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F or the next several days, it appeared Lady Elsbeth was wrong.

Though servants hastened to prepare Penwick Park for the expected guests, life for its residents settled back into a calm routine.

Every afternoon the Earl of Royce took Jane’s nephews for long, rambling rides over the countryside.

Arrangements for these rides were made between the earl and the boys the day before; consequently, they were always dressed and standing by their saddled ponies when the earl arrived.

There was no need or opportunity for the earl and Jane to meet again.

Conversations that Jane and Lady Elsbeth had with the boys revealed they were getting along very well with the earl.

Royce seemed to have assumed the role of mentor, giving the boys sage advice which they solemnly parroted to the amusement of Lady Elsbeth and the consternation of Jane.

Jane did not like owing the earl, but she feared she was in his debt.

The children were displaying signs of respect, mannerliness, and maturity.

It nettled Jane that the earl was successful where she and Elsbeth were not.

She did not consider how unsuccessful the boys’ parents had been.

She was aware, however, that their mischievous pranks had abated, but for the comparatively trivial matters of the handprint “paintings’’ on the hallway pier glass and the sliding down the newly-polished banisters.

Truthfully, though Jane hated to own it, life had become disgustingly dull.

Consequently, she soon discovered herself looking forward with anticipation to the arrival of their heretofore unwanted guests.

The cavalcade began arriving on the fifth day.

They arrived later than Jane and Lady Elsbeth had anticipated, nearly driving those ladies to distraction with worry whether or not they would have to cancel the planned dinner and dancing for that evening.

As it was, they’d already reordered their table setting due to the news of Mrs. Chitterdean’s succumbing to the grippe.

Lady Elsbeth hastily prepared more of her decoction and sent Nurse Twinkleham to care for the invalided parson’s wife.

It was agreed by all parties that Reverend Chitterdean must be kept well.

Consequently, it hadn’t helped Jane’s and Lady Elsbeth’s rapidly frazzling nerves that the boys were underfoot all afternoon, eagerly asking to help with the final preparations for the arriving guests.

When an exasperated Jane had tried to send them out to the Folly with Becky to watch them, she was solemnly told they’d promised the earl they would stand ready to be of assistance.

Somehow he’d impressed upon them a sense of responsibility.

It was a sense of responsibility that Jane could have cheerfully done without, but she could hardly wound their honor by refusing their help and packing them off to the schoolroom.

Not since Lady Tipton and Millicent interfered with her life three years ago had she felt so helpless.

Her one consoling thought was the righteousness of the ideas the earl instilled in the boys.

It struck her as odd, even humorous, to consider the Devil’s Disciple instilling principles of good and evil, as well as manners and respect.

It was unsettling and made her warier of the man, for she wondered at his game.

A leopard doesn’t change its spots, nor a tiger its stripes.

There had to be a motive for his strange behavior, but she could not see it.

If he sought out her company, she would have accused him of hanging out for a rich wife and scheming for a place in her good graces with his assiduous attention to her nephews.

But he did not try to see her. She even questioned the boys to ascertain if the earl asked them about her.

As far as she could tell from their reports, her name never even came up in conversation! It was maddening.

Such thoughts were tumbling around in her mind when they heard the first crunch of wheels in the drive.

Bertram and Edward ran to the windows to catch a glimpse of scarlet and brown livery before the carriage swept out of sight to the front of the house.

Lady Elsbeth identified the colors as those of the Tipton family.

She urged Jane and the boys to join her on the steps to welcome the visitors to Penwick Park.

Jane took a deep breath. Now, the battle would be joined.

Was she ready? Mentally she checked the condition of her protective cloak, searching for rents and holes.

There were none. Still, she wished the earl were present, but his guest arrived that morning, and he was engaged in entertaining him.

According to Bertram, the gentlemen would come to the dinner.

She followed the boys outside, placing a hand on either shoulder as they stood before her like a wall against the approaching hordes. Her expression was aloof, waiting with a quiet otherworldliness.

Lady Elsbeth glanced at her, her lips tightening a moment. Then the steps were being let down from the carriage, and her sister was descending. Jane must fend for herself, Lady Elsbeth decided as she went toward Serena with a smile and a word of welcome on her lips for her elder sister.

