Page 12 of Charity

Estella laughed to distract the men. “Did you forget breakfast this morning, Oscar? I think you have enough there to feed a regular-sized person for a week.”

Oscar slanted a quick smile in her direction and promptly fell silent as he ate. When Manning discontinued their conversation too, the silence at the table grew uncomfortable again. Between bites, Estella was aware that her son’s gaze flickered between her and the rector. If she had an explanation she cared to share, she might enlighten Oscar as to their estrangement. As it was, Oscar was better left in the dark about their tangled past.

Manning shifted in his chair, his leg rubbing against hers under the table. An unfortunate flush of heat swept her cheeks. Damn the man. Could he not leave her be?

Manning chuckled at her immediate reaction. “When you have a moment, Lord Carrington, I wonder if I might have a word with you,” Manning asked with a quick glance in her direction. “In private, perhaps.”

Oscar pressed a napkin to his mouth and then threw it over his unfinished plate. “Of course, I am at your immediate disposal.”

Manning spared her a wry glance. “Forgive me, my lady, I hate to deprive you of your son’s company, but if you can spare him this instant, my business should only take a few minutes.”

In an attempt to hide her irrational nerves, Estella nodded her head rather than question them. The men departed, leaving her with a sinking feeling. This could be very bad, indeed.

“Why the long face, my dear lady?” The seat to her right creaked as her lover unwittingly settled where her past suitor had sat moments before.

“I was just wishing the children were to sing another song, but they’ve all gone back to the orphanage haven’t they, Thomas?”

Her gaze settled on the big man. She was determined to forget all about Lynton Manning. Thomas Birkenstock was kind, a generous man who made few demands on her time except for their infrequent rendezvous. She should be content.

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Agatha took them back immediately after the performance. She’s got a bee in her bonnet over the sick little one, and cannot abide being apart from the babe.”

Estella smiled and patted his hand quickly. “Her compassion does her credit and you too. The children are getting along so much better with her gentler influence.”

“Perhaps her playing will have affected some unattached gentleman here today,” he grumbled. “Her performance on the pianoforte was exceptional, but I do not like that she refused to linger and take advantage of it.”

“Was that Agatha, today? She certainly plays beautifully. Oscar appeared enthralled with the performance. Perhaps the other gentlemen noticed, too.”

“My granddaughter should be thinking of her own children by now, but the stubborn minx has taken a set against the idea of marriage. I fear she always has been and hid her discontent behind polite smiles. I might have to resort to a matchmaker to see her wed securely.” Under the table, Thomas knocked her knee with his.

Although Thomas mimicked Lynton Manning’s earlier gesture, Estella’s body didn’t respond the same. Her cheeks remained stubbornly cool, her heartbeat at a regular plodding pace. She swallowed at the discovery. Why didn’t she react more to Thomas after all this time? He was a good man.

Estella forced a smile to her lips. “Surely the situation is not as bad as all that.” She sighed and set her chin in her hand. “I’m sure all that’s required is for the right man to sweep her off her feet. Agatha is a very pretty young lady. I’m constantly surprised that some clever gentleman hasn’t recognized her worth and married her already.”

A hand pressed hard to her shoulder and she looked up to find her son hovering. His expression appeared pained.

Estella stood immediately. “Is everything all right, son?”

His lips twisted into a grimace. “Everything is fine, but I appear to be very popular today. Several members of the orphanage’s board of trustees wish to speak with me on a matter of some urgency. Do you mind if I leave you in Mr. Manning’s care for what remains of the afternoon?”

Estella frowned, wondering at the trustee’s agitation. Yet her unease at being left in Manning’s company stirred, too. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him. “Mr. Birkenstock is entertaining me, Oscar. I do not need to be coddled.”

“Nevertheless, I have asked Manning to escort you home in my place if I do not return within the next half hour. We were coming to inform you, but I think Manning was delayed by Mrs. Whittaker.”

Estelle glanced around her son and found Manning indeed trapped by the notoriously chatty lady. Poor man, but still, she wouldn’t be going to rescue him. “I hardly need an escort, Oscar. I’m sure you will be free again in due time.”

Oscar raked his fingers through his pale hair, disturbing his usually neat appearance. “Would if that were true, but I am promised to take Lady Penelope driving in the park this evening.” He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. “As it is, I may be inexcusably tardy in my arrival. It would ease my mind greatly if you allowed Manning to escort you home.”

Damn her son’s need to keep everyone happy. When he was a child, she’d liked the trait. He’d given her no trouble, unlike his more adventurous younger sister. However, as an adult, his constant need for approval drove her to distraction. Not everyone needed to be pleased.

“Of course.” But inside, Estella dreaded the drive.

It didn’t take long for Manning to grasp her arm after Thomas took his leave. He whisked her out the door quickly. As she approached his gleaming coach, she tried not to appear concerned to be all alone with her former beau. However, the lingering hand that pressed against the small of her back as she entered the carriage proved just how interested Manning was in improving their acquaintance. A flush of heat swept her cheeks again and she dipped her head to hide the reaction.

Determined to quell the impulse to bolt from the carriage, Estella drew in a deep breath to calm herself. “Do you know what the trustees wish to speak to my son about? It is not like them to involve him in their petty squabbles.” There, she could be civil with Manning and forget all about those distressing reactions.

Manning pursed his lips, as if considering whether to share his thoughts. The board members frequently failed to share most reasons for their decisions with her. Indeed, it was a lucky coincidence that anything happened there at all. She’d never met a group of men who bickered as much as they did. Estella held her breath, hoping Manning would trust her enough to share this confidence, and tried not to think overmuch about those pursed lips…or past kisses bestowed from them.

“The board wishes for an evaluation of the orphanage to be conducted, but they do not want to bring in an outsider. Since your son’s involvement has been minimal to date, they have agreed that he shall be judge and jury for its continuation.”