Daniel Robbins walked past the drawing room and stopped when he heard laughing. He stepped back a few paces and saw the back of Callie and Arizona's heads as they sat on the sofa together. They were sitting close together and laughing. He could see the remnants of tea and some sandwiches on the table to the side of the sofa.
For a moment he stood there and watched Arizona and Callie together acting warmly toward each other. There was an ease between the two that he hadn't seen for himself yet in the three weeks that Callie had been in England. Yet, watching them now a person would be forgiven to mistaken them for long time companions.
He shook his head a bit as he walked past the room to the little drawing room to return a book he had read the night before. Once it was returned to its rightful place, he passed the drawing room again and instead of going to his study as he planned, he walked upstairs to Barbara's sitting room.
"Lord Northampton," Barbara said with a smile as she looked up from her book as her lady's maid Jane stood finishing her hair.
"Lady Northampton," Daniel bowed his head.
It was a bit formal for the pair to address each other by their titles but it was something that had become almost pet names to the couple over the years. For as progressive as Barbara was, Daniel was a traditionalist.
"You may go down and see the mending, Jane," Barbara said as she set her book on the side table by her chair.
"Thank you, my lady," Jane said as she curtsied before she left the room.
Barbara watched as her husband walked over to the window with his hands behind his back. She knew from the way he carried himself that he had a lot on his mind. Though in the years they had been married she rarely knew him to not have a lot on his mind.
"You've something on your mind, Daniel," Barbara said.
"Arizona and Miss Calliope were in the drawing room together," Daniel said with a gruff voice.
Barbara tilted her head. "I fail to see why Arizona and Miss Calliope being in the drawing room together would have you in such a contemplative mood."
Daniel turned his head to his wife before looking back out the window. "It struck me watching them that Arizona looked like a young woman gossiping with a female friend instead of a lord with his betrothed," he mused.
It took all the effort in Barbara's body to keep her eyes from rolling. "Daniel," she rose from her chair. "Arizona has been officially your heir for years now and for years before, she was groomed for it. The idea of her having a bit of fun has you so irritated?"
Daniel turned and looked at his wife. "The work of a lord is not frivolous. If Arizona is going to give in to the temptation of leaning toward such nature, then perhaps I have been unwise in my preparations for this estate."
"Those are grave allegations leveled against Arizona for enjoying an afternoon with the woman who will be her wife, Daniel," Barbara said as her eyes narrowed. "Arizona has shown herself able and willing to play the part you have cast her in."
Daniel grunted softly as he turned to the window again.
"Are you so blind to your own history in this department that you can not remember being young and working to make a match a happy one?" Barbara challenged.
Daniel turned with his brows knitted together. "I was nothing but a gentleman during our betrothal."
"My point," Barbara said. "You and Arizona share the desire to make your wife to be comfortable. You made me laugh when we shared tea in our time together before our wedding. You endeavored to make me comfortable in your presents and to ease me into the duties that came with a marriage to you. Should you condemn Arizona for doing the same for Miss Calliope?"
Daniel's shoulders relaxed a bit at his wife's keen observations.
Barbara crossed the room and put her hand on his cheek. His blue eyes had drawn her in from their first meeting and continued to do so even now. "We have raised a good man in Arizona," she said to make her point finer still.
Daniel nodded as he stepped a bit closer to his wife. "Thank you for making me see the reason."
"Oh Daniel," Barbara whispered. "I will always do so."
Daniel bent his head to press a soft kiss to her cheek. "Talk a walk with me in the garden before we must dress for dinner?"
"That would be lovely," Barbara smiled as she took his arm when he offered it.
/ /
Callie sat in her bedroom with Lexie Grey behind her as she used her skilled fingers to twist and braid her hair for her. The young woman had been Callie's lady's maid since she came to Hopkins. Callie found her to be a welcome companion.
"How is that, Miss Calliope?" Lexie asked as she stepped back.
"Very good, Lexie," Callie nodded as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Is there anything else I may help you with before dinner?" Lexie asked.
Callie turned around in her chair and looked at the young woman. They were the same age really but with her impending marriage Callie felt worlds older. "I was hoping that you might direct me in something."
"Anything, ma'am," Lexie nodded.
