Moonlight Wishes In Time (25 page)

Mattie noticed that Stephen’s eyes were riveted on Louisa
. Louisa moved to sit on the sofa between her mother and Mrs. Sinclair with a bright smile in William’s direction. She seemed not to see Stephen for a moment.

“Mother, this is Miss Matilda Crockwell from America
. She is a distant cousin of the Sinclairs.”

Mrs. Covington
, an older replica of Louisa, eyed her with interest.

“Yes, I had heard of Miss Crockwell’s origins
.” She turned to Stephen. “A countrywoman of yours, Stephen. You must have so much to talk about,” she said innocently.

Mattie cringed.

“I had hoped to share our mutual experiences, Mrs. Covington, but Miss Crockwell and I have not had an opportunity as of yet to do so. I remain hopeful,” he said with a bright smile in Mattie’s direction.

Mr. Smythe and John
arrived with the tea just in time, in Mattie’s opinion, distracting everyone from their attention on her. She glanced at William out of the corner of her eye, and he gave her a nod of encouragement. She wondered how far he was prepared to intercede on her behalf. Sometimes he did, and sometimes he let her fend for herself. She hoped he wasn’t in his fending-for-herself mode.

Another
footman opened the door to announce that Lord Hamilton, Lord Reginald Hamilton and the Honorable Samuel Hamilton had arrived.

Mrs. Sinclair rose hastily from her chair, scanning
the room, Mattie guessed, for empty seats.

“Mrs. Sinclair
.” Lord Hamilton bowed on entering. His sons mimicked his bow. Lord Hamilton scanned the room in some surprise.

“But we are interrupting,” he said
. “We have come at an awkward time.”

“No, Lord Hamilton, you and your sons are very welcome,” Mrs. Sinclair said as she signaled to the footman to bring more chairs
. “You know Mrs. Covington, of course, and her daughter, Miss Louisa Covington. And Mr. Carver is not, I think, a stranger to you.”

Lord Hamilton bowed before them
. He turned to Mattie, much to her dismay. She hadn’t missed that his sons were ogling her with reddened cheeks. 

“May I present Miss Matilda Crockwell, Lord Hamilton?” Mrs. Sinclair said
. “I do not believe you were introduced last night, although Reginald and Samuel made her acquaintance.”

“Ah
, yes, the young lady whose praises my sons have not stopped singing. So much so that I needed to come meet her for myself,” he said with an amused smile. He bent over Mattie’s hand, with Reggie and Samuel following suit.

Mattie tried to smile graciously, but her dry lips stuck to her teeth
. As the boys came to stand on either side of her chair, she panicked and threw William a glance of desperation. To her surprise, his lips twitched as he surveyed the room. A lot of help he was, she thought. It would serve him right if she were to “plead a headache” and run to her room. Better yet, if she were to just jump up, disclose all and relieve the anxious tension which threatened to explode.

“Well, what a merry party we are,” Mrs. Covington said dryly
. “Come, Lord Hamilton, come sit by me. You are safe with me. I am a married woman. The same could not be said for anyone else in this room, though.”

Mrs. Sinclair’s pale cheeks colored
. Lord Hamilton coughed and did as he was bade.

“You say that Reginald and Samuel have talked of little else other than Miss Crockwell, Lord Hamilton?” Mrs. Covington asked
. “This is a most fortunate occurrence, Miss Crockwell, to have incurred the favor of two young men of such favorable circumstances.”

“Mother!” Louisa protested, her cheeks bright.
Lord Hamilton coughed behind his hand once again, while his sons seemed to fail to catch Mrs. Covington’s meaning.

“I-I
…” Mattie couldn’t begin to think how to respond. She didn’t know the rules. What could she say? A quick look toward William, her protector, showed her that he was directing a piercing gaze at his mother, who caught his look.

“I do not know that Miss Crockwell is at present engaged in
seeking to form an alliance, Sally,” Mrs. Sinclair said with a gracious smile. “But I am sure that she is most flattered by the esteem in which Reginald and Samuel hold her.”

“Let the girl speak for herself, Lucy,” Mrs. Covington pursued
with a sharp look in Mattie’s direction. “Is she shy?”

“No, I don’t believe she is shy, Mother
.” Louisa rose swiftly. “Perhaps just well mannered.” She came to Mattie’s side to offer her a hand. Mattie, unclear what Louisa wanted, put her cold, clammy hand in Louisa’s cool and dry one.

“Could we walk in the garden, Miss Crockwell
? It seems such a lovely afternoon.”

“Oh, sure,” Mattie said as she rose unsteadily on rubbery knees
. So many people in the room, with their eyes focused directly on her.

“I would like to accompany you, if I may,” William said quickly
.

“Let us make a walking party of it,” Stephen said
. He rose and bowed to Mrs. Sinclair. “With your permission, madam.” 

“Yes, let
’s,” Reggie said. “I hope you will not object if Samuel and I accompany you. Fresh air will do us both good.” Mattie, wondering if she was really getting away from anyone at this point, eyed Reggie wildly. His face flamed with the boldness of asserting himself, and she was touched by his flattering admiration.

“Let us go
, then,” William said shortly. He directed a narrowed gaze toward the younger men who seemed oblivious.

He led the way out into the garden behind the house
. Mattie looked back to see that the floor-to-ceiling windows of the drawing room appeared to overlook the garden. The exterior of the house—
the mansion,
Mattie corrected herself—gleamed, its sandstone seemingly absorbing the golden rays of the afternoon sun. She turned to look at the garden, which sported a water fountain, well-manicured shrubs and flowers, and paths dotted with iron benches.

Louisa tucked Mattie’s arm in hers as they walked ahead of the men.

