The Romany Heiress by Nikki Poppen

Author:Nikki Poppen [Poppen, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-11-03T06:45:00+00:00

The next day Cate learned that departing a house party was an event of its own. Guests had slept until the unthinkably late hour of 11:00 and then risen, dressed, and ate a leisurely breakfast either in their rooms, as many of the ladies chose to do, or in the breakfast parlor where Cate found herself so outnumbered by gentlemen that she quietly took her toast and tea out onto the back verandah.

Afterward, the laconic nature of the household instantly transformed into action as if by tacit agreement at precisely half past twelve, a barrage of servants would begin the arduous task of packing and carrying traveling trunks and bandboxes downstairs to the main hall.

Cate watched the growing piles of luggage in wideeyed amazement from her inconspicuous post, in a small parlor off the main hall. The amount of clothing guests had brought to a five-day house party was overwhelming. It was no wonder Isabella had dresses to spare. Cate doubted the caravan’s entire wardrobe would have filled more than two of the large trunks being stacked in the hall. From there they would be loaded in the long line of conveyances waiting in the drive.

That was another point of revelation. Several guests had brought not one but two carriages with them; one for his or her own traveling pleasure and another to carry their servants where they would be organized into piles before being transported to the conveyances lining the drive.

Then there was the whole business of leave-taking. After the carriages were loaded with their cargo, the guests began the long parade out in an orderly fashion, which Cate was certain Giles had meticulously orchestrated so that no one was forced to sit in their carriage while awaiting the departure of someone ahead of them in line.

From her vantage point, she could glimpse Giles at the front door with Isabella and Tristan at his side, farewelling the guests, graciously accepting compliments, and promising to see everyone again in town at the Little Season in a few months when hunting season was over.

The words Little Season caused Cate to sit a bit straighter. She focused on Giles. For a man whose right to the title was being challenged, he looked supremely confident, the promises to meet again flowing easily from his lips. Either he was an accomplished actor, able to mask his feelings, or he truly wasn’t concerned. The latter thought gave Cate pause. As the last carriage prepared to pull out of the drive, Cate was struck by the gravity of her situation, by how much protection the presence of the guests had afforded her.

With a house full of people, Giles had little time to do anything in relation to clearing his name or debunking her claims. With that obstacle gone, there was nothing preventing him from pursuing whatever course of action he wished to take. Perhaps he wasn’t concerned because he had a veiled plan.

Cate thought of other things too. The warmth she’d felt from Isabella and Cecile right up to the ball last night had been absent this morning.

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