The Yuletide Countess: Harriet's Traditional Regency Romance (6 page)

“I am sure that Miss Paley’s qualifications to design Glencairn’s
folly are all that you describe, Miss Walcott, and a great deal more,” he said.
“But perhaps Glencairn and I should quiz her on this matter at another time,
and return to the dance. For after all, there is always time to talk, but
dancing requires musicians, and we are positively neglecting them at this
moment.”

He bowed gracefully to Isobel and offered his arm, which she took
thankfully, glad to abandon the dangers of conversation to join the set that
was just forming.

Lord Glencairn looked after them with a satisfied expression on his
face, and then turned to Harriet. “Brava, Miss Walcott. Well done indeed.”

“Thank you,” said Harriet. “Though you have done far better. How
ever did you get Isobel to agree to assist Lord Francis in designing a folly
for you? I cannot imagine how she could have been convinced.”

 “I made the merest mention of my late wife’s desire to build a
folly by the lake, and Lord Francis took the bit in his teeth and ran with it,”
said the earl. “A clever lad he is, and needed no prompting from me. We carried
the day through sheer obstinacy; poor Miss Paley was not permitted to say us nay.”

 “How very
strategic
of you. I am sure that
a classical folly will be a great amusement for Isobel, despite her protests.
And it will require that they spend a great deal of time together.”

 “It will indeed,” said Lord Glencairn. “I will make sure of that,
and you must make sure that Lord Francis stays often for tea at Dargenwater
Cottage. In the meantime, would you care to join this dance with me?”

 “Oh! I rarely dance,” said Harriet, a bit faintly. “But, in light
of our success this evening, perhaps I should treat myself.”

 “An excellent idea,” said the earl. “And afterwards, if you wish, I
will escort you to see the gardens and the proposed site of the folly.”

 “That sounds lovely,” said Harriet. She took his lordship’s
proffered arm, and they joined the dance.
Harriet found the energetic
reel so invigorating that she danced several more dances with the gentlemen
present, and noticed that everyone present seemed to be doing the same. She even
saw Catherine Dalburn joining a country dance with the curate from a
neighboring estate. Late in the evening she found herself once again Lord
Glencairn's partner when the final set was formed. It was a more sedate country
dance, and some conversation was possible.

“I have not
been able to escort you to the site of the proposed folly Miss Walcott,” the
earl said.

“Indeed not,
and I was truly looking forward to seeing it,” Harriet replied.

“Perhaps I
could take you there another time,” he suggested. “Would the day after next do,
Miss Walcott? At 3:00 shall we say?”

”That would be most welcome.” Harriet responded with a
glowing smile. The movements of the dance separated them once again, but as the
music ended, Lord Glencairn took her hand in his and smiled.

“I eagerly
await your visit two days hence, Miss Walcott,” he said. “As well as visiting
the site of the folly, I will be pleased if you will allow me to show you the
castle’s gardens.”

“I am very
much looking forward to it,” said Harriet.

Harriet and Isobel
joined the little crowd of ladies and gentlemen waiting at the door for their
carriages, each with much to consider. Isobel's feelings were mixed, as she
could not deny the pleasure she found in Lord Francis's company, but there was
no doubt that the construction of what she already thought of as the wretched
folly would take a great deal of time away from her excavation. Harriet on the
other hand, felt unalloyed pleasure in making the acquaintance of Lord
Glencairn and finding him charming, along with opportunity to conspire with him
to throw Isobel and Francis together.    

Two days later Harriet and Isobel sat at breakfast in Dargenwater
Cottage’s dining room. Isobel, distracted by thoughts of the folly, and annoyed
with herself for allowing it to lure her away from her excavations, buttered a
piece of toast absently and gazed out the window at the sunshine that flooded
the yard. It would be a perfect day to plan the site of the folly, but if it
then rained tomorrow, it might be impossible for some days to unearth the newly
discovered wall at her dig.

“Isobel, dear,” ventured Harriet.

Isobel started and almost dropped her toast. “Yes, Harriet, what is
it?”

“I was wondering whether you thought my dark green twill walking
dress or the fawn silk with the plum ribbons more becoming to me?”

Isobel looked up, surprised. “Why, they both look lovely on you,
Harriet. You are always very fashionably dressed.”

“Yes, you are kind enough to treat me to so many extravagances at
the
modiste
that I am very fashionable indeed,” said Harriet. “But which
do you think becomes me more?”

Isobel blinked at her. “More becoming? Why would you—I mean, of
course you look very handsome in both of them. Perhaps the dark green is
slightly more complimentary to your coloring.”

