He winked. "There were many beauties, but none that I can tell you about, Lady Victoria Worthingham. The lady you are, it would not be appropriate."
"Come, my dears. We shall have tea in my parlor upstairs," their mama said.
They headed upstairs, her brother taking in the house, seemingly remembering its beauty. It was the same for all of them when they traveled, even if just to town for several months. Dunsleigh was their home, the seat for the Dukes of Penworth, and they adored the house and estate. It was home, no matter where their lives took them.
Victoria allowed their mama to sit beside Josh. She sat across from them, excited to hear everything he had to say. They spoke of his trip, the people he met, and those he caught up with from England while traveling. The places, sights, and countries sounded amazing, and Victoria craved to make a similar trip. Supposing she could convince Josh to help her, that was. With her mother determined to see her wed again, she did not think traveling was in her future unless it was with her husband.
The thought of Lord Melvin floated through her mind as Josh recounted his amusing and very wet details of falling off a gondola in Venice. She smiled but only half-listened as she thought of a way to bring up the invitation to Lord Melvin's home. If she were to raise it, her mama would be curious indeed and start to gain ideas she had no right to.
"We've been invited to several house parties. The first is closest, just over the border with Hampshire. Lord Melvin has invited us to stay."
Josh raised his brow, a look of confusion crossing his features. "I did not know Albert liked to host guests. Are you sure it's a house party?"
Their mama looked to Victoria, and she shrugged. "He invited us three to stay with him when you returned from abroad. That is all he said. I do not know if there will be others in attendance."
"Hmm," Josh said, a mischievous light entering his eye. "Mayhap my old friend has set his sights on my sister. A trip to Hampshire would be welcome, and I haven't seen Melvin for some time."
Victoria did not want to come across as desperate, but she also was eager to travel to his estate. If he was indeed the famous author, one whom she loved to read, well, she wanted to know for certain. To discuss his works and those that were yet to be written.
"I shall write to him this week and seek a date that is suitable for him."
Victoria couldn't help but smile at the idea. What would his lordship say when she confronted him with the page of writing? Would he deny it? The idea that it wasn't a work of his hand dampened the idea of traveling to his estate, and yet, he wasn't so very bad. Certainly not to look at. If only he wasn't so awkward and standoffish.
"Is there a reason as to why Melvin has invited us? Does he have his sights set on Victoria?" Josh asked their mama in all seriousness, his gaze slipping to Victoria in question.
She groaned, rolling her eyes. "I danced with him at our ball last week. He invited us while we waltzed. I'm sure it was merely a means of conversation, so we did not dance in silence."
Her mama studied her a moment before sitting closer to her son, taking his hand. "Oh, I am so happy all my children are back on English soil. We have missed you, Josh dear. Tell us, did you meet anyone suitable for my boy?"
A light blush stole over his cheeks before he shook his head. "No, Mama. No one to report as yet, but next year I promise to search for a duchess. Only a lady will do for the Penworth name."
"You, dear brother, are a snob, but we have missed you." The door to the room burst open, and Alice raced inside. Josh stood, pulling his sister into his arms and kissing her cheeks.
"How did you know Josh was back, my dear?” their mama queried. “I have not sent a missive yet."
Alice sat on the opposite side of Josh, squashing all three of them on the lounge. "My gardener, returning from Petworth, told me he had seen the ducal carriage travel through the town. I came as soon as I could get our carriage hitched."
Lord Arndel and their two daughters followed soon after, saying a fond welcome to Josh. The pleasant afternoon turned into a dinner and night before the fire, enjoying one another's company. Victoria reveled in the comfort of having family around, of being so fortunate to have all that she did. The idea of Lord Melvin at Rosedale, alone, without family and very few friends, left her uneasy. She did not want to feel sorry for the man, but it was so very hard not to when he was so remote, so isolated, both personally and physically.
Maybe she could entice him to be more open, more available to people. If he were the famous author Elbert Retsek, then it would only help his career if he had a more public persona.
He would benefit from her skills, she was sure of it. Now, they just had to travel there so she could begin.
Chapter 6
Albert paced the front foyer of Rosedale, waiting to hear the sound of the Duke of Penworth's carriage. The very equipage that would bring Victoria to his estate. They had agreed to stay several days, not quite a week, and he was
