Page 5

Cartwell Manor

A few miles south of Maidstone, Kent

Bloody hell.

The last thing Felix wanted to do was spend his time mingling with guests at the al fresco luncheon today. It was the event that officially opened the house party, and because it wasn’t raining, the meal would take place on the large stone terrace off the ballroom.

As he peered through one of the open sets of double doors in the ballroom, watching guests assemble on the terrace and find seats at the myriad of tables dressed with crisp white linen cloths, crystal, china, and silverware, he frowned.

So many chattering, laughing women. The moment he stepped out there, he would be immediately set upon and flirted with in the hopes that he might find one of them pleasing.

Gah. What a dismal prospect .

Was one of them the woman who’d spied on him last night as he bathed in the pond?

Said woman had witnessed him pleasuring himself and enjoying a self-inflicted release in the water.

That had been embarrassing enough, of course, but from the sound of her voice, she’d been surprised yet not shocked regarding the act.

Why was that?

And who the devil was she?

He couldn’t say why it bothered him so much that someone had spied on him during such a vulnerable moment, but perhaps he’d wanted to meet the woman who’d dared do it. Never had he met a woman who would do such a thing, and he had a bit of begrudging respect for her.

Movement in the distance caught his attention. Apparently, guests were encouraged to stroll through the back gardens as well as the hedge maze during the luncheon period. How difficult would it be to navigate the maze? Could he lose himself in it and hide from interested parties?

Before his thoughts could run away from him, Felicity and Helena joined him at the doors.

“There you are. We have been looking everywhere for you; I want to go out together.”

“What the devil for?” Then he glanced at his niece, who eyed him with amusement.

“My apologies for the language.” Flicking his gaze back to his sister, he blew out a breath.

“I don’t wish to go out there; I’m not hungry besides.

Instead, I’m thinking about playing billiards with some of the male guests. ”

“Absolutely not.” Felicity shook her head as she crossed her arms at her chest. “You can’t meet anyone if you’re hiding.”

He grunted. “I’m not hiding.”

Much.

“Then tell that to your scowl. In fact, you’re pouting.”

“I am not. I am brooding.”

She snorted. Even Helena smirked. “Brooding is for chickens. You are a premium eligible man within a whole henhouse of women wanting marriage. You’re coming with me and Helena.” Her tone brooked no argument.

Was it his age, his retirement, or his injury that made his sister want to push him into something he hadn’t asked for? Felix frowned all the harder. “Why are you making poultry analogies? It helps nothing, and there is no point to it.”

“I don’t know.” Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “Perhaps I’m nervous.”

“Ah.” It made no sense. Felicity was his opposite in every way.

Where he disdained and largely ignored society, she thrived in it.

“I still have free will, you know. I am not required to mingle; I am not party to the Come Out festivities and neither have I been introduced to the young miss in whose honor the party is being thrown. ”

“Small details.” Felicity waved away those things as they moved outside.

Immediately, the hum and buzz of conversation surrounded him, and he tightened his grip on the silver head of his cane.

It wasn’t his favorite cane, but it would do for this event.

While he sent his gaze around the immediate area, analyzing the various women he came upon, he couldn’t help but wonder if one of them was the spy from the pond.

Heat sneaked up the back of his neck. God, she’d watched him manipulate his prick.

How embarrassing. Then he shoved that emotion away.

It was her fault for spying. If she saw something she shouldn’t have, it wasn’t his business.

Besides, he didn’t know who she was, but he had found a brass telescope.

It was currently tucked away in his trunk.

If said woman came forward, she could have it back.

After she answered a few questions.

“Come along, Felix. I’ll introduce you to my friend. She’s the mother of the debutante.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I would rather not do the pretty with someone nearly twenty years my junior.”

“I’m not asking you to,” his sister said as Helena giggled.

“I’m just asking that you be polite, so everyone doesn’t think I’m related to an ogre who should be living under a bridge.

” She guided him over to the head table where the Viscount and Viscountess of Beckham held court.

