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 principals of good and evil, as well as manners and respect. It was unsettling and made her more wary 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 to 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 conniving 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 was present; but his own 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 calm 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 own 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 understand 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 were the eldest. No offense, Lady Elsbeth, but your sister is an
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 principals of good and evil, as well as manners and respect. It was unsettling and made her more wary 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 to 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 conniving 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 was present; but his own 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 calm 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 own 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 understand 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 were the eldest. No offense, Lady Elsbeth, but your sister is an
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