Ewan turned to bow at the countess, who was eyeing him speculatively.
Her eyes were shockingly blue, like the loch on his father’s Scottish lands during a harsh winter.
Her cheekbones were high, her lips red and plump, and her black hair was striking in a room full of softer, gentler colours.
All in all, her reputation as a beauty was well deserved.
And yet, she couldn’t keep his attention for long.
Ewan felt himself more drawn to the diminutive brunette by her side, whose lips were plumper and pinker and altogether more interesting.
Before he could speak a word to either of them, his cousin sidled up beside him, nearly shoving him out of the way.
“Lady Beatrice.” He bowed stiffly before turning his attention to the countess and grasping her hand. “Lady Staunton, I am so pleased to see you back in our little village. And if I might be so bold, your presence here has added unrivalled beauty and grace. Indeed, your beauty leaves me quite speechless.”
Ewan couldn’t resist rolling his eyes as his cousin bent over the lady’s hand.
He caught Lady Beatrice do the same, and they shared a conspiratorial grin. He liked that she wasn’t impressed by Edmund’s display.
Nor, it seemed, was the countess.
Lady Staunton snatched her hand away and arched a brow.
“For someone who’s speechless, you seem to have a lot to say, Sir Edmund.”
Edmund immediately straightened; his cheeks flushed with what Ewan knew would be temper.
The countess seemed marvellously unconcerned about Edmund’s feelings.
Lady Beatrice’s jaw dropped as her eyes darted between Edmund and her friend. She looked worried and uncomfortable, and Ewan felt the need to jump to her rescue.
“My lady.” He broke the tense silence and spoke directly to Lady Beatrice. “I had a mind to take a walk by the river this afternoon. I am told that it’s a good spot to find boughs and flowers for the May Pole. Might I prevail upon you to join me and lend me your expertise?”
Again, she stood mute, simply staring at him. She made him feel like a ravenous wolf stalking an innocent doe.
And again, her friend elbowed her into action.
“Oh, I – I would. That is, we would be happy to join you,” she said haltingly.
“Need a chaperone, do you?” Edmund scoffed, and Ewan’s temper flared at his cousin’s petulance.
“I’d be honoured to have your company, Lady Staunton,” he said to the lady, to atone for his cousin’s lack of manners.
“Thank you, Mr. Brooks.”
“Then why don’t I come along, too?” Edmund interjected. He seemed to have recovered from his humiliation and was once again staring at the countess in the most blatantly lascivious way.
“What a great idea. Where are we going?”
The party turned at the sound of a voice behind the gentlemen.
Before them stood a man that matched Ewan in height and build, something that he didn’t come across all too often. The earl, he assumed, given that he’d seen this same gentleman with Lady Beatrice yesterday.
Though it seemed as though the earl had directed the question at the group, his golden-brown eyes were intently on Edmund.
“Staunton. Good to see you,” Edmund muttered, his arrogance seeming to have fallen by the wayside.
Lord Staunton eyed Edmund for several moments before he turned to his wife, completely ignoring the baron’s greeting.
“Are you off on an outing, sweetheart?” he asked, his face and tone softening completely as he looked at his wife.
“We’re all walking to the river. Mr. Brooks asked Bea if she would join him.”
Suddenly, Ewan was on the receiving end of that golden stare.
“Mr. Brooks was it?” the earl asked. His tone was friendly enough, but there was a thread of steel there.
“Yes, Mr. Brooks.” Natalia stepped forward and placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Are you free to join us?”
The touch of his wife’s arm seemed to have an immediate effect on the earl, and he smiled down at her.
“I’ll make myself free.” He winked. “Let’s take our leave then.”
Lady Fortescue was happy to give Beatrice leave to take her walk, especially with Natalia, and more importantly Ben, accompanying them.
The ladies’ maids rushed to fetch spencers, bonnets, and outdoor gloves whilst the men bade goodbye to Lady Fortescue and her guests.
They finally stepped outside into the bright afternoon sun where Lord Staunton turned to address Edmund.
“We won’t keep you from what I’m sure is a busy afternoon, Sir Edmund.” Once more, his voice contained that thread of steel. “I’m sure your cousin can find his own way home.”
He turned on his heel and walked away, his wife’s arm secured within his own.
Ewan grinned at Edmund’s look of disgust and offered his arm to Lady Beatrice, who gingerly placed her hand on his elbow.
He was surprised at how much he was looking forward to a quiet country walk with the lady.
But when he turned to take his leave of his cousin, Edmund’s calculated expression was enough to dull his spirits.
Don’t forget what you’re doing here, he could practically hear Edmund’s voice in his ear.
Without another word, or even a bow to the lady, Edmund hurried off in the opposite direction.
Chapter Six
Beatrice tried to scold her heart into behaving itself, but it was no use.
Apparently, it didn’t take much to send the organ into chaos. The mere feel of Mr. Brooks’ strong, muscled arm beneath her fingers was enough, for example.
She couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief when Sir Edmund stomped away, leaving Beatrice and Mr. Books quite alone.
Ben and Natalia had already walked ahead, and from the looks of things, Natalia was dragging her husband at a quicker pace than he was happy to go.
She must remember to thank her friend later.
Sir Edmund’s rudeness hadn’t bothered Beatrice. Nor had his fawning over Natalia whilst ignoring her. She was used to it.
She had worried, when Mr. Brooks had swept into the room, that he would see Natalia and Beatrice would fade into the background.
And yet the way he looked at her, smiled at her – it made her feel as though she
