Page 46 of Winterset

“Here is Damon’s and my wedding portrait,” Hannah said proudly.

“It was painted the same year we were married. Don’t tell anyone, but I was carrying my daughters at the time, and I very much looked it.

” She smiled up at the portraits, clearly reliving a fond memory.

“The girls’ portraits will be painted when they are a few years older. And behind you is Ollie’s portrait.”

I’d not considered that his likeness might be hanging here, but of course it would be. He was the second son of the late Lord Winfield and brother to the current. This was his family seat.

I sucked in a breath when I saw the full-length rendering of him.

“Do you think it looks like him?” Hannah asked.

“I do.” It was a near-perfect likeness. All that was missing was the small scar on his forehead.

“I think so too.” Lord Jennings walked up behind us. “The artist captured Ollie’s condescending gaze quite perfectly, don’t you think? See the way he looks down his nose at me? It’s as if he is standing right here in this room.”

“Damon.” Hannah frowned her disapproval.

To my surprise, he took his wife’s censure in stride. “Forgive me, Miss Lockwood. I should not have said that.” Then he added in a low voice, “Even if it is true.”

Oliver? Condescending? I studied his portrait but could not see it. “Well, condescending gaze or no,” I said, “ I could not have painted his likeness half so well.”

Hannah’s eyes lit. “You are an artist?”

“ Aspiring artist,” I clarified. I’d carefully packed all the art supplies Oliver had given me in my traveling trunk and itched to use them again, if only to feel closer to him.

“I can’t even draw a simple outline of a figure, much less paint a portrait.” Hannah laughed at herself. “Consider me thoroughly impressed.”

“Me too,” Lord Jennings said.

“You would not be if you saw my most recent work,” I said, thinking of my sketches in Oliver’s books.

“I am sure you are a great deal better than you are giving yourself credit for. We women tend to be our own harshest critics, I think. You shouldn’t sell yourself short, Miss Lockwood.”

“Kate,” I said. “If I am to call you , a countess, by your Christian name, it seems only right that you call me by mine.”

“I would be honored.”

“Your trunk should be in your room,” Lord Jennings said. “Would you like to go upstairs now?”

“I would. Thank you,” I said.

Lord Jennings and Hannah led the way.

At the gallery door, I glanced over my shoulder to steal one last look at Oliver’s portrait.

We climbed the grand staircase to the first level.

“Summerhaven has two modern wings connected by a central original building,” Lord Jennings explained. “However, only the west wing, which we now stand in, is in use.”

Hannah pointed out several rooms: the morning room, the music room, and a parlor, and I peeked inside each as we passed. They were all empty, devoid of decoration and furnishings.

“You said this wing is in use?” I asked Hannah, thinking I might have misunderstood.

“Yes. You are wondering why they are all vacant?” she asked, and I nodded. “Suffice it to say, my husband sold every furnishing he could to marry me.”

“A decision I do not regret in the slightest,” Lord Jennings said over his shoulder.

“Selling your family furnishings or marrying me?” Hannah grinned at Lord Jennings.

“Selling the furnishings, my dear, obviously. They were all so dreadfully uncomfortable.” He winked at his wife, and his teasing nature reminded me so much of Oliver that my heart squeezed for missing him.

“And this is your bedchamber.” Hannah pushed open the door to reveal the aptly named lilac bedchamber.

The walls were papered in a pale shade of purple.

A four-post bed occupied the center of the room, and a mahogany vanity was positioned near the window.

On the vanity was a vase of snowdrops. And through the window was the garden.

“Thank you,” I said to my hosts. “Both for welcoming me into your home and for allowing me to stay in this beautiful room.”

“What we have, we have to share,” Lord Jennings said sincerely. “We hope you will feel welcome here, Miss Lockwood. Please stay as long as you need.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

He bowed and took his leave.

Hannah turned to me. “Dinner will be served at six,” she said. “I would be happy to send my maid Nora to help you dress and style your hair if you’d like.”

