The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor, Scott, Regina [e novels to read online .TXT] 📗

it had been when she’d welcomed Hester and her mother.Certainly, she and Donner gave off no sparks of interest.

Unlike him and Hester.

Whoever spoke as they all sat conversing, whatever was said,his attentions kept coming back to her. The way she smiled when her mothermentioned Rebecca. The way her fingers tucked back a honey-thick curl behindone ear, making him wish he’d been the one to do so. Her sweet laugh at a quipfrom Lord Featherstone, raising his smile as well.

He’d told her things on their short tour he’d never intendedto share with another soul, and it felt right. As if they had found their wayback to each other.

It was a good thing they only had a short time to conversebefore Bascom came to announce that dinner was ready to be served, or Rob mighthave found a way to kiss her again.

As it was, he made sure to offer his arm to her before LordFeatherstone could beat him to it. “Mrs. Todd, if I may?”

She tucked her hand in his elbow. “Delighted, my lord.”

Behind them, he heard the baron offering to escort hermother and Donner asking after Elizabeth.

“Very clever of your sister,” Hester whispered as Rob ledher back down the gallery for the entry hall. “A gentleman for each lady.”

He grinned at her. “The right gentleman for eachlady.”

Her cheeks turned pink.

He led them all down the staircase to the ground floordining room. Elizabeth was right to call it cavernous. Here too, the walls werepaneled in squares of wood, but the floor was flagstone, and the dining tablecould easily seat twenty. A more intimate number of place settings had beengathered at one end. Glass-paned doors at the other end of the room led outinto the rear yard.

Going to the head of the table, Rob pulled out the chair onhis right for Hester. Elizabeth took the chair on his left, with Donner besideher. Lord Featherstone and Mrs. Denby joined Hester on the right.

“Will you say the grace, Brother?” Elizabeth asked.

Rob blinked a moment, surprised by the request. All hisguests waited expectantly. Well, he’d been speaking more often to his Lordlately. Why not now?

He bowed his head. “Dear Lord, we thank You for such warmfriendships on a cold night, for good food from Your bounty, and for the manyhands that grew it and will serve it to us. Most of all, we thank You for yourgracious blessings. Amen.”

Amens echoed down the table, but he caught Hester gazing athim as if surprised he even knew how to pray. He could have told her it was askill recently acquired, if heartfelt.

He tried to maintain that sense of thankfulness and goodcheer as the dinner progressed. In such company, however, it was easy to fallback on his old ways. A tease here, a story there, and he soon had his guestslaughing. Monsieur Antoine must have found his bass, even if he’d smothered itin a succulent lobster sauce. He’d accompanied it with potatoes au gratinand a medley of autumn vegetables Rob could only compliment.

Mrs. Denby must have felt the same way. “I must ask yourchef for this recipe, Miss Peverell,” she said, fork liftinga bite of the fish. “It’s delightful.”

“Monsieur Antoine is very talented,” Elizabeth agreed.

And still employed. Rob allowed himself a little smile.

“Do you like the recipe?” Hester asked beside him.

“It’s delicious,” he admitted. “It just gives me a greatdeal of food for thought.”

She laughed at the pun.

The glass-paned doors rattled. Rob’s head came up. Everyonestilled, gazes going in that direction.

“Is someone outside?” Mrs. Denby asked, brow puckered.

In the act of serving the next course, Bascom looked to Robas if asking whether he should go check.

“No,” Rob assured everyone a moment before the doors bangedopen and the wind rushed into the room.

Chapter Fifteen

Rob was on his feet before Bascom couldreact. The footman scurried to match his stride as he moved down the tableagainst a wind that drove raindrops like icy spears into the room. Together,they managed to close the doors. Light spilling through the glass showed Robthe shrubs on the back lawn shaking with the wind, while rain set aboutflattening the last flowers.

“Sorry, my lord,” Bascom murmured. “I checked it last nighton my rounds to close the house. I thought it was securely latched.”

“It’s latched now,” Rob told him. Turning, he smiled at hisguests, most of whom were on their feet and staring at the doors. “A littleexcitement to whet the appetite for dessert. I believe you wanted to serve itin the upper withdrawing room, Elizabeth.”

Her sister gathered her composure. “Yes, thank you, Rob.Ladies, will you join me?”

Hester and her mother followed her up the stairs. Bascommade for the door to the kitchen, likely to fetch the others to come clear thetable.

“I’d be delighted to drink port with you and reminisce aboutwars we never fought, gentlemen,” Rob said, coming back to the table andflicking drops of rain off his coat. “But I think you will find the eveningmuch improved if we join the ladies now.”

“You have no need to convince me, sir,” Lord Featherstonesaid. He had been the only one not to leap to his feet. He rose now and came toclap Rob on his shoulder. “I’m sure this night will be remembered for more thanthe wind at the door.”

He started up the stairs.

Donner moved to Rob’s side. “No sign of a ship?”

“I can’t see the Channel in the dark, but on a night like tonight?”Rob shook his head. “Any captain worth his salt will know not to set out orcome in when the wind’s up like this. That’s when wrecks happen. So, you haveno reason to ply your trade either, Donner.”

With a rueful smile, he accompanied Rob up the stairs.

Elizabeth had arranged for tea and a selection of biscuitsto be served in their mother’s withdrawing room. Bascom brought in the trayshortly after they were all seated. The drapes had been closed over the windowsthat looked out on the Channel, but that didn’t stop Donner from taking a peekinto the night. He shook his head at Rob as he returned to the group.

“I haven’t ever visited