“Think you so?” asked Harriet. “You do not find the ribbons on the
fawn silk dress more becoming to my complexion?”

Isobel considered the question. “No, I believe the green is best,
though both are very suitable.”

“Thank you,” said Harriet.

Isobel nodded absently, and took a bite of her toast. Harriet
fiddled with the handle of her teacup.

“Isobel, dear,” said Harriet.

Isobel looked up again. “Yes, Harriet?”

“Do you have any need of the carriage this afternoon?”

“The carriage?” repeated Isobel.

Harriet flushed slightly. “I—I have been invited to Glencairn Castle
this afternoon, and, while it is not a long distance, you know I don’t care to
walk alone, and I would be loath to distract the servants from their duties.”

“Oh, are you visiting Catherine and the children?” asked Isobel.
“How wonderful! I’m sure you’ll have a delightful time. It is a lovely day;
perhaps you can visit the gardens. By all means, take the carriage. I have no
need of it. I can walk or ride anywhere I might wish to go, and it is entirely
possible that Lord Francis will be bringing me some drawings of the land on
which the folly will be located.”

“Oh, will he? I’m sure you’re both very eager to begin your
planning.”

“Lord Francis seems to be, at any rate,” said Isobel.

“And why should he not? After all, it will be a very interesting
pursuit. Even though I know it will distract you from your work, you must admit
to some little interest in such an entertaining and charming project! And you
will be able to use your skills for something that is new and not five hundred
years old!”

“One thousand five hundred,” said Isobel.

“Truly?” asked Harriet. “Well, that is very old indeed, to be sure.
This folly will be lovely and you can employ all that knowledge you’ve
accumulated on something useful!”

Isobel laughed. “I think that a folly, by definition, may not be
useful, but I will do my best to help make it beautiful.”

“Then, since you do not mind, I will take the carriage. I am to be
at Glencairn at three-o-clock,” said Harriet.

“Certainly,” said Isobel, returning to her toast. “Give Catherine my
greetings.”

After taking what she admitted to herself, was an inordinate amount
of time about dressing, Harriet sallied forth, dressed in the fawn silk walking
dress, having decided to enhance the row of plum ribbons that decorated the
long closure from the neck to the hemline, with a riband of the same shade over
the chip hat that she wore. The carriage duly pulled up in front of Glencairn
Castle, and Harriet allowed a footman to assist her to alight, and then stood
for a moment, hesitating. To her great relief, she saw that Lord Glencairn had
appeared in the massive opening of the door to the castle, and was coming down
the steps toward her.

“Miss Walcott, how delightful that you remembered our appointment,”
he said, taking her hand in his and pressing it briefly.

“How could I forget?” asked Harriet. “I’ve heard too much from
Isobel about the delights of the grounds at Glencairn to not remember!”

“I’m delighted that Miss Paley finds them attractive, for it seems
she will be spending a good deal of time there,” said Lord Glencairn, tucking
Harriet’s hand through his arm and leading her into the castle. “She and Lord
Francis were here earlier to view the site, but I believe they have gone back
to Dargenwater Cottage to consult some of Miss Paley’s books.”

“Have they indeed?” asked Harriet, briefly glad that Isobel was not
about. She had never disabused her cousin of the notion that she meant to visit
with Catherine. “Did they seem to be enjoying themselves?”

“Lord Francis was enjoying himself immensely,” observed Lord
Glencairn. “Miss Paley appeared to be more reserved, but he did coax a smile
from her from time to time. She is a lovely young woman, and very intelligent,
but, if you will forgive me, she appears to be just a touch obstinate.”

Harriet laughed. “Perhaps, just a touch! She is very dear and very
kind hearted, and I owe her a great deal, but when she takes a notion in her
head, it is nearly impossible to disabuse her of it. Lord Francis would appear
to have his work cut out for him.”

“He seems to be enjoying it,” said Lord Glencairn. “The man is a
soldier, after all, and will know when he has been defeated. But I am betting
on him to win. Would you care for a cup of tea before we visit the gardens?”

“Thank you, no. Perhaps afterward, but for now I’m agog to see the
site of the folly,” said Harriet.

“Very well.” Lord Glencairn led her through the Great Hall as
Harriet looked around, murmuring appreciatively, and out a door on the far
side, which opened onto an expansive terrace. Harriet drew in her breath as she
took in the view of neatly trimmed hedges surrounded by beds of summer flowers,
their colors vibrant in the sun, extending away to a stone wall and a pathway
leading to a long lawn.

