Page 82 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
Mrs. St. Cyr’s jaw was hanging open in a manner that was not particularly becoming. “You… you…”
Edward patted Elissa’s hand. “She will be my viscountess. And one day, the Countess of Cheltenham.”
“The Countess of…” Mrs. St. Cyr shook herself, then turned to Edward’s mother. “My lady, I know I will come to regret what I am about to say. But as a Christian woman, I feel honor-bound to tell you the truth. My daughter will make a terrible countess.”
Lady Cheltenham raised a single eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Of a certainty,” Mrs. St. Cyr said in a rush. “She cannot dance. She cannot sew. She cannot plan the most basic gathering—”
“Do you know who is very good at planning parties?” the countess drawled. “My daughter, Caro—Lady Thetford, as she’s properly known.” She smiled fondly at Elissa. “She is beside herself with excitement at the prospect of arranging yours as well as her own.”
“But… but…” Mrs. St. Cyr sputtered, “Elissa is the worst sort of bluestocking—”
“Original,” Lady Cheltenham interjected.
“Origi—what?” Mrs. St. Cyr asked.
The countess fanned herself nonchalantly. “Whether or not your daughter is a bluestocking is beside the point. She is anoriginal. That is how society will regard her.”
“Oh, no!” Mrs. St. Cyr laughed. “An original is someone who is unique in therightway. Who is confident and beautiful. Whereas my daughter—”
“I beg your pardon,” Lady Cheltenham said. “Did you just imply that I lack the influence to persuade society to accept my future daughter-in-law as an original?”
“N-no, my lady! I did not mean—”
The countess leaned forward, her eyes fierce. “No one will say a word against her.No one. BecauseIwould cut them dead, and thenGraverleywould cut them dead. You do know that he is Edward’s dearest friend, do you not?”
Mrs. St. Cyr’s eyes had gone wide as dinner plates. “The Marquess of Graverley? Is—is he truly?”
“Certainly he is. And after that, their social demise would be irrevocable. I therefore do not expect to hear one word spoken against your daughter.” Lady Cheltenham gave Mrs. St. Cyr a very pointed look. “Fromanyone.”
This was sufficient to stun Mrs. St. Cyr into silence. Elissa’s father shook himself. “I say, Elissa. Wasn’t there some prize money associated with this contest? What was it—twenty pounds? Thirty?”
“Thirty pounds?” the countess said. “Gracious, no.” Quick as a jaguar, she plucked the bank draft from Harrington’s grasp. “The prize was fifteen thousand.”
Harrington’s hand instinctively reached for the bank note. Realizing he couldn’t very well wrestle it away from his mother, he curled his fingers into a fist. “I believe you are mistaken, Mother. Is the prize notfourteenthousand pounds?”
Edward took the bank draft from his mother, carefully positioning his thumb over the name of the recipient as he showed it to Elissa’s father. “No, Mother has the right of it. The prize is definitelyfifteenthousand.”
“Fifteen thousand pounds!” Mr. St. Cyr exclaimed. “You don’t say! By rights, such an amount should go to your father for safekeeping.”
“No,” Elissa said forcefully. She cleared her throat and continued in a softer tone. “If it goes to you, it will become part of the estate. But if it stays in my name, then Uncle John can never make any claim to it.”
“You marvelous girl!” Mrs. St. Cyr burst out. “Why, you have saved us all! And a countess. Acountess! I do not pretend to understand it. Never did I dream thatyou, of all people, would—”
“You must be tired and thirsty after your journey,” Edward interjected, not caring to hear how his future mother-in-law would finish that sentence. “Why do you not head to the Angel Inn for some refreshment?”
Cassandra stepped forward. “Some refreshment—what an excellent suggestion.” She hooked her arms through those of her parents, tugging them along. “Come, I shall show you the way.”
Elissa wrung her hands as she watched her parents retreating. “That was exceptionally kind of you, my lady. In truth, I expected you would share in my mother’s opinion.”
“I can tell by Edward’s face that he feared the same.” The countess laughed. “For two of the most intelligent people in England, you have been remarkably stupid. Why on earth would I have invited you to my house party if I did not approve?”
“I thought it was so Cassandra could meet Lady Morsley,” Elissa said.
“No, dear child. I had a full report from Harrington after the dance, you see.”
Harrington waggled his eyebrows. “Afullreport.”
