Chapter Fifteen

R ushing through her toilette, Dory quickly dressed, no doubt giving the maid much trouble, but in short order, she was at Rose’s door and being bid enter. Walking in, she found Rose still abed. “Oh, you must hurry. We need to go down before the men leave for the hunt.”

“The hunt? There is no hunt today. Remember, we are preparing for the play.”

She’d forgotten. “But I saw the groom bring a horse around out my window. I thought it was for a hunt.” She shrugged. “Then I guess there is no rush.” Though she wished to see Fen as soon as possible. Had he awoken this morning realizing how much he wanted her for a wife? She couldn’t wait to talk to him.

“But I do know Cook was planning brioche buns for this morning. Shall we sneak down before anyone breaks their fast and steal some?” At the mischief in Rose’s pretty, blue eyes, Dory knew there would be more to this stealthy expedition than it appeared, but if that meant she could see Fen sooner, she was ready. “Yes, let’s.”

Rose jumped from her bed and called her maid. Still, it was a good thirty minutes before they were quietly rushing down the stairs. No one was about except the servants, so they needn’t have been stealthy, but Rose insisted on peeking around every corner before moving down a corridor and opening the door to the kitchen.

Once inside, Rose ducked to hide behind a table and put her finger to her lips. Then she pointed toward the fireplace and a long table piled high with brioche buns. Staying low, she skittered over and without looking, put her hand up and pulled a bun from the pile. Unfortunately, the rest tumbled down after it, some falling to the floor, but a few she caught and handed off.

Dory dropped the hot bun into her skirt folds, just before a voice sounded above the bustle of the kitchen.

“Lady Rose Ambrose, don’t you think I don’t know you’re stealing me buns.”

They both giggled at being caught. Rose stood. “How did you know?”

“I know everything that goes on in me kitchen. Who you got there with you? I know it isn’t your brother, as he already came in and took a basket for his trip.”

Hearing that Fen had gone on a trip, Dory stood, losing the buns in her skirts. “A trip?”

Rose stood as well at that. “Lady Dorothea, this is Mrs. MacManus. Mrs. MacManus, this is Lady Dorothea Ansley. She’s my good friend.”

The older lady was as wide as she was tall, with a head full of white hair, a large nose, and a lopsided frown that she was desperately trying to hold. “Thick as thieves you be. Now come over here and eat those properly.”

Rose led her to a small table, where Mrs. MacManus set a plate piled high with brioche buns along with jam, butter, and a pot of tea. Rose immediately poured. “One day, I am going to sneak in and out of here and you will be none the wiser.”

Mrs. MacManus clucked her tongue. “Not likely, lass. But I admire your persistence.”

Rose bit off a large bite of warm bun.

Dory took a sip of tea and turned to Mrs. MacManus. “Did you say Lord Harewood went on a trip? That is odd in the middle of a house party, is it not?”

Mrs. MacManus yelled to a young boy to take out the slop before answering. “That boy always did what he wanted.”

Rose, having finished her first bun, started spreading jam on her second. “Where did he go? Did Mother send him on another errand?” She wiggled her brows as she took a large bite.

“I dinna know nothing about her ladyship, but he did say he was off to Denton Hall. Took a good dozen of my buns with him, he did.”

As Mrs. MacManus strode off to instruct a maid in tending a large pot that hung over the open fire, Dory looked to Rose. “Where is Denton Hall and why would your brother go there in the middle of the party?”

Rose stopped buttering her third bun. “I don’t know. That’s his own estate. I can’t think of a reason why Mother would send him there, unless he received word that he was needed?” Her brows lowered. “Though why, I wouldn’t know. He has a rather apt steward and the place is always perfect when I visit.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Maybe he just wanted to check to make sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to while he’s gone. That’s something he would do.”

Dory swallowed another sip of tea, her bun still sitting on her plate untouched. “But why would he do so during your mother’s party?” Something didn’t make sense and her thoughts were running into each other. Had he indeed woken up and realized he loved her and then left on pretense to ride to her father and ask for her hand? Had he gone to his estate to tell his people to redesign a room for a new lady of the house? Or had he left because he was ashamed of what he had done with her last night? Or worse, he never wished to see her again because he was disappointed in the way she’d acted?

“That’s a good question.” Rose took a sip of tea. “I suggest after we finish here, we follow the clues. First, we’ll find out if Mother and he had yet another fight. If not, then we will subtly look for a letter, maybe in his room. We just can’t tell him we were in there. He would be sure to take revenge on me.” Though Rose appeared scared, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

Dory wished she could be as excited by the prospect of solving the mystery as her friend suggested, but a deep disappointment had settled in her belly. Why wouldn’t he have at least left a note?

“Now you’d best eat, as it looks like we have more to do today beyond practicing for the play.”