"I do not believe Lord Northampton likes me very much," Callie said and then paused for a moment. "He always has a cross look on his face when I'm around him. For a man who helped arrange the marriage I'm about to enter, it's concerning."
Lexie giggled a bit before sobering. "Lord Northampton is a serious man, Miss Callie. I don't think he smiles much unless Lady Northampton is around."
Callie relaxed a bit hearing it wasn't her that made the Marquess so grumpy. Though she hoped in time he would soften a bit to her. Her own father could be a very serious man but he always had a softer spot for family.
"May I ask another question?" Callie asked.
"Of course," Lexie smiled.
Callie played with her fingers in her lap as she tried to figure out how to ask it. "Ari-Lord Robbins," she corrected herself, "she said that you're the daughter of a baron."
"I am, yes," Lexie said with her smile fading a bit. "You're wondering why the daughter of a baron is working as a lady's maid I suppose?"
"I shouldn't have asked, we barely know each other," Callie said apologetically.
"I am your lady's maid," Lexie said with a shake of her head. "You should know the person who helps you dress and acts as your companion. I will tell you ma'am," She turned and sat just at the end of Callie's bed. "My father's father was made a baron because he saved one of the late Queen Victoria's grandsons from being trampled by a horse. The family never had much money but it was an honor to be given a title. My father wasn't well suited to it and his first marriage wasn't a happy one. They had a daughter, my sister Meredith, but little else came from it but misery. When his first wife passed he married my mother. He became a much happier man from how my late mother told it. He had myself and my sister Molly. But when my mother passed he drank himself to death and the bit of money our family had went with him. I managed to land here with Lady Northampton's good grace. Molly is a governess in London."
"Are you planning to stay in service?" Callie wondered. If she was back in America she might have given her a hug but she wasn't sure here it was allowed.
"For now," Lexie nodded. "I have no money other than my wages here and nowhere else to go. Our family home was sold to pay my father's debts. Maybe one day I will marry but until then, I am happy there."
"At least you're happy," Callie said with a small smile.
"Lord and Lady Northampton are good people even if his lordship can be a bit gruff. His time in the army sobered him I think," Lexie said.
"You said you have another sister? Meredith?" Callie asked.
"She is married to the cooks, Mrs. Shepherd's son Derek. He is a doctor in London. When the family goes down for the season I get to see her," Lexie smiled.
"Mrs. Shepherd has a son?" Callie asked.
"And four daughters," Lexie said. "They were all school age when she started here. Her husband was in the army with his lordship and was killed. I think her ladyship tries to take care of all she can with employment."
"That is very kind," Callie noted.
"It is," Lexie agreed. "If there is nothing else ma'am, I will see myself downstairs."
"Go ahead," Callie said as she turned back to the mirror. She took a moment to apply a little perfume before standing.
Arizona knocked on the frame of the opened door as Callie stood. "You look exquisite."
"Thank you, Lord Robbins," Callie said as a smile spread across her face at the compliment. She took Arizona in her dinner wear. The jacket and waistcoat were cut just for her form and made her look dashing. "You look very smart in your dinner jacket."
Arizona smiled as she stepped a little deeper into the room. "It may not be the most proper thing for me to be in here but the typical worries of a man in your bedroom are less pronounced when it's me."
Callie chuckled and shook her head a bit. "And what worries are those?"
Arizona came farther into the room with her arms behind her back. "Your virtue for one."
"I feel as though my virtue is well protected with you here," Callie said. When Arizona drew close, she lifted her hand to cup her jaw. "You have been nothing less than a gentleman since I've come here."
Arizona leaned in and pressed a kiss to Callie's cheek and then a second to the opposite cheek before kissing her lips very softly. "You are safe with me, Calliope."
Callie closed her eyes a moment at the tenderness that Arizona displayed with her. It was refreshing to have someone who had such a tender side be who she would marry. "I have not doubted so from the first moments I have come here.'
Arizona leaned against the hand still on her cheek and turned her head to kiss Callie's wrist before straightening up and offering her arm. "Allow me to escort you down?"
Callie slipped her hand around Arizona's arm and smiled as she looked into her blue eyes. "Please do, Lord Robbins."
/ /
Mark Sloan, Earl of Portland walked through the door. The butler, Owen Hunt, took his jacket and top hat for him.
