The Houseparty (2 page)

Elizabeth allowed herself a momentary shudder as the memory of those blank, unseeing eyes intruded. "That unpleasant experience was hardly my fault, Sumner."

"I am not suggesting that it was. Though why you have to ride such great distances is beyond my comprehension. Still, you never were a biddable female. And little does Adolphus realize that your supposed meekness is merely the mask for the most
unseeming
levity, usually at his expense. May I remind you—
"

"Whether you may or not is beside the point," she interrupted with a sigh. "You most certainly shall remind
me, whether I have anything to say about it or not. I wish you wouldn't prose on so."

Again that snort issued forth from Sumner's broad chest. "Adolphus Wingert, besides being a cousin of ours, is the squire of this area, the justice of the peace, and our most generous patron. It would behoove you to show more gratitude and respect."

"I'm certain his mother would prefer that I show my respect from a distance," she murmured, unrepentant.

"And I cannot imagine what you have against Lady Elfreda. She has been all that is kind."

"She is afraid, my sweet brother, that I mean to run off with her overfed, overbearing son. It is incomprehensible to her that any female could find Adolphus something less than the embodiment of girlish dreams." She tossed her head willfully.

"I would have thought you'd be a bit past girlish dreams," he stated with a brotherly lack of tact. "As a matter of fact, Adolphus called you a very fetching young lady. You could go a lot farther and do a lot worse than marry someone like Adolphus Wingert."

"Why, Sumner." Elizabeth's eyes opened wide with surprise tinged with amusement. "I wonder that you would countenance the thought of my marrying with such equanimity. I had presumed you were expecting me to devote my life to you."

"Naturally," Sumner responded with his usual gravity. "However, an alliance with the Wingert family could only benefit my career in the long run and would do Jeremy no harm, either. And I have little doubt Adolphus would be generous enough to see to a housekeeper for me, should he decide that you might suit."

Elizabeth bit back the retort that threatened to bubble over. She tried to allow herself only one biting remark an hour, and she already had overstepped her allowance. She sighed and tried again. "I am very sensible of the honor Adolphus does me," she said meekly enough, "though I doubt there is anything serious in his attentions. And I wonder whether it is truly Christian of us, Sumner, to burden poor Lady Elfreda with worry for naught," she added. "You cannot argue that she wouldn't rather see Adolphus married to a lady of title or at least someone a bit more biddable. And a slightly
more noble
lineage wouldn't hurt matters, either."

"There's nothing wrong with our lineage," her brother said abruptly, his handsome face set in an intimidating frown that left Elizabeth unmoved. "The Trahernes are one of the oldest families in all Britain."

"Yes, but our ancestors were Welsh."

Sumner did not care to have disagreeable facts clouding his pontifications. "One of the oldest families in Britain," he repeated firmly. "And your portion is very nice indeed. Not that the Wingerts would have any need of your dowry, and I wouldn't doubt that Adolphus might be generous enough to turn it over to the church."

And its current incumbent, Elizabeth added, silently, accustomed to her brother's itchy palms. "I wouldn't rely on any future match, Sumner. I am hardly the type to suit Adolphus Wingert, you must admit."

For once her brother was tactful. Elizabeth could well imagine what he was thinking. Not that she was a bad- looking female, of course. How could she be, when she and her two brothers were known as the dashing Trahernes among their set? If nature had unfairly given her brothers the more spectacular good looks, she hadn't come out badly in the end, either. Without a doubt she
was what might be termed a handsome young woman. Although a bit above average height, she still had the innate good sense not to tower over the majority of the gentlemen she met. Her rich chestnut hair was streaked from the sun, for she would go out hatless in their back garden despite Sumner's remonstrations. That same reckless disregard for the sun accounted for the faint spattering of freckles across her delicate nose that
were
still in evidence in late March. Her eyes were a warm, laughing brown, although that laughter could have an uncomfortable edge to it. Her chin and her nature were too willful, and of course she was far too opinionated and intelligent for a woman.

But then, she took very good care of Sumner, and he wasn't one to be ungrateful. He knew that he was a lucky man to have his only sister devote her life to his well- being, and it was a fortunate thing that she'd never evinced any interest in the admittedly small number of suitable gentlemen who had come her way. If truth be
told
_r
Sumner had done his share to discourage them once Jeremy had left for the war. Elizabeth had allowed him to do so, leaving him secure in the belief that she would be far more content managing a parsonage than she would be gallivanting in the dissipated pleasures of London with some rackety gentleman.

But it appeared that Sumner's forbearance was coming to an end. In the case of Adolphus Wingert, he'd clearly decided to nobly put someone else's comfort above his own. Balanced against the good it would do his career, it wasn't wise to be too selfish. Therefore, he eyed his sister and granted her his most encouraging smile, one she distrusted above all things.

"I am certain that Adolphus Wingert could not help
but appreciate a treasure such as you, my dear," he said smoothly.

"And I am sure you must have windmills in your head, Sumner," she replied frankly. "And I shan't have you encouraging that great
lummoxing
beast. For one thing, he's as fat as a pig, and I have a great dislike of fat men. For the time being I am quite content taking care of my skinny brother."

"For the time being?" he echoed in a hollow voice. "But what else could you possibly want to do?"

"Well, I don't expect you to end your days a bachelor, dear heart. Already you have half the ladies in the congregation swooning. Sooner or later some enterprising damsel will catch sight of that golden head of curls and that handsome face, and you'll find yourself leg shackled before you know it."

