she did have nowhere to go. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t formulate a plan.
‘I suppose I could remain for a while, if I can be of assistance,’ Mrs Hampton said, her brightening expression giving the lie to her begrudging words. ‘You would like that, would you not, Gerald? If we stayed?’
Gerald looked at his mother and his eyes lowered as if shielding his thoughts. ‘I wanted to go to London.’
‘Not until we are out of mourning,’ his mother said.
‘Then it doesn’t matter where we go,’ her son replied with a shrug.
His lordship ran a fingertip around the rim of his glass, his hard gaze fixed on his aunt. ‘Miss Wilding needs help with her wardrobe.’
‘My wardrobe is fine,’ Mary said quickly.
The earl’s grey gaze settled on her and she wanted to squirm under that intense scrutiny. ‘I understood your luggage went astray. We cannot have the Beresford heiress tramping around the countryside in rags, now can we?’
His glance flicked over her person and heat flushed to her hairline at that critical regard. He must think her such a dowd, but, more to the point, he seemed to have decided he had the right to make decisions on her behalf.
Mrs Hampton smiled at her son. ‘Then it is settled. We will stay.’
Her son flushed. His eyes flashed fury. ‘I don’t see why we want to stay now he is here.’
‘A common refrain,’ the earl said coolly. He didn’t look at Mary, but her stomach dipped all the same. Sympathy in the face of his cousin’s rejection, when it really was none of her business.
‘I could stay with Jeffrey. At his lodgings,’ Gerald said with a defiant look at his mother. ‘Couldn’t I, cuz?’
Jeffrey almost choked on a mouthful of food.
The earl’s lip curled in distaste. ‘What about it, cuz?’ he asked in silken tones. ‘Will you take him in? I for one would be for ever in your debt.’
It seemed the earl didn’t need her sympathy.
‘Gerald. You would not desert me at such a time,’ Mrs Hampton said.
Gerald shot her a sulky glare.
‘You could, of course, old chap. Always welcome,’ Jeffrey said, recovering his voice. ‘But my apartments have only one bed.’
‘I could sleep on the floor.’
Mrs Hampton made a sound of horror.
Jeffrey shook his head. ‘My man wouldn’t like that above half,’ he pronounced, as if it trumped all objections.
‘Your constitution is far too delicate for such hardship, Gerald,’ his mother said. ‘I could not permit it.’
‘My dear madam,’ the earl said clearly tired of the conversation, ‘the decision is made. You will chaperon Miss Wilding and see to her dress. And Gerald will of necessity remain at your side.’
‘You cannot do better than my aunt for advice on style,’ Jeffrey added, joining the ranks of traitors siding with the earl.
Mrs Hampton simpered.
Mary dipped her head meekly. As a reward she received a suspicious glance from the earl which she met head on with a cool smile.
Gerald, who had subsided into his own thoughts for the previous few moments, raised his head and turned to look at her. ‘What of the White Lady, Miss Wilding?’ he asked. ‘Have you heard any screams or clanking chains?’
Oh, the wretch. It must be he who had made those noises. Though how, when there had been no sign of him, she could not begin to imagine. She couldn’t keep her gaze from darting to the earl, to see if he shared her opinion.
He shook his head very slightly. Because he didn’t want Gerald to know he was suspected? Perhaps he intended to catch the boy out. She certainly felt better at this proof she had not imagined those unearthly noises, as well as the proof that the earl was finally taking them seriously.
She narrowed her eyes, looking at Gerald’s face for signs of guilt, and received a glance of innocent interest.
The butler entered at that moment. ‘A gentleman to see you, my lord. Lord Templeton. He says he is expected.’
The earl leapt to his feet. ‘Expected, but not this soon.’
‘I have taken the liberty of showing him to the library, my lord, since he declined to join the family in the drawing room for tea.’
‘Very good. I will join him there immediately.’
It was the first time Mary had seen him looked pleased about anything. His delight made him look decidedly more handsome, but his pleasure only added to her resentment that he still had a friend who would come to visit. Hopefully he would be too busy with the man to notice when