Chapter 19

Nineteen

T he carriage rumbled over the street, not unlike her afternoon ride with Mr. Newcomb. The sound of laughter from Aunt Healand and Alex was different in the extreme. Mirth and Mr. Newcomb were complete strangers. When Lord Endelton nearly ran into them, her giggle earned her a reproving look. After that, she didn't bring up the subject of Alex and spent the ride listening to Mr. Newcomb expound on the importance of quality tar in shipbuilding. Could she endure such conversations for the next forty years of her life?

They arrived at the Godderidge's. The liveried footman helped her down from the carriage. And she left all thoughts of Mr. Newcomb behind her. Perhaps there would be someone new to meet tonight.

A strange sense of repeating her own life tugged at Phil's mind and she entered the Godderidge's parlor behind Alex and their aunt. Phil took in the scene as she waited to be greeted by Lord Godderidge. At first glance, the event was the same as it had been the previous month. The longer she looked, the more differences she found. Standing next to her father, Isabel wore a new white dress, this one with a blue sash. Lady Godderidge moved around the room, making introductions. Judging by the few pale-colored dresses in the room, it appeared as if the men outnumbered the women. How odd. Their party arrived late. Could another party have been more delayed?

"Ah, Lady Healand, our little group is now complete." Lord Godderidge greeted their aunt warmly.

Phil looked over the guests. Her eyes locked with a pair of brown ones.

Lord Endelton.

She turned and took a deep breath before greeting Lord Godderidge and Isabel. Her friend leaned closer, "There is a Mr. Tomlins I think you will like."

The words echoed those of a month ago when Isabel had recommended Lord Endelton to her.

"He is standing next to Michael, I mean Lord Endelton."

Michael. The name fit him. Phil almost missed Isabel's next whispered sentence. "The man who is joining them is Sir Rothy, a widower with three children."

"Is that a warning?"

Color tinged Isabel's cheeks. "Mother wouldn't invite anyone unsuitable. Shall I have her introduce you?"

Was there a choice? "Of course."

"Come then. Both of you." Isabel looked meaningfully at Alex.

Phil allowed her sister to take her arm.

"Do you think they mean Sir Rothy is meant for me?" asked Alex.

"You don't think he is the man father wrote about, do you?" Phil observed Lord Endelton leaving the group of men. He must have realized she was coming over.

"Father would have mentioned the title, and he wrote five children." Alex's hold on Phil loosened as she dipped into a curtsy. "Lady Godderidge."

"Sir Rothy and Mr. Tomlins, may I introduce Miss Lightwood and her sister, Miss Philippa?"

"Pleasure."

The feeling of being watched tingled in the back of Phil's head. She touched the curl Green had draped over her shoulder when she styled it. Her hair was in place. There was no reason for anyone to be looking at her. Allowing Alex to answer the question, Phil nodded at the appropriate points in the conversation. She itched to turn and see who was behind her. Finally, dinner was announced, and Phil discreetly looked over her shoulder. No one was there.

Michael should not have been surprised the Godderidges included the Lightwoods to their party. Seeing Miss Philippa for a second time in one day did something odd to his heart. Unlike their encounter in the park, she smiled at him for a brief moment when their gazes met. There were more men than women, a problem Deborah blamed him for since Miss Abbott was among those who sent last-minute notes of apology rather than attend. Michael proceeded to the dining room without escorting anyone.

Despite the change in numbers, he found himself seated between two women. A Miss Burke, whom he had been introduced to moments earlier, and Miss Lightwood. The widower, Sir Rothy, on Miss Lightwood's far side, kept up a continual conversation while Mr. Tomlins on Miss Burke's other side spoke so much, Michael was surprised the man finished his soup. Michael attempted several times to ask Miss Burke a question, but before he could get a single word out, Mr. Tomlins had captured her attention again.

"Lord Endelton, is Moriah still in raptures from the evening in the theater?" asked Miss Lightwood.

"It is all we hear about. She is already begging for a second outing. I may have been unwise to take her to an event before her first Season."

"I'm sure after mourning for her father, she was eager to mark its end."

Michael paused his next bite. He never thought of marking the end of his mourning for his father, but he hadn't been as limited as Moriah. "Is that common?"

"I don't know. My sisters would have been happy with a diversion. I am not sure Jane has ever completely put off her mourning for our mother. She still refuses to wear anything but drab grays and browns. But we all found ways to mark the transition."

Nothing wrong with gray. Michael preferred it to some of the bright colors his mother insisted he purchase. Aware he was about to make some comment, he said the first thing which came to mind. "Miss Philippa?"

