Page 58 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

It feels like I have been away for an eternity, but everything remains unchanged. It is nice to be here again, but I do not look forward to the conversation to come.

“Your Grace, might I invite you into the drawing room for a glass of cognac and a cigar before supper?” Phineas asked.

“I would enjoy that very much, Lord Ramsbury,” Edwin replied.

“Beatrice, your mother and your sister are in the parlor. I assume you will see your brothers again at some point. They are very good at disappearing and reappearing at the most inopportune moments,” Phineas said.

Beatrice, Modesty, and Elizabeth went one way while the men went the other. Beatrice led them to the parlor, where her mother and her sister were waiting.

The parlor was one of the largest rooms in Honeyfield House for entertaining. It had a very high ceiling, with silver molding around the edges and floral detail in the corners. It had far too many tables and chairs, and they had not once filled them all. They did not fill it that evening either, with only five of them in the room.

“Oh, my dear, it is so good to have you back again!” Letitia gushed. “What a wonderful thing. We must celebrate.”

“Mother, we don’t need to celebrate. We are only here for supper,” Beatrice said.

“Any day is a good day for celebration,” Modesty agreed. “We should celebrate every day as if it is our first and last.”

Letitia had a habit of being dramatic but was outdone by Modesty.

“Mother, do you remember the Dowager Duchess of Walford?” Beatrice asked.

“Of course,” Letitia said. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace.”

“And it is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Ramsbury. We have been enjoying your daughter so much since she moved in with us.” Modesty placed a hand on her chest. “And your son! I did not know he could do magic.”

“Oh, yes,” Letitia sighed. “Which one?”

“Yes, quite,” Modesty said with a laugh.

Both women looked at each other in confusion.

“Mother, perhaps some refreshments?” Beatrice suggested.

“Yes, of course.” Letitia ordered the drinks to be poured. “I hope everyone enjoys sherry. I like a good cherry to increase my appetite before I eat.”

They exchanged pleasantries as the small glasses of sherry were handed out.

“Elizabeth, come over here,” Beatrice said, taking Elizabeth by the arm. “You must talk to Hannah while you have the chance.” She took her over to her youngest sister. “Hannah, you and Elizabeth will both be debuting this Season.”

“Oh, you must be so excited, Lady Elizabeth,” Hannah said.

“Very excited.” Elizabeth nodded. “My mother and my brother make such a big deal out of it, as if it will not be fun, but it will be the most fun in the world.”

Hannah’s eyes widened in agreement. “My mother and father are exactly the same. I want to talk about the dances and the gentlemen and what dress I will wear, and they only want to talk about where I will live when I am married. Old people love to talk about the future when there is so much to see and do right now.”

“Yes, exactly,” Elizabeth agreed. “Why can’t we just have fun?”

“Perhaps Beatrice can speak to both of our families and make it so we both attend the same events,” Hannah suggested. “It would be more fun if I had a friend there.”

Elizabeth took her new best friend’s arm. “Yes, we must find her and have her do that.”

“You both know that I am right here, don’t you?” Beatrice drawled.

Both ladies looked at her.

“You must—” Hannah started.

“I shall do what I can,” Beatrice assured them. “I am glad to see you both getting along so well. I had a feeling you would. I shall disappear like Nathanial this time.”

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