“I apologize for my mother’s comments, Miss Crockwell. I know it is not my place to do so, but there are times when her tongue runs away with her. I believe she thinks she is being droll.”

“Oh, no,” Mattie murmured
. “That’s okay. You’re right. I think she was just trying to be funny.” She felt eight eyes on her back as they walked and looked over her shoulder. Reggie and Samuel followed directly behind, while William and Stephen brought up the rear. They appeared to be in conversation.

“Besides,” Mattie said
, “I
am
supposed to be looking for a husband at my age, aren’t I?”

“Miss Crockwell!” Louisa laughed light
ly, appearing to pretend shock. “Well, yes,” she conceded. “We are expected to pursue advantageous marriages. Is this not the case where you are from?”

“I imagine so,” Mattie answered.

“Imagine?” Louisa asked with curiosity. “Perhaps your parents have not pursued the matter?”

“My parents passed away,” Mattie replied
. “So, I’m on my own.” As soon as she said the words, she regretted them, as she had to engage in the same conversation with Louisa that she’d had with William regarding the lack of a companion, that she was independent, etc.

“How very interesting,” Louisa answered
. “You do not intend to marry, then?”

“No, I’d like to get married,” Mattie murmured
. “I’m just not sure when.”

“I must marry soon,” Louisa said matter
-of-factly. “Mother fears I will become a spinster, as I am already five and twenty.”

Mattie threw a speculative look over her shoulder
. William caught her eyes and smiled, and a delightful shiver ran up her spine. Stephen smiled as well.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

To Mattie’s dismay, Louisa also looked over her shoulder. Mattie dreaded her response. Not William, she prayed. Please don’t say William!

“I have known William for many years,” she said softly
.

Mattie bit her lip
. She pulled her arm from Louisa’s as casually as she could and clasped it behind her back, locking her fingers so tightly she thought they might break. Of course, she had seen it in Louisa’s eyes when she looked at William. Why wouldn’t she want to marry the most handsome, most endearing and most charming man around? That he was incredibly wealthy probably didn’t hurt.

Mattie resisted throwing another look over her shoulder, as if to beg William to pick her,
to choose her over Louisa.

If her
theory held true, she would be gone soon, and William would go on with the life he was intended to have in the nineteenth century, probably with Louisa. She gritted her teeth.

“And you, Miss Crockwell?” Louisa asked with a friendly smile
. “Is there someone special for you?”

Mattie shook her head
. “No,” she answered shortly. She couldn’t even imagine what her life would be like when she got back home. She didn’t think she was ever going to be able to read her book again without seeing William Sinclair’s face. It would be like losing him over and over.

“No one at home?” Louisa prompted.

“No, no one,” Mattie said. She smiled faintly before dropping her eyes to the ground.

“Oh, Miss Crockwell, please forgive me!” Louisa said quickly with a contrite expression
. “I can see that I have distressed you. How ill-mannered of me to press you on such a personal matter.”

“No, that’s okay,” Mattie said
. Louisa did sound genuinely apologetic. 

“We will say no more,” Louisa said
.

Mattie gave in to temptation and loo
ked over her shoulder. Reggie and Samuel had slowed to speak to William. Stephen’s eyes were riveted on Louisa’s back. When he saw Mattie watching him, he shrugged slightly and gave her a self-deprecating smile.

Mattie returned the smile and faced forward, with a sideways glance in Louisa’s direction.

Should she say something to Louisa? About Stephen? Or would it look like she was trying to steer Louisa away from William. Mattie sighed inwardly. What did it all matter anyway? She didn’t belong here. This wasn’t her life. William needed to marry, Louisa needed to marry and Stephen would probably marry. It was up to them to sort themselves out. She was just passing through.

“You can’t go away!” Mattie
almost shrieked the next morning. “You can’t leave me here alone!”

“I am so sorry, Miss Crockwell,” William said
. He clasped his hands tightly behind his back as he fought against the urge to take her into his arms and reassure her. The distress on her face tugged at his heart.

“My solicitor needs to see me regarding matters of estate, and I must go to town,” he said
. “I will be away for no more than three days.”

“Three days?” she gasped
. She jumped up from the bench in the garden where he had seated her. William rose. He had thought it best to discuss the matter with her out of hearing of the servants, suspecting she would protest his impending departure.

“Oh, William, I don’t think I can do without you for three days,” she murmured as she paced back and forth.

Unused to such candor from a woman, William’s heart rolled over as she spoke. That she saw him as some sort of protector touched him deeply. Suspecting her to be quite accomplished in her time, he had already deduced that she was not some sort of miss-ish girl without strength of character. But she was the perennial fish out of water in his time, and it lent her an air of vulnerability, which prompted his protective instincts. He loved his mother and his sister and considered himself their guardian in the absence of husbands, and almost before he’d understood what was happening, Miss Crockwell had joined their ranks—that of a beloved female family member who depended upon him. He wondered what it would be like to be loved by her, as a woman loves a man.

“I would not go at this time, Miss Crockwell, if I could possibly avoid it
. Please do not fret. All will be well. You are very resourceful, I have noted.”

She stopped her pacing to face him, her lovely lower lip caught be
tween her teeth.

“Can’t I go with you?”

William stiffened and coughed. His heart’s desire. To be with her always.

“I am afraid that is not possible, Miss Crockwell
. I would take you with me if I could, but no female is traveling with me, and you are not such a close ‘relative’ that there would not be cause for gossip were you to accompany me to London.”

“What about Sylvie
? Wouldn’t she like a trip to London?” Her green and gold eyes sparkled.

“There is no one in town at this time of year, Miss Crockwell
. I could ask Sylvie if she wishes to go, but she has engagements here in the country.”