Page 23 of Mischief and Manors (Change of Heart #1)

CHAPTER 23

T he evening was much like the one before. Owen didn’t join us for dinner, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was the reason. I had been reliving our conversation in the library all day, and the more I did, the worse I felt.

What if Owen didn’t have a previous attachment? I had believed a piece of unproven gossip for long enough to snub him and any feelings he might have had for me. I had made it sound like I would welcome any man’s attention before his, and after watching me with Mr. Baines at the party, he had plenty of evidence to support it.

I retired to my room early, my mood far too dreary to even enjoy Mr. Everards poor attempts at singing.

I hardly slept that night, and restlessness pulled me from my bed the moment the sun touched my window. Today was the day that everyone would arrive. Today was the day I would reclaim control over my heart. The firm thought sent a heavy stone of ache to thud in my chest. It beat at my ribs like a thousand barbed fists. But I held onto it, hoping that perhaps it could replace my heart all together, whisking away every emotion into its hard, stony walls before I could discover a way to feel them.

I would have to keep my heart distant if I wanted to gather evidence of my own by observing Owen and Charlotte together. I needed to know if he was truly attached to her…or if he was fully in love with her. I hardly knew what I would do with that information, but I would go mad if I didn’t learn the truth.

Lizzie came in early to help me get ready. After she left the room, I lingered a moment in the chair before the mirror and listened to the birds outside my window. Their chirps held notes—high, resonating sounds—but when they merged together, they held no melody. They were like lonely pieces of sound searching for a place to belong among the bushes and trees and endless grey morning sky. Their noises entered my ears, scratching at my soul with uncertainty. I was weak, and I hated myself for it. I wished that I could stay in this chair forever and not have to see what awaited me on the main floor.

I would have to present myself well to Mrs. Kellaway’s family. I would have to face Charlotte, who I hoped was very different from her mother. Worst of all, I would have to face Owen after I had insulted him the day before.

My gaze was pulled to the mirror, to my face and my wavy hair lost between light and dark. Taking a slow inhale, I began mentally assembling my defenses, piece by piece, layer after layer, from my head to my toe to my heart, until I was sure that even the deepest pair of blue eyes couldn’t pierce it.

It was too early for breakfast, and my brothers were still asleep, so I considered wandering outside while I waited. As I stepped down the last few stairs, a dismayed voice echoed off the walls. “Blasted boy!”

I stopped, bewildered. Mrs. Kellaway was marching across the floor from the drawing room, still in her nightdress, with tight rags wrapped atop her head. She hadn’t seen me. I considered sneaking back up the stairs, but was stopped when I saw Mrs. Everard trailing behind her.

Mrs. Kellaway sighed. “Why would he run off without a care about seeing his own brother, sister, and father welcomed?”

Mrs. Everard placed an austere glance on her daughter. “Now, Catherine, you are overreacting. In my opinion, the boy may have finally come to his senses. Given the circumstances, he should have visited a long while ago, if only to keep himself acquainted with the place.”

Mrs. Kellaway stopped, crossing her arms. “I didn’t even have the chance to tell him that Charlotte was coming here with Alice today. Lady Pembury will think that I arranged his departure to prevent a proposal.”

Mrs. Everard scoffed. “How much credibility do you truly give Lady Pembury’s claim? My assumption is that she heard the recent gossip about Willowbourne, and is only now sending her daughter to ensnare Owen.”

“That is possible,” Mrs. Kellaway said. “But Alice has always wanted Owen to court Charlotte, and she has claimed to notice something between them in the past. Have you seen how beautiful and accomplished Charlotte has become? She is truly incomparable, even in London.”

Mrs. Everard pursed her lips. “Even if that is true, I strongly suspect Owen’s affections lie elsewhere.”

I felt a keen urge to turn around before I was seen watching and listening. The conversation was not meant for my ears, and the sight of Mrs. Kellaway in her nightdress was certainly not meant for my eyes.

My thoughts were confirmed by the sharp glance Mrs. Kellaway threw to silence her mother when she spotted me on the staircase. I hurriedly put on an apologetic expression, but Mrs. Everard welcomed it with a smile that was meant to dismiss the situation as ordinary.

“Good morning, my dear. Aren’t you up early?”

My skin tingled with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I was on my way outside for a walk.”