Three other people sat at the table—a man probably in his early thirties, and two younger ladies, one of which was undoubtedly the daughter having her Come Out. “My lady, a word, please?”

“Ah, Mrs. Ingleside!” Lady Beckham came around the table to give his sister a brief hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

“As am I.” Felicity smiled. “Allow me to introduce you to my daughter Miss Helena Newsom, and my brother, Major Felix Kourier.” She gestured at them both. “Clearly, you can see which one of them came willingly.”

He frowned when the viscountess roved her gaze over him, assessing him as if he were a horse at Tattersalls. “Good afternoon, Lady Beckham. I hope Miss Ives finds success when the Season begins.” The youngest woman at the table preened. Clearly, she was the deb.

“Make certain you have the correct Miss Ives, Major,” the tart-mouthed young lady said with a wide grin that showed too many teeth. “I’m the one coming out. Caroline has been on shelf for years.”

“Ah.” Not caring overly much, he nodded and immediately dismissed them both.

“Thank you, Major.” The viscountess looked toward her husband, who stood. “If you will excuse me? Beckham wishes to make an introductory speech. ”

“Of course.” As surreptitiously as he could, Felix sent a glance over the three people at the table. Upon further inspection, he realized the other two were the debutante’s siblings. He stepped to one side, but didn’t leave the area altogether. His sister and Helena came with him.

“If I could have everyone’s attention?” Lord Beckham moved into a clear spot in the center of the tables. “Welcome to our house party, and when you have an opportunity, please congratulate my youngest daughter, Debra, on making her official Come Out later this year once the Season starts.”

Ah, he had a name for at least one of them. Since he didn’t have any use for the young lady, Felix flicked his gaze to the woman sitting next to her. Obviously, she was a sister, but from her expression, she was about as enthused about being at the event as he was.

Interesting, that. Weren’t all unattached women on the prowl?

Especially when at a house party where everyone was essentially trapped there with nowhere else to go?

When the sunlight winked off a golden oval-shaped locket, he frowned anew.

He’d seen a flash like that in the dying light of twilight last night as the spy ran away.

Could it have been that woman?

“Now, everyone enjoy luncheon. Afterward, there are several activities planned you can partake in, so let’s make use of the splendid weather!”

As polite applause followed the speech, luncheon got underway.

Felix tried to be congenial to the people Felicity introduced him to, but since it wasn’t his normal state, he soon gave it up, much to his sister’s chagrin and his niece’s amusement.

But because his sister was stubborn, she continued in the same vein while Helena went off to eat with a group of young people around her own age.

At current count, Felicity had made a point to make introductions for him from two women much too young for him and one widow who would have been interesting if she wasn’t quite so desperate for a fortune owned by a well-hung man, according to whispered gossip he’d overheard as he circulated.

Was nothing sacred anymore?

By the time the dessert course arrived, Felix was bored and ready to lose his mind from inactivity.

It didn’t matter that he had an especial fondness for the raspberry trifle they were serving.

He tossed his linen napkin onto his chair after he stood.

“Felicity, if you’ll excuse me? I’d like to take a walk around the property to stretch my legs. ”

She looked at him with a frown. “Stay out of trouble.”

He huffed. “As if there is any hope for such a thing here.” Telling his sister that he wished to indulge in exercise wasn’t a complete lie, for with the prosthetic leg, sitting for long periods of time gave him phantom aches.

Also, he liked to keep his mind active, and it was best to familiarize himself with his surroundings in any event.

Barely had he moved past the outbuildings toward the hedge maze when a blood curdling scream stopped him and sent the hairs on the back of his neck quivering.

“What the devil?”

Wanting answers, Felix changed course in the hopes of investigating the source of the scream and why it was uttered.

It was something to do that didn’t require him to listen to the inane musings from debutantes and unattached ladies.

Seeing a gathering of perhaps five young people around the viscount’s youngest daughter’s age near one of the outbuildings, he prodded his way through with his cane.

“What has occurred?”

“Look!” One of the ladies pointed to the form of a young man crumpled on the grass. “Do you think he’s dead?”