blurry haze in which Tamsin felt her mother's unhappiness, but didn't recall specific memories.

"Honestly, I hadn't considered motherhood either," Tamsin said. "I realize that must sound strange. However, I was not raised to think that marriage and motherhood were my only future." And for that, Tamsin was actually grateful. But now that she was thinking about it, she couldn't deny that a family of her own was tempting. Perhaps she could be the mother she'd always wanted.

"What will you do if this potential suitor isn't to your liking?" Pandora asked. "Perhaps he's a rogue." Her lips pursed briefly in distaste.

"What will you do if he is to your liking?" Gwen asked, waggling her dark brows, which prompted everyone to laugh.

Tamsin was hoping for that very thing. The notion of marriage and family had become very appealing. "That wouldn't be the worst thing," Tamsin said with a smile.

Min glanced toward the window. "Speaking of rogues, my brother and his merry band of scoundrels are playing Battledore and Shuttlecock on the lawn."

Tamsin diverted her attention to see four of the gentlemen were playing while the fifth stood and watched. It did not surprise her that the one not wielding a racket was Droxford. "I don't think Droxford is a rogue. Or a scoundrel." She glanced around the room. "Unless being reserved is roguish behavior?"

"Certainly not," Ellis said. "And neither is lacking charm, though now I feel badly for saying that I wouldn't describe him as charming," she added sheepishly.

Tamsin gave her an encouraging smile. "Don't feel badly. I think if you asked him to describe himself, he would likely not use the word charming either." Was that true? Could she have discerned that from just their single conversation, even if it had been lengthy?

"I would agree with that assessment," Min said. "Given how hard he apparently works, I doubt he has time to be a rogue." She stood abruptly. "Come, let us interrupt their game to ensure they'll include us on the excursion tomorrow."

They all rose and began to leave the sitting room. Except Pandora. Tamsin lingered to speak with her, standing before Pandora's chair. "You won't come?"

Pandora exhaled. "I suppose I should. I can't hold a grudge forever."

"I don't think you're holding a grudge. I think it's difficult for you to be around people who are—or were—close to Bane. I know how deeply you'd come to care for him and how badly he hurt you."

Pandora looked up at Tamsin. "It was all a lie, and I was such a fool. I know what people must think of me. I know you all don't look at me and see an imbecile or a pariah, but I'll wager they do." She inclined her head toward the windows.

"I doubt that. Droxford was most critical of Bane. Perhaps they all are. You could give them a chance?"

"I'll think about it." Pandora settled back in her chair. "For now, I'm fine sitting here. You go."

"You should go to Steep Holm tomorrow," Tamsin said. "I can see how much it intrigues you."

Pandora gave her a warm smile. "I'll think about that too. Thank you, Tam. You're a dear friend."

Blowing her a kiss, Tamsin hurried from the sitting room to join the others outside. When she arrived at the lawn, the game had halted, and everyone stood conversing.

Shefford was speaking, and while he primarily looked at his sister, he seemed to be addressing all the ladies. "After great consideration, I've decided you can come tomorrow. We will meet at the dock at half ten. Earlier than we are usually about, but the departure time was set by the ship's captain based on the tide."

Min smiled widely, the blaze of victory in her eyes. "I'll make sure our splendid picnic lunch is ready."

"Now, may we get back to our game?" Gwen's brother asked.

"Definitely." Shefford headed back onto the lawn.

Before joining them, Somerton stepped toward Tamsin. "You coming tomorrow?"

"I'd like to. It sounds invigorating."

"I can drive us to the dock in Grandmama's gig," he offered.

"She'll love that we're going somewhere together," Tamsin said with a smile. Inclining her head toward the lawn where the net stood, she asked, "Are you winning?"

"Yes, Price is devilishly good. We drew blades of grass to form teams, and I was initially disappointed not to be paired with Sheff, but Price is better." He waggled his brows. "Lucky me."

"Why isn't Droxford playing?"

"He will in the next set. We just have uneven numbers. I suppose we'll need to recruit another rogue." He sniggered.

Tamsin gave his arm a light, playful shove. "How about you find someone who isn't a rogue? What you need is another Droxford."

Somerton eyed the baron. "How do you know he isn't a rogue?" He winked at her before dashing toward the lawn just as Shefford called his name with impatience.

Was Somerton teasing her, or was the baron hiding a secret roguish personality that the ladies didn't see? She cast a surreptitious glance toward Droxford, only to find him staring straight at her.

Again, she wondered how a man who behaved so coolly and was regarded as reticent could look at her with such heat. Tamsin felt his perusal in the deepest part of her belly. In perhaps an area that wasn't her belly at all.

She moved toward him as if pulled by some invisible force. She noted that he was also walking in her direction. Were they somehow magnetized?

"Good afternoon, Miss Penrose."

"Good afternoon, my lord. Have you decided whether you will go on tomorrow's excursion?"

He clasped his hands behind his back, facing the lawn as the Battledore and Shuttlecock match resumed. "I plan to remain at the Grove. I've work to do, and that is a better use of my time. And you?"

"I'm going along." However, disappointment dampened her enthusiasm a little. His dedication to his work above all else brought her father to mind. Though she understood, she couldn't deny that his lack of attention—or affection—had been disheartening at times. "Is it the work that's keeping you behind or what happened in your youth?" She laughed softly. "I'm being terribly intrusive. You must tell me to mind my own business, if you like."

"Your questions don't bother me." He fixed his gaze on hers. "You are unlike anyone I've ever met, Miss Penrose."

Tamsin's insides fluttered, like a bird's wings as it tried to take flight. "I shall take that as a compliment."

"Good, because that's precisely how I meant it."

The heat his stare had stirred within her flared anew. She wanted to touch his sleeve again. Or perhaps some other part of him. His chest was rather broad, and she imagined he was quite muscular. Was he staring at her mouth?

She suddenly wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Wonderful, she suspected. Too bad she would likely never find out.

"Tamsin!" Min called, interrupting Tamsin's increasingly wicked thoughts.

Looking toward the hotel where Min's voice had come from, Tamsin realized her friends had gone back inside. She'd hadn't noticed at all, for she'd been completely enraptured by Droxford.

"I wish I could see you tomorrow," she said. "Then it would be three days in a row. But I understand why you aren't coming. I shall look forward to seeing you at the soiree here instead."

He didn't respond as she turned and walked toward the hotel. Min saw her coming and went inside. At the door, Tamsin turned her head to see the baron once more.

Again, he watched her, his attention entirely on her person. She felt her face flush, and wondered what his interest could mean.

Nothing, because they would part in a few days, and at some point, her mystery suitor would arrive—a point she'd forgotten to mention to the others.

Pivoting on her heel, she went into the hotel and planned to reveal that missing detail. Best to focus on that than the shocking sensations Droxford aroused.

She could only hope the potential groom her father had chosen provoked a similar reaction. How delightful that would be.