Page 66 of Beyond Montana's Sky
Edith patted his chest. “You do that, Phillip,” she said in playful condescension. “I think a common sailor’s life would be the making of you.”
Phillip gave her a wounded look. “‘Et tu, Brute?’” He glanced over her shoulder. His eyes widening, he pulled her behind a grouping of potted palms.
“What?” She started to look around.
“Shush,” he said softly. “I’m saving us from being talked to death,inanelytalked to death. Mrs. Bratton has a shrewish daughter whom she’s determined to hitch to some unfortunate soul. If that matron gets me in her clutches, we’ll have a fifteen-minute conversation in which she won’t take a breath so I can excuse myself. At the same time, she’ll summon her daughter and broadly hint that I should dance with her. Of course, to be a gentleman and because my mother is here to notice if I’mnotpolite, I will. I don’t know who’s worse, Mama, Mrs. Bratton, or her daughter.”
Edith chuckled, amused. “If I didn’t know you adore your mother and she’s the sweetest creature, I’d be quite intimidated.”
Two older women approached. One listened and nodded while the other nattered on at double the rate of normal conversing speed.
Phillip leaned closer. “I know exactly what’s going on her tombstone,” he whispered, his eyes dancing.
Edith knew she shouldn’t encourage him, but his merry countenance was too much to resist. “What?”
“Tread softly—if you wake her, she’ll talk.”
Edith couldn’t hold back a gurgle of laughter. “Phillip, that’shorrid.”
His look of mock innocence made Edith roll her eyes and nudge him with an elbow. “Some things never change. Don’t you think you should have grown up by now?”
His eyes sparkled with mischief, reminding her of Cai.No, don’t think of him. Think of what you enjoy about Boston.
Edith slipped a hand around his arm and leaned into him. “Darling, Phillip, I want you to take me sailing.”
“Edith!” his eyes rounded. “It’s freezing out on the water. You know we don’t take boats out this time of year.”
“I’ve been living inMontana. I know freezing. And I don’t care. I long to be on the water again, and I know Ben does, too.Please? I’ll dress warmly and bring my bearskin. The fur is so warm.”
“A bearskin, eh?” Her cousin chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. “Who says I can’t be bribed? As soon as the season opens up inMay, I’ll take you out on my boat. But only because of that bear fur.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “I’m not giving you my bearskin.” The gift from Cai was too precious to her. On cold nights, she spread the fur over her covers. “I’ll send to Sweetwater Springs for one for you. A Christmas gift. Just don’t tell the rest of the cousins, or no bears will remain alive in Montana.”
He made a button-up motion over his mouth. “The first sunny day in May, then.”
“Oh, thank you, Phillip.” Impulsively, Edith hugged him. When she stepped back, she saw a look of surprise on his face.
“Someonecertainly has changed.”
“Whatever do you mean?” But even as Edith asked the question, she knew the answer. She’d never hugged Phillip before. In her earlier life, she’d never hugged anyone but Nathaniel and Ben.
“I like this version of you.” He cut a covert look through the open doors into the drawing room, where Aunt Agatha sat taking tea with some of her cronies. “Don’t let the old cats pressure you into drying up like them.”
“Oh, they’re trying,” Edith said wryly.But I’m different now.She looked over at the dancers and no longer had a wish to join them.What does it say about my social life when the best part of this evening was my tête-à-têtes with Sylvia and Phillip?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The next morning, Edith slept in. After awakening, she partook of breakfast in bed from a tray brought up by Mary, the freckle-faced Irish maid. The luxury was one she’d seldom indulged in while living in Sweetwater Springs. Mrs. Graves and their maid—when they had one—worked hard enough without taking on an extra task. Since this household employed eight servants, she knew one could easily be spared to carry up a tray.
Today was the first since her arrival that Edith had no plans. As she got dressed with the help of a maid, she thought about what she wanted to do. Certainly, she needed to spend some time with Ben, who she’d barely seen this past week except at dinner, to find out how he was adjusting to Boston.Maybe, if we bundle up well, we’ll be warm enough to drive to the Boston Public Garden and walk around.
Edith also wanted to send letters to Sweetwater Springs. After last night’s encounter with Laurence and Eugenia Hamilton, she couldn’t wait to report the details to Elizabeth. But first, she needed to check in with Mildred to see if her mother-in-law had anything planned for the day.
Mary helped Edith dress in a mauve outfit, which would meet Mildred’s expectations of half-mourning. The fabric shouldn’t itch and had never bothered her before. But just knowing the dye could cause harm made her skin prickle.
With a sigh, Edith walked out of her bedroom, leaving Mary to straighten up. In Sweetwater Springs, she’d become accustomed to following her own schedule. Here, acting the dutiful daughter-in-law was taking more effort than she’d anticipated.
Once downstairs, Edith went in search of Ben, only to learn from Deak that her son left early with his grandfather, and they intended to be gone all day.So much for our visit to the Boston Public Garden.
