It was late Friday afternoon with just a few hours to go before Harry would take the carriage to visit Miss Fitzwalker for supper. However, as lovely as she was, he was also apprehensive, for her letter hinted that she might be open to more than just a thank you for caring for her after her, supposedly sprained ankle.

His valet was offering him a choice of cravats, but Harry was not paying attention. His mind was still on his conversation with Percy and the revelation that Percy was now actively pursuing his beloved Anna. Why was Anna always on his mind? He knew she had feelings for Percy. Why could he not rejoice that she might find happiness with him?

Firstly, because he knew that Percy really preferred his sister and secondly, because, as hard as he tried, he could not squelch his deep and abiding feelings for her.

“The blue one, Your Lordship?” the valet asked, trying to elicit a decision.

“Oh, yes, that will do fine,” Harry replied.

“But the green one might be better suited,” he said, reexamining the several cravats in his hand.

“Oh, Littleton, I do not care. Either damn one,” he said testily.

“Then the green one, Milord.”

“As you wish. Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”

“No apology necessary.”

After he was done dressing, Harry left his rooms and went to his study. He would not be having supper with his family so did not join them for the customary sherry before they would be called to the dining room.

As he was surveying his desk, his eye was caught by Anna’s drawings. He picked several up and studied them. It was excellent work. She was a fine draftsman and it gave him the idea of going over to visit her with the excuse of discussing the well house. He knew it was not the appropriate time to do that, but he would feign excitement over her work and plead the excuse of not wanting to wait until after the memorial service. He was certain she would forgive him as the project meant so much to her.

However, what was really troubling him was his altercation with Percy over Anna. As much as he knew that Anna cared for Percy, he could not help but be troubled by Percy’s character—his deception of caring for Anna when he really loved Maria, troubled Harry greatly. He was tempted to ride over immediately and tell her all about Percy’s true intentions, but there was no time. He needed to leave for his dinner engagement in less than an hour.

Harry arrived at the Fitzwalker estate just a few minutes late. The gardener had put together a bouquet for him to take to Miss Nora.

“Ah, Lord Creassey, welcome. So happy you agreed to attend my little supper,” Miss Nora said as Harry was shown into her sitting room.

“Most gracious of you to invite me,” he said and handed her the bouquet.

“Oh, how lovely and thoughtful. Thank you.” She handed the flowers to the butler. “Come,” she said. She picked up a glass and handed it to him. “I thought a little champagne before dinner would be refreshing. And the view of the sunset from the terrace is most pleasing.”

Harry followed her through the French doors onto the terrace and up against the balustrade where she sat her champagne glass and studied the view. He stood next to her, took a sip from his glass, and said, “I see you are no longer limping. I hope you have healed completely from your fall.”

She turned to him and smiled. “I have. Thanks to your expert help and kind care.”

He wagged his head. “It was but little effort on my part.”

They turned together and watched in silence as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky and the few clouds with deep reds, oranges, and purple and revealing the first bright points of starlight.

Miss Nora shivered and Harry suggested, “Shall we go back inside. It is remarkable how quickly the evening starts to cool once the sun has set.”

“Yes, a most excellent idea,” she said and led the way back to her chambers.

The butler was at hand to pour them another glass of champagne, and then stepped away.

It was obvious to Harry that this sitting room was a part of a group of rooms that made up Miss Nora’s personal chambers. He was puzzled why they were having drinks here instead of in one of the common, public rooms.

“Your Lordship…” she started, but then added, “Oh, that is so very formal. Might I call you Harry now? It seems so much friendlier, think you not?” She then reclined into a comfortable chair and gestured for him to sit as well. “And after all we have been through together, with my little plunge in the stream, it seems we can allow ourselves to be less formal now.”

“You may. I find that in the country many of us are less obsessed with the use of titles than in London.”

“And that is why I am so enamored of county living. I so enjoy my summers with my grandparents. It brings back memories of lazy, carefree days as a child—despite the inevitable bullying of my obnoxious brothers.” She giggled and held her glass out for the butler to top her off again.

They continued forward with innocuous talk of London life which Harry knew little about. She described the opera scene, expounded on the fashionable restaurants, and raved about her dearest friends who entertained weekly.

Presently she turned to the butler and said, “You may serve the dinner now.” Then she addressed Harry, “I have become quite famished. I believe there is a little nip in the air this evening—it seems to whet the appetite. Think you not?”

“Well, as for me, it is hard work with the cattle that makes me hungry. But then I seem to be hungry all the time. So, I am certainly ready to eat if you are, Miss Nora.”

“Ah, Harry, call me Nora, please?”

“Nora. I stand corrected.”

The butler wheeled in a table set for dinner and then returned with another cart with the dinner that was to be served.

“I hope you do not mind. I did not feel like a fancy, fussy sit-down dinner in the cavernous dining hall. This is so much more cozy and comfortable. Come. Let us sit.”

She stood and offered her hand to Harry. He arose and took it and she led him to the dinner table where they sat.

First, the butler topped off the champagne glasses again, and then he proceeded to serve a dinner of cold chicken in aspic with a mayonnaise sauce.

“That will be all, thank you,” Nora said, and the butler departed. “So much nicer to enjoy supper without all the fuss. I hope you like the chicken. It is one of my favorite dishes from home. I had the cook make it for me especially.”

