Page 51 of Beguiling the Baron

Chapter 32

Though anxious about Polly’s picnic, Tia made every effort to hide the fact. This close to mid-August, the weather was too hot and horribly humid. The air had filled with flying ants, invading the house, driving the servants mad. Tia was terrified the insects would land on the muffins, or dive into the cream jug.

But these annoyances failed to eclipse the enthusiasm created in the household by the prospect of the children’s picnic. Polly was so excited she was beside herself. A pity her father wasn’t here to see how happy he’d made his child by softening his attitude.

All the same, the girl lacked confidence, and as soon as the first guests arrived, she hid behind Tia’s skirts, crying, “Oh, Miss Wyndham, I don’t know what to say to them.”

“Don’t be silly, child—they are the guests, and it’s up to them to please you. And don’t worry if you’re shy, as some of them are probably shy also. How about if you all go and play catch on the lawn? There’ll be little need to make conversation.”

As Tia hurried past with Polly in search of a ball, Aldergate entered through the front door and stood in the entrance hall, looking important.

“Lord and Lady Fanshawe and their daughters Georgiana and Harriet,” he announced.

Lord and Lady Fanshawe? Whatever were they doing here? It was the children who’d been invited, not the whole family. Heart pounding, Tia curtsied awkwardly and extended her hand. “Why, your ladyship, and sir, what a pleasure. We’d only expected the children’s nannies to be with them.”

It was definitely not a pleasure. The modest garden party hadn’t been designed with the nobility in mind.

It soon became evident why the Fanshawes had accompanied their daughters. As Tia’s mother joined their little group, Lady Fanshawe peered around with keen interest. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Wyndham, Miss Wyndham. Is Lord Ansford not at home?”

He was not. He’d rigidly refused to budge on the issue of being present at his daughter’s party and had escaped to London.

Coward.

“No, my lady, he’s gone up to Town on urgent business.”

“A pity. We so hoped to see him again. Where would you like us to deposit ourselves? I hope you have somewhere cool, as our coach was unbearably stuffy.”

Tia showed them into the morning room, fortuitously tidied the previous day. Maintaining a poise she was far from feeling, she sent for iced punch and gazed in silent horror at the aristocrats who had invaded her children’s party, wondering how she was supposed to entertain them.

While the Fanshawes settled in, she whispered to Mama, “You were in charge of the invitations—you didn’t invite Lord and Lady Fanshawe, did you?”

Her mother appeared troubled. “Not intentionally, no. Maybe they invited themselves as such people sometimes do. I don’t think there was anything ambiguous in my wording.”

Mrs. Dunne appeared in the doorway, gesturing frantically, and Tia was forced to leave Mama to make polite conversation with their august visitors while she dealt with the housekeeper.

“There’s another carriage, miss! With more gentlemen, and ladies, and children. I’m almost certain one of the men is the Earl of Bedwyn.”

“But this was meant to be a children’s party. The food is aimed at childish tastes, not an adult palate. And we can’t expect the Earl of Bedwyn to enjoy sitting outside on an upturned bucket or log.”

The housekeeper must have heard the tension in her voice, for she gave her a cheerful nod. “We could bring the chairs and occasional tables out of the Great Hall and set them up in the cloister where it’s cool. If some of us are detailed to take care of the adults, perhaps you, Betsy, and Nurse can deal with the children.”

“Can his lordship’s larder and cellars cope with these unanticipated arrivals?”

“Of course. Don’t trouble yourself, miss. I’ll speak to Cook and Aldergate directly. Oh, I hear another carriage, excuse me.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Dunne.” Thank heaven for supportive servants. Hal had chosen them well.

The housekeeper beamed as she curtsied. “It’s my pleasure. Foxleaze has been silent for long enough.”

Once everyone had finished arriving, there were some forty guests, where Tia had been expecting ten. There had to be a reason for this debacle, and she had a strong suspicion of where the fault lay. When one of the children proudly flapped her invitation in front of her, Tia grabbed and scanned it. She let out a heavy sigh.

Mama had worded the invitation very badly and was thus entirely to blame. But she was enjoying herself so much, acting the part of hostess, Tia didn’t have the heart to rebuke her. All the servants—and even some of the adult visitors—had joined in to help with fetching, carrying, and supervising the children’s games. Everyone was brilliantly cheerful, despite the chaos, and Tia couldn’t help but be proud of what had been achieved.

Every amusement that could be conjured up was brought outside, including a harp for one young lady who offered to play, and an archery butts for whoever amongst the adults wished to demonstrate their skill. Unfortunately, the children couldn’t be trusted to play croquet, as they wielded the mallets more like weapons. The adults cheerfully appropriated the game.

From snatches of overheard conversation, it was obvious the local gentry had come largely to see the reclusive Lord Ansford, the consensus that more than enough time had elapsed for him to perform his duties again, both social and legal. No one mentioned the late baroness’s demise, nor the part Hal was rumored to have had in it. Tia was so relieved, she couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.

Her opportunity came a good deal sooner than expected. She’d just headed back into the house to fetch a kerchief for the game of Blind Man’s Bluff, when she cannoned into Hal himself, standing at the foot of the main stairwell.