Page 61 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
Edward glowered at his aunts.
“I hardly think that is your concern,” he said, clenching his jaw. He could not risk disturbing his mother by shouting again, but it took all his willpower not to do so. “I have made up my mind. And that is the end of it.”
Rose and Blanche exchanged horrified expressions.
“Why do you play this silly game?” Blanche said. “We handed you the solution to your troubles with the estate on a platter, and you have outright refused it.”
“I did not ask for it,” he growled. “And I have yet to hear a word of thanks from either of you for the ball. Instead, I hear nagging and sarcastic remarks.”
Rose cackled.
“Would you have us thank you for having such an inept housekeeper?” she asked, incredulous. “And then for refusing to marry the woman who is clearly a great match for you?”
“You really must begin acting like an earl,” Blanche said, clicking her tongue in a way that made Edward’s ears twitch. “No true earl would ever make such a foolish decision.”
“No true earl would ever have allowedthisto happen to his home,” Rose muttered, glancing disdainfully around the room.
Edward rose again, prepared to eject his aunts from his home, no matter what he had to do to achieve it. But just then, the door opened, and everyone’s mouths fell open.
There, walking slowly, with Emily at her side, was the countess. She was dressed in a fine black silk dress, with matching gloves, and a beautiful cameo brooch on a black ribbon around her neck. Her hair was clean and styled into an elegant chignon, and the scent of her gardenia perfume filled the room. Edward’s anger immediately dissolved, replaced with overwhelming joy at seeing his mother not only out of bed, but looking so much like the beautiful, graceful woman she’d once been.
The room was utterly silent for several minutes. Edward could see his aunts exchange glances, but in that moment, he did not care about them. All he cared about was his mother. He fumbled for words and, at last, he simply smiled.
The countess was not looking at her son, however. She was looking at her sisters-in-law.No,he realised with bemusement, she is glowering at them.
“I could hear thisdiscussioneven in my chambers,” she said, her voice strong and authoritative, and Edward felt both proud and afraid. Had he really roused her with his shouting?
Before he could apologise, Rose cleared her throat.
“We apologise, Maria,” she said, smiling sweetly at the countess. “But it is a good thing that you are here. Perhaps you can talk some sense into our dear nephew.”
The countess laughed, and it was as chilling as it was delightful to Edward’s ears.
“Some sense needs to be heard, indeed,” she said, walking further into the room with much of her old grace. “But not by my son.”
Once more, jaws fell open, and the trio stared at the countess in amazed silence.Father would be so proud,Edward thought, his heart swelling with emotion as he realised what his mother was about to do.
The dowager countess stood at the opposite end of the table to him, looking between Rose and Blanche. She gave Edward the slightest nod, before setting her mouth in a firm line.
“I have observed you, Rose and Blanche, make nothing but trouble since you arrived,” she said. “You came here uninvited and decided to take over, to make everyone bow to your commands, just because you knew that my dear husband was gone. And just now, I overheard you berating my son, after he had so narrowly escaped death fighting a war to protect the likes of you and returned home bearing the scars of that, to find his family almost destroyed. Even now, he continues to sacrifice much to meet your unreasonable demands. I am ashamed I have not been well enough to put you both properly in your place before this, but I intend to entirely make up for that this instant.”
The two aunts began mumbling then, each pointing to the other accusingly and babbling nonsense. Edward’s heart swelled with pride for his mother. He wanted to jump up and add his voice to hers, but the look on her face told him he’d best not dare to.
“Edward needed help,” Rose said at last, wincing as she realised how empty the words sounded, even to her.
The countess held up her hand and shook her head.
“I have heard and seen enough,” she said. “I must ask you both to leave this house and stop meddling in my son’s life. Effectiveimmediately.”
Blanche paled, and Rose’s eyes widened. But neither of the women found it within them to argue. In stunned silence, they rose from their chairs, scuttling from the room like cockroaches suddenly met by sunlight.
Edward stared at his mother in awe as she took her seat. Clarke wore an identical expression of wonder as he served her a plate of food. Instantly, her face changed, and she beamed up at the butler.
“Thank you, Clarke,” she said, patting his arm. “Would you like to join us?”
The butler blushed, but he shook his head.
“Thank you, my lady, but I could not. However, if you agree, I would like to go and ensure that Lady Blanche and Lady Rose have all the help they need to make ready to leave. Then, I would like to see them safely off,” he said, his eyebrow twitching.
