Page 41 of Engaging Sir Isaac

But her laughter tickled his memory, pulled him out of the gloom. He took in his reflection in the looking glass. What would a young woman think of his appearance? He checked the lines of his waistcoat and critically eyed the empty left sleeve of his shirt.

“Would you like the use of the wooden arm, Sir Isaac?” Harper asked.

Isaac jerked his eyes away from the mirror.

He hated that arm. Hated the process of attaching it to the stub of flesh he had been left with the year before. Shuddering, Isaac shook his head. “No. It is unwieldy, awkward, and unsightly. Even with a glove upon it.”

Though he had paid well to have the arm carved into a mirror likeness of his remaining arm, it was disconcerting how stiff it was upon him. Putting a glove upon the oddly shaped fingers made it look worse, like he had stuffed sausages into the fingers of his best gloves. The whole thing had been a waste. It threw him off balance. Irritated him.

Admiral Nelson had appeared in all his portraits without a false arm. If it was good enough for one of Britain’s greatest heroes to be without a false-arm or hook-handed, it was good enough for Isaac.

“As you wish, sir.” Harper helped Isaac with his favorite dark green coat, a perfect choice for a visit to the ancient abbey. Isaac intended to take his carriage to the marquess’s home, to offer up additional seats should anyone need them. Perhaps Millie would wish to ride with him.

That prospect brought him out of the somewhat sour mood the false arm had thrust Isaac into moments before.

Upon his arrival at the Alderton estate, Isaac’s hackles came up at once. It was Lord Neil who greeted him in the main hall, after Isaac had been shown inside.

“Sir Isaac.” The man sounded slippery as ever. He came into the entryway from another room, dressed for the outing with his hat upon his head. “I did not expect you to join us. Though Olivia insisted upon inviting you.”

“Lord Neil.” Isaac inclined his head the barest amount. “I find myself in want of a change of scenery. What better opportunity than an outing such as this?”

“I can think of none.” Lord Neil adjusted his hat to sit at what he likely thought a rakish angle. While Silas made no effort to hide his dislike, Isaac put up with the marquess’s son mostly because he knew the man had never been a real threat to Esther. A nuisance, of course. But that was all.

“Do you intend to join a carriage or lend yours to the venture?” Lord Neil asked, tucking an unnecessary walking stick beneath his arm. “I am in charge of putting people into the correct boxes for the ride, you see.”

“I am lending my carriage. It can seat three more quite comfortably.”

“Splendid.” Lord Neil eyed Isaac carefully. “Will the countess join us?”

“Not today, I am afraid.”

“That is disappointing. I know Miss Wedgewood quite depends upon her ladyship’s friendship.”

Isaac studied the other man’s expression, noted his tone. Considering how thoroughly Silas had commanded Lord Neil to stay away from Esther, the marquess’s son still showed too much interest in her.

With a shrug of one shoulder, Isaac responded with feigned disinterest. “My sister is a woman with much to occupy her time. I will do my best to alleviate Miss Wedgewood’s disappointment with my company.”

That made Lord Neil’s somewhat bored expression flicker with momentary interest. “Is that your intention in coming today? I imagine she will be most grateful for your attention.”

Before Isaac sorted out whether or not Lord Neil meant to imply something other than what he said, a door opened at the top of the stairs. Feminine laughter drifted through the foyer and corridors. Isaac’s gaze took in several women coming down the steps but did not glimpse the copper curls for which he searched.

Lady Olivia and her mother appeared from the ground floor corridor, speaking with animation to each other and a servant who followed them.

The marchioness’s tone was light and airy, though none could doubt she meant her words as commands. “Make certain the wagons do not leave more than a quarter of an hour after the first carriage departs. We will want refreshment after we arrive at Orford Castle. The Earl of Montecliff will meet us there with his set, and I will not be unprepared.”

Lord Neil stepped away from Sir Isaac to bow to his mother. “I have all the assignments for the carriages, Mother.”

“Good. Take everyone outside and see to it they are all properly placed. Olivia and I are riding with Lord and Lady Carning?”

“As requested.” Lord Neil bowed again, then turned back to Sir Isaac. He made his way to the door, gesturing with the tilt of his head for Isaac to follow. Reluctantly, Isaac followed the other man back out into the late morning sun. “I will direct three guests to join you in your box, Sir Isaac, if you will take up your place beside it.

A row of carriages had joined Sir Isaac’s before the house. He did not have a chance to respond to Lord Neil before the man had approached a group of ladies and gentlemen, gesturing for them to take certain vehicles. Two women, sometimes three, and two gentlemen each were put into the four carriages ahead of Sir Isaac.

Lord Carning and his wife came out the door after nearly everyone else had climbed into their wheeled boxes. Isaac bowed as Lord Carning passed. He had met the duke’s grandson some years before, though their gap in age and rank meant theirs was no more than a nodding acquaintance. The couple went to the first carriage, and as soon as the door shut behind them the carriage pulled away, and the others followed.

Lord Neil walked back to Sir Isaac’s carriage, which set to one side of the line. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the crunch of gravel beneath wheels and the clomp of horse’s hooves. “My apologies, Sir Isaac. The ladies for your carriage are apparently not yet ready.”

As he hadn’t yet seen Millie emerge from the house, Isaac remained relaxed. “I am not pressed for time.”