Fanny caught Jessica’s eye. “We had better find our own way inside without them.”
Jessica nodded.
They entered a large hall arm in arm and were directed toward the drawing room, where guests were milling about talking in small groups. The Duchess of Stapleton, Gillian, was on the far side of the room talking with a couple Fanny didn’t immediately recognize.
She turned to Jessica. “How about we take a turn about the room?”
But Jessica had caught sight of her husband standing across the room, and her face lit up with love. “Would you excuse me?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.” Jessica kissed her cheek, then abandoned Fanny with a laugh, meeting Gideon Whitfield halfway across the room. They didn’t kiss, but it was clear they were thinking about it, given how they smiled at each other’s lips.
Fanny felt a tiny pang of envy.
“Ah, young love. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Fanny winced inwardly and then turned to face the man she’d most hoped to avoid today. “Lord Letterford.”
He rubbed his hands together. “Now it really is a celebration. But her grace was just telling me that your father will not be joining us today. Surely that cannot be true.”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is,” she promised, eying the crowd in the hope of rescue.
Letterford drew closer. “Nothing seriously wrong, I trust.”
“No.” Fanny waved her hand about, discreetly shifting her body farther away from his. “A matter on the estate required his attention, I believe.”
Letterford sighed. “I’m glad to hear it, for it wouldn’t do to have two estates in distress.”
Fanny frowned at him. “What other estate is in distress?”
“All is not well with Hawthorne, I hear,” Letterford whispered.
Fanny hadn’t heard a word of it from anyone at home. “I’m sure that is not true.”
“I hope you are right,” Letterford said. “But my servants say otherwise. Bad health might yet take one of our dearest neighbors.”
Servants often knew there was trouble before anyone else. She would have to squeeze in a visit to the Hawthornes’ tomorrow, confirm all was well, and put an end to any rumors.
Jessica and Gideon strolled past, arm in arm, and Fanny frowned when they disappeared outside together.
“Now, don’t begrudge the pair their happiness,” Letterford murmured. “You and I know love is all too fleeting. Let her have this happy time, for we both know it ends all too soon.”
Unfortunately, that was true.
Letterford offered his arm, and Fanny, seeing no chance of diversion, resigned herself to being stuck with him for a while. Rebecca, Rafferty, and Ava hurried past, laughing together, and Fanny wished she might follow, but Letterford was as slow as an ancient drake. “I never thought there was a man brave enough to take on Mrs. Warner and smile about it.”
“He knows her nature very well.”
“Yes, practically grown up together,” Letterford said.
“Hardly that,” Fanny chided. “But he has been a regular visitor to Stapleton and my father for some years, like yourself. I’m sure he’s well prepared to make a second match.”
Rafferty would be her father’s second friend to end up married to one of his daughters, too. Fanny vowed not to be the third to fall foul of that dangerous trend.
Fanny wished she’d arranged for Mr. Dawes to travel with her instead of waiting for his new wardrobe to be delivered to him. She’d not known the extent of the wedding festivities until after her arrival. “Lady Rivers, I wonder if I might consult you on a matter of grave importance to me.”
Please do not propose to me for a second time, I beg of you!