What a Spinster Wants - Rebecca Connolly Page 0,55
Society.”
Georgie cleared her throat. “The late Lord and Lady Radcliffe died three years ago. She was elegant and refined and hosted the most glorious house parties. He was devoted to her, social and charming, the perfect match for her. Everyone wanted to attend, would vie for months and months to be invited. Every year was better and better, and if you weren’t invited to the Radcliffes’ house party, something was amiss with you.”
“So,” Grace said with a sigh, “after all this time, the new Lord Radcliffe has decided that this is the year to bring back the house parties that made his brother and sister-in-law so famous, and made his country estate the envy of all humanity.”
“It is a glorious place,” Georgie said with a heaving sigh of her own. “Woods and trails and such lush nature all about you, and the house itself is massive. So elegant and majestic, the most absolutely perfect place in England.”
“Perfect, is it?” Edith murmured, not knowing what else to do but make light of all this. “Well, well. Why shouldn’t we all venture thus, indeed? I’ve yet to see perfection in England. What a notion.”
“You jest if you will,” Grace said with a warning finger, “but Georgie is not exaggerating. The ballroom alone in that place would make angels weep for its beauty. There is a lake nearby, excellent stables, a library to end all libraries…”
“Well, that’s enough to convince me,” Izzy muttered as she took a bite of a cake.
“Gardens that one can get quite lost in,” Georgie said with a touch of longing and a sly little smile towards Edith.
Edith blinked at it. “What? What need have I to get lost in a garden?”
“Who doesn’t have a need to get lost in a garden?” Charlotte insisted, fanning herself for good measure.
Georgie rolled her eyes. “I’m getting your invitation revoked, Charlotte. You’re just going to create a scandal.”
“One can only hope,” came Charlotte’s quip.
They all giggled for a few minutes, and then Grace gave Edith a smile. “Mr. Copeland and Mr. Tomkins will be invited, as will Mr. Gaither, and several other men whom you may wish to meet.”
Edith blushed a bit. “So, you are saying I should use Lord Radcliffe’s party to find the protection I seek, yes?”
Grace shrugged. “In a word, yes. Henshaw is coming, and several other ladies have been invited, too. Radcliffe didn’t want to make it seem as though all of this was for you, though I do believe you were the motivating factor.”
How could she take that? How would anyone? He’d said that he had an idea for how to help her, but he hadn’t said what it was. Just the other day, he and Henshaw had been discussing time and options, though nothing specific had been shared with Edith. Now, he would invite her, and others, to his home, despite not being particularly social, in an effort to help her.
How was she to feel about that?
“Are your husbands invited?” Edith asked softly, needing to say something, anything.
Grace nodded with a smile. “Of course. Ingram and Lord Sterling will be delayed for a time, as they are fighting the law for you. It is quite tricky.”
“They are?” Edith cried, feeling her blush fade into paleness.
Grace winced. “Yes, and I was not supposed to say that. They are in Kent at present, dealing with the lawyers and folk who set up Sir Reginald’s ridiculous scheme. Apparently, there is an associate of theirs and Henshaw’s who is doing some other things.” She waved her hand, dismissively. “I don’t know all of the particulars, but there it is. They shall all meet us at Merrifield.”
It was too much, all too much, and Edith could barely comprehend all the moving pieces involved in her situation now. So many people working for her and on her behalf, stepping away from their own concerns and lives, purely with aims to improve hers.
“Stop frowning, Edith!” Georgie scolded. “We would all do more than this if we could.”
Edith barely managed to nod, feeling grateful and humbled to have such friends. “Is there anything else I should know about Merrifield before we go?” she asked, forcing a smile.
Grace gave a rather devious grin. “Just one thing. Sir Reginald is not invited, and he is not to come within fifty miles of the house. You can be worry-free, Edith. No need for heroes at Merrifield.”
The thought of three weeks without Sir Reginald nearby sounded like the very image of heaven.