Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"You have a marvelous mansion, Lord Tennyson, " one of the ladies smiled at his father. "Very sad Lady Charlotte could not be joining us during these past few days, they've been most entertaining."

"I apologize on her behalf she couldn't be here. "

"Why? Is the lady well?" someone else asked.

"She's better now, Lady Anna. Thank you. I believe it was the seasonal indisposition ladies sometimes suffer from when autumn approaches "

"How inconvenient." The lady put her hand over her chest "Very unpleasant. Please, send her my regards, I am looking forward to seeing her next time."

"I will let her know you asked after her, very kind of you. She would've loved to see you. Although my beloved wife has never been much fond of hunting, she would've enjoyed the rest of the activities."

Callum glanced at the servant and the man refilled his glass. He looked back at his plate and stabbed the bigger piece of meat in it with his silver fork.

"And you, Father. How many - how do you call them- pests- did you kill today?"

Tennyson spared him a sympathetic smile. The ones Callum dreaded but had learned to ignore.

"The point of hunting my dear son is not killing."

"It isn't?"

He felt Cian step on his foot and he picked the piece of meat from his fork to give to the dog. "Then what is the aim of it?"

He wiped his hand on the table cloth.

Tennyson's lips pressed into a forced smile and he turned to Henriette, who was sitting opposite him down the big table.

"Lady Henriette, allow me to inquire- How did you like today's adventure?"

"You went hunting, Miss Henriette?"

One of the ladies exclaimed "How brave!"

"I wouldn't say brave, as I had...let's say very interesting teachers. It was more of an educational experience. " Henriette turned to Callum. "Thank you for keeping me company."

"I should be the one thanking you. I thoroughly enjoyed it. "

He smiled back at her and took another piece. Dinners after hunts were always richly organized and he thought the food was most likely as delicious as it looked.

"The main course is very good, isn't it?" Lady Anna remarked. "Familiar, yet there's something different about it. "

"I'm very glad you like it, we have a new chef. "

"Oh, and what is the dish?"

"It is the traditional meat pie, but with eastern spices."

"Eastern?" Henriette asked.

"Yes, we've begun importing many spices from the east, "Tennyson said proudly.

"How exotic, " Anna said. "I hope they become more popular. "

"I'm sure the workers from East end will love sprinkling eastern spices on their bread. When they can afford bread. "

Callum challenged and Tennyson turned to the rest of the people on the table.

"Excuse my son's unnecessary remarks, he likes to throw statements on topics he knows nothing about."

"I don't need to know much to see people are starving."

One of the ladies folded her napkin nervously.

"Let's not upset the ladies with such talks, shall we?"

"We're not that fragile, " Henriette said. "And I think we shouldn't close our eyes to reality, regardless of how grim it is. "

Callum and Henriette exchanged a look and something passed between them. He noticed Tennyson had not missed it either.

"How is your family, Lady Clare? I haven't seen them since we spent a few weeks in Oxford back in May." One of the ladies asked in an attempt to change the topic.

"Very well, thank you. My sister is getting married next month. "

"She is? But that's splendid. She must be so excited. I remember being so happy about mine."

"Oh, she can't wait to call herself Dutchess Bailey. "

The ladies giggled and Anna asked

"And you, Henriette? Are you planning on getting married soon, too?"

Henriette stilled.

"I am always amazed by how concerned people are about my well-being. Thank you."

"The sooner a woman marries, the better. " Tennyson said, wiping his hands in the silk handkerchief.

"And why is that?" She said and turned to Callum "By the way, I've never heard anyone ask my brothers when they'd marry."

Callum took another piece of the dish and gave it to Cian.

"Please, someone get this dog out of here," Tennyson said through clenched teeth and looked around for the closest standing servant.

"According to my father, " Callum told Henriette, "someone is either too old for something or too childish."

The servant approached and looked at the Lord questioningly. Tennyson dismissed him with only a "Never mind," and turned to Henriette.

"This is perhaps because your brothers are busy doing politics, fighting wars, or deciding the future, Henriette." Tennyson said.

"And a woman can't do that?"

Callum sat straighter in his chair and looked at Liam, who'd also paused.

"Well, a woman apparently has ...other things to be occupied with. "

"Other things? What do you mean by other things?"

"Creating a family, not distracting herself with topics not suitable for her."

"Which topics do you think are not suitable for a lady?" she didn't relent.

"With all my respect, young lady- the ones you're trying to discuss now," Tennyson said triumphantly, waiting for someone to object or add something.

When they didn't, he turned back to the lady.

"I hope I didn't offend you."

She put her fork down and looked him dead straight in the eyes.

"Lord Tennyson. Don't forget that the person sitting on the throne now is a woman, too. And she is the head of those armies you are talking about. Now, if you'll excuse me. It's getting late and I need to finish my embroidery."

She got up, gathering her skirts.

The men got up too and she politely smiled "Please, enjoy the rest of your dinner and give my compliments to the chef. Lord Liam, would you please be so kind to accompany me. It is a really big manor, a woman gets easily lost or confused. It's in our nature."

"With pleasure." Liam got up and excused himself in front of the table and to the gentleman who'd been sitting next to him.

Henriette nodded at Callum, who sat back up in his chair "Good evening, Lady Henriette."

"Perhaps, you're ready to retreat for the evening, too Callum." His father asked.

"Oh, no Father. I am looking forward to the dessert."

He gave the last piece on his plate to Cian and smiled at his father.

Callum thought his father would've thrown the animal out himself weren't it for the rest of the people dining with them.

Tennyson rarely let people argue with him openly, and the fact that Henriette had been so unwavering in her opinion put his father in the foulest mood possible.

As for Callum, the exchange probably meant he and his brother had more chances of convincing the Lady to help them.

As much as she was capable of.