Page 5 of The Rules of Matrimony
“I am pleased I could be of assistance, then.”
The woman’s expression grew thoughtful. “I meet a great deal of young ladies, but I imagine very few of them approaching me with such guileless intentions. Truly, I must thank you again.”
Amie produced a small, humble smile and retreated back a step.
“Wait,” the older woman put out her hand. “I want to return the favor, if I can. Is that your mother there?”
Amie nodded.
The woman wiped away the traces of moisture from her eyes. “I should like to meet her.”
Amie hesitated. But she loved Mama and shouldn’t be ashamed to introduce her to this fine woman. So long as nothing made Mama nervous or made her feel lesser in any way, surely she would not have cause to say anything untoward. Amie stepped away to collect her mother.
“What is it, Amie?” Mama hissed, looking around her shoulder at the stranger. “Who is that woman? You cannot know her.”
“I don’t know her, but she requested to meet you.”
“She did?” Mama’s brows rose, measuring the woman from top to bottom. “Her person is rather fine.” Mama straightened with an air of self-importance that Amie supposed came from being raised in the upper classes of the gentry. Such airs were often found offensive by others who knew Mama to be naught but a penniless widow living off the charity of her relatives. “Of course she wants to meet me,” Mama said. “Lead the way, Amie.”
Amie grimaced inwardly, but she led Mama past the few headstones between them and the woman without saying a word to the contrary.
Amie motioned to Mama beside her. “May I present my mother, Mrs. Tyler, and ... Forgive me, I do not know your name.”
“Lady Kellen.”
“A lady?” Her mother’s voice pitched high, clearly impressed. She patted Amie’s shoulder a few times too many and hissed loudlyin her ear, “She’s alady, Amie.” As Mama was once a respected matron in the community, status was extremely important to her.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Tyler.” Lady Kellen smiled with amusement. “And you must be Miss Tyler?”
“Miss Amie Tyler.” Amie dipped a curtsy.
“Deeper,” her mother chided under her breath but loud enough for their present company to overhear.
Amie lowered herself farther, her cheeks warming.
Lady Kellen did not withdraw in disapproval but let her smile widen. “I insisted on meeting you, Mrs. Tyler. I am so touched by your daughter’s kindness toward a perfect stranger. It is a rare sight.”
“She is a good girl.” Mama beamed. “Some say she is a wallflower, but I do not believe it. She has everything to recommend herself.” No one could say Mama wasn’t proud of her, though Amie had done nothing to deserve it outside the bonds of blood. She had no real talent for anything. And shewasa wallflower.
Lady Kellen complimented Mama’s bonnet—a difficult task since there was little beauty in it—and the two of them began chatting away about ribbons and fabrics. Nothing in Mama’s behavior now left anything for an onlooker to criticize. They turned toward the grave Lady Kellen had just been standing in front of, with Amie trailing behind in awe.
“Might I introduce you to my deceased family?” Lady Kellen pointed to the headstone she stood in front of. It readLord Reynolds. “He died before I met him. You might think it strange that I mourn his death, and rightly so, but his influence has played a great role in my life. I wish I could have known him. Perhaps if I would have, I might have understood so much more about my present situation.”
Mama gave a distinguished curtsy to the lifeless stone. Amie did not know how to respond. She did think it strange that Lady Kellen would mourn a man she didn’t know, but Amie also understood how a single death could affect so much of one’s life. She, too, dipped her head out of respect.
Lady Kellen set Amie’s flowers on Lord Reynold’s grave. “Family is everything, is it not? Your daughter is a credit to you, Mrs. Tyler. If I should have had a daughter, I would have hoped for her to display such genuine goodwill toward others as yours has.”
Mama smiled. A real smile—one Amie had not seen for years. “Amie is my treasure.”
“We will leave you to have a moment of privacy.” Amie had simply done what her conscience bid her to do and was uncomfortable with such high praise. “Come, Mama, we should get back.”
Lady Kellen lifted a hand in parting. “Good day to you both. I will not forget your kindness.” She flipped a pretty dark-blue veil over her face, one no doubt employed for privacy and to hide her emotions. Amie smiled back at her before she and Mama took the path to the gate.
“What a gracious woman, did you not think?” Mama unlatched the gate for them.
An affirmative was on the tip of Amie’s tongue when the Peterson sisters pounced.
Drat. Amie had forgotten about them.
