Lady Louisa sat down at the table with the Duke at the head on her left, his uncle on her right, and Lady Hendrickson across from her on the Duke's left. She could tell that Miss Elisabeth was rather irritated that Lady Louisa was on the Duke’s other side instead of her. It was custom, however, to seat oneself by rank, and so Miss Elisabeth was placed beside her mother with her sister on the other side.
On Lady Louisa’s left was Mr. Vaughan, and next to him was the Colonel. Lady Louisa was satisfied with the fact that the Colonel sat across from Mary so that they could continue their somewhat intimate conversation that had begun during the card game earlier.
She was quite apprehensive, however, to be so close to the Duke. After their last meeting they had agreed that neither had more to say to the other. What could she possibly do now, seated next to him? It would be rude not to at least make light conversation.
“You must have my Elisabeth play for you after the meal, Your Grace,” Lady Hendrickson said during the third course. “She is very practiced, and you will find her music and voice beautiful.”
“That would be a wonderful delight,” the Duke said as he looked down the table at the expectant Miss Elisabeth.
Satisfied with his answer, she whispered something over to her sister.
“Do you also play, Lady Louisa?” the Duke asked, hoping to include her in some conversation. She had been very quiet for the whole meal, having only exchanged a few polite words with Mr. Vaughan.
Up until this point, most of the talking had occurred between the Duke, Lady Hendrickson, and Mr. Vaughan.
Lady Louisa looked over at the Duke, shocked that he’d posed her a question.
“I do, Your Grace,” she finally said, glancing at her aunt before looking back down in embarrassment. “But I fear not as well as my cousin. She far surpasses my abilities.”
“None the less, perhaps we will make a concert of the night?” he suggested.
It was clear that Lady Louisa was being intimidated by her aunt to stay far out of the picture for the evening. He thought it a rather silly thing. Of course, Lady Hendrickson wanted her eldest daughter to be the center of attention for him, but that was no cause for him to ignore his other guest.
“What a wonderful idea,” Lady Hendrickson said. “Mary shall sing for us as well then. She doesn’t have her sister’s skills on the instrument, but she has a rather agreeable voice to hear.”
It was clear that Lady Hendrickson was keen on keeping the focus on her own daughters at all costs. Of course, her eldest was preferable to her cause, but she would choose either over Lady Louisa.
“I am not terribly skilled, but I can pluck a few keys,” Colonel Jasper announced a bit bashfully. “Perhaps I might accompany you, Miss Mary?”
“I would like that very much,” Miss Mary said with a rosiness to her pale skin.
Lady Louisa smiled too, clearly seeing the intent between the two. Her eyes flashed to the Duke, and she was surprised to see him just as satisfied with their interaction. They had a brief moment of silent civility as they both shared the knowledge in Jasper’s and Miss Mary’s secret feelings for each other.
“May I ask, Lady Louisa, if it is not music that you find yourself drawn to, what talents do you enjoy practicing instead? Perhaps taking long walks? After all, I have caught you doing so twice now,” he added with a playful tease.
Lady Louisa saw her aunt’s eyes fall on her in frustration. She didn’t like the fact that the Duke had apparently met her twice and not just once on the road as Lady Hendrickson had previously thought.
“I can’t say that I had enjoyed the exercise extensively before coming here, Your Grace. But the fresh air of the country has been so invigorating; it is so much different than London.”
“Had you spent most of your time in London then and never returned to your father’s county seat? My understanding is that it is not far off from this county.”
“No, it is not far,” Lady Louisa confirmed. “But my mother enjoyed town so much, we rarely left it. I have been to the Duke of Wintercrest’s estate on a few occasions to visit with a very good friend of mine, but outside of that, I rarely left London.”
“And you didn’t find that part of the country very enjoyable?” he continued conversationally.
“Well, it wasn’t that it was miserable. The weather didn’t afford leaving the house much when I was there. I may have just arrived during bad parts of the season, though.”
“So now you are finding the area here most exhilarating,” Rowland assumed. “And have you been to visit your brother at all, since he would be so close? Or did he also choose to stay in town as your parents have?”
“He is actually in the Colonies right now, or I suppose what used to be the Colonies, with his new wife.”
“Really,” the Duke said, his eyes sparkling with interest. “I have yet to see that land. Pray tell, what does your brother think of it?”
“He is very much of the adventurous mentality, much like yourself, Your Grace. He and his wife went to oversee some property my father had acquired there before his death. In the course of the trip, Abigail had a boy, and so they are choosing to stay until he is strong enough for the voyage.”
“His wife went with him?” the Duke said with surprise.
