A Comfortable Wife Read Online Free PDF Page B

her eyes demurely cast down. He swallowed a disbelieving “humph”.
    “All things considered—and I really do not feel I can let this opportunity slide, Ruthven—I do believe dear Antonia’s suggestion is the best.” Folding her hands in her lap, Henrietta nodded decisively.
    “And what,” Philip asked, his tone deliberately even “ is dear Antonia’s suggestion?”
    “Why, a fête-champêtre —didn’t I say?” Henrietta regarded him wide-eyed. “A positively inspired idea, as I’m sure even you will allow. We can set everything up on the lawns. Battledore and shuttlecock, races, bobbing for apples, archery, a play for the children—you know how these things go. We can have the food and ale set up on trestles for the tenants and entertain our neighbours on the terrace, overlooking all the fun.”
    Henrietta gestured grandly. “A whole afternoon in which everyone can enjoy themselves. I rather think we should hold it in the next week or so, before the weather turns, but naturally you’d have to be present. Shall we say next Saturday—a week from now?”
    Philip held her enquiring gaze, his expression as informative as a blank wall. A garden party was infinitely preferable to a local ball—but at what price? A vision of hordes of farmers and their wives tramping across his lawns swam through his mind; in his imagination he could hear the high-pitched shrieks of multitudes of children and the screams as some, inevitably, fell in the lake. But worse than all that, he could clearly see the bevy of simpering, silly, local young misses to whom he would, perforce, have to be civil.
    “Naturally, I’ll assist in any way I can.”
    Antonia’s soft words cut across Philip’s thoughts. He glanced her way, then, one brow slowly rising, turned back to Henrietta. “I admit to reservations that acting as hostess at such a large and varied gathering will overly tire you.”
    Henrietta’s grin was triumphant. “No need to worry over me. Antonia can stand in my stead for the most part—I’m looking forward to sitting on the terrace with the other dowagers, keeping an eye on it all from a suitable elevation.”
    “I can imagine,” Philip returned drily. He shifted hisgaze to Antonia. “Yet your ‘most part’ is not precisely a light load.”
    Antonia’s chin came up; she shot him a distinctly haughty glance. “I think you’ll discover, my lord, that I’m more than up to snuff. I’ve managed such gatherings at Mannering for years—I anticipate no great difficulty in overseeing my aunt’s entertainment.”
    Philip ensured his expression held just enough scepticism to make her eyes flash. “I see.”
    “Good.” Henrietta thumped the floor with her cane. “So it’s Saturday. We’ll send out the invitations tomorrow.”
    Philip blinked. Hugo, he noticed, looked vaguely stunned. Henrietta, of course, was beaming happily up at him. Drawing in a deep breath, he hesitated, then inclined his head. “Very well.”
    As he straightened, he deliberately caught Antonia’s eye. Her expression was innocent but her eyes, tapestries of green and gold, were infinitely harder to read. She raised her brows slightly, then reached for his empty cup.
    Eyes narrowing, Philip surrendered it. “I intend to hold you to your offer.”
    She treated him to a sunny, utterly confident smile, then moved away to straighten the tea trolley.
    Suppressing a snort, Philip turned to find Hugo beside him.
    “Think I’ll go join Geoffrey.” Hugo wriggled his shoulders. “In case you haven’t noticed, there’s an aura about here that’s addling wits.”
     
    The dew was still on the grass when Antonia headed for the stables the next morning. Early morning rides had been a long-ago treat; Philip’s return had resurrected pleasant memories.
    Entering the long stable, she paused, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dimmer light. Rising on her toes, she looked along the glossy backs, trying to ascertain whether thechestnut gelding the