"We shall see you at four, then," Fitzsimmons said. "I and my sisters."
"Four?" she echoed blankly.
"For dinner, of course."
"Oh, er, yes." She had not really intended to invite the entire family, but there now seemed no help for it without appearing excessively particular, not to say rude.
"Yes, all of you at four."
She bowed to Parks, who bestowed a winning smile upon her, and took her brother's left arm.
Vevina and Clifford followed on behind with their children, and she was relieved when they were all fairly quiet on the trip back. Her thoughts were so swirling she could barely make sense of them.
Thomas said, "If you find them all too boisterous we can always cry off having the ball at the end of the week."
"No, really, they will all enjoy it so. In any case, I am to set the tone in the district, along with the Duke and Duchess of Clancar, of course," she added hastily. "I must try to be friends with everyone."
"You will be careful though, Sister, won't you? I would not like you to get into trouble because you are being exceedingly and unfailingly polite as always."
"If you mean about Mr. Fitzsimmons, it was rather forward of him to include his whole party, but they are after all distant relations."
"However, they also put themselves forward last night. It's not a habit you will want to encourage, especially if you're a young woman on your own here."
"I know. I had rather thought perhaps one or both of the Miss Lynches might suit as an appropriate companion. They are both quiet and fairly intelligent, and respectable."
"I don't disagree. But then you might be often in the company of Sean, who is said to be a bit wild when he has taken too much to drink."
"The same can be said for many of the Irish," Charlotte pointed out. "It is a stereotype, like the rampant seducer soldier."
"Yes, dearest. How true," the Duke replied mildly. "Only in his case, I rather fear it is more than just stereotype. He most certainly went into the small parlor and helped himself to the decanters last night. I suppose it is partly my fault for leaving temptation in people's way.
"As you say, Elizabeth, we must set the tone. If I have never held with strong spirits in the house for myself, I ought not to buy them and have them in my home."
"It is no loss to me certainly. Wine for special occasions and a spot of medicinal brandy, by all means, but whiskey, no. Banish it from the parlor by all means."
"In that case we shall make a generous gift to Mr. Phelps. I know he likes a tot and will not abuse the privilege, but rather savor it for some considerable time to come."
"Oh dear, that's yet another thing I am ignorant of," Elizabeth said. "The wine cellar."
"Well, you do have the wonderful Edgars to assist you in that regard. He is indeed most knowledgeable on wines."
"I only know what you select for me."
"We can have a tasting, and I shall teach you what I know. Not that I'm encouraging you to drink, mind, but a tasting is, after all, supposed to be only that, not a spree.
"Clifford will help, won't you, old man? You have some real gems in your cellar back at Stone Court."
"I have my father to thank for that," he said modestly. "If you would like me to join you in setting something up for tomorrow evening, I would be happy to help. Anything to expand Elizabeth's education."
She nodded. "Speaking of which, remind me to invite the vicar and verger around to tea so that we can get the adult reading classes underway."
Thomas warned his sister, "You may find some resistance to the idea here, you know. Some of the more narrow-minded here have a vested interest in keeping the people downtrodden. If they get ideas of a better life, they may just start demanding one."
"And so they should." Elizabeth said stoutly. "Rank and privilege also has its duties and responsibilities."
"Hah, spoken like a true Rakehell," Clifford said with a beaming smile.
She returned it. "Well, it's just that I know we've been twitted about us having so many houses, but every single one of the properties is well-run even if we are absentee landlords. Every single one has a village school nearby which you helped endow, or Father before you. We're doing a great deal of good, not just having them till the fields, or charging them such exorbitant rents on their ramshackle cottages that they're constantly in arrears and could not leave to find a better place elsewhere even if they wanted to."
"It is said the Fitzsimmons' tenantry are very badly pinched indeed, especially the serving women," Vanessa put in with a significant look at Thomas.