Page 88 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

‘Ought we not to rest ahead of our expedition?’ she said. ‘Recollect we are riding out to Chaffington Castle in the morning.’

‘This is the first I’ve heard of such a scheme.’ Sir Waldo’s brows furrowed.

‘We spoke of it just yesterday, Waldo,’ Lady Phoebe said.

‘It’s the first I’ve heard of it,’ Sir Waldo repeated. ‘Chaffington is a little far, don’t you think?’

‘We can rest ourselves and the horses at Melford, surely,’ Ashford put in, frowning a little in Sir Waldo’s direction.

Lydia remembered the sharpness in Ashford’s voice when he had spoken of his cousin’s marriage. Was this what he had been referring to? Did he think Sir Waldo not supportive enough of Lady Phoebe’s endeavours?

‘Yes indeed!’ Lady Phoebe threw Ashford a relieved smile. ‘I thought it could be an adventure.’

‘Ah, adventure,’ Prett said. ‘Is there anything more essential to the human soul?’

‘I cannot wait,’ Lydia agreed.

A sea of incredulous eyes turned toward her. In hindsight, the fuss she had made at the beginning of the week now seemed a little shortsighted.

‘Are you certain you wish to join us?’ Lady Phoebe said. ‘After your distress the other morning.’

Lydia waved a hand. ‘Oh, I think my mount was merely too headstrong for me.’

‘He did seem rather headstrong,’ Ashford agreed, nodding sagely. ‘Pudding was his name, wasn’t it?’

‘Perhaps I might borrow from your stable,’ she said to Lady Phoebe, ignoring him. ‘A very calm horse.’

‘Do you have one that does not leer, cousin?’ Ashford asked.

Lydia took in a slow, calming inhale. Would it be so obvious if she threw her embroidery hoop at him?

‘We need an activity, now,’ Sir Waldo said, boring of the conversation. ‘Resting is dull.’

‘Would anyone volunteer to read to us?’ Lady Phoebe suggested.

‘Dull!’

‘Perhaps a game of charades?’

‘You are terrible at charades,’ Sir Waldo said, shaking his head.

What was wrong with him this evening? Were he and Phoebe having a quarrel?

‘I remember her being quite adept, actually,’ Ashford said. ‘I say we play a round.’

Well, Lydia had no particular skill at the parlour game in which each person recited a riddle, and their audience had to guess the word – but if it would keep Ashford in the room …

‘Marvellous,’ she said.

‘We did play a rather interesting version at Burlington House last year,’ Lady Phoebe admitted.

‘Wellington’s residence, you know,’ Sir Waldo put in, cheering up at the chance to name-drop.

‘We are familiar,’ Lady Hesse sniffed.

‘Instead of describing the word by riddle,’ Lady Phoebe continued, ‘one acts the word.’

‘How amusing,’ Lady Morton said at once.