At Rose’s suggestion, Dory forced herself to take a bite of the brioche bun, but no flavor registered. All she kept seeing in her mind was the long look he’d given her before leaving. Had she misread it?

After Rose had eaten no fewer than five buns, and Dory had managed to finish one, Rose led the way on their hunt for clues. Since no one was yet about, Rose suggested her brother’s room was a good place to start. They waited until his valet left then sprinted across the hall.

Rose turned and locked the door once they were inside. “Just a precaution.”

Dory stood stock-still. Being in a gentleman’s bedroom was simply not done. Her reputation would be in ruins if she were caught. Even with those worrisome thoughts, she found herself drawn to the bed, not yet made. The room smelled of him and his subtle pine scent that made her miss him all the more and yet he was not gone but a few hours.

“I don’t see a note anywhere. Look by the fireplace, maybe on the mantel. I’ll check his dressing room.”

Dory walked to where a black, leather wingback chair sat before the fireplace and ran her fingers along the top of it. Of course, it would be black. Had he sat here last night and contemplated his future? She wished so, but she shouldn’t. He hadn’t said anything when he’d left. Hearing the dressing room door creak, she quickly moved to the mantel before examining the small, empty table next to the chair.

“Did you find anything?” Rose walked over studying the area, even looking under the chair.

“No. I don’t even see a book here.”

“In his dressing room, his valet has him half-packed, so he left in a hurry.” Rose sighed. “He’s rarely here anymore. He has his estate to tend to and his friends.”

Her friend’s wistfulness registered and Dory pushed away her own wishes. “You miss him.”

Rose sat in the chair. “I do. I know it’s silly, but he’s been a wonderful brother. I try to help him remember what it was like before Lady Belinda passed, but sometimes I feel it’s not enough. I worry about him, which is of no matter to him.”

“Oh, but I think it does matter. He speaks of you fondly.”

Rose smiled. “I know. I—”

The doorknob turned and they froze.

Grumbling on the other side made it clear the valet was back.

Rose’s eyes widened. “We have to leave. I’m sure he will get the housekeeper to open it.”

They both walked toward the door, the sound of voices in the hall making it clear they couldn’t escape yet, when Rose grabbed her hand and yanked her back. “That’s the housekeeper’s voice,” she whispered frantically. “We can’t let them know we’re in here.” She glanced at the room, as if there were somewhere they could hide, when Lady Enderly’s voice asking what was the problem came clearly through the door.

Dory’s heart stopped. She had to escape. She snapped her head to the door of the balcony and without a second thought strode to it.

Rose followed. “What are you doing?” Her voice, though soft, contained true fear.

Dory walked onto the balcony and looked toward her own. If Fen could make the trek in the night, she could do it in the daylight. “You can be caught in his bedroom. I can’t. I have to go.” She pointed past Lord and Lady Sommerset’s balcony to her own.

Rose’s eyes widened. “My brother used to do that, but it’s too dangerous. I can simply explain.”

Dory shook her head. “No. What you can do is go back in there and keep them occupied so I have time.”

Rose worried her bottom lip but finally nodded and went back in the room.

Convincing Rose to go inside was easier than convincing herself she could walk from balcony to balcony. She was far shorter than Fen and the space farther for her, but at the sound of the key in the door inside, she stepped onto the balustrade, her hand against the wall for balance. She just needed to focus on the next balustrade and not on the open space between them that was far too high to survive. That was all.

Voices inside the room told her she had to move. Lifting her skirts, she took the wide step onto the next balustrade but just as her other foot found purchase, she lost her balance and teetered for a moment, her breath leaving her before she fell forward onto the floor of the balcony.

Her heart pounded with relief. Sitting up, she brushed herself off and rose on shaky legs. She looked at her own balcony with yearning but was not sure she could bring herself to attempt another jump.

Rose’s voice rose near the earl’s balcony doors. “Really, Mother. You are making more of this than need be. I simply searched for the reason my brother left. I promise, I did not loosen the seams in his pantaloons. I’m not a child anymore.”

Surely, Lady Enderly wouldn’t venture out onto her son’s balcony for any reason.

Yet something hitting that very door had Dory freezing in place.

“Of course not, Mother. Why would I wish to search the balcony? I doubt very much that my brother left any note he may have received out there to be swept away on the wind.”

Lady Enderly’s tone of voice came through, though her words did not, but they didn’t need to. She obviously expected Rose to open the doors.

Panicked, Dory turned toward the balustrade and swallowed hard.

The latch on the door next to her sounded and she jumped, stepping back.

Lady Sommerset’s eyebrows rose at seeing her there, but before Dory could say anything, Lady Enderly stepped out on Fen’s balcony.

