Page 51 of With Love in Sight
Imogen flushed and adjusted her spectacles. She had a fair idea from Daphne’s amused glance that the marchioness was repeating herself. Lady Willbridge, however, showed no signs of exasperation. A small, kind smile curved her lips.
“I enjoyed it very well, my lady,” Imogen said, her embarrassment easing under the woman’s mild gaze. “Your son is a fine rower. We did not tip over even once.”
“It was not from lack of trying, I assure you,” Daphne said, laughing.
“Oh, I can well imagine the mischief you brought about,” her mother admonished with fondness. She turned to Imogen, her eyes fairly dancing with humor. “My younger son Andrew is indulgent with Daphne and often brings her out on the river. There have been several occasions when they have come back to the house dripping wet, due to my daughter’s propensity for not sitting still in a boat.”
Imogen joined Lady Willbridge in her laughter. She could well imagine the picture the woman had painted. Daphne had been full of boundless energy during their trip, and more than once Caleb had been forced to haul her back into her seat for fear of her tipping them all over into the River Spratt.
“You should come out with us sometime, Mama,” Daphne said.
The marchioness held up her hands. “As I’ve told you many times before, no thank you. I leave such adventures to the more stout-hearted of you. For anyone who heads into open waters with you on board is either very foolish or very brave. As I am certainly neither, and Caleb and Imogen fall into the latter category, I leave them to it, with a grateful heart.”
Mother and daughter shared a chuckle. Imogen smiled, her heart warming at their banter, though underlying it was the smallest twinge as she thought of her relationship with her own mother.
Just then Billsby arrived. To Imogen’s surprise he approached her, holding out a silver salver. “These have arrived for you, Miss Duncan.”
Imogen took the letters, giving a quick gasp of delight when she saw the returns.
Daphne was at her side in an instant. “Who has written, Imogen?”
Imogen smiled, fingering the envelopes. “My sisters, Frances and Mariah.”
Daphne bounced on the balls of her feet in her excitement. “Your sister in London, and Lady Sumner? Oh, read them, please do!”
“Daphne,” her mother admonished. “We should let Imogen read her correspondence in peace.”
“Actually,” Imogen said with a wry smile, “I find I cannot wait to return to my room. Would you mind terribly if I read them now? And I did promise to share any details of London with Daphne.”
Lady Willbridge smiled. “Of course. Please feel free to use my desk.”
Imogen hurried to the small white escritoire in the corner. Sitting down, she quickly opened the first letter, her gaze skimming the short missive eagerly.
“What news, Imogen?” Daphne called out.
“My sister Frances and her husband have just returned early from a trip to his property in Rutland. She is asking us to visit.” She turned to Lady Willbridge. “Could my father and I take a carriage to call on her tomorrow afternoon? We see each other rarely now that she has married.”
“Certainly, my dear. What a wonderful bit of chance that they should arrive while you are in the area.”
Imogen could barely contain her excitement. To see Frances, to garner some strength from her, was a chance she could not ignore.
Daphne spoke up. “Perhaps we can make a party of it. I would love to see your sister.”
“Yes, it has been some time since we visited with her,” Lady Willbridge mused. “I do hope it is not an imposition, but do you think your sister would mind if we joined you, Imogen?”
“Not at all. Frances would love it, I’m certain.”
As Lady Willbridge and Daphne discussed the trip, Caleb moved closer.
“Shall I accompany you?” he asked quietly.
Imogen regarded him. To have Frances meet Caleb, to have the chance to get her sister’s impressions regarding him, would be valuable indeed.
“Certainly, my lord,” she murmured. His eyes, to her surprise, flared with relief before he bowed and moved away. Had he feared she would deny him?
She broke the seal on the second letter, giving it a quick read before going back to the beginning to pore over her sister’s words more slowly.
Daphne was at her elbow the moment she lowered the paper to the desk. “And what news from London?”
