Dalton’s Challenge by Penny Fairbanks
Chapter 4
Miss Thirley and Mama sat side by side in the music room, the baroness chatting enthusiastically while the younger woman listened with a patient, attentive expression. Dalton’s eyes darted between them, his throat constricting nervously every few seconds.
It had been over a week since Harriet’s injury. Though Miss Thirley had promised not to reveal the true circumstances surrounding his sister’s scraped hands and bruised knees, Dalton still did not know if he could or should trust her.
Miss Thirley seemed to notice Dalton’s gaze, her eyes shooting over to meet his. She gave him a knowing smile that made his heart skip a beat in an unusual combination of fear and excitement. She almost looked like she had read Dalton’s mind and wanted to tease him a bit.
“My lady, how is Miss Harriet doing? All healed now, I hope?” Miss Thirley asked at the next opportunity. Surely to anyone else, she sounded caring and concerned. Dalton could hear her ulterior motives. The woman glanced to Dalton once more, her gaze cool and collected.
Mama sighed, forever exasperated with her youngest child. She had claimed it the day Harriet had started walking. The girl would be nothing but trouble. Thus far, she had lived up to the prediction. “She is just fine, though she keeps trying to poke at her scabs. Other than that, she has returned to her usual spirited self.”
“I am so very glad to hear it,” Miss Thirley chirped. Mama smiled appreciatively at her guest while Dalton clenched his teeth together to keep from saying something rude and inevitably giving himself away. How could Mama not see that this woman was playing a game—was toying with him as she so clearly loved to do?
“It must have been very shocking for you to witness such a clumsy display, but I assure you this really is not unusual,” Mama continued with a rueful smile. “Our Harriet is always getting herself into predicaments. I daresay she has earned more bruises and scrapes and sprains than all of our other children combined.”
Miss Thirley gave an amused sigh, looking quite relieved. She said nothing further about the incident, simply giving Dalton another one of her looks. Her eyebrow lifted up, the corner of her mouth twitching in a small smile. She could still turn Dalton in if she wanted. Much to his surprise, Dalton found the silent challenge to be more invigorating than upsetting.
Once the young woman returned her full focus to Mama, Dalton looked around the room from the two ladies chatting in their chairs by the window to Papa and Mr. Thirley peering at something in the newspaper to Caroline playing a beautiful piece on the pianoforte for Mrs. Thirley. Lastly, his eyes drifted to the sofa where Anna and Noah sat, Anna swaying back and forth with little Beth in her arms. Young Master Thirley hovered nearby, eyeing the sleeping baby curiously.
Somehow, Miss Thirley and her family did not seem so out of place here amongst his own family. Only Patrick and Harriet were absent from the scene, trudging through boring lessons with their tutor and governess respectively. Still, Dalton could perfectly imagine their roles in the music room, Patrick seated in a quiet corner reading or sketching out some scene from a play and Harriet bouncing from conversation to conversation.
Dalton’s gaze returned to Mama and Miss Thirley, a lovely beam of light floating in from the window, transforming the younger lady’s hair into a golden halo. She looked almost angelic.
When had he become so used to seeing the Thirleys here? They had only been here for two weeks now, yet they seemed to have adjusted to life at Attwood Manor quite quickly—even stiff Miss Thirley, who never conducted herself with anything less than precise grace.
“Mrs. Waynford, can the baby play backgammon yet?” Master Thirley asked hesitantly, earning a chorus of laughter from everyone in the room. He looked around, eyes wide with surprise at the sudden commotion.
“Unfortunately, Beth is still too little to play just yet, but I am sure you will be a great teacher when it is time for her to learn,” Anna said in her light, soothing voice. Master Thirley smiled, inching closer to the sofa so he could get a better look at the baby.
Anna looked up and Dalton followed her gaze to Miss Thirley. The other woman sent a grateful smile to his sister before excusing herself from her conversation with Mama. She drifted through the room on impossibly silent feet until she stood next to the boy.
“Would you like to play backgammon with me, dear? That is, if the Harcourts have a set we can borrow.”
Miss Thirley’s suggestion took Dalton by surprise. He did not think her the type to enjoy games of any kind, preferring quieter pastimes like reading or embroidering.
“Allow me to fetch our set from the drawing room,” Dalton announced, jumping up from his seat in shocking haste. He raced to the drawing room in record time, eager to see Miss Thirley participate in something he had assumed to be quite out of character for her.
Once back in the music room, Dalton wasted no time in setting up the game on the table, Master Thirley lighting up with excitement. Papa and Mr. Thirley still discussed some article in the newspaper while Caroline and Mrs. Thirley had abandoned the pianoforte to keep Mama company. Of course, Anna and Noah only had eyes for their daughter. That left Dalton with little else to do.
“May I watch?” he asked playfully.
Miss Thirley went rigid for a moment before coolly answering, “If you wish.”
“I do indeed.” With a bright smile, Dalton settled himself in one of the chairs opposite the two players.
