Bound by Honor

Chapter 14

“I see,” Letitia said, although she didn’t see at all. Why couldn’t Mr.

Vernon take care of his cow? “Where is your mama now?”

“She needs to find Uncle Percy. We mustn’t disturb them when they talk

about grown-up matters,” Henry explained.

“Do you want to play with us?” William piped in, his gaze encouragingly

hopeful.

“Perhaps I ought to ask your mama,” Letitia said and began walking

toward the hall. Who was the woman whose children ran unrestrained

through this house and who called Sir Percival her best friend? Her chest

tightened when she considered the answer.

“She won’t mind,” Henry told her.

Just then, a female voice called out from the center of the house. “William!

Henry! Where are you now?”

“Here, Mama!” Henry called. “There’s a lady here in the corridor.”

“Is there?” replied the voice with a hint of laughter and sounding closer

than before. “I hope she’s not wearing a white dress.”

The boys giggled in reply.

“She’s not a ghost, Mama,” William shouted back, clearly amused by the

suggestion. “Her dress is blue.”

“Well, what sort of a jes—” The woman who appeared around the corner

stopped abruptly, too astonished to finish the sentence. But she

re-collected herself almost immediately.

“I do beg your pardon, ma’am,” she said. “That is indeed a surprise. Have

you just arrived?”

Clearly, Sir Percival had not deemed it necessary to inform his mistress of

his marriage. Letitia took quick stock. Mrs. Vernon was rather tall for a

woman and past the first bloom of youth, but her features were handsome.

Locks of dark hair peeked from under the bonnet, and dark-gray eyes

smiled at Letitia with a mixture of apology and encouragement.

“I do beg your pardon,” she repeated. “I am Mrs. Vernon, Percy’s

neighbor. I’d hoped to find him at home. He is always very helpful when it

comes to farm problems. Mr. Petre, his steward, might do just as well, but

unfortunately he is gone for the day too. Oh, Slater”—she turned to the

butler who appeared in the corridor—“I’m sorry for leaving you behind

while William and Henry dashed for the library, especially since Percy has

a guest. But, you were about to tell me something when they took off and I

followed them.”

Slater stopped and took a deep breath, probably to disguise the fact that

he was panting like an old bellows.

“Yes, indeed, ma’am. My lady”—he turned to Letitia—“Mrs. Vernon came

in search of Sir Percival regarding an emergency at Harewood House’s

farm.” Then he addressed Mrs. Vernon again, “Her ladyship is not a guest,

ma’am. This is Lady Letitia Hanbury, Sir Percival’s wife.”

The effect was immediate and akin to a bolt of lightning. Mrs. Vernon’s

large and quite-beautiful eyes widened in a shot of panic before she

lowered them and curtsied to the new hostess of Bromsholme.

“Good grief!” she exclaimed. “Why has he done this?” The color crept up

her cheeks at Slater’s indignant jerk of the head.

Letitia, on the other hand, felt the blood draining from her face. Mrs.

Vernon put a hand over her mouth as if astonished by her own words, but

when she removed it, her eyes were laughing again.

“Oh dear,” she said while the color spread all over her face, “this is my

day of blunders. I do beg your pardon again, Lady Letitia. My comment

referred to your husband’s sly ways. I had no idea he planned to marry. I

would not intrude upon you for the world if he had given us any hint at all

as to his plans. Oh, if Percy were my son’s age, I would seriously consider

boxing his ears for this omission.”

Letitia felt a smile tug at her mouth. It might be an amusing spectacle.

“Uncle Percy!” William cried. “Henry lost another tooth!”

Mrs. Vernon whirled around while her sons ran toward the approaching

figure.

Sir Percival didn’t seem the least embarrassed by his mistress’s visit. For

some reason, he watched Letitia instead of Mrs. Vernon.

Then suddenly his expression changed, as if he’d just recalled something

important. “Oh, I say, another tooth, Henry? Let me see how many new

teeth you’re going to have.”

Henry obligingly opened his mouth again.

“Just as I thought.” Sir Percival winked and ruffled his hair. “Soon you’ll

bite apples in half as if they were strawberries.”

“I do not know whether I should start with congratulations or scolding,”

Mrs. Vernon said. “I am mortified to have accosted her ladyship unawares,

while William and Henry nearly toppled her over, racing as usual. You

have been extremely secretive, Sir Percival Hanbury. I hope you have a

sound explanation.”

“I do beg your forgiveness, Mary,” Sir Percival replied with a slight bow of

his head. “It had not been an intentional omission. As soon as the Earl of

Stanville and I signed the marriage contract, I hastened to London to

obtain a special license. His lordship did not wish to put off the nuptials on

any account.”

“And sending a note was not an option?” she asked.

“Forgive me,” he mumbled. “I confess to certain absentmindedness on

account of this important event.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Mrs.

Vernon to Letitia, though, of course, the warmth with which he’d regarded

the little Vernons a moment earlier gave way to something akin to a

grimace. “Mrs. Mary Vernon is our neighbor,” he said. “Mary, this is Lady

Letitia Hanbury. We hope to have the honor of your company at the

wedding breakfast on Monday.”

Mrs. Vernon nodded.

“Thank you. It will be a great pleasure.” She smiled at Letitia. “You mustn’t

fear that you will be confined to a life of seclusion on account of your

husband’s, ah, absentmindedness. I believe I may safely vouch that there

are many in this neighborhood who will be delighted to make your

acquaintance.”