Page 68 of The MacGregor's Lady
From the doorway, the sound of two hands applauding Hannah’s sermon announced Balfour’s arrival.
“And there you see, Hannah?” Enid said, setting her cup down with as much ladylike punctilio as she could muster. “Intemperate speech always serves the speaker ill. What is his lordship to think of your lack of manners so early in the day?”
Balfour took his place at the head of the table and picked up the discarded newspaper. “Honesty is refreshing at any hour, Miss Cooper. Trundle is a good sort, and comfortably well off if my inquiries are to be trusted. His taste in dancing partners recommends him as well. Tea, anyone?”
Predictably, Hannah got to her feet. “If you’ll both excuse me, I have correspondence to attend to.” The earl rose to bow her from the room, then resumed his seat.
Enid eyed the unfinished eggs on Hannah’s plate. “I blame that grandmother of hers, you know. My brother has provided Hannah every advantage—tutors, governesses, lessons of every kind—and one can’t really blame Hannah’s mother. The woman grieved her first spouse terribly.”
The earl unfolded his napkin and set the paper aside. “Hannah’s grandmother is a poor influence on her?”
In morning attire, he was a good-looking fellow, albeit much too dark for fashion, and Enid would never have labeled Balfour an easy man to be around.
And yet… he was not frivolous, either. His dark eyes had a gravity that promised sensible behavior and even… understanding.
“Hannah’s grandmother is a law unto herself, the very worst sort of example, for all she is as old as Methuselah and one ought to make allowances.”
Balfour topped up Enid’s teacup. “For?”
It all came out, the regular consumption of spirits, the maintenance of business activities no lady ought to concern herself with, the complete lack of deference to the man who provided the roof over their heads, and above all, the refusal to die when the old woman by rights should have shuffled off this mortal coil decades ago. By the time Enid had swilled an entire pot of tea, the earl was looking thoughtful.
“So you see, even though the lady is no bigger than this”—Enid held her hand out at about rib height—“and can barely see, she has exerted enormous sway over Hannah, and all of it bad. The girl would be safely wed, several times over, were it not for that woman’s pernicious influence.”
When the earl said nothing but stirred his tea in silence, Enid felt compelled to add, “She does love Hannah, though. She loves all the children, but her devotion to Hannah cannot be questioned.”
“Nor, apparently, Hannah’s to her.”
“Lamentably. One can only hope the Lord sees fit to handle the situation in a just, swift, and compassionate manner before Hannah’s last prayer of a decent match is gone. The company of a more frail, wizened, and stubborn woman, I have yet to endure.”
Perhaps that was a bit too honest. His lordship swiveled his head to gaze out the window of the breakfast parlor, where sunshine came streaming in from the east. When he once again turned his dark eyes on Enid, she had the sense he’d changed his mental horses, put away one topic and started on another.
“About Trundle, Miss Cooper.”
Oh, my.Enid reached for the teapot, then recalled it was empty. “My lord?”
“Shall I make further inquiries on your behalf? He’s persistent and has the look of a seasoned soldier not about to give up the campaign.”
What a charming—and slightly alarming—image, if it was accurate. “Thaddeus enjoys a full complement of determination.”
Enid cast around for something to say that would obscure her use of a gentleman’s Christian name over her morning tea. If she’d stayed tucked up in her room, a tot of Dr. Melvin Giles’s Root Juice and Tincture of Everlasting Health in her tea, then this entire uncomfortable discussion might not be taking place.
But then, neither would Enid have the image of dear Thaddeus, battling his way across the ballrooms to gain a waltz with her.
Or two waltzes, in one evening. Twice now.
Or perhaps it was three times. All that waltzing made a woman so muddled she couldn’t keep her evenings straight.
“I will have my men of business make the usual discreet inquiries and post a suitable endorsement to your brother.” His lordship patted Enid’s hand, the gesture suggesting a familial interest in her situation.
The earl went back to his toast, as if family confidences over breakfast were nothing unusual, as if he were indeed the MacGregor patriarch, and Enid his honored guest. Such consideration of a mere, retiring maiden aunt could only bode well for Hannah.
***
“You aren’t eating enough.”
In response to that observation, Hannah beamed up at her dance partner with what she hoped looked like great good cheer as opposed to an urge to throttle the man.
“I’m trying to fit into the dresses you had me buy in such quantity.”