Lady Sommerset waved. “Lady Enderly, what a surprise to see you out here.”

The marchioness turned and looked at them in surprise. “You are up early, Lady Sommerset, Lady Dorothea.”

Rose stepped out next to her mother, her eyes widening. “Lady Sommerset. Isn’t it a beautiful morning?” She gestured toward the lawns. “Mother chose the perfect day for breaking our fast on the terrace. You will be there?”

Lady Sommerset gave a nod. “Oh, yes. Lady Dorothea and I are looking forward to it. We shall be down shortly.”

Without another word, Lady Sommerset linked her arm with Dory’s and pulled her into the room. She let go and closed the doors before turning, her hands on her hips. “What are you about? I saw you jump onto my balcony. Tell me you did not spend the night with Lord Harewood. Tell me.” It was a demand, not a question.

She shook her head. “No, I didn’t.” Though what they had done made her cheeks heat.

Lady Sommerset stalked past her. “I’m your chaperone. As a student of my sister’s school, I insist you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner. Since you say you did not spend the night in the next room, you need to tell me why you jumped onto my balcony. It was not from your room.”

Before turning, she glanced at the curtained door to see that the drapes were sheer and it was quite easy to see all that had occurred. Finally, she faced Lady Sommerset. “Rose and I discovered while in the kitchen that Lord Harewood has left for his estate. She wished to have some fun by finding out why. Her first place to search for clues was Lord Harewood’s room. She was looking for a missive that would explain why he’d left. When her mother arrived to unlock the door for the valet, we knew that if I were caught there, it would do damage to my reputation, so I stepped out onto the balcony, hoping to get to my own.”

She shivered at her remembered fright. “But I almost fell backward between them and couldn’t bring myself to attempt another try. I’m truly sorry. I did not mean to conduct myself in so poor a fashion.” She looked down at her hands, quite sure she would be locked in her room for the rest of the week for such unladylike behavior.

“Well, thank the heavens you didn’t fall. I truly don’t know how I would explain that to my sister.”

Startled by the thought, she looked up to find the countess smiling. “You aren’t angry.”

“How can I be? It’s obvious Rose was the instigator. She always was as a child, but I thought she’d left that in her childhood. I’m just pleased that you didn’t fall and Lady Enderly did not catch you in her son’s room. It looks as if all is well and we can move on with our day. I would suggest you return to your room by the corridor and wait for me there. We will go down for the morning meal together.”

“Of course.” Still feeling very guilty, she quickly left the room and walked the short distance to her door. Just as she’d reached for the knob, she caught movement at the top of the stairs. The man’s face was in shadow and rather than be caught in the corridor unchaperoned, she turned the knob.

“Lady Dorothea.”

At the sound of Lord Leighhall’s voice, she quickly stepped into her room and closed the door, leaning her back against it. He was the last man she wished to talk to now or ever.

“You can’t hide from me. I saw you from the terrace below. You are obviously no different than your mother, as I suspected.”

Her belly squirmed as if filled with the frogs Fen had spoken of. She wanted to argue she was nothing like her mother. Instead, she clamped her jaw tight. She would not have a conversation through her door. But what if he told everyone what he’d seen?

He laughed. “No wish to defend your actions or is it that you admit them?” He paused, obviously trying to goad her into speaking. “Very well. I will keep your little secret for the moment, but only as long as I receive the same attention Lord Harewood receives. Otherwise, I will be happy to inform everyone here.”

She curled her hands into fists, too angry to be frightened but worried nonetheless. She’d never liked the man. Why did it have to be him who’d seen her?

Finally, she heard his footsteps walking away.

Moving into her room, she slumped into the chair at the dressing table. Now what was she to do? If only Fen were present, then they could discuss the best option. Her mind was a whir with calamities that could occur, the tangled mess starting to give her head pains.

What did Leighhall mean, give him the attention she gave Lord Harewood? The earl was gone.

She sat up in the chair. Of course! That meant she didn’t need to give Leighhall any attention, either, and he would keep her secret. Then when Fen came back, they could discuss what to do with the arrogant Leighhall. Feeling better, she tucked in a strand of loose hair and smiled at herself in the mirror. She hoped whatever had taken Fen to his estate wasn’t too serious and he could return in a day or two. Though she should probably find out from Rose where, exactly, was Denton Hall. If it were a three-days’ journey, that would mean she’d be on her way back to Silver Meadows by time he returned, if he returned. Did Lady Enderly know that her son—

A knock on the door halted her thoughts before Lady Sommerset stepped in. “Shall we?”

She rose. “Yes.” The idea to tell Lady Sommerset about Lord Leighhall flitted through her mind, but not now. She would wait until they were in private. She wouldn’t let Lord Leighhall ruin the final week at her first house party. Especially now that she’d found the man to marry.