A smile warmed Miss Lightwood's face. "She purchased a new book."

"And you?"

"I listened to Phil read."

There was something in her smile Michael couldn't match to her words, so he nodded. "Do you advise I should take Moriah to the theater again?"

Miss Lightwood's face pinched. "No, I don't believe I said you should take her again. I only meant I could understand her desire to do something new. She will have her first Season next year, won't she?"

"Mother insists upon it." Michael would like to put such a thing off indefinitely. He was having a difficult time finding his own wife. How could he decide if his sister's suitors were worthy?

Another course was served, and Michael once again found himself listening to the surrounding people rather than participating in a conversation. The loud clatter of silver hitting porcelain followed by a gasp drew his attention. Across the table, Miss Philippa's mouth stood agape. While wine sauce dripped down her dress, the foot man behind scrambled to offer her a cloth. A maid appeared at the footman's elbow.

Miss Philippa held the towel to her chest. "My apologies. I'm afraid I reached for my cup at the most inopportune moment." She rose and followed the maid out of the room.

Next to him, Miss Burke spoke. "It was entirely the footman's fault. He should be released from service."

Miss Lightwood leaned forward. "Mishaps happen to all of us. My sister would be mortified if he were dismissed."

"But her dress is ruined."

"And a spill is the reason to ruin a man's life?"

"He is incompetent." Miss Burke flicked her hand before reaching for her glass.

"My sister said she is at fault," said Miss Lightwood.

"Lord Endelton, would you dismiss him?" asked Miss Burke.

"I see no cause to. Unless it was discovered it was a deliberate act." Michael looked to the empty chair where Miss Philippa's meal had been cleared.

Miss Burke leaned away. "How ever do you run your house if you are so lenient with your servants?"

"Under my mother's guidance, my household runs quite well."

"I'm sure it does." Miss Burke's words were kind, but something about the way they were said came off wrong. Was this the sarcasm Deborah and Julia explained to him?

"My sister is capable of seeing after herself. I am sure I don't need to go after her," Miss Lightwood spoke to Sir Rothy, her words were not meant for him. However, Michael couldn't agree more.

Sir Rothy said something else Michael missed.

Dinner concluded with no other excitement, and the ladies left for the parlor. Lord Godderidge passed around the port.

Michael found Edward at the opposite end of the room. "Would it bother your mother much if I left? It would even up her numbers a bit."

"Have you already decided against Miss Burke?"

"She thought the footman should be let go over a single spill."

"Well, she is the only woman here who could be added to your list."

Michael shook his head. Poetry spoke of courtship as enjoyable. His attempts found little joy in it. "The infernal list should be tossed in the Thames and drowned for all the good it has done me."

"Come now, it isn't that bad, is it?"

"Remember in school when we were asked to write on a topic and whatever the subject was, it became the most difficult idea to explain, and then, the day after the paper was graded, you had a thousand ideas?"

"Yes."

"I must find a wife, and it is the most insurmountable task of my life."

"Then you must be doing something wrong."

"That is what everyone tells me." Michael swirled the liquid in his glass but didn't drink.

"Leaving won't solve this."

"Neither will staying."

Edward sipped from his glass. "Go then. I'll give your excuses to my mother."

Michael slipped out of the library door. As he neared the entrance, Miss Philippa descended the stairs. A lace shawl wrapped around her shoulders and dress front.

"Miss Philippa, how fares your gown?"

"As you see, hiding my dress is the only option for now unless I drag Aunt and Alex away. Because Sir Rothy is showing some interest in Alex, and I am loath to end her evening."

"Do you wish to leave?"

Miss Philippa waved her hand dismissively. "There is no reason I must. I am presentable enough."

"Why don't you answer the question I asked?"

"I did."

"No, you didn't. I asked if you wished to leave."

"And I answered I had no need to leave."

Michael shook his head. Why didn't people answer his questions directly? "But do you want to?"

"Of course I do. We attempted to clean my gown and dry it next to the fire, but it's still damp, and I am not comfortable. Is that the question you wanted me to answer?"

"Matter of fact, yes. Why are you staying?"

Miss Philippa sighed. "I have no other choice. I cannot simply hire a hackney and return to my aunt's unescorted."

"I could take you."

"Then I would need a chaperone. In either case, I ruin the remainder of my sister's evening."

Michael pondered for a moment. "I was ready to leave rather than suffer a boring evening. What if I stay and suffer with you?"

To his surprise, Miss Philippa laughed and took his arm. "We can endure this together."