Suitors and Sabotage(49)
“Oh dear, a storm is truly upon us.” Emily moved to stare outside. “It’s a very good thing you are not still on the road. What a fine mess that would have been. Well, staying indoors seems to be the order of the day. Don’t you think, Imogene?”
Imogene nodded, sharing her smile equally among them.… Well, not Percy. Her brother received a grimace.
“All set,” Jake said from the doorway as he entered. “Mrs. Thompson is airing out the tower room. It’s rarely used, being that it is haunted, and you will have to share as I have already said.… But I’m sure you will be comfortable.” His tone implied that he hoped just the opposite. “I have sent your man up to unpack. He will have to stay above the stables.”
Ben sipped his coffee, glad of the excuse to delay his reaction. It gave him time to ease down his hackles—after all, Ben had known their welcome was not going to be generous. Mr. Chively had put his interests ahead of those of his friends.… And Ernest knew it. They were intruding.
A loud bang drew everyone’s attention toward the hall. Unseen, the front door had slammed open. While not visible from inside the morning room, the commotion of the older gentlemen rushing inside out of the rain was loud enough for all to hear.
“Blast the weather. Here, Radley. Take this brace. Better than nothing, I suppose. The hare were plentiful, and we would have had a week’s worth if not for the storm.” There was no mistaking Mr. Tabard’s slow delivery.
“They will wait for us, Tabard. Worry not, we can go out tomorrow,” Mr. Beeswanger said.
“It looks to storm a month of Sundays,” Mr. Chively said in his typically dreary tone.
“What’s that?” The floor squeaked as if Mr. Tabard had turned on a wet tile floor. “Speak up, I can hardly hear you. Who?”
There was an indiscernible mumble through which Jake half smiled at Ernest and Ben and then rolled his eyes for Percy’s benefit. They all waited for the inevitable burst of indignation. While Ernest looked uncomfortable, Ben was ambivalent; if they were sent packing, he would not have to suffer the agonies of unrequited lo … No, he would not finish that thought.
The reaction, when it came, was not of disgust, nor did it originate from Mr. Tabard.
“Excellent. Yes, indeed. Pardon? Oh, I asked him myself. I knew you would not mind, old man. Shall we do the proper?”
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed even before Mr. Chively had finished his sentence. The thoroughly damp gentleman entered the morning room with great verve and affability. Ben hardly recognized him.
“Ernest, my fine young man. So good that you could make it to Dowersham. I hope you had a pleasant journey despite the weather.”
“Oh, indeed, sir. The storm began just after we arrived.”
Mr. Chively’s face was suddenly excessively still. “We?” He turned to look across his shoulder to where Ben was standing next to the window. “Oh.” He scowled and returned his decidedly piqued expression back on Ernest. “It would seem that you did not receive all my letter. I believe I explained that Greytower Hall was a small manor with far fewer rooms. That it suited an intimate gathering.”
Mr. Tabard, chuntering in the background, momentarily drew the attention from Mr. Chively.
“No insult intended, Tabard. You run a fine establishment. A very pretty estate … on a sunny day. I merely wish to help Ben, here, understand why he will be required to take a room at the inn.”
“Oh, that’s all settled, Mr. Chively,” Jake piped in. “I had Mrs. Thompson air out the tower room.”
“The tower … But Jake, my boy, it’s in a deplorable state.” Mr. Tabard was horrified. “Not used in years. Your mother quite despaired of that room.”
“Yes,” Jake said with more glee than was seemly in a proper gentleman. “Because it is haunted.”
“Really, Jake,” Imogene huffed. “There are times that I quite despair of you. Everyone knows that the ghost gossip is two centuries old. Besides, I don’t believe the Steeple brothers are easily dissuaded or liver-hearted.” She smiled broadly to Ernest and then winked in Ben’s direction.
Ben felt his heart accelerate and decided to label his reaction fear of spirits, not joy at Imogene’s attention. The idea of ghosts was far, far more acceptable in his eyes.
Emily, watching the exchange, put paid to the whole episode by offering to show the boys to the tower. There was great consternation that a young lady would suggest such a thing. The footman was quickly called to be their guide. As they were heading out the door, Ben glanced over his shoulder in time to see Emily and Imogene share a look of satisfaction. The outrageous offer had done the trick—circumvented the arguing and established that Ernest and Ben were here for the stay.
Ben followed on Ernest’s heels, not entirely certain why he was so pleased. Hadn’t he wanted to return to Musson House?
*
“YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, that Jake is up to mischief. That he made mention of the haunting with purpose.” Sitting on the brocade settee nestled in the oriel window, Emily straightened her skirts and curled up the corner of her mouth in disgust.
They had adjourned to the drawing room upon the arrival of their mothers, ready to break their fast. The morning room was too small a space to accommodate everyone, so Emily and Imogene had slipped across the threshold while the news of the Steeples’ arrival was discussed in both enthusiastic and lifeless tones.