Page 68 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
Edward reached toward the desk, fetching their unfinished glasses of brandy. He toasted his beautiful fiancée, laughing as she winced at the burn of the brandy on her throat before toasting him back.
“Will I ever get used to that?” she asked, shuddering.
Edward shook his head firmly, flinching as he sipped his own.
“Never, my love,” he said.
They both laughed.
Serena looked at him then with a serious expression.
“What of your mother?” she asked, suddenly pensive.
Edward shrugged.
“What of her?” he asked.
She bit her lip.
“Will she accept me as her daughter-in-law?” she asked.
Edward could not help laughing again.
“You must be jesting, my love,” he told her, grinning. “She practically ordered me to marry you. She is the one who told me you are a baron’s daughter. She all but threw her full blessing at us to marry as quickly as possible.”
Serena blushed, turning her face away.
“So, she did hear me,” she whispered, sounding full of awe. “I used to talk to her, even before she spoke to me, and I told her everything. I did not think she even understood me, but she clearly did.”
Edward nodded, pride in his mother returning in full force.
“She is a remarkable woman,” he said, thinking back on how the countess had handled his aunts earlier that day. “If only you could have seen how she rebuked Aunt Rose and Aunt Blanche.”
Serena looked at him with curiosity.
“Has she banished them, then?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
Edward nodded, beaming.
“In the most glorious way, darling,” he said. “Would that you could have witnessed it? But you do not seem terribly surprised.”
Serena shrugged, looking up at him with a smirk.
“Well,” she said, looking away with a smirk. “I must admit, I had some idea she might do something like that.”
Edward looked at her with awe.
“How?” he asked. “Did Mother mention anything to you?”
Serena shook her head.
“No,” she said. “After your aunts were so hateful to me, I largely avoided your mother’s room. But every now and then, I would tiptoe by, and she looked downright miserable whenever they were in there. Once, she caught my gaze, and her eyes were positively on fire. And then, when I went to take her some cookies this morning, and she was not in her room, Mrs. Chantry told me that the countess did not take kindly to people who behave in such a way as your aunts.”
Edward laughed and nodded.
“She certainly does not,” he said. “I do believe those horrible women gave her the final bit of strength she needed to get back to herself. I suppose if I can be grateful to them for anything, it must be that.”
Serena nodded.
