Free Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

more difficult for being wet.
    “Oh, it will not do!” she said. “There is too much mud. I shall have to wash it.”
    I groaned in frustration. “Perhaps you can send word that I will be late for dinner.”
    Betsy ran out of the room, and I continued to try to unfasten my gown. I wished I could blame all of my bad mood on Philip, but the truth was I was equally frustrated and angry with myself. If I had not been so impulsive and childish this would never have happened.
    Betsy returned with the news that the cook had already been told to hold dinner half an hour. No doubt that was Philip’s doing. Now I would have to think he was thoughtful, and I did not want to think anything nice about him.
    My thoughts turned to Philip’s little mystery at the inn as Betsy washed and arranged my hair. I wondered why he had worked so hard to conceal his identity. He must have known I would discover it soon enough.
    “Betsy, do you know the names of Lady Caroline’s children?” She was so good at collecting information.
    “Charles, Philip, William, and Louisa,” she rattled off.
    “In that order?”
    She nodded.
    It was as I had suspected, then. Philip was the younger brother to Sir Charles, whom Cecily planned to marry. But why did he bother keeping his identity a secret from me? I could think of no good answer.
    When I entered the drawing room with damp but tidy hair, Lady Caroline introduced me to her sister, Mrs. Clumpett. She had a genteel air about her and a pleasant face with a mouth that tended to curve upward, so that she looked as if she was always smiling.
    Mr. Clumpett stood tall and lean by the fireplace, one finger keeping his place in the book he held. He bowed and said he was pleased to meet me, but his eyes strayed to his book as he spoke.
    “Wild animals of India,” he said, catching me looking at his book. “Do you know much about them?”
    I shook my head.
    “You may borrow this when I’m through. It’s simply fascinating.”
    The door opened behind me, and without looking, I knew who it was by the sudden tension in the air.
    “Finally,” Lady Caroline said.
    I turned around and there was Philip, with a little glint of amusement in his eye.
    “I believe you two have already met,” his mother said.
    Philip bowed to me. “Miss Daventry. I trust you had a pleasant journey.”
    Was he referring to my journey down the river? Probably, if his smile was any indication. I noticed he wore a different coat, which reminded me that I was angry with him, but I also wanted to make a good impression, so I curtsied and said, “Yes, thank you.”
    Before I had to think of anything more to say, the butler announced dinner. Philip held out his arm to me. I had to take it, but that did not mean I had to enjoy the experience. I found it impossible to enjoy, actually, because his closeness mixed with my anger made me feel awkward and stiff.
    As we walked down the hall to the dining room, with his mother behind us, he said in a low voice, “Try taking a deep breath.”
    I looked up in surprise.
    “It might help you relax.” He smiled as if he could read every thought in my mind and considered them all highly amusing.
    What an obnoxious man! He knew I was uncomfortable and yet he chose to tease me about it! I glared at him before turning my gaze away. I pulled as far away as I could while still touching his arm as he led me to the chair placed at the right hand of the head of the table—the place of honor. Of course, he sat at the head of the table, because he was determined to make me miserable. Well, just because I was sitting next to him didn’t mean I had to talk to him.
    As we ate dinner, Lady Caroline led the conversation with questions put to me about how I had liked Bath and how my father was faring. I did my best to ignore Philip and gradually found myself relaxing amid the graceful politeness of Lady Caroline and the friendly smiles of Mrs. Clumpett, who was sitting across from me. Actually, she may not