“What a marvelous idea, my lady.” Miss Dalrymple’s smile broadened, if that was possible, and she nodded for emphasis. “Marvelous indeed. So kind of you to think of them.” She turned, leveling a basilisk gaze on her charges. “I am sure they are very grateful.”
For once, it was easy to agree with their chaperone, especially for Mary, as the trip with Lady Sabrina would take them away from their dancing lesson. Though she had been civil, if a trifle frosty, when she saw Sir Royce at breakfast that morning, Mary had no desire to spend the afternoon close to him again.
The girls scurried off to get their hats and gloves, glad that at least these items of their apparel would not be unfashionable, if not perhaps up to the standard of Lady Sabrina’s attire. As they came back down the stairs, Sir Royce stepped into the entry.#p#分页标题#e#
He checked for an instant as his eyes landed on Lady Sabrina, then came forward and executed a polite bow. “Lady Sabrina. I had not realized that you had come to call.”
“Hallo, Royce.” Sabrina held out her hand to him. “Are you so formal now? You once called me just Sabrina.”
“That was many years ago, my lady.” Royce’s expression was even more remote than the one he had directed at Mary the day before. “Before you were married.”
“Ah, but I have not changed.” Amusement touched Sabrina’s light blue eyes.
“I fear I have.”
Mary and Rose exchanged glances at Sir Royce’s short response, which bordered on rude, and Lily rushed to fill the awkward silence: “Lady Sabrina has kindly offered to take us with her to call on Mrs. Martin.”
“Has she?” Royce shot an assessing glance at the sisters, lined up in hats and gloves, ready to leave. “But what of your lessons?”
“I am sure you will not mind being relieved of that task, Sir Royce,” Mary told him. “You will have the rest of your afternoon free.”
“Sir Royce is teaching us to dance,” Lily offered in an aside to Lady Sabrina.
“Is he now?” Lady Sabrina’s eyes twinkled. “I am sorry indeed to interfere with that. Perhaps I should stay and help.”
This offer was met with a chorus of protests, and Lady Sabrina agreed, laughing, to stay with her original plan. She turned to Sir Royce. “There, you have escaped. But I must warn you that I am sending you and your cousins an invitation.”
“They are not my cousins.”
“To the ball?” Lily asked, ignoring Royce’s interjection.
“No. That is some time away. Far too long, I decided. I am inviting you to Halstead House for dinner next week. I do hope you will come.”
“We should love to,” Mary assured her.
“I am not sure whether I will be free—” Sir Royce began.
Sabrina cut him off with her silvery laugh. “But I have not told you which day!”
Royce’s jaw tightened. “I am sure the girls will be delighted to attend.”
“But you must come as well. Humphrey will be quite disappointed if you do not. And the girls must have an escort.”
“Of course.” Sir Royce sketched a bow to her and turned to Mary and her sisters. “If you will wait until tomorrow, I will take you to call on Mrs. Martin. Then you need not impose on Lady Sabrina.”
“It is no imposition.” Sabrina looked puzzled. “I welcome the company.”
“I would prefer it.” Royce sent a significant glance at Mary. “It would be safer.”
“Safer!” Lady Sabrina laughed. “Really, Royce, what do you think is going to happen? It isn’t as if there are highwaymen riding the roads here.”
“We will be fine, I’m sure, in Lady Sabrina’s carriage,” Mary told him flatly.
His lips thinned, but Royce said only, “Very well. I shall send one of my grooms along, if you don’t mind.”
He strode off, leaving Sabrina staring after him in astonishment.
“You must not mind Sir Royce,” Lily told her.
“That’s right. He’s been cross as a bear for two days,” Camellia added.
“Oh.” Sabrina waved the matter away with one elegantly gloved hand. “I pay no attention to Royce. I have known him almost since I was in short skirts and braids.”
When they had settled into the carriage, Royce’s groom sitting on the high seat beside the coachman, Sabrina turned to the sisters with a smile and confided, “I had an ulterior motive in inviting you today. It is often deadly dull calling on Mrs. Martin, and I thought your presence would make it much more enjoyable. I hope you will forgive me.”#p#分页标题#e#