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He chuckled.

“I expected you to be in uniform,” she answered, before he could offer another quip.

“It is only required when in an official capacity. I am here for a house-party, am I not?”

“Indeed you are.” She did not quite succeed in masking the heavy sigh in her voice.

“And?” he prompted.

“I was merely determining whether you are likely to disrupt the company.”

“And your conclusion?”

“Most certainly.”

Against her better judgement, Judith almost smiled.

That appeared to encourage him alarmingly. “My dear Miss Finch,” he said, lowering his voice slightly, “you have the expression of a woman carrying civilization entirely alone upon her shoulders.”

“Someone must.”

“And no one assists you?”

“My cousins attempt assistance occasionally—usually, this worsens matters.”

“She speaks the truth,” came another voice cheerfully from above.

Thomas Finch leaned over the staircase rail, handsome and dishevelled from late rising. “Edward attempted household management once. Three maids left immediately.”

At three-and-twenty Thomas had grown into his height, though not yet into Edward’s harder leanness; he was broadening through the shoulders, fairer than his brother, and possessed the open, eager countenance of a young man who had not yet learned to disguise enthusiasm as sophistication.

Baines laughed then, suddenly and genuinely, and Judith felt the sound unpleasantly somewhere beneath her ribs.

Oh, this man—time would tell if he were a gentleman—was dangerous indeed. Flirtation she understood perfectly… but he listened whilst doing so. Most charming men merely waited for opportunities to admire themselves aloud. Major Baines appeared genuinely entertained by other people, which rendered him infinitely more difficult to resist. Unfortunate.

“You see my situation,” Judith informed him coolly.

“I see that Blackthorn Hall may prove the happiest disorder in England.”

“You say that only because you have not yet witnessed luncheon.”

“I await it eagerly.”

“You should not.”

“I seldom behave as I should.”

No, Judith thought. She could certainly believe that of him.

Before Major Baines could offer another provocation, Simmons appeared in the doorway with the particular expression which indicated that Sir Lionel had remembered an obligation only after everyone else had been inconvenienced by it.

“Sir Lionel asks whether Major Baines might join him in the study, miss.”

“Indeed,” Judith murmured.

Baines turned towards her. “You say that as though I am being summoned before a magistrate.”

“My uncle is… dear.”