Page 63 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
How could she believe the viscount thought enough of her to drop everything and introduce her to his own family? He must have realized how it would look and decided to put it off for another time…or perhaps not at all.
No, he was a good man and had promised her.
It was a bad case of nerves turning her into a watering pot.
A dark shadow fell over her, one she recognized as the big, muscled frame of the viscount. “Viola, what is the matter? Your kitchen girls said you ran in here to pick herbs.”
She nodded. “I guess I had better pick some then.”
“Don’t bother. They won’t care if you come back empty-handed. Tell me what is wrong. Why are you crying?”
She let out a ragged breath. “It is so stupid of me. I thought you were not coming to get me.”
He sighed as he knelt beside her. “I would never forget you.”
“But it is too late now. I have to prepare your luncheon and don’t have time to chat with your family. I am making game pies for today and have yet to roll out the dough or season the filling.”
He removed his handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at her tears. “I gave you my promise and I have every intention of holding to it. Never doubt me, Viola.”
“All right.”
“I will plan better tomorrow morning. You will have your chance to meet my family then. I’m so sorry this morning’s meeting was botched. I asked them all to come down to my study, made certain to remind them again last night before they retired to bed. They should have been gathered there half an hour ago.”
“You do not owe me explanations.”
“Yes, I do. They did not mean to ignore you. My grandmother and mother slept late and have not come down yet. Yesterday’s travels must have exhausted them. My father, who has his own agenda concerning my marital welfare, went riding with some of the gentlemen. My brother and cousin and their wives are in the study now if you’d like to join us.”
“I would love to, but I cannot.”
He nodded. “Yes, too late now. They won’t mind meeting you tomorrow with the rest of the family.”
“I’m sorry to have put them out.”
“You haven’t at all. They are here without their children and have more time on their hands than they know what to do with. I’m the one who should be sorry. I should have realized today would not be a good day. Tomorrow will be better.” He tucked a finger under her chin and tipped her face upward to dab away more tears. “Ready to return to the kitchen?”
She shook her head.
“Here, keep my handkerchief,” he said as they rose together. “You may still need it.”
“No.” She handed it back to him. “The kitchen staff will make too much of it. I’ll grab one of my own.”
He held her back when she started to walk away. “Have Greaves or Mrs. Lester summon me if you need anything today.”
“I won’t. I’m better now. I think being here and not at home with my father has put me too much on edge. It isn’t the cooking. I can make these dishes in my sleep.”
“Don’t worry about your father. He is doing just fine. Mrs. Bligh is with him around the clock and I have Mr. Wilson checking on them several times a day. Mrs. Lester also sent one of her maids to the vicarage to help out Mrs. Bligh. She is Mrs. Bligh’s niece, Lila. Your father is in excellent hands.”
“I did not realize…”
“I did not want to bother you with every detail while you were so hard at work for my party. I would tell you if there was anything wrong. Truly, I will not hold any news back from you, especially if he happens to take a sudden turn for the worse. I could never hurt you like that. But all is well with him. Wilson told me so not an hour ago.”
“Thank you.”
“I won’t escort you back to the kitchen. Will you be all right now?”
“Yes.” She cast him a pathetic smile.
In truth, she did feel better.
