whereabouts.
He also began second-guessing his leading from God. He was attracted to her and clearly felt he was to know her, an instinct telling him he might already know her, even while acknowledging that was impossible.
His mother had advised him to avail himself of Sir John’s offer for a few weeks. He needed to accept what was due to his family name by finding a wife and setting up his nursery. But those he met during his short time in London seemed no more than schoolgirls only just out of their own nurseries! His mother suggested he stop trying to shop for a wife and let love come naturally.
He would not rest on his laurels as he could in Town. But women flocked to him in London, though he hated it. He need only pick one, yet not one had touched a chord in his heart. So he had taken his mother’s advice to visit Sir John.
Here in Trotton, the delight he felt on the bridge when the fairy responded to his banter made him think that love might come naturally, after all. He would meet her tonight, then await an opportunity to know her in the daylight. He would try to overcome his fear that he would not be able to judge her character accurately.
His mind came back to the drawing room as Sir John greeted him in return. “Do not mention it, I say, do not mention it,” he repeated in a now-familiar habit. “But you do remind me of my manners. Please allow me to introduce my family.” He whispered an aside, “Not to worry that they’ll be under your feet the entire visit, my boy, but I told them they must do the pretty to welcome you.”
Dalton was led to a matronly woman, still possessing a good figure despite her cap and graying hair. She was introduced as Sir John’s wife, but he had already deduced her parentage of the three younger members of the party. “My dear, this is Lord Dalton, who has come to put a few of my best hunters to the test.”
Dalton bowed over the extended hand and smiled at the woman politely lowering her head in return. “Your servant, ma’am. I can only wonder at your generosity. My intention was to put up at the inn, but your husband would not hear of it. I vow to remain least in sight during my stay so as not to disrupt your normal routine.”
“My lord,” Lady Dinsmore said, chiding him, “you speak nonsense. Of course you will stay with us. I hope you will find it quite comfortable here. Being so far from London, we are always exceedingly happy to have company.”
She arose and began to walk toward the fireplace. She continued speaking, and it was obvious that she expected him to follow. “Indeed, we stand upon no ceremony here.”
It was then that Dalton became conscious of the young lady seated on the settee before the fire to which Lady Dinsmore had been leading him. His heart knew a moment’s hope that the woman he met last night sat before him, but immediately he deduced that the blond child bore little resemblance to his midnight wanderer.
“Before we overwhelm you with the entire family, I will introduce you to my daughter so that you may receive your tea and make yourself more comfortable. I fear you must be fainting from malnutrition.”
Standing six feet two inches in his stockings, his size belied her statement so shockingly that he began to laugh, feeling that he might enjoy a stay with such a family.
He was once again aware of the woman in the window embrasure. Her lowered head shot up at his laughter.
Lady Dinsmore led him to the young woman serving tea, who flushed prettily and slowly raised large eyes of deep green. She was exquisite, but she was merely a child, and he had no interest in schooling his wife!
“This is my oldest daughter, Charity, my lord. She has been eager to meet such a distinguished guest,” she said, and with a maternal pat on his arm, added, “and to hear all about London. I am afraid you will be heartily sick of relating the latest on dits.”
The very young lady bowed her head in greeting. He thought no further than proper manners in meeting the child.
So when he bowed low in turn and again smiled at the girl, it was with the same courtesy as he used to greet her father. “Miss Charity, I am charmed, I’m sure. I understand this is where I am most likely to receive a cup of tea,” he said, smiling. “So beautiful a young lady goes a long way to reviving one. However, I confess that a cup of tea would not come amiss.”
“Oh, my lord, how kind,” the girl said, batting her eyelashes at him brazenly. He was honestly at a loss for words at her behavior, but he was able to mutter a quick thank-you when she handed him his cup.
Dalton heard a weary sigh from the woman in the window seat. Apparently, she was also aware of the young girl’s impropriety. Indeed, her parents did not seem to notice. He decided then and there that he wished very much to meet the woman who was so quiet, but all-observant.
* * *
Kathryn covertly watched the events unfold in front of her from the moment he walked into the room. His charm completely won over his hosts. His manners were impeccable, and his smile was heart-stopping, releasing the two dimples she had never been able to get enough of in London. They had been well hidden in the shadows of the night before, though she could not remember whether he had actually smiled at her or not. She was glad for her out-of-the-way placement and the opportunity it afforded to watch him openly without attention.
She was wrenched from her ruminations as Lady Dinsmore signaled for Jacob.
“My lord,” she began, “I should like you to meet my two youngest.” Jacob bounced off his chair as Lacey left Kathryn’s side, and both joined their mother.
“Lord Dalton, I should like to make you acquainted with my son and daughter, Jacob and Lacey.”
All watched as Jacob put one arm across his stomach and one arm behind his back and bowed deeply from the waist. The room smiled as a whole, excepting his older sibling, as he made his first attempt at being a young gentleman. Jacob was eight and showed not the slightest tendency toward the Dinsmore handsomeness. But Kathryn had grown to love the young boy, who was grateful for someone’s attention and, though a little boisterous, for the most part just wanted to be loved.
Lacey, more prone to shyness, curtsied very prettily with downcast eyes and muttered politely, “We are pleased you have come to visit us.”
Lord Dalton did not disappoint. Bowing very deeply himself, he lightly grabbed the hand of the little boy and shook it quite fashionably. “Your servant, Master Jacob. I look forward to your advice on the horses, as well. I am sure I can count on your judgment.”
Jacob’s eyes widened to twice their normal size, and he looked over his shoulder at her and giggled.
Lacey, in the meantime, was having her small hand kissed by the dashing lord bent on one knee before her. His eyes, quite level with hers, twinkled as he released her hand and said, “I can see that Trotton must feel very graced indeed at having two such beautiful sisters in their midst.”
Lacey could only stare, her mouth agape, but as he rose to his full height, she turned to her with a smile, as dazzling as any Charity could muster. Kathryn was a little embarrassed to feel tears form in her eyes at the happiness of the two little ones and felt completely unnerved to be so proud of a man she had absolutely no right to be proud of. She felt the tug of her heartstrings. That heart, the one she thought long ago on the shelf, was beating erratically and she sighed inwardly.
Kathryn’s mind was stayed on Lord Dalton. How she wished she could meet him as herself as she had last night under the cover of darkness. Would he turn
