Page 49 of Lady Dramatic
“Thank you, Quinn,” Lord Thorpe said.
His butler’s name was Quinn and he had just smiled at her. Did he know something about her? Had Lord Thorpe told him anything? She did not really understand what the relationship would be between a butler of longstanding service and the lord of the house. She’d never seen it in her own household, having only distant memories of their first butler, Mr. Herring, having a mental collapse and fleeing the estate.
Lord Thorpe held his arm out, though Serenity saw Lord Charles attempt to push forward. Lord Thorpe seemed to have been ready for the gambit. Rather hilariously, Valor held out her arm toward Lord Charles and he was all but forced to take herin, though he had to bend down to put out his arm. The duke laughed aloud over the picture, though Valor proceeded with all dignity.
The dining table was magnificent, a snowy linen cloth set with superb porcelain dishes painted with roses and edged in gold, crystal goblets, highly polished silver, a dozen fine wax candles—the table practically sparkled.
Serenity was most gratified to find herself sitting to Lord Thorpe’s right in the place of honor. She noted Valor on one side of Lord Charles and Verity on the other, which he did not look very enthusiastic about. He likely feared he was to hear more about spaniels, and he was likely correct.
Valor picked up a fork and examined it as the footmen came round filling glasses. She said, “I thought the person being honored would be where Serenity is sitting.”
“It is,” Winsome said, shaking her head in a warning from across the table.
Valor raised her brows as if she did not understand why she was not sitting in her sister’s place. Serenity was beginning to fear that this idea of an early dinner to accommodate her had quite gone to Valor’s head.
“Lady Valor,” Lord Thorpe said, “I placed you thus as my brother made it known that he was very eager to further his acquaintance with you.”
“Oh, I see,” Valor said. “Well, just so you know, Lord Charles, I will never marry, so you spin wheels if that’s what you’re thinking.”
The duke guffawed into his napkin and motioned for the footman to fill up his glass more than it had been.
“And then of course,” Lord Thorpe said, “my brother is quite keen to take in further information about spaniels, Lady Verity.”
Lord Thorpe was clearly teasing his brother and Lord Charles did not seem to take it very well. He wore a very tight smile.
“Consider it my pleasure,” Verity said, “I am always happy to share what I know.”
Goodness, Lord Charles was in for it. And, he seemed to know it. She might feel sorry for him, but on the other hand, Verity and Valor occupying Lord Charles and her father being entertained by it gave her more chance of conversation between herself and Lord Thorpe. Except for Winsome, who was very determinedly leaning in their direction to hear what was said.
“I hope you approve of my house, Lady Serenity. What you’ve seen of it anyway.”
“I very thoroughly approve,” Serenity said, certain she was blushing up to the tops of her ears. To mention what she’d seen of it hinted at what she’dnotseen of it, which was above stairs in the more private areas of the house. Like the lord’s bedchamber.
She gave a nervous little laugh apropos of nothing. Winsome wrinkled her brow, and Serenity silently scolded that she was not to make a cake of herself just because any rooms not viewed had been hinted at.
The first course had come round and Serenity felt the honor of it. A white soup was quite an onerous thing to make and must be got just right. At least, that was what Mrs. Right said about it. It was generally made for occasions more elaborate than a small dinner, so it must be a compliment of sorts.
Though Verity was just now positing that the spaniel was well known for its ability to warn people of fire while her father snorted into his napkin, Lord Charles turned from her and said, “By the by, Thorpe, I suppose you’ve told Lady Serenity all about Clara.”
Serenity dropped her spoon into her soup. Who was Clara? Why had she not heard the name Clara mentioned before? She was not a sister, Serenity already knew that it was only Lord Thorpe and Lord Charles in the duke’s family. If she was not a sister…