"The family is in the drawing room, My Lord," Owen said with a bow of his head.
"Thank you, Hunt," Mark said as he walked down the hallway.
Lexie was coming down the stairs as Mark was passing. He ducked into a small alcove and waited for her to pass before he reached out for her arm and tugged her closer to him.
"Miss Grey, I was hoping to see you here," Mark said as he looked down with a wide smile.
"Lord Portland," Lexie said as she gave a bashful smile up at the earl. "Come for dinner with your uncle or are you hoping to lay eyes on who Lord Robbins is to marry?"
"Can't a man do more than one thing at a time?" Mark asked with a chuckle.
"From what I've heard you are very good at doing more than one thing at a time, my lord," Lexie said coyly.
Mark's smile somehow got wider as the flirting that had been going on for as long as the two knew each other kept up. "Anytime you wish to see for yourself, Miss Grey, I would be happy to give you a first hand account," he offered.
"I will remember that for future," Lexie said as her eyes lifted to look into his. "If you will excuse me, sir, I'll have my own dinner to get to and mend for Miss Calliope."
"What's your read on her?" Mark asked in a quiet voice to make sure his question wasn't overheard.
"I like her," Lexie admitted. "And Lord Robbins seems already smitten."
"Better than being married off to someone plain and simple," Mark mused even if the idea of marrying someone sent a chill down his spine. He would have to at some point but he had no plans to do so any time soon.
"I'd say so," Lexie nodded. "Have a good evening sir, if I may go now."
"Have a good evening, Miss Grey," Mark said with a bow of his head. He watched her walk away and stood in the alcove to collect himself a moment. He stepped out and headed down to the drawing room.
Daniel and Barbara were sitting on a sofa facing the grand fireplace with a footman serving them drinks, Carlos in a chair to the left of the sofa.
"Uncle," Mark smiled as he walked into the room.
"Mark," Daniel gave a nod to his nephew. He was the only son of his older sister Margret who he was very fond of. When Mark's own father died a year ago the two had become even closer than they had been before. "This is Carlos Torres," he said to his nephew. "Carlos, this is my nephew, Mark, Lord Portland."
"A pleasure," Carlos said stiffly. As much as he had hunted for a title for his daughter he was still very stiff with the titles themselves.
"Mark," Arizona said from the doorway. "I wasn't aware you were joining us for dinner."
Mark turned to his cousin and gave a warm smile. "Your mother offered a seat at her table. It would be rude to turn down such a warm invitation," he said as he held his hand out to her for a handshake.
"Mum always has a seat for every stray in the county," Arizona teased. "Mark, I'd like you to meet my fiance, Miss Calliope Torres. Calliope, this is my cousin, Mark, Lord Portland."
"A pleasure to meet you, My Lord," Callie said as she extended her hand.
"The pleasure rests with me, I assure you," Mark said as he took her hand and bowed as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the back of her hand.
"Ever the charmer, cousin," Arizona said as she brought Callie to sit in one of the chairs. She accepted a drink from the footman.
"I am known for my wit and charm from here to France and back again," Mark said with a chuckle as he took his seat.
"Is that so?" Arizona teased him. "I have been to France several times and I don't recall anyone mentioning your name."
"I believe you and I run in different areas of France when we visit," Mark teased back.
"Tell me, how have the renovations to Welbeck Abbey gone?" Barbara asked her nephew.
"Very well," Mark smiled back. "They should be done in the next month or two."
As the others spoke of the work Mark had done to his home, Arizona turned to Callie and gave her a soft smile.
"Did I tell you how wonderful you look this evening?" Arizona said in a quiet voice.
"Thank you, Lord Robbins," Callie said with a playful tone. "You look quite dashing tonight yourself."
"You flatter me," Arizona said as the tips of her ears turned a bit red.
"If not your wife, then who?" Callie asked.
"Fair point," Arizona said as her hand reached for Callie's to give it a squeeze for a moment.
When nearly all the before dinner drinks were finished, Mr. Hunt, walked to the entry of the drawing room.
"Dinner is served, My Lord," Owen said with a deep bow.
Daniel stood up as everyone followed and extended his arm to his wife to take as they walked in. Bit by bit everyone followed them in with Arizona and Callie bringing up the end.