Page 22 of A Lady's Curves
Dumbfounded, I pat her back for lack of another option. “I’m glad you’re pleased, but I have no idea what has put you in such a euphoric state.”
Mae pulls back and straightens the little wine-colored jacket that matches her day dress. “Forgive me. I’m just so relieved. Lord Creeves received two requests for Louisa’s hand last night. Two.”
“That’s flattering for her. Shall I call her and order some tea?” I escort Mae across the foyer to the parlor and pull the cord near the door.
Nodding, Mae sits on the settee grinning. “I hope she’ll be pleased.”
I sit opposite, on one of the overstuffed chairs.
Mrs. Jenkin comes a moment later.
“Will you ask Miss Louisa to join us and have the cook make some tea please, Mrs. Jenkin?” I have butterflies in my stomach and I can’t say why. It’s not as if I’m the one on the marriage mart.
Once Louisa arrives, she kisses her mother’s cheek. “I didn’t think I’d see you today, Mama.”
“I have news.” Mae is the most animated I’ve ever seen her. She struggles to contain a grin and folds and unfolds her hands. “Both the Viscount of Mansfield and Sir EdwardPepperton went to your father for permission to marry you during the ball last night.”
Face frozen, Louisa looks between tears and laughter. “Oh. I didn’t think it would be so soon.”
Mae’s smile falters. “I thought you liked the viscount.”
“I do. What did Father say?” She grips the edge of the settee with white knuckles.
“He told them both that they were not the only suitors who had shown interest, and he would not give any answer until closer to the end of the season. He said that he had promised you a full season and if they wished to call on you that would be acceptable.” Mae looks at her daughter with love and pride.
It breaks my heart a little, as I wish my mother had looked at me that way. I suppose she would have if I had done as I was told.
The arrival of the tea forces us all into silence until Dotty, the downstairs maid, leaves. She looks back at us with concern but closes the door behind her.
In a very short time, Louisa has earned the affection of the entire staff in her uncle’s home.
A small grin and blush push away the worry on Louisa’s sweet face. “I do like the Viscount, and we have much in common.”
“And Sir Edward?” Mae asks.
Louisa wrinkles her nose. “He’s a nice gentleman, but speaks mostly of hunting and his country estate and how it relates to hunting. There is little for me to respond on the subject. He doesn’t care for art and is only mildly interested in music. The Viscount plays very well and is well-versed in art and literature. He spoke about his estates, but only concerning their locations and what he likes about each region. It would be nice to marry someone who I can converse with on a variety of subjects.”
Mae takes a deep breath and her smile cannot be contained. “It would indeed, my dear.”
During tea, it was decided that Louisa would return to her parents’ home immediately rather than wait until her uncle left for Devonshire.
Her maid packed her case and by midafternoon, she hugged me goodbye and left.
Honoria dabs the corner of her eye as we stand on the front steps and watch Louisa’s carriage roll to the other side of Mayfair. “I will miss that one. Sweet girl. She’ll do very well.”
“It makes sense for her suitors to call on her at her family’s home.” I see the logic, but the house feels empty with her gone and no sign of Oscar all day.
Sighing, Honoria sashays back inside. “Where is his lordship?”
I follow. “I don’t know.”
“Did you quarrel?” She saunters into the parlor, looks at the clock, shrugs at the four-thirty hour, and pours a sherry from the cart.
“Of course not. What would we have to quarrel over?” I decline when she lifts the decanter in askance. Sitting at the pianoforte, I play a few cords before closing the lid over the keys.
“I don’t know.” Honoria sits with her sherry and crosses her ankles, swinging her legs as they don’t reach the floor when she sits all the way back on the cushion. It’s very childlike and rather endearing. “I thought you both looked rather friendly when I saw you dancing last night. Two dances, if I’m not mistaken. He bought you a gown and singled you out. Withwhat you told me about the kiss, I thought perhaps a romance was blossoming.”
My cheeks are on fire, but I look her in the eye. “That’s ridiculous. What would an earl want with a spinster? Besides, I have made my choices.”
