The Obsessions of Lord Godfrey - Stephanie Laurens Page 0,64
Mr. Cavanaugh and I are riding.”
Jeffers nodded. “I’ll hie back to the Queen’s Head, get my horse saddled, and meet you in the street.”
With that agreed, they parted.
As he escorted Ellie and Maggie to the carriage, Godfrey pondered Jeffers. Beneath the man’s urbanity, there lurked a certain edge, yet Godfrey had no sense that Jeffers was anything other than he claimed to be—a businessman recently arrived in York taking a look around the nearby countryside.
Indeed, Jeffers’s accent didn’t hail from the north. In fact, if Godfrey had to guess, the man was grammar-school educated, and given his looks, it was perfectly possible he was some aristocrat’s illegitimate son. Not that that told them all that much about Jeffers, the man, but it would explain his polished manners and ready conversation.
After helping Mr. Hinckley up the carriage steps, then handing Ellie and Maggie up and shutting the door, Godfrey mounted George and joined Harry in ambling after the carriage as the coachman steered it down the street.
Mounted on a nice-looking roan, Jeffers was waiting outside the Queen’s Head. He fell in beside Harry, and as they continued riding along, Godfrey found himself grinning at Jeffers’s observations about things he’d seen on his recent foray, having gone as far west as the edge of the dales; the man had a distinctly dry sense of humor.
They reached the Hall in good time, and on being returned to his wheeled chair in his own front hall, Mr. Hinckley led the way into the drawing room.
At Mr. Hinckley’s wave and his recommendation to Jeffers not to stand on ceremony, they spread themselves in the available chairs. Godfrey sat alongside Ellie on the sofa, while Jeffers claimed the armchair on her other side, the one opposite Mr. Hinckley’s position. As Harry and Maggie sat in chairs facing the sofa, Kemp arrived bearing a tray hosting the sherry decanter and glasses.
Mr. Hinckley looked at Godfrey. “I hope the excursion hasn’t overtired you, sir.”
Godfrey smiled. “No, indeed. Rather, I found the fresh air invigorating.” In reply to Jeffers’s puzzled look, Godfrey explained, “I was caught out in the snowstorm and, subsequently, confined to bed for a week.”
“Ah, I see.” Jeffers grimaced. “Quite aside from the snow, the wind was quite vicious, even in York.”
Kemp had just finished distributing glasses of the fine Jerez sherry when the sound of an arrival reached them. A moment later, a footman opened the door to admit Masterton.
He walked in with his usual confident stride—which hitched and slowed when he saw Jeffers. After a second of staring at Jeffers, Masterton dragged his gaze to Mr. Hinckley. “Good day, Matthew.” Halting, Masterton nodded to Mr. Hinckley, then glanced again at Jeffers. “I didn’t know you would be entertaining company.” Recollecting himself, Masterton sent a faint smile Godfrey’s way. “Other than Cavanaugh, of course.”
Mr. Hinckley waved that aside. “You know you’re always welcome to join us, Michael. This is Mr. Jeffers from York—he’s visiting the area.”
Godfrey watched as Masterton and Jeffers exchanged nods, on Jeffers’s part with relaxed ease, while Masterton seemed a trifle stiff. Godfrey wasn’t sure whether Masterton had recognized Jeffers and disapproved of his presence, or whether Masterton was miffed simply over finding an outsider sitting down with the family he appeared to consider in some way his concern.
With what seemed his customary facility, Jeffers commented to Mr. Hinckley about the house, and the pair fell into an undemanding exchange.
Kemp approached and offered Masterton a glass of sherry. Masterton picked up the glass, surveyed the available seats, then moved to sit in the chair beside the sofa, beyond Godfrey.
Invited by his father to explain the house’s history to Jeffers, Harry complied. It was evident the younger Hinckley had made a study of the house’s past. From his perusal of the books Ellie had lent him, Godfrey recalled several colorful snippets, which he volunteered as embellishments to Harry’s accounting.
Allowing Harry to reclaim center stage, Godfrey sat back, amused. After a moment, he glanced at Masterton and found the man watching Jeffers, who was leaning back in his chair, to all appearances happy to be entertained.
Kemp returned to announce luncheon, and they all rose. Godfrey gave Ellie his arm, which she took, and they followed Harry, pushing his father’s chair, with Jeffers pacing alongside. Masterton had fallen in on Harry’s other side, while Maggie came up beside Godfrey. He smiled and offered her his other arm, and with an impish grin, she looped her arm in his.
In the dining room, they arranged themselves around