“I know it might have been a little unorthodox, but they were newlywed at the time and quite unwilling to separate. Moreover, Abigail is just as stubborn as my brother. I believe if Colton had tried to leave without her, she would have found a way to board the ship anyway,” Lady Louisa added with a fond smile.
“You seem to have great affection for Lord Gilchrist. You two must have been very close growing up,” Rowland said with a bit of longing for the companionship of a sibling in his younger years.
“Yes, we were always very close. Colton was sort of a protector of mine growing up. I couldn’t be happier for him of course, and I do love Abigail dearly as well. It is hard to see one marry and separate themselves from their family to create one of their own.”
Lady Louisa was overcome with sadness at that moment as she thought about her brother and how long it had been since she received a letter from him. She knew that change was always inevitable in life, but still, it didn’t make the process any less painful.
“Well, you have yet to expose your great talent. For you must have one as all ladies seem to,” Rowland said, sensing her sadness at the thought of her brother and wanting to distract her.
“Perhaps I am one of the few that has no great talent, as one has yet to come to mind,” Lady Louisa said modestly.
“Certainly, it is your seamstress ability,” Miss Elisabeth joined in.
She spoke with admiration for Lady Louisa, but Lady Louisa knew that there was no sincerity behind it.
“For truly, since she has been here, she has done wonders with clothing repairs and embellishments. She is quite diligent at her work as well. One could say she was just as hard-working as one of our maids.”
There was the slight that Lady Louisa knew would come. Miss Elisabeth announced that her skills in life were that of a servant and nothing more.
“I could see how such skills could be a very useful talent,” Rowland countered, feeling a sudden strong need to protect the lady.
“I only mean to be useful when I can. I don’t believe I am any better than most ladies.”
“Oh, do speak of the garden that you and Miss Mary have been working on so well these past weeks,” Colonel Jasper chimed in. “Miss Mary informed me earlier that you both have been out there every day tending to its needs.”
“I feel that I have learned more from Miss Mary, in that respect, as it is a new skill to me,” Lady Louisa countered. “I have found great interest in reading books on medicinal plants, and Miss Mary has shown me the way to put that reading to practice.”
“And what plans do you have for your medicinal garden then?” the Duke asked both Lady Louisa and Miss Mary, “when all your hard work comes to fruition, of course.”
The two ladies looked at each other, neither having actually thought about that.
“I am afraid we are not entirely sure, Your Grace, as I suspect this is new territory for the both of us,” Miss Mary replied.
“Well, then I must introduce you to Mrs. Vance. She is my cook, and I know is very knowledgeable about such things.”
“Oh, I know of Mrs. Vance, though I have never met her myself,” Miss Mary continued. “Bess has spoken of her on occasion to me. She must have been a midwife of sorts in the village before coming into your employment, Your Grace.”
“Yes,” Rowland concurred. “She is such a wonderful lady and has often told me that she struggles to keep up with those she helps now that she is so far away and busy here.”
“I am sure we both,” Lady Louisa said, looking at Miss Mary, “would be happy to assist her and her patients in any way we could.”
“I know Mrs. Vance would greatly appreciate that, and I am rather indebted to her, so any way to lighten her labor, I am encouraged to try.”
“Indebted how, Your Grace?” Miss Hendrickson inquired, not liking that she had had no input in the conversation for some time.
“Well, I had trouble acclimating to the country when I first arrived, and hadn’t been feeling very well. She seemed to know all the right medicines necessary to get me back on my feet. That is how I learned of her unique skill set in the first place.”
“I find it is such an admirable career for a working woman, Your Grace,” Miss Hendrickson continued. “How providential you had her here in your house when needed.”
“Surely it is important knowledge for any and all,” Miss Mary interjected. “For we will all take ill sometimes or know someone who will be in need of such aid. I dare say it is a life skill all should learn.”
Miss Hendrickson shot a sideways dagger at her sister for the contradiction. It was a momentary lapse on her part, and Miss Mary quickly corrected it by abandoning the conversation.
Lady Louisa seethed that her young cousin who had so much in her and plenty to say, was always being intimidated by her mother and sister to stay within the boundaries they insisted ought to be preserved.
It was also clear to Rowland that the train of conversation had displeased Lady Hendrickson and her eldest daughter. Most likely because it was not in praise of Miss Hendrickson herself. He reminded himself that he was here to begin relations with the miss and that this should be his sole focus.
“Miss Hendrickson, please do tell me what songs you had in mind to play for us tonight?” he said to return the conversation back to a dull topic where no real discussion could be made, or honest opinions may surface.