Page 39 of Lady Mary's May Day Mischief
“You might as well tell me, my dear.” She fiddled with the the tea service. “My friends will be about me like flies to honey with their questions and conclusions. Dare I argue with them without facts, hmm?”
“I called upon Lord Langdon. Afterward, upon Lord Lawton-Bridges.”
“Dear me.” Aunt paused, her hand on the Meissen tea pot aloft in mid-pour and surprise. “Two gentlemen. I applaud you, sweet girl. Courage is your middle name.”
More like arrogance.
“Not that, at all!”
Mary sighed at her bluntness. “I might as well think nothing, simply speak every thought I’ve ever had aloud.”
“Your Grandmother Dayton was like that. You’ve inherited the trait.”
“No consolation, Aunt.”
“You’ll live and do it well.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“You are not malicious, my darling girl. You speak truth. For yourself. Perhaps embarrassing now and again, but well, we each have our wrinkles, don’t we? Hmm. Yes. Glum is not a pretty color on you. So. Tell me why call upon Langdon.”
“I owe him an apology.”
Her aunt narrowed rheumy eyes upon her and huffed. “Not that old business with Sir Henry Weaver’s daughter!”
How many people knew about that fiasco? Mary wanted to be done with the agony of this. “Yes. Millicent.”
“Langdon should have recovered from that by now. I hope he was civil. What did he say when you said you were sorry?”
“He didn’t. He’s in the country at Cranford Haven.”
“Dear me. Is that why you’re sulking? Sulking is not good for the posture.”
Or anything else, for that matter.“I’m sad because of that and because after I left Langdon’s house, I called upon Lord Lawton-Bridges.”
“Oh? He attended the Courtlands’ affair. Why go to see him? Not proper for you to call upon him by yourself. Even if he was a childhood friend. But all is not lost! You wore a suitable color to complement your eyes.”
The peacock blue of her new outfit had given Mary courage that she could deliver her speech to Blake without faltering. But her preparation was for naught. “Yes, I thought it pretty. Appropriate for the afternoon.”
“And for…what else?” The lady offered Mary a cup and saucer.
Everyone in town must’ve seen my coach stop before his door. They’ll know too when I ride off to Lawton Abbey in pursuit of him.
“Why go to Lawton Abbey?” Her aunt stood on the precipice between curiosity and condemnation.
Mary had once more spoken her thoughts aloud. She sighed, unable to contain her distress. She would learn to manage this other frustrating characteristic of herself.
“Mary!?”
“Yes, ma’am. I must go down to the Abbey. I owe Lord Bridges an explanation and an apology.”
“Most improper for you to go.”
“I’ll have Welles.” She put her tea aside.
“A maid cannot keep you from scandal.”
“Oh, Aunt, I assure you that Lord Bridges has no intention of accosting my person.”
