Page 57 of Married By Twelfth Night
Lady Edith looked at her then and she quickly produced an innocent smile. Deep down, she dearly wanted to earn her approval and change her fate, even though she knew it was impossible.
“Do pass the scalloped potatoes,” Lady Edith said to her.
“Of course.” At least this she could handle. She lifted the platter, surprised to discover how hot it was. It slid from her fingers right in front of Lady Edith’s plate and hit the table hard. Potatoes splattered in a foot radius around the platter. That foot included a sizable spot on Lady Edith’s chest.
“Foolish girl!” Lady Edith exclaimed.
Bridget jumped up from her seat on the other side of her aunt and wiped at Aunt’s plate. Thoroughly embarrassed, Grace lifted her napkin to Lady Edith’s gown. “I’m so sorry.”
“Enough!” she scolded Grace, taking her napkin out of her hand. “I can certainly wipe off a bit of potato without any assistance.”
Mother motioned for a footman to come and clear away the rest of the disaster. Lovely, Grace had invited even more work for the servants. This day was going from bad to worse.
“Ruth,” Bridget said suddenly. “My aunt loves to read. Have you read anything you’ve enjoyed lately that you might recommend?”
Bridget easily took the attention away from Grace, but in doing so, Ruth’s glib ability to speak about authors and their sophisticated theories made Grace feel even more inferior than her sister. Grace only read adventure stories likeGulliver’s TravelsandRobinson Crusoewhile avoiding all academic essays and most poetry.
“Miss Steele,” Richard said, when there was a lull in conversation.
Grace jerked her head up, not expecting to be addressed. “Yes?”
“Why don’t you share with my aunt one of your riddles or conundrums.”
What was he doing? This was his chance to showcase Ruth to his aunt, not her. “I wouldn’t want to bore Lady Edith.”
“Nonsense,” Papa chipped in. “I always enjoy your riddles. Lady Edith should hear one.”
“Go ahead.” Lady Edith set her fork down.
Grace set her hands in her lap. “I don’t have my notebook with me, but I might be able to remember a short one.” She thought for a moment before spouting a simple rhyme she’d created the previous year. “After Christmas, I mark the end. A time for festivity, where joy doth lend. A special day with cake in the new year. What am I, bringing the holiday’s final cheer?”
Everyone was silent for a moment, waiting for Lady Edith to answer first.
Lady Edith proceeded to slap her hand on the table. “Twelfth Night.”
Bridget lightly clapped her hands. “Well done, Aunt.”
“Let’s hear another one.” Lady Edith was clearly used to being obeyed.
Another? Good heavens. “I know many silly ones,” she said, “but I do not think you would appreciate them. I will try to think of one you might enjoy.”
Richard cleared his throat. “I have one.”
Grace blinked back her surprise. “Please, go ahead.”
Richard met her gaze and held it. “Tucked in green leaves, hanging high above, I have the power to spark new love. What am I, that invites a sweet embrace, never to be forgotten in one special place?”
His words propelled her back several days to their moment under the mistletoe. That kiss had changed everything. Richard had not just started a spark but a flame inside her. It had built with every moment, and whether they were together or apart, her emotions threatened to consume her.
He shouldn’t be looking at her this way. He shouldn’t be reminding her of that intimate moment and what might have been.
“Mistletoe,” Lady Edith shouted.
Richard broke their intense connection to look at his aunt. “Well done,” he whispered, his voice almost hoarse.
The older woman beamed after her triumphant guess. “I never knew I was partial to riddles.”
Certainly, no riddle had ever touched Grace in the same way as this one. Not once had one been delivered with such a loving gaze and aplea to be understood either. Blinking back tears, she pretended to eat, while the others attempted a few riddles of their own.