"I have no immediate plans," said Sumner, not at all displeased with this summing up of his not inconsiderable physical attractions.

"But you never know what might happen. And I doubt that your bride would care to have a managing sister-in-law about the place. So I thought I might keep house for Jeremy when he returns." A troubled look clouded her expressive face. "I suppose
I
should say if he returns."

"Don't be absurd, of course the boy will return," Sumner said gruffly. "Our brother leads a charmed life. Three years fighting Napoleon and not even a scratch on him."

"I trust you are right," Elizabeth said with a sigh.

"And I would think he'd be just as likely to marry as I am. He always had an eye for a pretty girl."

"If and when he does, I have other
options,
it is entirely possible I might still get married. I am only twenty-
three. Rather ancient by some standards, but I might still be able to attract an eligible
parti
, someone a bit more appealing than Cousin Adolphus.
A widower, perhaps, or an aging cleric.
I
've certainly had a great deal of experience managing a vicar's household. Or I might set up house on my own. There is more than enough money for it, and I might even have Miss
Biddleford
to keep me company."

"Miss
Biddleford
is a shameless bluestocking with the most dangerous ideas.
I
blame having her as your governess for all the flighty and, yes, seditious ideas that racket around in your brain."

"Sumner, you're a shocking prig," Elizabeth shot back cheerfully. "How could I have such a conservative brother? Of course, Biddy's to blame for my outrageous opinions."

"Well, I shan't allow you to set up house with her. I've never heard of anything so ridiculous in my entire life," Sumner announced, leaning back in his chair with a decisive air.

Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "My dear Sumner, you won't have any say in the matter. If you remember, my money was left entirely in my hands, not in yours or Jeremy's. You have no say over it or me."

"Father must have been demented when he wrote that will," he said, fretting. "Imagine stating that you were better equipped to handle finances than your brothers."

"But you must admit I immediately gave you control of your portion," she said demurely.

He eyed her with his usual misgivings. "I am not happy with you, Elizabeth.
Your uncharitable attitude toward the Wingerts, your threats of disgracing yourself by running off on your own.
I am deeply troubled."

For all Elizabeth's mischief making, she had a kind heart, and she reached out and touched one of Sumner's strong, elegantly shaped hands that had never known a day's hard work. "Don't fret yourself, Sumner. As long as you keep from meddling with Adolphus Wingert, I will restrain my wanderlust until Jeremy comes back. We've rubbed along very well together the past three years, and I am perfectly content. But I will tell you one last time: I have no wish to marry our portly cousin." This was said with a great deal of kindness accompanied by a sternness that brooked no argument, and as usual Sumner capitulated in the face of a stronger will than his own.

"Very well," he said somewhat sulkily. "It is your life, I suppose. Though how you can whistle such an advantageous match down the wind is more than I can understand. Haven't you any loyalty? Think what it could mean to my career."

"My dear, I would immolate myself for you, slave for you, manage your household and your accounts, counsel your parishioners, lead your choir, and write your sermons, but I will not marry Adolphus Wingert."

"You don't write my sermons," he said hotly. "You may make a few suggestions and help with the phrasing and such, but the main kernel of thought is my own, and it is up to me which of your flighty suggestions I might possibly heed." Sumner's angelically beautiful face was red with annoyance, and his blue eyes with their absurdly long lashes were narrowed in fury.

"Of course, Sumner," Elizabeth said meekly, cursing once more her unruly tongue for speaking the unpalatable truth. "I didn't mean to suggest otherwise."

She could tell by his sly expression that her brother had recognized her contrition and intended to make full use of it. "Then you will agree to accompany me to Winfields?
it
should be charming—only family, Lady Elfreda tells me. Her brother-in-law, the general, might be there, with a few close friends. It should be a delightful time."

"Delightful," Elizabeth echoed gloomily. "I presume you mean Sir Maurice Wingert? The only thing more tedious than aging politicians is aging soldiers."

"Sir Maurice is one of our great heroes," Sumner said repressively. "You are totally lacking in respect, Elizabeth."

"I know." She sighed. "And I presume he'll have the usual complement of stiff young men to cater to his every whim."

"Oh, doubtless.
He's got a new one, not that wispy fellow who couldn't even ride properly." Sumner snorted, his one real talent being horsemanship. "Come on, old girl, it'll do us some good. Keep us from worrying about Jeremy."

A shadow crossed Elizabeth's face. "Why haven't we heard from him, Sumner?"

"You know as well as I that he quite often doesn't get the chance to write nowadays. This wretched undercover work requires that we be kept completely in the dark. I don't like it, but what can we do?"

"Nothing, I suppose." She rose from her cramped, uncomfortable chair. There was only one decent seat in the room, and Sumner, of course, had claimed that
as his own
. "Shall I see to tea
⁵
" she inquired, suddenly ravenous. Sumner, like herself, was fond of food, although he never seemed to add an ounce to his trim frame, whereas her robust health had an unfortunate tendency to become a mite too robust on occasion.

"I trust we'll have more than dried-out salt biscuits,"
he remarked somewhat pettishly. "If you need to slim down, I fail to see why I too must suffer."

"There's a great deal to be said for mortifying the flesh," she replied limpidly. "I've had Mrs. Gibson make up a fresh batch of ginger biscuits.
Six for you, six for me."

"Unfair!"

"It is perfectly fair," she said cheerfully. "I cannot resist temptation; therefore, temptation must be removed from my path and perforce from yours too. You wouldn't wish me to arrive at Winfields rivaling poor Adolphus in my girth, would you?"