The ripening, toast-colored wheat fields—cornflowers poking their sapphire heads above the weeds surrounding each field—shimmered in the intense, late-morning heat. A flock of restless ravens played havoc in the trees surrounding the country church where the Viscount’s memorial service was being held. A foot organ squeezed out a plaintive hymn, supporting the voices of the congregation that drifted from the open windows. The horses, harnessed to the buggies and carriages, were hot and fidgeting. The coachmen and drivers tried to cool their charges by making certain they were under the cover of shade trees, and occasionally poured water over their necks and backs.

It was, perhaps, the hottest day of the summer so far. This made it difficult for the mourners, sitting in the cloistered church and dressed in black, to tolerate the service for very long. The lady’s fans were working at full speed and the gentlemen were mopping their brows with already soaked handkerchiefs. The vicar, sensing their restlessness, skipped several hymns, cut short his homily, and both Anna and Dorothy rushed their father’s eulogies after Lord Hargrove, of the East India Company, spoke at great length about the Viscount’s many virtues.

“Do you think we have enough ice in the icehouse to accommodate all the cooling drinks our guests will be asking for?” Dorothy asked as she and Anna left the church, followed by their guests.

“I certainly hope so. I did not expect it to be this hot. How are you holding up, dear Dorothy? You must be sweltering.”

Dorothy gave her a severe look. “It is this horrid black dress. From now on I shall instruct all my friends and relations to die in the winter.”

Anna laughed. “But then all the roads will be blocked by snow.”

“Then spring or fall. There must be a law passed.”

The sisters were quite unseemly in their laughter, but they cared not. They were giddy from the heat and the emotion of saying goodbye to their father.

The sisters’ carriage led the way back to the Hall. Normally, the guests might have lingered at the church to discuss and remember the departed amongst themselves. However, they were too hot and all longed for refreshment and the coolness of the vast confines of Repington Hall.

Anna and Dorothy made it back before the others by only a few minutes and rushed to the room where the reception was to be held to be ready to welcome the guests and receive their condolences.

Both Anna and Dorothy had their fans and used them liberally when not speaking to one of the arriving guests.

The reception line was long, tedious, and grueling. However, Harry and Maria arrived with their mother and, after settling her in, Harry and Maria came over to the sisters and he offered, “Might I get you some cool refreshment?”

Both Anna and Dorothy looked at him gratefully and they replied, “Oh, yes, please. You are so kind.”

Harry left to get them punch and Maria remained behind to offer moral support to the sisters as they welcomed the rest of the guests.

Finally, the line cleared, and Dorothy said, “I must go to my room for a moment. My dress is drenched, and I need to take it off, fan myself, and put something else on.”

Anna gave her a cautioning look. “But it must be black.” Dorothy scowled. “Or at least, very dark,” Anna relented. “And wear that light-weight, black summer shawl.”

Dorothy looked to see if anyone was looking— and seeing that they were not— stuck out her tongue at her sister and then departed.

Anna surveyed the room now that her duties were done. Her first thought was to check in with Warrick to see if all was in hand, but she saw Percy and his father in conversation at the far side of the room by an open window where a light breeze was rustling the filmy curtains. And seeing her look at them, Percy broke from his father and came over to her.

“Miss Anna, what a lovely service. But what a pity it was so hot. I hope it did not ruin the memorial for you?”

It was strange seeing Percy again. After her conversation with Harry and Maria, and after Harry’s later visit, Percy looked totally different to her now. But she dismissed the idea and replied, “I could have wished for cooler weather for my guests, but I was satisfied with the service otherwise.”

“It must be a relief to have the service over. Now you can move forward with your life,” he said, briefly placing his hand on her arm.

“Dorothy and I are to leave shortly to visit her fiancé and his family in Dorset. We shall be gone for a while and that should provide us a welcome relief from the rigors of preparing for the memorial service and reception. Hopefully it will also lessen our grief, as we begin to look forward to Dorothy’s eventual wedding.”

Percy smiled at the mention of a wedding. “Yes, life must certainly go on. And for you as well as your sister, I trust.”

“I have plans.”

“And what might they be, if you do not mind me asking?”

“First, I must consolidate the estate now that I am to manage it. Then, I should like to make improvements. I have ideas for new structures on the property that I have wanted to build for some time. And now that father is gone I can turn my attention to them without his disapprobation.”

“That must be exciting for you, but I hope you will also allow yourself some personal recreation. I should very much like to spend time with you when you return. Perhaps a picnic, a carriage ride, or a trip into Marlborough for shopping?”

This might not be the proper time, but Anna could not help herself. “Percy, I have something I need to ask you.”

“Of course,” he said linking his arm with hers and leading her to a more private corner of the room where he gestured for her to sit.

Anna found this difficult but was determined to speak her piece. “Percy, Maria and Harry have told me about your situation.”

“I beg your pardon. What situation are you referring to?” he asked a little nervously.

“First, your father’s financial situation, and secondly, his insistence that you marry for money as soon as possible.” This silenced him, and he was speechless. “And I find it strange that after ignoring me and my openness to you for so long, now, you have suddenly found me attractive and interesting—but only after my father’s death and the fact that I am to inherit his estate with my sister. I cannot help but think that you are interested in me only for my inheritance.”

