own place. When the church bell struck the hour, I returned to the front of the house and let myself in, startling a footman in the entry.
During breakfast I took the opportunity to assess my father’s health. He appeared rested and eager to spend the day in the library, confirming that my accompanying him to Lord Williams’s had been unnecessary. And, based on Lord Williams’s taciturn responses, unwanted.
As the meal ended, Lady Williams said, “You are most welcome to join me this morning, Miss Brinton. I believe one of our neighbors is planning to call.”
Feeling rather obliged, I agreed.
She led me into one of the parlors, and within a few minutes, a woman near her age with high, arched brows, white hair, and a commanding presence entered. Lady Williams smiled. “Miss Brinton, allow me to introduce my friend Mrs. Hargreaves. Mrs. Hargreaves, Miss Brinton will be staying with us a few days.”
“Will she? How wonderful.” Mrs. Hargreaves spoke with a slight accent I couldn’t place and took a seat next to Lady Williams. She eyed me. “No need to ask you why you are here.”
Though her tone wasn’t unkind, there was no mistaking the insinuation in her words. “I am afraid you are mistaken,” Lady Williams intervened. “Miss Brinton’s father has come to view Gregory’s handling of the estate. Miss Brinton was pressured into the trip as company for him.”
I started at her words. She could only have known I didn’t wish to be here if Lord Williams had told her. Which meant he knew as well. Was this why he’d been so formal and distant?
Or perhaps he was formal and distant because there was no longer a reason to be any other way.
Mrs. Hargreaves looked over me. “Hm.” Then she smiled. “She will do.”
“Unfortunately for us all, I believe it is out of the question,” Lady Williams said.
“Never give up, Clarice. Der Hunger kommt beim Essen.”
I glanced between the ladies, not understanding the German, though at least now I could place the accent.
“You must excuse my friend, Miss Brinton,” Lady Williams said. “She forgets we are not all fluent in her native tongue. What she means is that everything must start with a little step, though you must excuse her in this as well. She is unused to young ladies visiting without aims at my son.”
“I never understood why the English do not learn my language,” Mrs. Hargreaves said. “It’s ofttimes more apt at expressing a sentiment than this stilted language of yours.”
“Yes, yes. You have said as much before,” Lady Williams replied.
Sundson entered. “Lady Cox and Miss Perrin.”
Mrs. Hargreaves rolled her eyes and leaned toward me. “Lady Cox is the wife of a knight, but she thinks she should be queen! Miss Perrin, her daughter from her first marriage, is not a bad sort of person, though. Rather timid.” She shrugged.
A lady taller than Sundson entered, followed by a younger woman, obviously her daughter. They had the same dark brown hair, the same heavy brows and round chins. But where Lady Cox’s smile formed into a pinched frown when she noticed Mrs. Hargreaves, Miss Perrin smiled a dazzling, albeit somewhat blank, smile. Lady Cox surveyed Mrs. Hargreaves and sniffed loudly, then turned her focus to me. Her eyes instantly narrowed.
“Lady Cox, Miss Perrin,” Lady Williams said. “How good it is to see you. It has been over a week.”
Lady Cox’s eyes never left me. “I see you have company. We do not wish to intrude.”
Mrs. Hargreaves snorted, and Lady Cox’s attention leapt back to her. “Good morning, Mrs. Hargreaves. You are the same as always, I see. Is this girl some relation of yours?”
Mrs. Hargreaves produced a condescending smile of her own. “Where is the benefit of change when one is practically perfect?”
Lady Cox ignored her question. “Would you do us the honor, Lady Williams, of introducing us to your pretty young guest?”
Lady Williams sent me a genial smile. “This is Miss Brinton. She and her father have come to visit for a few days.”
“How pleasant.” Lady Cox’s tone led me to understand there was nothing pleasant about my visit in her opinion. No doubt she also believed I was here to capture Lord Williams. I wondered what she would think if she knew of the days he and I had just passed together.
Determined to remain unaffected by her hostility, I smiled. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Cox. Miss Perrin, would you like to sit here?” I indicated the place next to me.
“I’d be