ever. I trust you ’ ve had a pleasant journey? ” Derek supposed that his expression, whatever it was, spoke volumes. Cummings ’ s quick eye ran over him and, before he had a chance to reply, the butler ’ s smile widened with sympathy. “A h, well — you needn ’ t answer that. It ’ s over and done with, at any rate! Might I bring you a little something in the library, sir? Or would you rather I show you to your room? ”
“M y room, please. I think a wash would do me as much good as a glass of brandy. ”
“Y ou shall have both, ” Cummings promised, leading the way. “W e ’ ve put you in the blue room, sir. I hope it meets with your approval. It ’ s not as large as the suite you had when last you visited, but we ’ ve put the Ellsworths in those rooms, so it can ’ t be helped. ”
“A nything will do, Cummings. I consider myself one of the family, you know. ”
“I ndeed, sir, that you are, ” said Cummings warmly. “A nd if I may say so, sir, Lady Malcolm will be overjoyed to learn of your safe arrival. Have I your leave to take word to her directly? ”
“T he sooner the better. How is she, Cummings? ”
The butler must have sensed Derek ’ s anxiety. He shot him a look that was almost fatherly. “P erfectly stout, I assure you, sir. Nothing to worry about. But, if I may speak frankly — ? Thank you, sir. ” His voice dropped to a confidential whisper. “I believe she ’ s feeling a bit low, Mr. Whittaker. It ’ s rather a burden, you know, being surrounded by the family, and everyone so anxious for a boy. ”
“A ye, it would be, ” agreed Derek.
“H ere we are, sir. The blue room. ”
“T hanks very much. I say, Cummings. ”
“Y es, sir? ”
“D o I know the Ellsworths? ”
Cummings looked mildly surprised. “D o you not, Mr. Whittaker? Dear me. I should have explained. They are very old friends of the family, sir. Sir Peter Ellsworth is the holder of a large estate in Derbyshire. He and Lady Ellsworth generally visit with us for a few weeks, this time of year. And a friend of Lady Hannah ’ s, Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam, is stopping here as well, with her mother, Lady Ballymere. ”
“A nd that is all? ”
“Y es, sir. Lord Grafton and his family, Lord Malcolm and his family, the Ellsworths, Lady Ballymere and her daughter, and yourself. A small party. With Lady Malcolm in a delicate condition, it was thought best that we refrain from entertaining on a grand scale this year. ”
“I see. Thank you. ” Derek was about to dismiss the butler, but paused. What had Cummings said about the Ellsworths? A large estate in Derbyshire. And doubtless known to make an extended stay with the Chase family this time of year. Had he stumbled on the reason for Cynthia materializing at Oldham Park?
He looked back at Cummings. “T ell me, Cummings. Do the Ellsworths have a son with them, by any chance? ”
The butler looked even more surprised. “Y es, sir. They do indeed. Their son John, a most amiable young man. ”
“T heir eldest son, no doubt? ”
“T heir only child, sir. How did you know? ”
Derek gave a bark of mirthless laughter. “J ust a lucky guess, Cummings. Just a lucky guess. ”
Chapter 4
By the time Cynthia reached her bedchamber, reaction had set in. Her hands were shaking. Her lower lip was quivering. It was only through an effort of will that she prevented tears from welling in her eyes. The shock of seeing Derek again had been greater than she had anticipated. And his contempt for her had been intense, deeper even than she had feared it would be.
It now seemed laughable that she had doubted he would remember her. Of course he remembered her. She had been a fool, telling herself how unlikely it was that he would. She had deluded herself into believing that things were different for men, that the encounter that had changed her forever had probably meant nothing to him. But it had meant something to him. Cynthia had humiliated him, and a
“M y room, please. I think a wash would do me as much good as a glass of brandy. ”
“Y ou shall have both, ” Cummings promised, leading the way. “W e ’ ve put you in the blue room, sir. I hope it meets with your approval. It ’ s not as large as the suite you had when last you visited, but we ’ ve put the Ellsworths in those rooms, so it can ’ t be helped. ”
“A nything will do, Cummings. I consider myself one of the family, you know. ”
“I ndeed, sir, that you are, ” said Cummings warmly. “A nd if I may say so, sir, Lady Malcolm will be overjoyed to learn of your safe arrival. Have I your leave to take word to her directly? ”
“T he sooner the better. How is she, Cummings? ”
The butler must have sensed Derek ’ s anxiety. He shot him a look that was almost fatherly. “P erfectly stout, I assure you, sir. Nothing to worry about. But, if I may speak frankly — ? Thank you, sir. ” His voice dropped to a confidential whisper. “I believe she ’ s feeling a bit low, Mr. Whittaker. It ’ s rather a burden, you know, being surrounded by the family, and everyone so anxious for a boy. ”
“A ye, it would be, ” agreed Derek.
“H ere we are, sir. The blue room. ”
“T hanks very much. I say, Cummings. ”
“Y es, sir? ”
“D o I know the Ellsworths? ”
Cummings looked mildly surprised. “D o you not, Mr. Whittaker? Dear me. I should have explained. They are very old friends of the family, sir. Sir Peter Ellsworth is the holder of a large estate in Derbyshire. He and Lady Ellsworth generally visit with us for a few weeks, this time of year. And a friend of Lady Hannah ’ s, Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam, is stopping here as well, with her mother, Lady Ballymere. ”
“A nd that is all? ”
“Y es, sir. Lord Grafton and his family, Lord Malcolm and his family, the Ellsworths, Lady Ballymere and her daughter, and yourself. A small party. With Lady Malcolm in a delicate condition, it was thought best that we refrain from entertaining on a grand scale this year. ”
“I see. Thank you. ” Derek was about to dismiss the butler, but paused. What had Cummings said about the Ellsworths? A large estate in Derbyshire. And doubtless known to make an extended stay with the Chase family this time of year. Had he stumbled on the reason for Cynthia materializing at Oldham Park?
He looked back at Cummings. “T ell me, Cummings. Do the Ellsworths have a son with them, by any chance? ”
The butler looked even more surprised. “Y es, sir. They do indeed. Their son John, a most amiable young man. ”
“T heir eldest son, no doubt? ”
“T heir only child, sir. How did you know? ”
Derek gave a bark of mirthless laughter. “J ust a lucky guess, Cummings. Just a lucky guess. ”
Chapter 4
By the time Cynthia reached her bedchamber, reaction had set in. Her hands were shaking. Her lower lip was quivering. It was only through an effort of will that she prevented tears from welling in her eyes. The shock of seeing Derek again had been greater than she had anticipated. And his contempt for her had been intense, deeper even than she had feared it would be.
It now seemed laughable that she had doubted he would remember her. Of course he remembered her. She had been a fool, telling herself how unlikely it was that he would. She had deluded herself into believing that things were different for men, that the encounter that had changed her forever had probably meant nothing to him. But it had meant something to him. Cynthia had humiliated him, and a
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