“Is that a
lake I see in the distance?” asked Harriet.

“It is indeed,
an ornamental lake created in my grandfather’s time. The folly will sit on its
banks. Would you care to walk with me?”

“Certainly,”
said Harriet, taking his proffered arm.

The pair
walked down the steps to the graveled path that wound amongst the flowerbeds,
and Harriet gave a little sigh of delight.

“You are
indeed fortunate, Lord Glencairn, to have such a lovely home. The castle is
extraordinary, and while the gardens looked beautiful in the evening two days
ago, they are even more spectacular now in full daylight,” she said.

“They take an
army of gardeners to keep up,” the earl observed. “But it employs men from the
village, and it always does my heart good to see that the work my dear departed
wife put into them has not disappeared.”

“Do tell me
about her,” said Harriet. “If you wish to, of course. I do not want to cause
you pain.”

“Not at all.
Lady Glencairn was some years younger than I am; she would have been
four-and-thirty this year, I believe. She was the daughter of Sir Ralph Dyson,
and I met her at a house party in her parent’s home. Our courtship was short,
as we seemed well-suited, and we made our home here at Glencairn. She loved
these gardens a great deal, but after Douglas’s birth she was never well again.
A fever carried her away the winter after he was born.”

“How very
sad,” said Harriet. “You must miss her a terribly.”

“I did,” said
the earl. “But it has been many years, and the pain has faded. Now she is a
very pleasant memory. One must go on, you know.”

“Oh yes, one
must,” agreed Harriet. “I know when my dear father died, my mother was never
the same; the grief was too much for her. I do so admire you for understanding
you must continue to love and care for your children. Why, Lady Sefton said to
me only a month or so ago that children are such a blessing to their parents,
and help to ease their hearts in difficult times.”

“Sophia and
Douglas are wonderful children,” agreed the earl. “Sophia is becoming a young lady,
of course, and I must turn my thoughts to her eventual marriage.”

“What a pity
she has no mother to guide her. Though I’m sure that you will provide her with
all she needs when she makes her curtsey to Society,” said Harriet. “Have you a
female relative who could serve as your hostess and her guide?”

Lord Glencairn
looked uncomfortable. “There is my sister, of course, but she dislikes leaving
Scotland and has not kept up with her friends in London. But I have no doubt
that there are other women to be found who are suitable for the task.”

“No doubt,”
said Harriet. “Such a pity when a girl does not have a mother’s guiding hand at
such an important time of her life. Lady Cowper once told me how very important
her mother was to her in navigating those treacherous waters when she first
came out. Oh, what a charming rosebush; I have never been able to make roses
grow properly. You must allow the gardener at Dargenwater Cottage to speak to
your gardeners.”

Lord Glencairn
glanced at the flowers. “Certainly, if you wish. You appear to know many of the
shining lights of polite society, Miss Walcott.”

“Well, the
Paleys and the Walcotts are married into so many fine families, of course, and
Isobel’s brother is Viscount Wereham, as you know. And Lord and Lady Walcott
are connections, though more distant. But I am very lucky that Isobel enjoys
spending time in London during the Season; for the past three years I have been
her companion, and she enjoys attending balls and going to Almack’s.” Harriet
paused, reflecting that a tiny white lie about Isobel’s emotions concerning
Almack’s could certainly be forgiven. “I’m lucky enough to count several of the
patronesses among my acquaintance, and I find them to be very pleasant indeed.”

Lord Glencairn
looked delighted. “Then I have made an excellent friend in you,” he exclaimed.
“I fear I travel to London seldom, and have neglected the duties that must come
with introducing a young lady to Society.”

“I would be
delighted to assist you in any way, as would Isobel, I’m sure,” said Harriet.
“Though the Learmouth name must open all doors, I’m sure. You would have no
need of my very slight influence over the patronesses.”

“But your
experience with Miss Paley has stood you in good stead in knowing the ways of
the world,” suggested Lord Glencairn.

Harriet waved
one hand casually. “Well, I do not like to flatter myself, but I do think that
I have seen far more than most women, and know quite well how to manage in
Society. Even Isobel will allow that, I’m sure.”

They had
reached the lawn, and Harriet looked about, delighted. “Your children must love
playing here,” she said.

Lord Glencairn
nodded. “They did, but they are getting older now, and Douglas is gone much of
the year. I fear that Sophia must be lonely at times.”

“But she has
her governess, of course. I must admit to you, Lord Glencairn, that I have met
Miss Dalburn and her charges from time to time. I hope that you will not mind
that I have had some conversation with them. They are such well-behaved
children, and Miss Dalburn seems to be a very sensible woman.”

