Alight breeze blew around Jenny as she awaited the arrival of Lord Dowding. Gray clouds promised a change in the weather, but they would be safe for several hours. She had no idea where the earl was taking her, but he had arranged an outing together. All he had asked of her was that she wear warm clothes, thus why she wore a woolen traveling gown and a fur-lined pelisse.
As Louisa bounced on her toes to keep warm, Jenny allowed her mind to wander to the thoughts that had plagued her since she had last seen Lord Dowding. Would she and the earl remain friends, or would something stronger develop between them? She truly hoped for the latter, but given his clear aversion to love, friendship was likely all he could offer.
If that proved to be the case, she would accept it. What other choice did she have? One could not force another to love her.
Yet, each moment they spent together brought them closer to stepping beyond friendship. Granted, they were small steps, but they moved them forward, nonetheless.
The carriage trundled up the drive and came to a stop in front of the school. Lord Dowding alighted, wearing a rather wide smile on his face.
“Miss Jenny. Miss Dunston,” he said with a bow.
She and Louisa curtsied in response.
The earl glanced up at the sky. “I believe we’ll be able to return before the storm arrives, but I say we leave now so as not to test that theory.”
“Where are we going?” Jenny asked as he handed her into the carriage.
“That,” he said as he dropped into the bench across from Jenny and Louisa, “is a surprise. But perhaps I can give you a hint. It’s located only fifteen minutes from here.”
Jenny laughed. “Will you at least give us a general direction? Fifteen minutes away can mean any number of places.” She paused and knitted her brow. “And may I ask the reason for this excursion?”
“As to your first question, no, I shan’t tell you any more than I already have. What kind of surprise would it be if I gave you too many clues? But I shall answer your second question. What you’ve done for me, the role you played, it deserves a reward of sorts.” His grin widened. “Or perhaps it’s simply an excuse for friends to spend time together.” He said the last with a wink.
Jenny let out a small sigh. Did he not realize that the only reward she wanted was to be in his company? He could have invited her to luncheon again or called over to the school, and she would have been perfectly happy. Although she liked the idea of a surprise…
As the vehicle moved forward, they shared in pleasant conversation about topics of little consequence. Neither mentioned Lord Tulk or any other matter that might have changed the lightness of the atmosphere. It was not long—fifteen minutes exactly if Jenny was to hazard a guess—before the carriage slowed and turned right down a country lane.
“Let me close this,” Nicholas said as he leaned over and pulled shut the curtains. “I would like you to see it in all its splendor.”
Jenny found herself reminded of her first trip to the seaside as a child. Her parents had described it so vividly that she spent the entire journey peering out the window, waiting for her first glimpse of the ocean. Lord Dowding was able to create that same sense of anticipation.
The carriage stopped, and Lord Dowding grinned. “Are you ready?”
Jenny nodded. “I am.”
After the driver opened the door, Lord Dowding helped Jenny and Louisa to alight. And Jenny was astounded by what she saw.
Before her sat a large derelict house covered with so much ivy that the stone was no longer visible. The windows no longer held panes of glass, and brambles and thistles grew tall along the walls.
“I never knew this existed,” she said in awe. “Has it been abandoned long?”
Nicholas smiled. “I had heard rumors about this place when I was a child, but it was not until my seventeenth birthday that I rode in search of it. It’s said that the house was built by a Spanish nobleman over two hundred years ago, but he abandoned it not long after it was completed.”
Jenny gaped. “But why abandon what he spent so much time building?”
“Well,” the earl replied, “it’s said that the place is haunted.”
Louisa let out a tiny squeak and grabbed Jenny’s arm.
Jenny’s heart skipped a beat. “Haunted? You don’t believe in ghosts, do you?”
Nicholas shrugged. “I imagine it’s just a tale, but who knows? Come, let’s go inside.” He offered her his arm, which she took.
“I… I think I’ll remain out here,” Louisa stammered.
“Surely, you can’t be frightened,” Jenny said, despite her pounding heart.
Her friend gave a nervous laugh. “No, of course not. It’s just that…” She glanced around as if searching for an excuse. “Oh yes, I brought a book to read. I’ve nearly finished the story, and you know how exciting the ending of a book can be. So, I’ll just remain in the carriage to finish it. I hope you don’t mind.”