Page 59 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

Hannah and Elizabeth turned to each other as if they had not heard her at all.

“Have you met the Diamond of the Season?” Hannah asked.

“Lady Penelope Penderson?” Elizabeth said. “I have not, but I have heard she is wonderful. Beautiful, kind, wealthy, and not a bit pretentious.”

“I met her once, but only for a minute. She was incredible. Maybe Beatrice can make sure we attend the same events as her, too,” Hannah replied.

Beatrice left the two young ladies to gossip about the upcoming Season and returned to her mother to ensure Modesty had not confused her more.

Nathanial and Stephen ran into the room and did a few laps before they ran back out again.

“Oh my!” Modesty laughed. “There are two of them. Are they both magicians or only the one?”

“Magicians?” Letitia echoed. “I am afraid I don’t quite understand.”

“I will explain it to you later, Mother,” Beatrice told her. “It is nice to be back here. How is Father doing? You know, with everything?”

“It is troubling, but I would prefer to let him discuss it with you,” Letitia replied.

“There is nothing to it,” Beatrice declared.

“Still, I will let him talk to you,” Letitia said. “Now, I see the butler coming to fetch us, so it must be time for supper.” She addressed the room. “Everyone, please follow me. We are ready to dine.”

The butler turned on his heels when he saw Letitia emerge from the room, leading the four other ladies.

They all followed him to the dining room, where Phineas and Edwin were already seated. Nathanial and Stephen were seated, too, and they looked thoroughly bored and devoid of energy. It was as if they were not the same two boys who had performed the theatrical magic trick and then ran around the house afterward.

Beatrice was shown to her seat beside Edwin, and there was some discussion when Elizabeth was seated beside her but far from Hannah. Some arrangements were made, and Beatrice kept her seat beside Edwin while Elizabeth was moved to a chair beside Hannah. As soon as she was, the two women began gossiping again.

As soon as everyone had an approved seat, the soup was served. A large tureen of seafood bisque was rolled in on a silver cart, and the bisque was ladled into delicate china bowls. A pinch of fresh herbs was sprinkled on top and finished with a drizzle of cream.

The cheesecloths were removed from the baskets on the table, revealing steaming, fresh, crusty baguettes. Small bowls of butter and olive oil sat beside them.

Phineas stood at the end of the table to say a short grace, and then everyone ate.

“You must give me this recipe!” Modesty exclaimed after taking her first spoonful. “I have tasted many bisques in my life, but this is simply the best!”

“I will pass it on,” Letitia said happily. “I find that a good soup really sets the atmosphere for the evening.”

“I have no idea what you mean, but I still understand it fully,” Modesty replied.

Beatrice looked down at her soup and could not help but smile. She knew Modesty well and loved her quirks, but it must be disarming to meet her for the first time.

Letitia did not know how to take her and looked to her husband. “Oh dear,” she sighed.

Phineas was spooning soup into his mouth as if he were afraid the bowl would be taken from him at any moment. He managed to get a good amount of it into his mouth, but another good amount slid down his chin and onto the napkin he had tucked into his shirt. He had learned to manage the spills instead of stopping them.

“Phineas!” Letitia scolded. “We have guests.” She proceeded to wipe the soup from his chin with her napkin.

Phineas tried to lean out of her reach as she wiped his chin. “I know we have guests, Letitia. I am sitting at the same table as them. They might not have noticed a small spill on my chin if you had not drawn attention to it.”

“You can’t not notice it,” Letitia moaned. “You are practically wasting a portion.”

“Then I will wring out my napkin back into my bowl,” he replied.

“You will not,” Letitia cried. She turned to their guests. “I must apologize for my husband. He must really like the soup.”

“Then he should eat it,” Modesty said solicitously.

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