Page 22 of Beguiling the Baron

Chapter 14

After the excitements of the previous day, Tia was late down to breakfast, but despite being tired, she was in an ebullient mood.

So was Mama. “What a pleasant evening. I can’t remember the last time we enjoyed such good company and excellent food. I don’t mean to decry Ansford’s hospitality of course—his table is of the finest, but I find his company somewhat . . . lowering.”

Tia nodded her agreement. When Ansford entered a room, his presence made the air hang heavy, and it became hard to breathe. But he was improving.

Slightly.

By giving her a piece of his mind the other day, he’d also given her a window into his soul. And he’d made a halting apology to Mama for exploding at them in the morning room. He was a long way from being reformed, however.

“Sir Kennet Douglas is quite charming, is he not?” Mama continued.

“A true gentleman, although he couldn’t hide his disappointment at Ansford’s absence.” Tia helped herself to another muffin. “I have to say, I’m glad Ansford didn’t come. He’d have cast a dark shadow across everything.”

Mama tutted and waved her napkin. “Hush, you never know where he might be lurking. You wouldn’t want him to overhear that kind of remark.”

Actually, I would. It might do him good.

Before she could respond, a scrabbling noise erupted from the floor. Mama pushed her chair back in alarm and Tia peered beneath the table, in time to see a short furry tail disappear behind her mother’s skirts.

“Oh.” She sat upright again. “It’s Polly’s kitten. Not a rat, at least.”

“A kitten at the breakfast table? How shocking. Wherever has that come from?”

“Don’t worry. You remember last week when Ansford shouted at us and upset Polly?”

Mama nodded.

“While I remonstrated with the baron, you took Polly to the barn to see the farm cat’s litter to cheer her up. Well, the sly little vixen must have put a kitten in her pocket when your back was turned. I discovered it later in the schoolroom trying to put its paw in the inkwell, but I hadn’t the heart to punish Polly. She needs something to love, and if her papa won’t allow her to love him—”

“Good morning Mrs. Wyndham, Miss Wyndham.”

Tia’s teacup shook in her hand, her body heavy as lead. Had Ansford overheard her?

She self-consciously muttered a reply and tried not to stare as he took a place at the table. Aldergate appeared immediately to take his order of spiced ham, coddled eggs with field mushrooms, and his ‘special tea.’ A copy of The Morning Post appeared as if by magic at Ansford’s elbow, along with a small Wedgwood teapot. He peered inside, gave the tea a swirl, and set it down again.

His unexpected presence at the breakfast table killed all conversation. Tia struggled to continue with her breakfast and behave as if nothing truly momentous had occurred.

Ansford, joining them for breakfast? Being sociable?

Unheard of.

“How was dinner at the Douglas mansion?” he inquired.

Mama shot Tia an astonished glance. “Why, it was most pleasant. We were warmly welcomed and introduced to several people, including Mr. Peel, Mr. Brooks and his wife, and Mr. Leigh. Lady Douglas entertained us on the pianoforte. We had a delicious white soup, didn’t we, Tia? And the pork was superlative.”

Mama coughed and looked self-conscious. Tia understood how hard it was to talk to Ansford when he offered no response.

His meal was served to him. He nodded his thanks, then turned his startling blue gaze on Tia. She swallowed hard and lowered her eyes.

“Miss Wyndham, I trust you enjoyed yourself as well?”

“I did, my lord. Thank you.” She wanted to add, so would you have, if you could have bestirred yourself to come, but she knew exactly how he’d react.

She waited for him to pick up his newspaper and retreat behind it as usual. He didn’t. “And what did you think of the members of Parliament for Chippenham, Peel and Brooks? Were they pleasant gentlemen?”

He was asking her opinion? “Very committed to their posts, I would say.” Was he genuinely interested? “And yes, pleasant enough.”