Chapter 38

“I’ll wager you’ve never seen anything so venerable in America.”

“Certainly not.” Leander was unable to help smiling. “Considering that Winchester Castle is far older than America itself.”

Archer paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. “What a singular notion. The history of America could likely fit in a single volume.”

“It does,” Leander agreed, remembering Kit’s history book.

“How strange to think of a young country,” Lady Penelope mused. “So many things to be done for the first time. Traditions could be madeinstead of followed.”

Mrs. Sutcliffe’s pursed lips indicated this might not be the way she’d intended the conversation to go. “It all sounds very rough. Little wonder you’ve had difficulty adapting to Society.” Her tone left it open to interpretation whether she meant the ton, or civilization in general.

Leander was about to protest that Massachusetts was one of the oldest states, but Mrs. Sutcliffe had turned to Julien and changed the subject.