Harry had to admit the dish was delicious, but he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. A supper served in a lady’s chambers when there were no other guests nor family present in the house seemed to be inappropriate. But at the same time, he did not want to offend this charming lady.

However, she sensed his discomfort and asked, “I hope you are enjoying yourself. I know you must be used to large festive dinners with friends and family around you every day.”

“Not at all,” he said, “I… well, my sister, mother, and I live quite simply. My aunt and her traveling companion are visiting at the moment, so we do have slightly more festive meals presently, but it is not usual.”

“But there certainly must be some tempting, young lady in your life. A handsome, titled gentleman such as yourself must be nearly on the edge of matrimony.”

Harry smiled. “Not so. I have been totally engrossed in developing and expanding my estate and have not given much thought to entertaining young ladies—however tempting.”

Nora gave a mock pout. “No one?”

Harry saw this as an opportunity and said, “Well, there is one young lady. She is a local lady whom I have known since childhood. Our families were close, but unfortunately, she just recently lost her father, so we are unable to contemplate an engagement until the time of mourning has passed.”

Nora did not like hearing this information one bit. “Oh, I did not realize. There was no one by your side at the dance. I just assumed you were unattached.”

“Well, technically I am. However, I must let you know, in case you have interests in my direction, that my affections are directed elsewhere.” He knew this was only half true, as Anna did not reciprocate his affections, but he had decided he did not want to become any further embroiled in Nora’s perceived seduction.

“Ah…” And Nora turned to her aspic chicken with renewed concentration.

The conversation relapsed into the mundane until the meal was nearly finished. At that point, and quite casually, Nora lowered her eyes and said in a raspy voice. “You must forgive me, Harry, but I must have had a touch too much champagne, for I feel the most nagging headache coming on. Would it be horribly impolite if I cut short our evening? I am so dreadfully sorry, I hope you understand.”

Harry understood all too well. “Of course. It has been a most charming evening. And should you wish to inspect the cattle again, I shall make certain there will be someone available to show you around.”

The next day Harry found Maria alone in her room going over the household accounts shortly before lunch. She looked up as he entered.

“Oh, Harry, good. I wanted to talk to you about Mother. Aunt Agatha would like to take her back to London to stay for a while and I was wondering what you thought about that? Do you think she is up to such a trip?”

“Have you asked Mother about that?”

Maria laughed. “How obvious. Of course, that is exactly what we need to do. I am so used to bossing everyone in the household around that I forgot we can just ask her what she wants to do.”

“I will be happy to go talk to her with you if you like.”

“I think I can handle that. But if you want…”

“I am certain you can take care of that alone. But I did want to talk to you about something important,” he said walking over to her desk and taking a chair opposite.

“And what would that be?”

This was going to be difficult for Harry, but he launched in. “It concerns Percy.”

“Oh? I have noticed he seems troubled lately. Is it about that?”

“Partially.” He outlined his encounter with the drunken Percy after his father’s beating.

“Harry, that is terrible! Was he badly hurt?”

“It created a nasty welt, but I think it was more about humiliation than pain.

“Why would his father assault Percy?

“It seems the Crauford estate is in great jeopardy. Apparently, the Duke must raise a great deal of money to save the family.”

“That is horrible. Poor Percy. He has said nothing to me about any of this. But then, I have not seen him very much recently. We have not visited in quite a few days.”

Harry was finding it difficult to get to the point as he knew it would hurt Maria. “But the crux of the matter is, the Duke, believing that Anna is about to inherit a great deal of money from her father, wants Percy to ask her to marry him.”

Maria did not react right away but hung her head and sat with her hands folded in her lap.

“But…” Maria tried to continue but could not.

“Percy stressed to me that he did not want to marry her. He insists it is you he has feelings for, but he feels obligated to try and save his family’s estate. And it was his resistance that forced his father to beat him.”

Maria looked at Harry with tears in her eyes and asked, “And do you think she will accept his proposal?”

“He has not proposed yet. She has just lost her father and there will be a period of mourning. Even he knows he cannot ask her right now.”

“But he might. Even if they cannot marry until after the mourning period he might ask her.”

“That I believe is his intention. His father is fiercely insistent that he propose as soon as possible.”

“You know I want what is best for him, Harry,” Maria said in a childlike voice.

“Oh, Maria, you cannot mean that.”

“But I do. I know that what I have to bring to a marriage is not sufficient. And if his family must marry money to survive, then they must. I can understand that.”

Harry was being torn apart inside. “You are a saint. I am not certain I could ever do that.”

“But you are a man. You can act. I can only hope and wait.”

“Yes, but I have feelings for Anna that I have never expressed. However, Anna has made it clear she has feelings for Percy and I have stood back not wishing to deny her preference.” Harry stood and began to pace. “But I fear for her happiness and, even though she says she loves Percy, I feel almost certainly it would be a huge mistake for them to marry.”

“Then what do you propose?”

“I want you to come with me to talk to Anna. I want her to know the truth behind whatever Percy may say to her to convince her to marry him. I cannot stand by. Together, you and I must open her eyes to the Duke’s plan.”

“But Anna is my friend,” Maria replied. “If she truly loves Percy, do you think it would matter to her that he needs the money. Would she not gladly let him have it out of love for him?”

“That is what we must determine. If she truly loves him and is not swayed by what we tell her, then I am prepared to step away and wish them joy with all my heart.”