believe I shall ask Sundson to set an extra place for dinner,” she continued.
I shook my head in disbelief. “Lady Williams, I have the greatest hope Mr. Lundall will not be present for dinner.”
She smiled subtly. “I have the greatest hope that he will. I would hate to be disappointed.” She, too, left the room.
I stared at the door until a noise in the hallway recalled me to my surroundings. If Lady Williams got her way, this room would be the first place Mr. Lundall came looking for me. I hurried out of the room and up the stairs, shutting my bedroom door securely behind me.
When I walked into the antechamber for dinner, Mr. Lundall rushed forward, offering me his arm. It seemed Lady Williams had gotten her wish.
I hesitated.
“Miss Brinton.” He held his elbow closer to me.
“Mr. Lundall,” I said, “this is hardly necessary.”
“I insist on being allowed to escort you in.”
“But Lady Cox and her daughter have not yet arrived. I am in no need of an escort as of yet.”
Sundson entered. “Lady Cox, Miss Perrin, Mr. Hargreaves, and Mrs. Hargreaves.” Lady Cox swept into the room followed by Miss Perrin, Mrs. Hargreaves, and a thin, balding man with a small nose and no chin.
An unexpected surge of relief ran through me. I had not known Lady Williams had invited Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves as well. At least I’d have someone sympathetic to speak with.
Introductions were made, Lady Cox provided an excuse for Sir Timothy’s absence, and dinner was announced.
Mr. Lundall practically elbowed me in my ribs. But the uneven numbers and Miss Perrin being of higher status than I provided my excuse, “You should escort Miss Perrin, Mr. Lundall. I shall come behind,” I said.
He frowned.
Lord Williams offered his arm to Lady Cox, but she pushed her daughter into her place. “Oh, please don’t stand on ceremony on my account. Elisa would provide much better company for you.”
Mrs. Hargreaves muttered something to her husband, who nodded.
In the end, I walked in alone. Miss Perrin sat in the seat I usually occupied while I sat across from her, at Lord Williams’s left. Mr. Lundall ignored Miss Perrin’s invitation to sit next to her, instead taking the place on my other side. My only comfort was that Lady Cox seemed displeased by having to sit in a seat lacking honor, wedged between her daughter and my father.
After the first course was served and conversation filled the room, I tilted my head toward Mr. Lundall. I wanted to ask after his surprising lack of stench, but not even I could be that rude. “Why is it that you are here, sir?”
“It pains me that you should think I have any intent other than to see you.”
“You must have had some other reason to come into the area. Else how would you know where to find me?”
“My dear Miss Brinton, I could find you faster than a hound could find a fox or a hawk his mouse. I merely followed my heart. It will always lead to you.”
His declaration was not the quiet hush of private conversation. Lady Cox must have assumed his volume invited her comment. “What beautiful words, sir. Miss Brinton must be enraptured by your esteem of her. And to have you come all this way just to seek her out. Why, any woman with sense would see what a catch you are.”
I was not about to allow Lady Cox the pleasure of cornering me. “Yes, Mr. Lundall is quite the catch. And such an exquisite dancer. Miss Perrin, do you enjoy dancing? If so, I recommend that you not miss an opportunity to dance with Mr. Lundall, should such an opportunity arise.”
To my surprise, Miss Perrin’s cheeks pinked and she dropped her gaze to study her plate. “I should be honored. Of course.”
Lady Cox frowned. “Lord Williams is also a fine dancer, is he not, Elisa? I believe you said you had never before danced with anyone so skilled.”
Miss Perrin’s face reddened to an unbecoming shade.
“Though I mean no disrespect,” Mr. Lundall replied, fluffing the ruffled cuff of his sleeve, “I assure you that my skill on the dance floor quite surpasses most.”
“While I am sure it does,” replied Lady Cox with a huff, “you must concede that a baron would simply have more opportunity to perfect such a talent than. . . .” She waved her hand through the air as though the comment was not worth the effort of finishing.
“I shall concede no such thing,”