Page 52 of Refining the Debutante
“She lives in the next county over with my youngest sister, who has not yet wed. But they are currently both in Dorset to help with the children during my other younger sister’s lying-in.”
“You are fortunate to have a mother and sisters, then.” Miranda would never have a mother to help with such a task as childbirth, if ever there were the need. “What about a father or any other siblings?”
“My father died when I was fifteen. I left for sea shortly after. Besides my two sisters, I have a younger brother apprenticed for a shipping company.”
He was alone here—a feeling she was well acquainted with. “It must be hard being the eldest. I can’t imagine worrying about everyone’s needs, especially when they are not near enough for you to help them.”
“Hard times find us all.” Captain Grant reached over and rested his hand upon hers.
Miranda wanted to enjoy his touch. Oh, how she ached sometimes to be touched. But try as she might, the contact made her anxious. Her heart was neatly wrapped and ready to give to the wrong person. She would give anything to peel the wrapping back and let herself be cared for by this good man. It simply did not feel right. Maybe with time...
Lady Callister slammed her book shut, causing Captain Grant to yank back his hand.
“Well, well. An hour passes more quickly than it used to.” She stood and motioned for Miranda. “Send for my cloak, if you will.”
“Yes, Lady Callister.” With relief, Miranda escaped the room. She did not even question why Lady Callister did not seem to like when Captain Grant paid her attention.
Chapter 22
Miranda wondered if perhaps thesun was informed of Ethan and his sisters’ visit to Lady Callister’s for tea, because its rays stretched forth and warmed the afternoon just for the occasion.
“Let us take our tea on the lawn,” Lady Callister announced. “All last winter I looked forward to such a privilege, and then we practically skipped over the summer. This infernal weather has almost denied me of any sunshine at all.”
“I hardly think the idea a wise one, Lady Callister,” Ethan said, raising his hands as if to hold off a charging bull. “According to the papers, Scotland had quite the nasty snowstorm, and I saw our neighbor’s sheaves of wheat draped in a coat of frost this morning. This glimpse of sun cannot touch the chill in the air.”
Miranda couldn’t hold back the thrill of seeing Ethan again. It made her want to forget her place. “Wise or not, the fresh air might do us good. As Lady Callister’s companion, it is my duty to sit beside her during frenzied storms or the fairest weather.” Miranda added a theatrical flair to her words. “Let us bask in the rays of the sun, sparse as they may be, and let our souls be invigorated.” She adopted her usual tone once more to add, “Besides, we can all wear our wraps.”
Ethan’s lips twitched. “You’re impossible. You know that, don’t you?”
Was it his smile, or was she feeling the effects from the sun already? She wasn’t even sitting by the window. “Incorrigible maybe, but never impossible.” She ignored Jane’s grumblings and let herself grin.
In a matter of minutes, the servants spread a fresh tablecloth on the outside table and carried out an extra chair or two to accommodate them all. Ethan insisted on a lap blanket for all the ladies, and the sweet gesture did not go unnoticed by Miranda.
Lady Callister turned to Ethan, who sat next to her. “Tell me truly. What are the long-term effects from such unyielding weather?”
The bridge of Ethan’s nose pinched with his obvious concern. “I fear we are in for a long winter. Our harvest was poor. The papers say crops from here to America have failed. Next summer is predicted to be just as wet and cold.”
Miranda never liked to talk about current events. Bad news was bad conversation. However, something about this news pulled at her heartstrings. “Will many go hungry?”
Ethan lifted his brows in surprise. “Yes, I am afraid many will go hungry. Wheat was already in short supply.”
Miranda met Lady Callister’s worried eyes.
“Our tenants will not go hungry if there is anything I can do about it,” Lady Callister said.
Miranda cradled her teacup, letting the heat from the porcelain warm her fingers. Lady Callister and Ethan were an anomaly, and their way of thinking was beginning to rub off on her. “What is there to be done?” Surely even the rich would have a hard time buying food if there wasn’t anything for the farmers to sell.
Lady Callister hesitated. “We will share what we can and economize on what we can’t. There isalwayssomething to be done.”
“That’s the spirit,” Ethan said.
Jane let out an unladylike groan. “Must we always discuss such bleak subjects?”
Miranda recognized the words as something she might have said once. She wanted to say as much to Jane and have a good laugh, but Jane wouldn’t share a joke with her. Not anymore.
Jane set down her cup of tea and took Miranda off guard by turning to face her. “Will you take a turn about the grounds with me, Miss Bartley?”
“Oh, ah, of course.” Miranda ached to have their friendship back. Perhaps this was their chance to mend things. She pushed back her chair and smoothed her dress below her spencer jacket.
