Page 51 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

The table fell silent, all regarding Ashford a little warily. Over on the grass, Hesse was adjusting Lady Morton’s hands on her racquet and her tinkling laugh made Lady Hesse’s eye twitch.

‘Lady Phoebe,’ Dacre said after a brief pause, ‘what will happen to Hawkscroft while you are in Mauritius? Will you shut it up?’

‘There is still so much to discuss,’ Lady Phoebe said, throwing Sir Waldo a quick glance. ‘It might be that I remain here, to look after the estate.’

Sir Waldo hooted.

‘Look after the estate?’ he repeated. ‘You would run us into bankruptcy within the month, my dear, you have no head for business.’

‘I settle all my own bills,’ Lady Phoebe protested.

‘Oh yes, hats and dresses,’ Sir Waldo said, with an exaggerated nod. ‘Exactly the same.’

Lady Phoebe gave him a swat on the arm. ‘I could learn. There are books on such things.’

‘Are there?’ Miss Hesse asked, wide-eyed.

‘Yes,’ Lydia said, before she could stop herself, for she could recollect her grandmother trying to locate such dry tomes at the library.

‘See!’ Lady Phoebe said triumphantly. She turned to Lydia. ‘Are they good?’

Perhaps Lydia could turn this to her account. ‘I do not know,’ she said airily. ‘But then, I cannot read.’

‘Well, that’s not true,’ Ashford said.

‘Yes, it is,’ Lydia said.

‘You can read.’

His cheeks were colouring in frustration.

‘I think I would know.’

‘I have seen you write.’

‘I can write; I cannot read.’

‘They are the same thing.’

‘No, they are not.’

‘Stop lying!’ Ashford snapped, leaning forward to jab a finger at her.

There was a shocked silence, and Lydia willed her lip to tremble.

‘Ashford,’ Sir Waldo reproached, ‘there is no need to shout.’

Blinking, Ashford looked around. Everyone was staring – at him, not at Lydia. Their shock at Ashford – perfect, controlled Ashford – behaving in such a way was writ clear upon their faces.

‘Not everyone enjoys the same access to education,’ Lady Hesse said softly, faint disapproval colouring her voice. She might toad-eat Ashford for her daughter’s sake, but even he was not immune to the rules of polite behaviour.

Lydia cast her head down in apparent mortification, and Miss Hesse laid a comforting hand on her arm.

‘I – apologize,’ Ashford said. ‘I – I don’t know what came over me …’

‘Perhaps you are coming down with something?’ Lady Phoebe suggested.

‘You are looking a little flushed,’ Mr Brandon said.