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The laird’s guests arrived three days later. Cordelia hadn’t seen Sebastian since he’d kissed her on the Burnwick House grounds, but she wasn’t worried. Their connection had not begun on the surest footing, but he’d shown himself dependable and kind. They had obstacles to overcome, but she didn’t mean to give up, and she knew Sebastian wouldn’t either.

“Please pay attention, Cordelia.” Mother’s frustrated voice cut through Cordelia’s distraction. They were riding in the family carriage to Teviot Castle for a gathering in the gardens. “Three different families will be there, all of whom I’ve heard mentioned around London. Among them, though, are the Lithgows.”

Cordelia had heard of that family. They held some significance in London Society. She hadn’t realized they lived in this area of the kingdom.

“You are not to babble on about your art.” As always, Father spoke of her passion in tones generally reserved for something truly distasteful. “As we are not likely to return to London for years yet, this is your best opportunity for making beneficial connections.”

It was not difficult to understand the meaning behind his declaration. Those “beneficial connections” were not of the casual variety. They meant to see her married advantageously, no doubt having been struck with fear of the contrary upon hearing she had been spending time with a local farmer.

Before coming to Teviotbrae, she’d likely have simply shrunk under the weight of her parents’ demands. She knew now what she wanted and the future she meant to claim. Her parents could scheme up all the matches they wanted; she would not bow to those schemes.

As the family stepped into the formal garden at Teviot Castle, Seraphina slipped her arm through Cordelia’s. They were, as always, each other’s unfailing support.

They were greeted by the laird, whom Mother and Father treated with deference. For her part, Cordelia knew she would never be able to entirely respect him, knowing how he had treated his own grandson.

“Allow me to make introductions.” The laird motioned to a group of finely dressed people and began doing precisely that.

The MacGregors were a family of long standing in the area, with claim to a large estate closer to the coast. They spent time every Season in London, though they were not there for more than a few weeks.

They were next introduced to the Rutherford family, who lived closer to Teviotbrae than the MacGregors and had a daughter of an age with Seraphina, but who hadn’t quite the same standing in Society as the MacGregors.

The last introduction was to the family Mother and Father had anticipated most: the Lithgows. They were well known in London. Cordelia had seen their very fine carriage from a distance in Hyde Park and had, from almost as far a distance, observed them in their box at the theater. She hadn’t ever met them, though.

The son of the family, Mr. Douglas Lithgow, looked to be about Sebastian’s age. The silks and laces he wore spoke of prosperity without ostentation. Literally nothing about him was off-putting. Cordelia might have enjoyed meeting him if not for the gleam that immediately entered her parents’ eyes.

He offered a bow to Cordelia and Seraphina in turn. Cordelia was careful to execute her answering curtsey with precision but not encouragement. Seraphina seemed a little upended but managed the interaction with aplomb.

“We will allow the young people to interact.” Mother went so far as to nudge Cordelia closer to Mr. Lithgow.

Seraphina, good sister that she was, slipped her arm once more through Cordelia’s, keeping the two of them quite close together. “Miss MacGregor, do join us.” Adding a fourth to their numbers was a stroke of genius. Nothing in the interaction could be viewed as intimate.

“How fortunate that your family has come to live in Teviotbrae,” Miss MacGregor said. “None of us travels to London as often as we would like. We simply must visit one another at our homes here.”

“An excellent suggestion,” Mr. Lithgow said, his manners everything that was warm and welcoming, but not the least bit overly familiar.

“How far do you live from Teviotbrae?” Seraphina was doing a fine job of leading the conversation. They had decided ahead of time that, should Cordelia be pushed toward someone by their parents, she would simply make herself an observer and Seraphina would take the lead.

“Not far,” Mr. Lithgow said with an admittedly handsome smile. “A bit more than a day’s journey is all.”

Seraphina colored up a little.

From just beyond the gathering, someone approached. At first, Cordelia didn’t recognize the new arrival, clad in a coat of striped, gray silk and a deep red waistcoat, wavy black hair pulled back with a red ribbon. After a mere moment, she knew him: Sebastian. She’d only ever seen him in the clothes of a home farmer. Dressed as he was then, he very much looked the part of heir to a laird.

Cordelia did her utmost not to draw attention to his arrival, though he stole her breath a little. The laird would be livid. The guests would be confused. Her parents would likely blame her for anything that went wrong.

Sebastian walked directly to where she stood, moving with confidence and assurity. She held her breath. Miss MacGregor caught sight of him, her brows lifting in appreciation.

As Sebastian joined them, Mr. Lithgow turned to see who had stepped up beside him. His face split into a broad grin. “Sebastian, old boy. I hadn’t heard you were back in Teviotbrae.”

“It is good to see you again, Douglas. I have not been to Town since we last saw each other there. How have you been?”

“Fine.” Mr. Lithgow looked quickly at the ladies gathered around. “I am assuming you know the Misses Wakefield, as they are your neighbors. Have you made the acquaintance of Miss MacGregor?”

Sebastian dipped a perfectly executed bow. “I believe we met once a number of years ago, when I was visiting Teviot Castle.”

“I seem to remember that as well,” she said. “The laird is your grandfather, if I am recalling correctly.”

“You are absolutely correct.”