Page 53 of Foolish Bride
“I do not recall either, but when Thomas found us we were covered in mud and had corralled at least two dozen creatures in a rather large bucket.”
The joy of the long ago day flooded back as if it were yesterday. “It was Thomas who decided to catch a hundred and release them into the kitchens.
“Markus was aghast when he was recruited to help us.”
“He did it though. Complained the entire time, but I know he thought it was funny.”
The two laughed and reminisced for hours. At dawn, Daniel left an inebriated Michael asleep and feeling no pain.
* * * *
The Cheltingham townhouse was well appointed, though small. Michael’s mother’s reasons for staying with her friend rather than her son were a mystery to Elinor, as was the reason for her invitation to tea.
“Lady Elinor Burkenstock to see you, my lady,” A maid announced as she showed Elinor into the parlor.
Tabitha sat near the window with a book and a cup of tea. She looked up at the maid’s announcement and smiled warmly. “Lady Elinor, please come and sit with me. Would you care for some tea? I was just about to pour myself a cup.”
Elinor walked into the parlor of pink, rose, and lace and sat on the plump love seat across from Michael’s mother. “Tea would be lovely.”
Tabitha Rollins gracefully poured the tea.
Elinor had no idea why the older woman had invited her to visit, and she had no idea what to say. After all, it had been Elinor’s father who had ended the engagement to Tabitha’s son. In most cases, the mother of the groom would be furious with the bride’s entire family.
Lady Rollins smiled warmly and passed a steaming cup of tea across to Elinor.
Hesitating only a moment, Elinor had a passing thought that Michael’s mother might poison her in an act of revenge. She took the cup, laughing inside and thinking that she must stop reading those novels by Mrs. Radcliff. She’d become far too dramatic in her thinking.
“How have you been, my dear?”
Elinor took a sip of tea to cover her distraction. “I am well, my lady.”
“I saw you a few weeks ago in the park. It was at a distance, but you were with The Countess of Marlton, and you looked put out.”
After marching out on the dueling field and stopping Michael from behaving like an idiot, she had asked Sophia and Daniel to take her to the park so she could calm herself before returning home. She had stomped around Hyde Park for over an hour, soiling the bottom of her dress to the point that her maid had taken umbrage over the cleaning required to save the garment. “I did not see you, my lady. I apologize that you had to see me at such a weak moment. I am afraid I was having rather a bad morning.”
Smiling, Tabitha shook her head. “Don’t trouble yourself. I was merely concerned about you, my dear.”
“I am well.” Impossible to say more about that day, Elinor turned her attention to her tea.
“I heard Middleton has made an offer for your hand.”
“I have not had the honor of such an offer from that gentleman.” Lord, she hated London and its merry-go-round of rumors and gossip.Why couldn’t everyone mind their own business and leave her alone?
“Oh. I apologize. I had heard that you were on the verge of accepting. I admit I had hoped to talk you out of such a contract.”
Elinor didn’t know whether to jump up in excitement or outrage. It was lovely that Tabitha liked her so much for Michael, but an offer from a duke would give her a good life. “Why should I not accept Middleton should he offer, my lady? He seems a nice man. Is there something you would have me know about his character?”
“No. No, it’s not that. Middleton is a good match for any girl. He is rich, handsome, and by all accounts, a fine gentleman.”
Elinor looked questioningly at Tabitha and waited to hear more. If there was something off about Preston, she wanted to know.
“I had just hoped…”
The maid arrived and announced, “The Duke of Kerburghe to see you, my lady.”
Michael’s arrival put an end to any conversation about Middleton, or whatever Tabitha was about to reveal.
* * * *