“Perhaps,” Miss Thirley continued under her breath, “you could learn a thing or two from me. I happen to be a talented backgammon player.”
Dalton chuckled, more intrigued than ever to see this side of Miss Thirley. He did not think she would like backgammon to begin with, let alone have enough interest to develop actual skill in the game. “I shall be the judge of that.”
Miss Thirley and her brother began playing, thoughtfully carrying out their moves and teasing each other in attempts to gain the upper hand. Dalton quickly realized that he was indeed learning something, though not about backgammon.
After a few minutes, he lost all focus on the game itself, instead observing Miss Thirley and the way she played with Master Thirley. She was indeed a smart and strategic player, though he could see that she held herself back to give the boy a fighting chance. That, however, did not interest Dalton nearly as much as the way Miss Thirley’s rigid demeanor slowly melted away, replaced with a sweet, warm smile and a lovely laugh.
Miss Thirley did have a heart after all, if only for this one person in the world, her dear brother. Dalton could understand that. He loved his siblings more than anything. Through this game of backgammon, Dalton had learned that he and Miss Thirley had at least that one thing in common.
He enjoyed witnessing this new side of Miss Thirley so much that the game flew by, with Dalton none the wiser as to who had the lead. Instead, he noticed the glimmer in Miss Thirley’s deep green eyes and the way her nose scrunched slightly when she laughed.
Before he knew it, their game had come to an end. Miss Thirley stood, gently ruffling her brother’s hair before giving him a swift kiss on the top of his head. The boy jokingly grimaced at the embarrassing display of affection, which only inspired Miss Thirley to smother him in a tight hug, showering him with kisses all over his face until he burst into laughter.
Dalton found himself joining in on their cheer. The sweet scene made him wonder if he watched some other beautiful lady and not the icicle he had come to know. Yet even in her smiles and giggles, Dalton could still see the determined, stubborn woman interwoven with this new gentle kindness breaking through. At first, it had seemed so foreign to Dalton. The more he saw, the more he thought it suited her. Perhaps she would show more of this side throughout the rest of their visit.
After a few moments of happy laughter, Miss Thirley snapped back into her perfectly rigid posture, her eyes returning to their stony silence. She must have remembered where they were. She turned to face the others in the room, her expression emotionless.
“Goodness gracious, I am terribly sorry about that. I must have gotten lost in the fun of the game,” she apologized, as poised as ever despite her embarrassment. At least, Dalton guessed she must be embarrassed despite her blank face. Her ears had gone quite red.
The Harcourts smiled with amusement and understanding. After all, they did this sort of thing all the time. “Please do not fret,” Mama reassured the young woman. “There can never be anything wrong with a cheerful game amongst family and friends.”
The Thirleys, on the other hand, looked rather perturbed. Mrs. Thirley held her hand out from her seat beside Mama and Caroline, beckoning for her children. “Warren, come join me,” she called in a strained voice.
The boy looked up at his sister with a nearly heartbreakingly reluctant expression. Miss Thirley could only give him a guilty smile before putting a hand on his back, gently pushing him away.
Something uncomfortable and gloomy gripped Dalton’s chest as he watched the exchange in silence. He could tell that the Thirley family carried quite a bit of tension. In fact, just about anyone could see that this family did not have the same warm, loving relationship the Harcourts shared.
A melancholy thought flashed through Dalton’s mind as he watched Miss Thirley, her eyes following her brother as he crossed the room, his shoulders rounded slightly in his disappointment.
Perhaps he could come to understand Miss Thirley’s attitude after all. Perhaps he had just caught a bleak glimpse into her life, a glimpse that would begin to explain her cold, immovable heart.
A blissful breezeswept through Dalton’s hair just as he took a sip of warm tea, the contrasting temperatures sending a pleasant chill down his spine.
The night was perfect for a peaceful evening of tea on the back veranda after dinner. Only Dalton and a few other Harcourt family members had come out, including Mama, Papa, and Anna. Noah had gone upstairs to check on Beth while Patrick and Harriet had been sent off to bed. Caroline had decided to retire early since she had to be at the neighboring family’s house first thing in the morning for a day trip.
Of course, the Thirleys had eagerly joined save for Master Thirley, who had also been sent to bed. Miss Thirley had not necessarily joined eagerly, but she had joined.
A grand blanket of stars twinkled from the velvety sky above, lovely fragrances wafting over to them from the nearby garden. Dalton looked over at Miss Thirley, seated at the same small table as Anna. When Mama had suggested that they head down to the veranda for some fresh air before bed, Miss Thirley had immediately taken her brother’s hand to bring him upstairs.
Anna, in her ever-present good nature, had asked Miss Thirley to come back down so they could spend more time chatting. Based on Anna’s eager expression, Dalton could tell that she guessed Miss Thirley would have stayed upstairs without her explicit invitation. As always, Anna hated for anyone to feel left out. She had always been the kindest and most thoughtful of the Harcourt children.
