Page 47 of The Marriage Wager

At that moment Maisie popped her head in the door to see if Constance was ready to have her hair done. “Oh, going riding, are you, miss?” she asked, and came over to take the skirt and jacket from Constance’s hands. “I’ll just press this, then, while you’re at breakfast.”

“I—I am not certain I will be riding,” Constance equivocated.

“No matter. ’Twill be ready. Now, what would you like for your hair today? Something simple and well-pinned, I should imagine, if you’ll be riding.”

Constance agreed and let the woman begin working her artistry.

Minutes later, when she walked into the dining room, Constance found more people around the long table than were normally there. Dominic was seated at the farthest end of the table, beside his father. Across from him, Constance noted, were Lady Rutherford and her daughter. Dominic seemed engrossed in talking to Mrs. Kenwick and her son Parke, who sat between Dominic and Francesca. Constance glanced at Dominic and quickly away, very aware of the eyes of the Rutherfords on her.

Next to the Rutherfords were the three Nortons and Lady Calandra, the Duke’s sister. As Constance slid into the empty seat beside Francesca, Calandra swung toward her with a friendly smile.

“Hello,” she greeted Constance. “Rochford finally gave in last night and let me stay over. He, of course, went home in the carriage.” She rolled her eyes. “The estate manager and the books cannot wait, it appears.”

“I am glad that you are still here,” Constance replied honestly, having liked the lively young woman on sight.

“Oh, yes,” Elinor Norton agreed emphatically. “The more the merrier for our ride.”

“Ride?” Constance asked.

“Did you not know? Lord Leighton is showing everyone about the estate this afternoon,” her sister Lydia chimed in.

“Sounds like a jolly good time,” their brother, Sir Philip, agreed.

Constance’s gaze went to Dominic for the first time. He looked at her rather ruefully, but said only, “Miss Woodley has already agreed. You cannot back out on me now.”

“When we heard Lord Leighton was planning a tour of the estate, we could not help but want to join in,” Elinor went on happily.

Constance looked toward Muriel, who gazed back at her smugly. Constance had little doubt who had spread the word that Dominic was planning a “tour” of the estate.

“No doubt you will be going as well, Miss Rutherford,” Constance said mildly, allowing none of her irritation to show in her voice.

“Yes, indeed,” Muriel replied with a thin smile. “I would not miss it for the world.” She stood up, pushing back her chair. “Now, if you will excuse me, Lord Selbrooke, I must see to some things.”

“Of course, Lady Muriel.” The Earl beamed at her and returned to his conversation with her father.

Constance swallowed her disappointment. Clearly Muriel had overheard Dominic’s plans to take Constance around the estate, and she had seized the opportunity to deny them the time alone together. Given the stony set of Dominic’s face, Constance did not think that Muriel had helped herself very much. She might have outmaneuvered him, but she would not have endeared herself to him.

It was better, anyway, that they had company, Constance told herself. She could enjoy the time together, but she would not have to worry about how to deal with the wayward passion that always threatened to overcome her when she was alone with him. It was much better. Really.

“Are you coming with us, Francesca?” Constance asked.

Francesca shook her head. “No, I think I am too recently recovered. I shall stay with Mama and the other ladies.”

Cousin Margaret was quick to inform them that she planned to go, as did Lord Dunborough, Mr. Willoughby and most of the young men. Indeed, it seemed that of all the young people, only the shy Miss Cuthbert and Cousin Georgiana, afflicted by a fear of horses, would be staying behind with Francesca and the older women.

“Lord Leighton has promised that we shall go to a promontory from which one can see the entire valley,” Lydia Norton announced.

“I am not sure I should want to go so high,” Cousin Margaret demurred.

“It is a bit of a climb,” Calandra told them. “But when you get to the top, you can see the whole countryside.”

“And we shall have tea in the summer house,” Elinor Norton put in.

“It sounds wonderful,” Constance agreed.

She applied herself to her food, letting the excited chatter of the others swirl around her, and attempted to adjust her expectations for the day.

Later Constance left the table with Francesca and walked with her up the stairs to their rooms. When they reached the door of Constance’s room, she smiled a goodbye at her friend and started inside. But she came to an abrupt halt, sucking in her breath in a sharp exclamation of dismay.