“I will accompany you.” Mrs. Everard’s words came quickly, and her arm was looped around mine before I could say a word.

She nearly dragged me along with her until we were outside the front door. She was surprisingly strong. The grass was coated in dew, and a misty fog rose up from the hills in the distance. She loosened her grip on my arm once we were several paces away from the house.

“Owen ran off to Willowbourne late last night.” She threw her hands in the air. “Heaven knows why.”

I couldn’t hide my disbelief. I hadn’t expected him to make good on his promise so quickly.

But perhaps running away to Willowbourne had been his way of escaping me and my sharp words.

Shame twisted around my heart. “I think I may be the cause,” I said. “I challenged him to visit again because I could see how much he loved the estate. I-I didn’t think he would go so soon.”

Mrs. Everard’s brow lifted before an amused smile touched her lips. “You do not realize the power you have over that man. He would do anything for you.”

My brow pinched. “I don’t think that’s true.”

She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I have never seen anyone so helplessly smitten. I have been in support of this match from the start.”

My confusion intensified, and heat crept over my cheeks. I pinned my hopes to the ground, refusing to allow them to rise any higher. “I don’t understand. You seemed eager to introduce me to Mr. Baines and the other gentlemen.”

She laughed, brushing a grey curl off her forehead. “I confess that was a bit of a scheme on my part. There is nothing like jealousy to make one acutely aware of their feelings. I hoped that with a bit of competition, Owen might stop pining for you and offer a proposal.”

My eyes widened. Of all the mischievous people at Kellaway Manor, I never would have guessed that Mrs. Everard was the master. “That is rather devious.” My voice was quiet with shock.

“The devious one is Lady Pembury.” Her nose wrinkled with distaste. “I have never liked her, and I cannot bear the thought of her achieving her objectives. I confess I am glad Owen ran off to Willowbourne. It will be a pleasure to see Lady Pembury’s plans thwarted.” She gave a satisfied smile. “I’m almost certain Owen won’t be away for long, but it should be long enough to convince Miss Charlotte Lyons that he is in love with you instead.”

I released a tight breath, my heart beating in my throat. “He is not in love with me, and I have no wish to come between him and Miss Lyons.” I looked down. “I fear I may have said something yesterday to offend him. I think it is more likely that he ran off to escape me, not to appease my wishes.”

I turned and hurried back to the house, eager to escape Mrs. Everard, who seemed to have discovered far too much about my heart. In truth, she had stolen some of it too, right alongside Mr. Everard, and Mrs. Kellaway, and all the beautiful things at Kellaway Manor. It frightened me; it frightened me enough to make my stomach ill, because the more I loved, the more I could lose. And with Miss Charlotte Lyons arriving that day, I could very well lose it all.

I held Peter’s hand on one side, and Charles’s on the other. We waited in the entry hall as a group of footmen descended upon the carriage late that afternoon. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of greeting Alice and Miss Lyons outside with the family, but standing in the entry hall with the servants made me feel just as out of place.

I adjusted my gown and smoothed my hair. Nervousness fluttered violently in my stomach. I straightened my posture and peered out one of the front windows.

Through the glass, between the metal frames, I could see two ladies, arm in arm, walking toward the door. One I recognized as Alice from the portrait gallery. She had the same dark auburn hair as her mother, and it reflected copper in the morning sun like a new penny. I remembered her faintly from my short visit ten years before, but Owen tended to be a bit more memorable.

The other lady, I knew, must have been Miss Charlotte Lyons, but I didn’t get a full look at her until the door opened.

My ears were instantly greeted by the sound of high-pitched laughter. Sunlight and floral scents wafted through the door, then a head crowned with golden hair and a set of large, thoughtful eyes came into view. Miss Lyons had her arm looped through Alice’s, and they laughed together as if sharing a secret joke.

Miss Lyons’s skin was a milky white, without a blemish to be seen. Her hair was thick and smooth and fair. Her eyes were an icy blue. Her gown was lavender, draping flawlessly on her perfect figure. It was trimmed with enough lace and ribbons to make my pink dress from the garden party seem boring.

She looked youthful, perhaps even a year or two younger than me, but certainly far more traveled and experienced. My sense of inferiority heightened. Lady Pembury’s words were gaining credit with each passing second. I had nothing to do but stare, and wait to be awkwardly noticed.

