Page 66 of Refining the Debutante
“I am sorry to hear it,” Lady Callister said.
“Thank you. Sarah liked me even though I was quite bossy. I miss her.”
“You have a strange talent for endearing people to you,” Lady Callister said while pointing a sharp, bony finger her way. “I saw the way you had Captain Grant at your beck and call.”
Miranda chuckled and handed Lady Callister her tea, fixed just the way she liked it.
Lady Callister took a sip. “I forgot to ask about your visit with Miss Withers.”
Miranda looked down at her lap.
“Not well, then. No matter. I shall be the one to lift your spirits. I have an idea. I think we ought to go to London.”
“London?” Miranda almost spilled the hot tea all over her lap. London meant a possibility of seeing Ethan again. “But... but you do not enjoy traveling. And you do not care for London. I hardly think—”
“You do hardly think, which is why I must do so for the both of us. We shall leave as soon as I can make arrangements.”
Miranda sputtered. “What about the holidays?”
“We will celebrate there. I ought to be with my niece for the Season, and what is a holiday without family?” Lady Callister’s lips turned up in a mischievous way. “Might you like to have a dress or two made for the occasion? I do pay you, after all.”
“No,” Miranda said, hardly processing the sudden change in plans. “I have other hopes for my money, if that pleases you.”
Lady Callister looked at her with soft, satisfied eyes. “I am a touch curious about your monetary plans, but I will respect your privacy.”
“Thank you.” It would be hard to explain the need to save in case her position at Lady Callister’s was threatened further. She would do anything to prevent returning to Gray House, even if it meant sacrificing the finery she often longed for. Whether her funds were used for practicality or charity, she was determined to put them to good use. Miranda took a deep breath. “I will accompany you to London, if you do not change your mind before we leave.”
“I will not,” Lady Callister said with some finality. “And I forbid any ridiculous excuses like those you employ when you do not care to practice the pianoforte.”
Miranda bit back a smile. “Yes, Lady Callister.”
Lady Callister hurried from the room and left Miranda with waves of emotion—a low tide of hope at seeing Ethan sooner than she’d imagined and a high tide of discouragement that Miss Withers’s straight teeth and perfection of character would already have convinced Ethan of his future marital bliss with the woman.
* * *
The morning before they were to depart for London, Miranda followed the easy routine established while at Crowfield. She sat down at the pianoforte, and by now, several songs flowed from her fingers without a single wrong note. It was a wonder. All those painful hours of practicing had improved her abilities.
“Pardon me,” the butler said from the door, “but Captain Grant is here. He insists on speaking with you.”
“At this hour?” Miranda asked. Whatever would he want? She hoped it was not the one thing she feared. “Tell him I will see him in here, and please leave the door open. Then inform Lady Callister of his arrival.”
Miranda hadn’t seen Captain Grant since the ball. After Ethan had left, the captain had remained by her side, but she had done her best to talk about Jane the entire time. It was, perhaps, too much to hope that he wanted Miranda’s advice on how to court Jane.
Captain Grant entered the room and performed a deep bow. His head came up with a smile the size of England.
“Good morning, Miss Bartley. I have never heard such excellent music. You play very well indeed.”
Miranda laughed softly, pulling herself to her feet. “I do not play well, but I am improving. Please come in and tell me what is on your mind. You seem much too good-humored for it to be an emergency.”
“I am merely congratulating myself because I heard simply by chance that you were leaving town. I was afraid I would miss you. It seems fate has smiled upon me.”
Miranda bit her lip. She was easy enough in Captain Grant’s company, but whenever he attempted to breach the careful friendship they had established and make it into something more, she found herself searching for an out.
“You came to say goodbye,” Miranda said, straightening a pile of music. “That was very kind of you. Please extend our farewells to anyone who asks after us.” She knew they would be asking after Lady Callister and not her.
Captain Grant wasted no time in crossing over to her. He stood far too close and pulled her hands away from the music. “Miss Bartley—Miranda, if I may—I cannot let you leave without knowing how I feel. You are lovely beyond comparison. You... your heart is good and kind. In fact, to confess it all, I adore everything about you. I would be honored to have you as my wife.”
Miranda had waited her whole life to be proposed to. She stared down at his hands grasping hers. She took a shaky breath. She had every reason to accept this man. Any sane woman in her position would do so. But this gesture, as sweet as it was, could not replace the recent memory of Ethan standing just as near to her. Miranda pulled her hands away as gently as possible. “Captain, I am not blind to the attention you have paid me. However...”
