Page 57 of Foolish Bride
Elinor put her face in her hand and laughed. “Oh Mother, you’ve gone mad. You really have.”
“What are you talking about, Elinor? And why are you laughing? I think I should call the doctor. You seem unwell.”
Pulling herself together, Elinor stopped laughing and looked at her mother.
Virginia picked up a sewing ring and hummed while she pulled her needle through the fabric.
“I am sorry, Mother. I do not know what came over me. I do not require a doctor. Perhaps I will just go and have a nap until we dine.” Elinor rushed from the parlor and ran up the steps to her room. No amount of reason would make her situation less comical. Only one short year earlier she had been ruined, and now two dukes vied for her attention. Ridiculous.
She pulled out a scrap of paper. At the top she wrote:
Reasons I should love Middleton.
He is kind
He is rich
He has a good sense of humor
He has put up with her mother’s antics
He seems to like her
Elinor’s eyes blurred, or she could have written ten more reasons why she should love Preston Knowles. A tear smudged the word “love” at the top. Before she could stop them, a dozen tears marred the page. Liking a man who was good and kind was one thing; loving him was something else entirely. But perhaps fondness could evolve into more.
Chapter 14
Since guests were arriving at different times the following day, Sophia had arranged a buffet luncheon to be served throughout the afternoon.
Michael entered the small parlor as Lady Daphne Collington exited. “Good afternoon, Lady Collington.”
“Kerburghe, I am glad to see you have made a recovery.”
He wasn’t sure what to say. “Thank you, my lady. I am honored by your concern.”
She nodded, as if his honor was to be expected. “I must go and find my friend, Virginia. She and I have much to talk about.”
He bowed and watched her go.
Sophia sat at a small desk in the corner and stood as he entered. Several papers were spread across the desk and a quill and ink sat out.
He could see why Daniel was so taken with the young American. She was lovely. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders in dark ringlets. Her skin was nothing like that of an Englishwoman. Her mother’s Italian heritage gave Sophia creamy olive complexion.
“Shall I come back at a more convenient time, Lady Marlton?”
Without a proper curtsy, Sophia rushed across the room, took Michael’s hands, and kissed his cheek. “My aunt interrupted my letter-writing to my brother, Anthony. Why are you so formal? I hope to always be ‘Sophia’ to our closest friends.”
He smiled. “I thought under the circumstances, I should resort to formality.”
Sophia’s smile wavered. She maneuvered him over to the couch and sat. “What circumstances, Michael? Is everything all right?”
“I am afraid I have imposed on our friendship and brought my family along with me. I meant to write to make the request but my timing was poor, and I think my note shall not arrive for another day or two.”
Her face brightened and she clapped her hands. “Your mother is here?”
“And my two young brothers.” He should have left the boys home, but he had promised them they would attend and couldn’t bear to go back on his word. Selfishly, he wanted to spend time with them and not miss out on time with Elinor in the country.
She stood. “Wonderful. I cannot wait to meet them, Michael. Have you informed the butler?”
