Page 51 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
But the lady was already at the parlor door, eyeing them all in distaste.
The men all immediately stood. Penelope sat. But only Sterne spoke.
“Mother?” he said in tones of disbelief. “What are doing here?”
Chapter 12
“Please, do come in, Lady Pemdale, and take a dish of tea.” Hope smoothed over the look of scorn his mother cast him in answer to his shocked question.
“Thank you,” she said stiffly. She sat in the seat Tensford offered. “To answer my son’s impolite greeting, I came here looking for him.” She raised a brow and Sterne stifled a sigh. He was in for it, now.
“Having received no answer to my notes, I decided to seek you out myself. I went to your rooms first, and on to your uncle’s. This was the last place I thought to look.”
“Well, we are glad you did,” Tensford said kindly. “I don’t think we’ve seen you since the wedding. Allow me to introduce you. I’m sure you remember Lord Whiddon, and this is Miss Munroe, a young friend who has accompanied us from Gloucestershire.”
“It’s unexpected to see you in Town at this time of year, is it not?” Hope poured for her. “I was given to understand that you normally keep to the estate in Devonshire when Parliament is not in session?”
“I do. But my husband had to come to London for one of his committees and I decided to join him so that I might speak with my son.”
Sterne started. “Speak with me?”
“Yes.” His mother set her cup down and looked to the countess. “If perhaps my son and I might retire somewhere where we could speak privately?”
“Oh. Yes. Of course. Tensford’s study or the library—”
“No.” Sterne had shed himself of the role of his mother’s private whipping post. If she meant to rend him with her cold and deadly claws, she could do it in front of witnesses. “Say what you wish, right here. These are friends, all.”
She shook her head. “Of course,” she murmured. “Ever contrary.”
He merely clenched his jaw and waited.
The room grew silent.
“Very well.” His mother lifted her chin. “I wish for you to escort me back to Devonshire.”
That was unexpected. “Oh. When?”
“Tomorrow would be best.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we are engaged in a project right now and I cannot abandon it. Perhaps in a sennight or . . .”
She shot a look toward Tensford. “Surely he has not dragged you into this scientific nonsense?”
“No, I’m afraid it was my father who did that,” the earl answered cheerfully.
“It is not a scientific project, ma’am.” Sterne matched the steadiness of her tone. “Rather, it is of a personal nature.”
“Personal?” His mother stiffened and let her eyes rest on Penelope before she turned to the countess. “I hope you are not matchmaking, Lady Tensford. It is bad enough that my son has so often held his friends above his family, but to find you meddling in such matters? It would be going beyond the pale.”
“Meddle?” Lady Tensford sounded shocked. “Me? I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Is that what you mean to do, Mother? Surely you are not intent on matchmaking?”
She raised a brow. “The Earl of Trowbridge has let a manor in the neighborhood for the summer. His daughter, Emily, is lovely and eminently suitable for you.”
He stared at her, agog. “Of all people, you should understand the futility of pushing me into a match.Anymatch.”
“This stalemate has continued on long enough. It must end. What will you do, wait for your father to die, before you marry? Nonsense. Come home, meet the girl, and your father will set things right.”