Normally, Dalton would not have been thrilled about having this lady join them for an amicable evening on the veranda. After watching Miss Thirley with her brother earlier, he suddenly found himself wanting to see what would happen next—to see if she would reveal that other side of herself again.
Papa’s voice drifted over to Dalton as he quietly conversed with Mr. Thirley, his words catching Dalton’s attention. “I cannot believe I only just remembered, but I have a distant cousin who lives in Wiltshire, Mr. Gabriel Holland from my mother’s side.”
That information took Dalton by surprise. He too had forgotten that Papa had a cousin in Wiltshire, the same county the Thirley family called home. What a strange coincidence, he pondered to himself, that he would somehow have another connection to Miss Thirley. Dalton took another sip of tea, trying to wash that thought down with it. Why should he care about having any connections with Miss Thirley? He still longed to be rid of all his connections with her, did he not?
“Mr. Holland, Mr. Holland…” The other gentleman drummed his fingers against his chin as he searched his mind for the name. Dalton silently hoped that perhaps Papa had been mistaken about his cousin’s county of residence. “Ah yes, I do know of a Mr. Holland though we have not formally met. He lives in Harboard, yes?”
“Indeed. I should write to him,” Papa mused. “It has been far too long since we last met. Don’t you find it a terrible shame to lose contact with family?”
Dalton bit his lip to keep from interjecting, from begging Papa not to arrange a visit to his cousin’s home. The last thing Dalton needed was to run into Miss Thirley all the way in Wiltshire. He already saw her more than enough in London, and now he had to survive a summer of her in his home.
He tilted his teacup back again, taking a bigger swig than he had intended, the still warm liquid scalding his throat on the way down. Papa would not have listened to him in any case. Dalton could already hear what his father would say, going on and on about a lord’s duty to his family, friends, and country and the importance of maintaining positive relations.
After all, if a quiet, reserved man like Papa could uphold his social duties as a baron, then surely Dalton would have no issue doing the same. Just the thought of it gave Dalton a headache. He did not need more lectures on his future responsibilities. He knew well enough the burdens that would fall on his shoulders when the title passed to him. He would not meet them a moment sooner.
Papa and Mr. Thirley’s calm conversation drifted toward other residents of Wiltshire. Luckily for Papa, Mr. Thirley tended toward the reserved side as well, making them natural companions. Dalton tuned out their words, nor did he pay any mind to Mama and Mrs. Thirley on his other side as they enthusiastically discussed their recent favorite knitting projects.
Instead, he watched Anna and Miss Thirley, seated across from him in the casual circle they had formed with their chairs, their small tea table in the middle. Though they both spoke quietly, their voices still carried over to Dalton well enough. To Dalton’s surprise, Anna led the conversation. Like Papa, Anna was rather reserved, yet Miss Thirley seemed even less inclined to offer warm, friendly conversation.
He knew Anna wanted to make their guest feel comfortable, as she always did. Despite her shy nature, his older sister put others first, though he did not know if Anna would have much success with this particular lady.
“Have you been enjoying your time at Attwood Manor thus far?” Anna asked with sweet curiosity.
“Yes, indeed,” the other woman responded with perfect politeness, though not much feeling.
Always patient, Anna continued the conversation despite Miss Thirley’s stiff response. “I am so very glad to hear that. Though I spend most of my time at our home in Essex now, Attwood Manor will always be so very near and dear to my heart. Perhaps you and I can go on a trip to explore our town so you can see more of the area.”
Miss Thirley almost smiled, causing Dalton to lean forward slightly in surprise. The woman’s posture had relaxed ever so slightly. “That is a lovely idea, Mrs. Waynford.”
Perhaps Anna, with her remarkably gentle warmth, had managed to draw Miss Thirley out of her cold shell just a bit. For some strange reason, a wave of relief swept over Dalton.
“How is Miss Waynford doing today?” Miss Thirley asked quietly. For the first time that evening, she seemed interested in truly participating.
Anna’s eyes lit up, always eager to talk about her daughter. “She is the loveliest little creature,” she cooed. “Though I am afraid she already has teeth coming in, which I am sure is terribly uncomfortable.”
Miss Thirley listened attentively, her eyes growing softer and her smile growing bigger as she listened to Anna talk about the miracle of motherhood and the many wonderful as well as frustrating things that came with it.
Despite how much she had annoyed him these past two years, Dalton was surprisingly glad that Miss Thirley had made a friend here. He had been irritated beyond belief when Mama had broken the news to him that the Thirley family would be spending the summer with them. He had been so sure that it would be a disaster from start to finish. There had indeed been challenging moments. Overall, however, the visit had not been as bad as he had expected. Especially now that Miss Thirley finally seemed to be relaxing.
As he watched and listened, Dalton idly wondered what it would be like to have her smile and laugh with him like that. Somewhere deep in his heart, barely scratching the surface of his awareness, Dalton hoped that he would find out someday.