Lord Glencairn
beamed at her. “You have met my children? I thought perhaps I might ask if you
would care to do so, but now I find that not to be necessary.”

“Sophia is
very beautiful,” said Harriet. “And Douglas is so charming, and well-spoken. I
can see why you are so proud of them.”

“What a pity
you had no children of your own,” said Lord Glencairn. “You appear to have much
affection for those of others.”

“It is a great
sorrow of mine, of course,” agreed Harriet. “But we cannot always have that for
which we wish. I find the life I lead to be very agreeable, and it has put me
in the way of many adventures I might not otherwise have had. Indeed, I would
not have met you, or your children, or seen this lovely garden, had I been married
when I was twenty.”

“No indeed,”
agreed the earl, much struck by this observation.

They strolled
up to the lake, and Harriet smiled at his lordship rapturously. “I thought that
the gardens were so lovely, and the lawn so grand, but now I see that the best
is here at the end,” she said. “What a beautiful lake, and the willows add just
the right touch of melancholy as their branches trail in the water. There! You
see, it has made me positively poetic, a trait I am not known for at all.”

“I must agree
that this is my favorite part of the Glencairn grounds,” said the earl. “And
here is the site of the folly.”

He led Harriet
to one side, a bit farther from the lake, at the end of the lawn. She glanced
around approvingly.

“What a
perfect spot,” she said. “You will be able to sit in it and admire the lake,
and it will also be possible to see it from the terrace, where it will enhance
that view, if that is possible.”

“I see you
have an excellent eye, Miss Walcott,” said Lord Glencairn.

“If I do, I’m
sure it is from knowing Isobel. She is so very knowledgeable about these
things.”

As the two
surveyed the scene, the sounds of young voices could be heard approaching, and
Sophia and Douglas appeared across the lawn. The hem of Sophia’s gown was wet
and muddy, and Douglass’ shirt was streaked with dirt, but they were smiling
widely and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Miss Dalburn followed at
a distance, obviously having given up on keeping pace with her charges.

“Miss
Walcott!” called Douglas, and he broke into a run. Sophia hitched up her skirt
in a most unladylike fashion, and followed him.

“Miss Walcott,
how nice to see you,” said the boy, panting a bit as he drew to a stop in front
of her.

“Good
afternoon, Douglas,” said Harriet.

Sophia arrived
close on Douglas’s heels, and, coming to an awkward halt, bobbed a half
curtsey. “Miss Walcott, how are you?” she burbled. “Only fancy, Douglas and I
have been fishing!”

“Did you catch
anything?” asked Harriet, smiling warmly.

“No, because
Douglas was too impatient. He would not stand still, and so the fish knew we
were there.”

“It was not my
fault,” protested Douglas. “Sophy had no idea what she was doing, and I was
trying to help her.”

“Nonsense,”
protested Sophia.

Harriet began
to laugh. “Surely your father could teach you both how to fish, or Lord Francis
might, if you ask him nicely. He is very proficient at the art, I’m told. How
nice to see you, Miss Dalburn,” she added, as Catherine made her way up to the
group.

“Good
afternoon, Miss Walcott,” said Catherine. The two women exchanged a meaningful
glance.

Lord Glencairn
beamed at the group. “I see that I will not have to introduce you all,” he
said. “Miss Walcott seems to be quite one of the family.”

“She has
helped me with my watercolors,” said Sophy. “It is a great deal more fun to
paint outside than it is to do so in a dreary schoolroom.”

“I suppose it
may be,” observed Lord Glencairn. “Not being a student of the art, I cannot
judge, but being outside in the summer is preferable to being in a musty room,
no matter the activity.”

He watched as
Sophy took Harriet’s hand in hers and tugged her to one side. “You see, Miss
Walcott?” she said, pointing toward the castle. “Is this not a splendid view?
Will you help me sketch it out?”

“I would be
very happy to do so, if Miss Dalburn has no objections.”

“Not at all,”
replied Catherine. “Your skills at water colors are far superior to mine. But
first I think you should change your dress, Sophy.”

“Indeed, I
think we all need some relaxation,” said Lord Glencairn. “Miss Walcott, would
you care to have a cup of tea with my children and myself?”

“I would be
very happy to do so,” said Harriet.

The group
turned back toward the castle, the children running and bobbing about, and Miss
Dalburn walking slightly behind Harriet, who leaned on his lordship’s arm. All
in all, Harriet reflected, it had been a successful afternoon.