“My dear Elsbeth!” gushed Serena, clasping her younger sister in an embrace that maintained at least three inches between them.

She hooked her arm cozily with Elsbeth’s and drew her aside so the others in the carriage could descend.

She was followed by Millicent, a striking brunette in a rich Florentine gold traveling dress trimmed with dark brown braid and cream-colored lace.

She regally lifted her head and looked across the yard, her gaze clashing with Jane’s.

One corner of her mouth kicked up in amusement at the domestic picture the Ice Witch made with the two little boys standing before her.

Jane saw the contemptuous smile on her cousin’s lips but did not deign to react.

If anything, her expression mirrored Millicent’s, for suddenly, she saw and understood her cousin’s need to be the center of attention.

It amused Jane to realize Millicent would never appreciate her desire to step aside and give her that position.

So much the better. The battle was joined.

“Millicent, love, doesn’t your Aunt Elsbeth look divine?

One would never credit her with being three-and-thirty.

I swear she makes me feel quite hagged just to look at her!

” Lady Serena Tipton cooed, finishing with a slight, carefully contrived pout that pulled her artificially reddened lips into a bow.

“Nonsense, my dear,” boomed a loud nasal voice from the carriage doorway before Millicent could answer.

The voice was followed by the tall, paunchy appearance of Mr. Raymond Burry.

When his feet touched the ground, he rolled back on his heels and straightened.

Patting his stomach, he drew in a deep breath, his girth expanding like an aerial balloon.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was the eldest. No offense, Lady Elsbeth, but your sister is an angel personified,” declared Mr. Burry.

Well pleased with his description, he nodded and patted his stomach.

"Yes, stab me if that ain’t the right of it.

An angel.” His smile pushed at his thick cheeks, making his long face diamond-shaped.

Lady Elsbeth smiled wryly. "My sister always did show to better advantage.”

“You would be better served if you did not insist on dressing in that severe manner,” Serena said breezily, her hand waving negligently before her to indicate Elsbeth’s printed blue cambric gown, devoid of knots of ribbons, ruchings, or furbelows.

"And if you did not come outside without a hat. I swear you are getting positively brown, my dear! Don’t despair; I have in my bags a special cream just arrived from Paris that is guaranteed to clear one’s complexion of all ruddiness.

” She patted her sister’s hand as they turned to walk toward the house.

“But where are the others of your party that you wrote me about? Are they not coming?”

“The Willoughbys and Sir Helmsdon shall be here shortly. The most tiresome circumstance occurred. One of the horses harnessed at the last stage to Lord Willoughby’s carriage came up lame.

As Sir Helmsdon was mounted, he quite generously volunteered to set off to secure another horse.

One of the link boys could have walked back, but Sir Helmsdon would have nothing of it.

Such a kind and considerate man. I am quite amazed that, in our modem society, gallantry such as his should still exist. It tells much of the man, don’t you think? ”

Lady Elsbeth murmured some noncommittal phrase, which her sister took as an agreement. Finding Elsbeth in a mellow mood, Lady Serena launched into a full recital of all the gentlemen they’d had visit them that summer.

“I swear, coming here shall be a blessed peace from the frenetic pace of society at the holiday. It is worse than at the height of the season! Of course, with my dear Millicent’s looks and the funds poor Mr. Hedgeworth secured on her, it is not to be wondered at.

Poor Jane. It is really too bad that she does not possess my Millicent’s confidence and elegance.

Well, never fear, that is why I am here. We shall see that Jane has suitors."

"Very clever puss is your sister,” put in Mr. Burry, as he trudged after them arm-in-arm with Millicent.

“Thank you, Raymond dear,” enthused Lady Tipton. "Ah, these must be Mary’s two boys." She reached forward to pinch their cheeks.

Bertram looked up at Jane. She squeezed his shoulder in commiseration.

“My dear Jane, you haven’t changed a bit,” said Lady Serena Tipton. There was the slightest hint of disappointment in her tone. She looked as if she would clasp Jane except for the boys’ continued presence.