I hesitated. For two reasons: first, because it had been such a long time since someone had helped me with my hair, and I wasn’t sure I could endure it.

And second, because I wasn’t sure it would be safe.

The more people who knew about my being here, the more likely word was to spread.

Servants had a tendency to talk, and I did not want word somehow getting back to Markham.

It seemed impossible so far from him, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

“I don’t mean to overwhelm you,” Hannah said, sensing my hesitancy.

“It’s not that,” I said. “It’s only ...” My sentence stretched as I tried to find the right words to voice my concern. “What if the servants talk?”

“We have told the servants that you are my cousin visiting from York.” Hannah reached for my hand and led me to the edge of the bed to sit beside her.

“I understand your fears. You have been through so much. But I promise you, you have nothing to fear here. When Damon received Oliver’s letter asking for his help .

..” Her voice quivered. “You cannot know what it meant to him. He sprang into action immediately and has worked night and day to ensure your protection.”

“I do not mean to be a burden.”

“Oh no.” Hannah shook her head. “You are not. On the contrary, you are an answer to our prayers. We have not seen nor heard from Oliver in over two years.” A pained expression shadowed her face.

“I regret the circumstance that has brought you to us, but you are not a burden, Kate. You are a blessing. You have started communication between the brothers again.”

“I have done nothing,” I said.

“But you have, Kate. More than you know.” She squeezed my hand and stood.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling more calm and confident after our conversation.

“I know we’ve just met,” Hannah said, “but if it would make you feel more comfortable, I would be happy to help you dress for dinner and style your hair tonight. I won’t claim to be as talented at it as my maid, but I do know something about taming curls.”

Her kindness touched me. “I would like that very much. Thank you.”

We moved to the vanity table. I sat, and Hannah stood behind me.

I could barely feel her fingers as they worked to remove the ribbon from the end of my hair, but my breaths came more quickly.

As if she could sense my anxiety, she offered me a kind smile in the mirror, then unwove my plait.

Once it was down, I handed her the hairbrush.

“You have beautiful hair,” she said.

“Thank you.”

She brushed my hair so softly it tickled. I’d forgotten how good it felt.

“There is something I would like to talk to you about,” she said. “I do not want to overwhelm you any more than I already have, but I think if I were you, I would wish to know.”

“All right.”

“In a few days, Lord Jennings and I are hosting a ball. When we learned you were coming, we wanted to cancel it, but the invitations could not be recalled in time.” She bit her lip as she began pinning up my hair.

“We have many options, including hiding you here in your room out of sight. But it is a masked ball, so your identity would be hidden should you wish to attend.”

“I want to,” I said, surprising myself. I didn’t want Markham to steal any more of my life than he already had. Even if that life would not be the one I wanted and wished for with Oliver, I would not let our sacrifice be for naught.

“I am so glad,” Hannah said. “We will do everything to make sure you are safe and comfortable.”

Perhaps it was foolish of me, but being so far from Winterset, I felt like I was living in something of a sanctuary at Summerhaven.

I knew I should speak to Hannah about helping me find a placement so I could start my new life, but I was surprised by how unaccustomed I was to being near people.

This ball might be the perfect opportunity to mingle with people and reacquaint myself with social niceties.

And armed with a fake identity, a mask, and an army of protectors, I did not think my attendance was such a risk.

“I don’t have anything to wear though,” I admitted. The gowns from my come-out were more than two years out of fashion, not that that mattered much to me, but I didn’t dare wear anything that anyone might recognize.

“I would suggest we have a ball gown made, but I do not think a week is enough time for our local modiste to make and fit such an elaborate dress ...” Hannah continued pinning up my hair, deep in thought.

“What would you think about borrowing one of my dresses? I believe you are near enough to the same size I was before carrying the twins. A few inches shorter than I, but we can easily have the dress hemmed.”

“If it’s not too much trouble ...”

“No trouble at all! In fact, I think it will be great fun.”