Cocky Earl - Annabelle Anders Page 0,31

of her gown. It had particularly large sleeves but was a lovely indigo color and swished in a pleasing manner when she walked. When she was younger, her mother had told her that as a red-haired girl with green eyes, she would look prettiest in greens. But blue had always been her favorite color.

“Thank you?” Her response came out uncertainly.

“My apologies for failing to entertain you earlier today.” He took hold of one of her hands. “Tenant business demanded my attention.”

Knowing he hadn’t simply been avoiding her caused her spirits to lift. That was, if he was telling the truth. His eyes appeared a vibrant blue this evening, though, and staring into them, she found no reason to doubt him.

“I didn’t expect to see you down here so soon.” Charley straightened her back as her father joined them. Over the past few days, it almost seemed he’d been avoiding her. Likely, he was avoiding her questions about his little wager. She had little hopes of cornering him anytime soon. He was wily like that.

“I hate being late.” Her father knew this already. She’d gotten it from him.

He scowled. “Where’s that Daisy girl your grandmother sent along to chaperone you?”

Everything had been lovely, and her host and hostesses had been kind, but the feeling of not belonging in this world plagued her at odd moments and this was one of them. If her father was more demonstrative, she might even have reached up to place a kiss on his weathered cheek.

“Daisy is a lady’s maid,” she informed her father, a trifle embarrassed. Although Charley had asked Daisy to act as her companion. Daisy had explained that there were above-stairs servants and below-stairs servants, and she most definitely fell into the latter category.

Stone Spencer laughed. “You’ll have to learn that in England, most particularly among nobs, time is merely relative. Plan your arrivals keeping in mind that everything actually takes place approximately sixty minutes later than the designated time.”

Her father’s expression revealed all too easily what he thought of that. At home, when her father told her to meet him at six in the morning, he in truth meant ten minutes ‘til. When her gaze shifted to Lord Westerley’s, she sensed, not for the first time that he’d read her mind.

“Mustn’t appear too eager, Miss Jackson.” Not only did he read her mind, but he seemed to be laughing at her. No, she surmised, he was laughing with her. If he was laughing at anything, she’d wager it was the rules his people lived their lives by.

And that thought had her feeling closer to him than she’d expected.

“I was just telling the earl and the Spencers here of my plans to tour a few of the Scottish distilleries.” Her father rocked back and forth on his feet as he stared over her shoulder at what she guessed was nothing.

“Did you have any particular recommendations?” Charley asked the Englishmen in general, unable to hide her enthusiasm. Touring the distilleries had been the primary reason she’d looked forward to this journey from the moment Father announced it. The Scottish had been distilling whisky for centuries, and the idea of seeing the equipment they used, of hearing the history—of tasting the variations—sent her heart racing. Immersing herself in that world had the potential to make up for her grandparents’ disappointment upon her arrival and all of the horrid lessons that had followed. “It doesn’t really matter if we arrive back in London before the Season begins, does it?”

“Your grandparents are expecting you to be there, Charley,” her father said. “I gave them my word.”

“Then perhaps we ought to leave the party early.” She glanced at Lord Westerley, who looked slightly pained. “No offence, My Lord.”

Her father frowned down at the carpet. “I received a letter from Mr. McDaniel, and he’s invited me to stay at his estate while I make the rounds. I am leaving tomorrow.”

If she wasn’t wearing a gown and silk slippers, she might have jumped up and down. “I should go back upstairs and inform Daisy then. She’ll need to repack my belongings. Are we leaving early in the morning then?”

“That won’t be necessary. I spoke with Lady Westerley earlier this afternoon, and she said that you and Daisy are more than welcome to remain for the duration.”

“But I—”

“It’s best that I don’t have a woman along. You know how some of these fellows can be.”

“But—”Her throat thickened, and she had to blink away the sudden tears that threatened.

Her father met her