Page 19 of A Perfect Engagement
“So tell me about your estate. This estate which keeps you too busy to socialize with your neighbors.”
“The house was my mother’s. My father bought it for her because of the lavender fields. She loved lavender. She created beautiful gardens at Brooksdale. It was their favorite place to get away from the city.”
“Lavender? How beautiful. I’ve seen the lavender fields near Cambridge but not any nearby.”
“Our mother died when we were ten years old, and my father never returned to Brooksdale after her death. Too many memories, perhaps. The fields around the house have been fallow for more than fifteen years. The tenants kept up the rest of the estate, growing mostly wheat and barley. The estate was left to me when my father passed away two years ago. It was one of the few parcels not entailed.”
“Will you plant lavender again?”
“Yes, I will try this spring. I also have converted some of the lands to pasture for sheep. Diversification is the key these days to keeping farms profitable.”
“Perhaps Hawksridge and I will come to visit you in summer when the fields are in bloom.” Again the worry line appeared between her eyebrows. “Where is Hawksridge’s country seat?”
“In Derbyshire. Millsbury House is a grand old place. You’ll love it. My parents spent years renovating the old castle. It’s quite modern on the inside but still has the charm and the hidden passageways which come with a house several hundred years old.”
Back in their childhood, he and Miles had spent so much time exploring the back passageways in the home. Charlotte appeared less than impressed by his description.
“Are there any ghosts?”
“A few,” he teased. “None that are malevolent. Just a bit of rattling around in the old tower. But it didn’t stop Miles and me from trying to scare each other silly inventing stories about creatures of the night roaming the corridors.”
She shuddered but then leaned forward with a delighted expression. “My mother says I have too much imagination. I do love a good scary story. I think there is something terribly romantic about coming back to haunt someone.”
“Romantic? What if you’ve come back to haunt the person who murdered you?”
She scrunched up her nose. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. I guess I prefer to think of ghosts as victims of love lost too soon, like the ones who haunt the folly.”
“You have ghosts here also?”
“Yes, I told you the story of how my great-grandfather built the folly for his true love. The two of them were killed in a carriage accident. It was storming as they traveled home from a neighbor’s house, and the carriage turned over when the driver careened into the ditch. Anyway, people say they see two ghostly figures on the bridge, embracing each other, as the sun sets on long summer nights.”
Daniel chuckled at her wistful expression. “I can clearly see you are a romantic.” Then he frowned. “Why did you agree to a marriage arranged by your family?”
Charlotte glanced down into her mug. She shrugged. “I guess I have hope your brother and I will grow to love each other. Don’t you think that’s possible?”
Her eyes, full of questions, lifted back to his. He thought about Miles’s pragmatic approach to his future. His brother currently saw taking a wife like he would view acquiring any new asset. But it didn’t mean Charlotte couldn’t win his heart.
“I don’t know how he can resist,” Daniel said with absolute truth.
Chapter Nine
Care to observe some Nymphaeaceae up close and personal? ~Charlotte
Charlotte bit herbottom lip as guests meandered down the grassy slope toward the lake. Where was he? Hadn’t he figured out her note? Even if he hadn’t, someone would surely have told him today’s activity was boating.
“Don’t worry, he will be here soon,” Susanna said at her elbow. “Can we talk about what we’re going to do about Miss Thornton’s vile prank? I vote for locking her in a broom closet. Perhaps no one will miss her.”
Charlotte laughed. “As much merit as the idea has, I have decided to ignore it. This is my party, and I won’t let her nastiness ruin it.”
“I guess, but I still like my idea better.” Susanna shrugged. “I spoke with Sophia Kingsley after breakfast this morning. She was planning to head into the village today, so I explained all about our exciting find last week. I suggested she go to the bookshop and search for more letters. She was very intrigued and agreed immediately. I think she was relieved to have a real task to help her make her excuses.”
Charlotte glanced up at the house again. She still had serious doubts this whole plan was going to work. Each day Daniel stayed and played the role of his brother was another day he could flub and be found out. This deception made her very uncomfortable. It was against her nature to break the rules and to lie to her friends. She turned to Susanna, the truth about the whole mess on the tip of her tongue. But before she could open her mouth, her friend leaned in and gave her a swift hug.
“He’ll be here any minute. I’ll go guard a boat for us before they are all taken.” Susanna walked down to the shore to make sure their boat wasn’t snatched up by another couple. Charlotte couldn’t believe so many guests would want to go out on the lake. There were only four rowboats. Perhaps they should have borrowed a couple more from the neighbors.
She held a hand up to shade her eyes from the sun as she looked up toward the house again. Her heart leaped into her throat as she spotted Daniel’s tall frame and messy blond hair. He crossed the stone veranda and strode toward her. She gave a little wave, then gave the bonnet she wore a tug to make sure it was on straight. She ran her hands down the light green organza of her dress, to make sure the fabric lay smooth against her hips.
Why did she feel so nervous about seeing him this morning? Perhaps it was guilt. Last night as they talked, Charlotte had almost forgotten Daniel wasn’t her actual fiancé. He was so easy to talk with, and they had so much in common. But surely she would get along with Hawksridge just as well. Every time Daniel was near this fluttery reaction arose in response to his good looks. But her attraction to Hawksridge would be the same. After all, they were identical in appearance.
