wonderful, so bright and colourful,” Mary declared. “I’ve just asked Sarah to make a pot of tea. Come and relax and have a cup, my dear.”
“I think it looks a bit tacky, I wish I could afford to buy fresh ribbons so they could all be matching, but I am a little short of money having bought presents for Christmas for my mother and brother,” Verity said, taking off her apron and brushing down her serviceable dress.
She moved over to the fire and raked it up, adding a few logs to the blaze. Then she sat down in an armchair by the small table they used for having tea. She was feeling unsettled and fidgeted a bit with her hair, but it seemed to still be in place despite her endeavours.
“The decorations look absolutely wonderful, dear. You seemed slightly discomposed…” Mary stopped as Sarah entered with a tea tray, laden with porcelain cups, a rather ugly silver teapot and matching milk jug, together with some plates containing slices of Sarah’s home-made fruit cake.
“Oh, thank you, Sarah, that will be all,” Verity insisted as their housekeeper began to arrange the plates and obviously intended to pour tea for them.
Sarah bobbed a small curtsey and then withdrew, shutting the drawing room door behind her. They could hear her in the hall, calling the maid Annie.
“Annie, fetch a broom and sweep up the leaves on the floor and make the hall presentable in case there are visitors. My lady, the dowager countess might make a call.”
They could not really hear Annie’s mumbled reply, but the noises of her bustling to tidy after Verity’s self-appointed task reached them.
“I sincerely hope my mother will not visit today,” Verity said, sipping the tea Mary had handed her. “Her last visit really overstretched my nerves and my patience. I nearly lost my temper with her, I am afraid.”
Mary wrinkled her nose. “Your mother is a very astute lady and would notice your discomposure, so perhaps that is for the best. Her ladyship would soon be asking searching questions as to whether it was the young vicar or the handsome new baron who was bringing such a fetching blush to your cheeks.”
Ignoring that suggestive dig about the baron, Verity directed the conversation somewhere safer. They chatted for a little and enjoyed the fruit cake, but then heard a horse trotting up the path to their home.
“I wonder, whoever that can be? The vicar comes in his gig and your mother always travels in her carriage.” Mary rose and peeked through the bay window, “Oh yes, the new baron is exceptionally handsome, and he is turning on his charm to Sarah, who has gone to the door. She is blushing and giggling like a young girl…”
Verity’s heart lurched. “It is the new baron?”
“Yes.”
“How can you be so certain; you haven’t met the man!”
“I am fascinated by your breathlessness and your flushed features,” Mary said, arching an elegant brow. “But if not the baron, then we have another landowner new to our society and he has come to call.”
Verity stood, not liking how anxious she felt. Hurrying to the windows, she peeked outside. It was indeed the baron! Why had he come? “Oh, dear! I must look a mess,” Verity said, going to the mirror to check her hair and dress.
“You look beautiful as always, dear. The baron is not going to care about what you are wearing. He has come uninvited and must take us as we are…”
Verity pressed a hand over her pounding heart. “Do not say that Mary, he was, er, rather forward in his first meeting with me…”
Her friend’s eyes widened, and her mouth formed a small O of wonder. “How forward? You need not answer, your blushes and bright eyes explain a lot, Verity, now compose yourself, that will be Sarah at the door to announce him…” Mary said as the door was knocked on and opened.
“My lady, Lord Rupert Rogers asks if he can call. I did not know whether to say if you are at home to visitors, ma’am,” Sarah or more correctly, Mrs. Cutler said.
“Yes, please admit my lord, although we were not expecting visitors, we will be pleased to receive our neighbour,” Mary jumped in to say, evidently fearing that Verity would get flustered and refuse him.
Verity glared at her friend, who pointedly did not look her way. Taking a deep, steady breath, she relaxed in the armchair and prepared to greet their uninvited neighbour. There was nothing to be nervous