Mrs. Kellaway and the Everards stepped inside next, and Alice embraced her mother with a smile. After she pulled away, her eyes caught on me for the first time, and her brow scrunched together in confusion.

I mustered up a weak smile.

Miss Lyons stared at me too, a curious look on her face. She glanced at my brothers before turning to Mrs. Kellaway. “Who are these children? Are they your nephews?”

“No, the sons of my late friends, the Downings.” She opened her mouth to speak again, but Miss Lyons interrupted.

“Is this their governess?” She eyed me.

Mrs. Kellaway’s eyes lit up with dismay. She stepped up beside me. “I invited Peter and Charles here with their sister , and my new friend, Miss Annette Downing.”

Miss Lyons gave a shocked expression. She put a hand to her lips, looking truly apologetic. “Forgive me, Miss Downing. You resemble the governess I had as a child. That is the only reason for my mistake.” Her voice was as milky smooth as her skin. When she raised her head, I was met by her icy blue eyes and a close-lipped smile.

I fought the warmth at the base of my ears. “It is no matter. You are not the first to make that mistake.”

She smiled, sharing a laugh with Alice. I held my brothers close, using their hands to anchor me.

Mrs. Kellaway introduced Alice to me, and then Miss Lyons. Alice had blue eyes and a charming smile like Owen’s. It seemed to be a Kellaway trait. She addressed me warmly. “I remember your parents quite vividly. You seem familiar as well.”

“I was the girl who fell from the tree,” I said, smiling.

She laughed. “Oh, yes! I hope you haven’t had a similar mishap during this visit.”

The waterfall incident came to mind, but I shook my head. “Thankfully I learned my lesson last time.”

Alice turned and looped her arm through Miss Lyons’s again, pulling her forward. “We shall all become the dearest of friends while you are here. I didn’t know my mother would have other guests. How long has it been since you arrived?”

“A fortnight.”

Her lips still held their smile, but her eyes flashed with surprise. “Mmm . . . how delightful.” She exchanged a glance with Miss Lyons before addressing me again. “The house has been quite empty, has it not? With Simon away at school, Owen is the only one of my siblings who has been living here. I hope he hasn’t been giving you trouble.”

I sensed a trap being laid. “Trouble?”

Alice laughed. “Well, he is a relentless flirt. Charlotte can attest to that.”

Charlotte’s smile was composed as she nodded. She did not appear concerned at all with the news that I had spent a fortnight under the same roof as Owen. I resembled her governess, after all. Standing there with two children in tow, wearing my old white muslin gown, I was not competition.

Mrs. Everard caught my gaze with a frown. The wrinkles on her forehead were deeper than usual.

Alice clasped her hands together in front of her and looked from side to side. “Where is Owen anyway?” she questioned, raising a delicate eyebrow.

Mrs. Everard stepped forward. “He is away at an estate . . . one that he has not visited for a long while.” She threw her granddaughter a look full of hints.

Apparently Alice understood, because her face lifted with disbelief. “When did he leave?”

“Late last night.”

Alice’s jaw dropped. “The day before our arrival?”

Mrs. Everard gave a sympathetic nod.

“I never would have expected him to go back!” Alice exclaimed. “At least not until…” Her voice trailed off, and she cast Miss Lyons a sneaky look. They both erupted into laughter. It must have been that secret joke again.

Miss Lyons’s face turned wistful with longing. “I was so looking forward to seeing him. Will he return soon?”

Mrs. Everard’s eyes glinted with mischief. “We haven’t any idea when he will be returning. It could be as much as a fortnight.” Her brow contracted. “Or was it a month?”

Miss Lyons and Alice shared a dismayed look.

“Why so distraught, dears?” Mrs. Everard asked with a tilt of her head.

Miss Lyons smoothed a hand over her hair. She cleared her throat. Even that sounded elegant. “I hoped to see him sooner than that.”

Mrs. Kellaway interrupted, casting her mother a frown. “I’m certain Owen won’t be away as long as my mother predicts. We don’t know what exactly called him away so urgently, but I fully expect him to return within a day or two.”

Mrs. Everard shrugged. “I presume his urgency had something to do with wedding arrangements.” I caught a twinkle in her eyes before she turned her attention back to Miss Lyons. “I know this may not be my news to share, but Owen made an offer to Miss Downing just before his departure. They are recently engaged.”