They played a few rounds until his employer said he needed to rest his leg.
“The cursed thing is still giving me trouble from yesterday, and I know tomorrow will be worse.”
“Then I will see you at dinner, sir.” Kane went to the library to drop off the fresh supplies.
Tomorrow would be tedious, but Kane knew it was important for Sir Heath to put on a friendly face to help with his standing in the community. Even though Kane had not grown up with means, he had taught enough wealthy students to know that it was stressed to always be hospitable, especially the higher your standing. As a baronet, Sir Heath was one of the wealthier landowners, so his presence was required at these events.
* * *
The following day, the men left the manor on horseback, since the Wilcott home was only a few miles up the road. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for the planned outdoor festivities. When they came to the Wilcott estate, guests were already arriving. Women wore colorful dresses of delicate silk with parasols to shade them from the sun. Men wore lighter cotton garments to keep them cool in the summer heat.
The men dismounted and greeted their hosts.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Wilcott,” Heath said.
“Good afternoon, Sir Heath. I’m glad you could come.”
“It is my pleasure. May I introduce my estate manager, Kane Badgely. He is newly arrived to the area, so I thought it would be an opportune time for him to make the acquaintance of some of your guests, since he will be conducting business on my behalf.”
“Mr. Badgely, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope you both enjoy the day. There are games and refreshments set up on the back lawn.”
“Thank you, sir.” Kane smiled and followed Heath.
The men circled to some of the other guests, with Heath making the introductions. Kane didn’t mind that everyone would now be under the assumption that he was Sir Heath’s estate manager. Wasn’t he helping the baronet with the estate by teaching him? In a way, it was the truth.
“I think a glass of punch is in order. What do you think?” Kane asked.
“Agreed.”
As they walked toward the refreshment table, a lady hurried toward them. She wore a light pink frock with too many bows on it for Kane’s taste. The shawl around her shoulders slipped off in her haste to meet them, her parasol forgotten at her side. Kane didn’t miss the fact that the lady’s attention was directly fixed on the baronet.
“Sir Heath, you came.” She batted her eyelashes.
Kane wondered if that usually worked on men.
“I said I would come, and here I am. May I introduce Mr. Kane Badgely, my estate manager? Mr. Badgely, this is Miss Josephine Wilcott.”
“A pleasure to meet you at last.” Kane took her hand, bowing over it. “Sir Heath has told me about you. Delighted to finally meet you in person.”
Miss Wilcott beamed at the compliment, her blue eyes going back to Heath.
“Why, Sir Heath, have you been telling tales about me?”
“Not in the least.” He gave Kane a side glance that said he was not amused. “I merely reported to Mr. Badgely about our meeting at the ball the other night.”
“Well, there are some people I would like you to meet, then perhaps you can be my partner in a game of lawn bowls?”
Heath looked at Kane, almost begging for help, but Kane gave a slight bow and walked away. In Kane’s mind, it was the only way to know for sure if Sir Heath truly did not have an interest in the fairer sex. True, it might only be Miss Wilcott he did not like, but Kane did not want to intrude if his employer was interested in the lady.
Then again, there was Heath’s dislike of crowds and people. Perhaps Kane shouldn’t have abandoned him so haphazardly. No, it was better this way. Eventually, he would have to leave Stokesby Manor, so it wouldn’t do for Heath to lean too heavily on him.
Heath.
Just another reason not to get too close. In his mind, Kane was already calling the man by his first name, and the more he said it, the greater the urge to say it aloud, formality be damned.
After seeing that Heath was firmly in Miss Wilcott’s clutches, Kane browsed the array of food laid out on the refreshment table. He filled his plate with a few sandwiches and a fruit tart, then settled at one of the tables scattered nearby. Kane always enjoyed watching people. From time to time, he noticed Heath being led around like a dog by Miss Wilcott. Heath did not look pleased. In fact, he appeared downright miserable. A pang of guilt hit Kane. Poor man either did not like crowds, or Miss Wilcott. Perhaps both. And to make matters worse, every time the lady led him in another direction, Heath’s limp kept him from keeping up. Perhaps it was time to put a stop to this fiasco.
Kane was about to get up when a shadow fell across the table. He glanced up. It was Caroline.