Percy was very obviously flustered. “Harry and Maria told you that?”

“They did. What do you have to say to those accusations? Is any of this true?” she asked.

“Well… I… I… am stunned by these groundless accusations. Of course, they are not true.” He paused. “There is some truth to my father’s financial difficulties, but he has not, and never would, suggest such an absurd remedy to his troubles. It pains me deeply that they should say such a thing and that you would believe it.”

“I did not say I believed it, Percy. But I wanted to ask you and have you tell me directly that they were false.”

“I can only imagine that Harry would tell you such a thing because I know he has deep feelings for you and would like to thwart me in my deep and profound quest to woo you myself.”

Anna’s heart jumped—much to her surprise—at this information.

“You say Harry has feelings for me?”

“Yes, he has professed his love for you several times.”

“I am certain he only meant the love we share as friends.”

“I think not. I am certain it is romance he has in mind.”

“I see,” Anna said softly.

“But his is a false love.”

“How so?”

“Because he is lonely, but also lazy. He does not want to take the time to properly look for a suitable bride. I believe he prefers to go after an easy target. He knows you already—cares for you—and thinks it is the perfect solution for his need to find a wife.”

“You really believe that?”

“I do, Miss Anna. And let me assure you that the feelings I have for you are true, sincere, and lasting.”

“I appreciate your candor and point of view. Thank you.”

Percy reached over and took her hand. “No, thank you. I am so happy I was able to clear this up for you. And I look forward, when you return from your visit, to renewing our acquaintance and hope that you will consider my suit.”

“I will consider it.”

Percy stood and took both of her hands in his. “Thank you, thank you. You have made me such a happy man.”

And with that he withdrew and returned to his father.

Anna was once again in great turmoil. She did not know what to believe. Percy was persuasive, but so was Harry. And the revelation that Harry had expressed to Percy, not only of his fondness for her, but also his love, set her heart fluttering once again.

But she was rescued from her thoughts by the return of Dorothy to the reception.

“Oh, I feel ever so much better,” Dorothy said, flopping down in the chair Percy had just abandoned. “I washed up a little and it was very refreshing. Would you like to escape for a few moments? I would be happy to relieve you for a while if you like.”

“Yes, I should like that very much.” Anna stood and left the room—agitated more by this latest news than the heat.

After Percy returned to his father, he was apprehensive. He believed he had handled the situation well with Anna, but he was shaken that Harry and Maria had revealed to her what they had.

“Well?” his father asked, taking hold of his arm.

Percy nodded, but he was angry and spoke injudiciously. “My, so-called friend, Harry, told Anna about your insistence I court Anna because of your financial troubles.”

“What!” Arnold exploded. Several nearby guests looked over at them with disapproval.

Percy tried to calm his father. “But I believe I handled it.”

“Tell me exactly what she said,” his father insisted.

Percy related the conversation—perhaps altering a few of the details to put him in a better light.

“Damn the man. I swear… So, you think you still have a chance with her?”

“Oh, yes. Most certainly. She and her sister are to go away for a while but, once she returns, I am ready to reengage.”

“How long will they be gone?”

“I have no idea. She did not say it was for a set amount of time.”

“Damnation. Time lost. But I guess there is nothing to be done.” Then he got another idea. “As soon as she leaves, I want you to go to London. Begin scouting for brides there. We are short on time and you need to pursue every avenue available.”

“Father…” Percy did not like the sound of that one bit.

“You will do as I say.”

Arnold scanned the room and found Harry talking with some of the other guests. He glowered. “I am not going to let the damn Earl of Creassey get away with what he has done to you.”

“Father, let it be. I have handled it.”

“No. I do not let such slights go by unpunished. There will be retribution.”

“What? What are you going to do?”

“I do not know yet, but it will give him a great deal of pain.”

“Father, he is my friend. I know he only told her because he is in love with her too. You cannot blame a fellow for that.”

“I can, and I will.”

Aunt Agatha and Chilton were anticipating their return to London. The rest of the family was off for the afternoon at the memorial service and, as hot as it was, Agatha and Chilton did as little as possible, ringing the bell frequently for another round of refreshing iced teas.

“Are you packed?” Agatha asked.

“I packed this morning while it was still relatively cool,” Chilton responded. “I knew it was going to be scorching today.”

“And how did you know that?” Agatha asked, fanning herself with her handkerchief, being too hot and too lazy to fetch her fan.

“I could tell by the clouds and the birds.”

“That is ridiculous.”

“But I was right was I not?”

“Well, you can say that after the fact, but there is no way to verify that unless you told me of your prediction before.”

“Humph. Well, I did, but you were not listening to me. We were on the balcony and a flock of birds dipped and swooped and that, coupled with the color of clouds, I just knew… I said, ‘It is going to be a hot one tomorrow.’”

“Such nonsense. You never told me that.”

“I most certainly did. But you mostly ignore anything I say because you always know it all.”

She sighed and took another swig of tea and held the cold glass to her forehead. “Well, I still need to pack. But I have no energy.” She closed her eyes then said, “I expect the London house will be all closed up and hot as an empty biscuit tin.”

“Well, I am not helping.”

“With what?”

“Your packing. If you pay no attention to me when I give you valuable information, then I cannot help it.”

“Let it go, Chilton. You are just being foolish now.”