Page 7 of Beyond Montana's Sky
With dismay in his brown eyes, he struggled to sit up. “No. I’ll be fine.”
Edith gently pushed down his shoulder. “You’ll be fineeventually. But you’re sick today.” She knew his protest was really about wanting to be at school with his friends.Only ten more days until we leave for Boston.“I’ll be back. Tea with honey and lemon and some toast for you this morning.”
He grimaced. “I’m supposed to be delivering the invitations after school today. Matthew was coming with me. I promised to let him drive part of the way.”
She couldn’t help smiling at his responsible tone, reminded again of how far her boy had come from the angry troublemaker he’d been. Some of his spoiled attitude had been her fault, although she’d taken a long time—until recently, actually—to admit the truth.
“I’ll put your uncle to work,” Edith said in a light tone. “It’s his wedding, after all.”
“What about the far-flung ones. Uncle Caleb doesn’t have time to ride out there.”
As they’d done too frequently since yesterday’s encounter with the annoying man, her thoughts went to Cai Driscoll. “We’ll figure that out tomorrow.”
“You said we were shamefully late in sending out the invitations.” Ben mimicked her voice.
“That we are.” Edith smoothed back the brown hair falling into his face, trying and barely succeeding to see the soft features of her baby boy. His recent growth spurt had also chiseled his face, making him appear very much like her brother, with no trace of Nathaniel.
No, the boy…young man, she corrected,was all Livingston. “Another day or two won’t make a difference,” she fibbed. The poor timing did matter—at least to her—but she wasn’t about to admit her concerns while Ben was ill. She could only imagine what their Boston relatives would say when they arrived and heard local invitations hadn’t gone out in a timely manner. They’d add the late invitations to a host of other criticisms.
“It’s not as though the people around here have a full social schedule. They’ve known the date of the wedding for months.” Edith leaned down and kissed her son’s warm forehead. “A light breakfast and then back to sleep for you.”
Ignoring his grumpy grumbles, she walked out of his room and down the hallway to the staircase. Catching her reflection in an ornately-framed mirror hanging on the wall, she saw her eyebrows pulled together. Frown lines bracketed her pulled-down mouth.
Hastily, she made her lips relax and smoothed out her forehead, rubbing the spot. Once in Boston, she intended to search for a husband, and, with competition from the fresh, pretty debutantes, she’d need to look her best. The fine lines around her eyes were bad enough without adding frown lines.
Downstairs, Edith followed the smell of bacon to the dining room. She found her brother alone, finishing breakfast.
A crocheted lace tablecloth covered the large mahogany table, weighed down by an array of breakfast food.Thank goodness Mrs. Graves has remained healthy.She didn’t know what they’d do if their housekeeper also became ill.
Caleb looked up and smiled, his brown eyes warm. “Good morning.”
Moved by a sudden burst of affection, Edith leaned down and kissed her brother’s cheek.
His eyes widened at the unexpected gesture. They’d always been a reserved family—something his betrothed, Maggie, had begun to change. “Is everything all right?”
“Ben might have caught Charlotte’s cold.”
He frowned. “Maggie and Charlotte are feeling better, although I’ve insisted they stay in bed another day. Maggie has the baby with her.
“And Charlotte listens?” Edith teased. “She’s not squirming away?” She took a seat across from her brother, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup for Ben, stirring in honey and squeezing several slices of lemon.
A proud smile lightened Caleb’s often-solemn expression. “That’s how we know she’s feeling better.”
“Ben protested staying in bed. He wants to go to school and see his friends.”
He shook his head, an ironic expression on his face. “A year ago, Ben had no friends.”
“Which is probably why he values them so much.” She frowned. “Ben won’t be delivering invitations today. Are you able to?”
He shook his head. “I have meetings with Peter today to plan the staff schedule for the wedding week, as well as go over everything related to the influx of guests.”
Edith raised an eyebrow. “Peter Rockwell is more than capable of managing by himself,” she said tartly. “That’s what you pay him for, after all.”
“Have you forgotten Peter has just returned after a prolonged visit to Chicago? He needs to be brought up to speed.”
Edith wrinkled her nose. She had forgotten, too consumed by the approaching wedding and her impending departure to pay attention to the comings and goings of other people.
“The pews are due to arrive today. We’ll need to inspect them and set them up in the lobby.” Caleb frowned. “I don’t like the impression that will give visitors, but I can hardly justify having them moved to the hotel’s attic and then back down for the ceremony.”
