Something Old, Rebecca Connolly [ebook reader for laptop TXT] 📗

She has allowed Basset to give her an allowance of sorts to occasionally stock her small larder and will occasionally attend dinner parties at his home. But she will not attend balls or Society events, will not sit as mistress of Trevadden, and will not give up her cottage.”

Thomas took another look at the young woman talking with his wife. She was certainly beautiful and could set herself up quite nicely among Society if she would allow it, particularly as an acknowledged sister of Lord Basset. Why would she not take the chance her brother offered her?

“She does not wish to,” Trembath told him, answering the unspoken question. “She has made it perfectly clear to Basset that if he wishes to have her as his sister, it must be on her own terms.”

“Not quite what he imagined in saving her, is it?” Thomas asked with a laugh.

Trembath grunted once. “Saving her, you say? I think he rather wanted a sister, Granger, not a devotee.”

That sobered Thomas creditably, and he began to look at the sitting women with more interest. His wife’s back was to him, but as he watched, Miss Moyle’s posture began to soften, her expression ease into a more natural state. He had to smile at that, knowing Lily must be putting her at ease in that remarkable way she had. Any person, male or female, high or low, could find themselves comfortable within moments. It was a gift she possessed, and one of her least appreciated.

Miss Moyle would understand the beauty of it now, especially if she had been previously subjected to the forced politeness of others unwilling to directly insult her brother.

“Why invite those who do not accept her?” he asked Trembath, shaking his head as he caught sight of the disapproving ladies again.

“Because Mr. Boscastle and Sir Henry are close associates of Basset. Their wives are fine ladies with a great deal of influence in local Society. He cannot afford to invite only the husbands, so he and Emblyn must endure such behavior. And endure it they do.” Trembath shrugged, exhaling roughly. “Better them than me, I say.”

Thomas nodded in agreement. “There must be a measure of fondness between them, if they endure such behavior simply for the condition of her birth.”

“I believe there is,” Trembath assured him. “Hard won, to be sure, but it is there.”

“How long have they been connected?”

“Nigh on a year now, though they were aware of the other before then.”

“And you?” Thomas gave the man beside him a curious look. “How long have you been aware of the connection?”

Trembath met his look without concern. “From the beginning. Basset and I have been friends since our youth. I was with him when he called on her to inform her of their relationship.”

“Why not marry her and give her a respectability she cannot be denied?” Thomas suggested, managing to keep his expression blank while doing so. “She is clearly a beautiful young lady, and her father was the late Lord Basset, so…”

“Have you listened to anything I said, man?” Trembath shot back with wide eyes. “The woman would gut me the moment I inquired. She might be the daughter of the late Lord Basset, but her mother was a miner’s daughter with all the manners of one. I’ve no qualms in associating thus, and there is no denying her beauty, but I’d rather live to see any offspring. She does not wish to walk among the gentry, Granger, and she will not if she can help it.”

Thomas held up his hands in surrender, smiling in full now. “Very well, very well, I’ll not mention it again.” He chuckled and glanced toward his wife by pure habit, though her back was still to him. “Do you think Basset will try to see her married off?”

“Not if he wishes to sire children,” Trembath said at once. “The blackguard who wishes to will have to get Basset’s permission, but I have no reason to think he’s in haste to do so.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served,” Basset announced as he reentered the room, smiling for his guests. “Please.”

“Are we proceeding in by rank, or… ?” Thomas asked Trembath quickly.

Trembath shook his head at once. “Basset prefers informality when the numbers are so small. So long as you do not sit by your wife, you may sit anywhere.”

Thomas nodded and turned to offer his arm to Lily only to find that she had linked arms with Miss Moyle. Her dark eyes met his, and he could see an apology as well as a question there.

He nodded once, accepting both.

Her smile was warm and the closest thing to tender he had seen from her since their marriage, and he’d move heaven and earth to have it again.

He might not need a signal from her to be distracted out of his wits.

The guests followed Lord Basset into the spacious dining room, set for even more people than were in attendance, which Thomas found to be strange. In his experience, the table was always perfectly set for the number of guests, and neatly arranged to accommodate each of them. Why, then, the additional places?

Basset positioned himself at the head of the table as host and smiled in welcome as others began to filter in and sit where they pleased. As Trembath had suggested, spouses sat apart, but other than that, the seating was without pattern or structure.

Most noticeable of all, Miss Moyle did not take up the position as mistress of Trevadden at the opposite end of the table from her brother. There was no elderly female relation of Basset’s to fill the empty seat, and instead it sat empty. As did other seats without place settings.

Suddenly the reason for the additional settings became clear, as it was not the only open place at the table and therefore less of an obvious sight. It would still draw comment, but at least there were others.

He sat himself beside one of the open seats, Trembath sitting opposite, with Lily and Miss