CHAPTER 13
Ambrose was not one to get surprised easily. In fact, it was a rare occurrence that he was ever surprised at all.
So when Lady Daphne appeared in his study uninvited tothankhim, it irked him how much it had taken him off guard.
Daphne.Always the wild card. He had been trying to get a sense of her these last few days, but whenever he thought that he had her figured out, she did something that he did not expect.
It was like she was always one step ahead of him – hard to figure out and that alone bothered him.
A soft knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts, and for a moment, he felt a strange flutter of nerves. Could it be her again?
But when he called out, "Come in," it wasn't Daphne who stepped through the door. Instead, it was his mother.
A flicker of unwanted disappointment flared but he quickly composed himself. He had no business wanting to be in her presence. She was trouble, only to be monitored from a distance.
"Ambrose," Edith said, offering a warm smile as she entered. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to."
"I have been in my study this entire time," he replied, and then his mind started to wander. Could it be that one of the servants had spotted Daphne leaving the room, which they reported back to his mother? It would put him in an uncomfortable situation where he would have to explain himself, and his relationship with Lady Daphne.
None of which he particularly felt doing. Not to his mother, not to anyone.
"Is there a reason that you have come looking for me?" he tried to hide the curiosity behind his words, instead opting to gaze at the stack of papers on his desk to give his mother the impression that he was otherwise occupied with work.
Edith walked over, the light from the fireplace casting a warm glow on her gentle features. "Does a mother need a reason to come see her son?"
"No, not at all," he smiled, "But knowing you, mother, you scarcely are one to engage in idle chatter. Especially when there is an entire group of guests downstairs that you are acting as host to."
"I thought I'd check on you," she said, glancing around the room. "You've been avoiding the festivities. I noticed you didn't take much interest in the guests this evening."
Ambrose sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. This was a good sign. If she knew about Daphne's visit, she would have mentioned it already. The Dowager was not one to beat around the bush.
"You know how I am with large gatherings. They don't particularly excite me."
Edith sat down across from him, her gray eyes observing him with great interest.
"I am well aware of what you are like. Do you forget I gave birth to you?"
Ambrose almost smiled at that. His mother had a way of conducting herself in a way that reminded all those around her of her value in their lives.
She was not the young Duchess that she once was, but in conversation, it was easy to catch reminders of the hold that she once had on this Estate and those who lived within it.
"I wouldn't dare forget," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "Which is why it should not surprise you that I chose to spend this evening in my own company."
"Oh, it does not surprise me at the very least, Ambrose. But that does not mean that I am happy with it," she admitted. "You know fully well that there are many young women downstairs who would be enthused at the chance to speak with you. And yet, here you are ignoring them."
Ambrose exhaled a sigh. He knew exactly where his mother was going to go with this.
"I am merely busy with my work, Mother."
"I understand that work is important," Edith nodded. "But so are your social responsibilities. What became of the walk that you took with Lady Eugenia the other day?"
Ambrose shrugged. The entire thing had been so insignificant that it had already slipped away from his memory. "It was pleasant, I suppose."
"Pleasant?" Edith asked, eager to know more. "Did you find her suitable enough to propose? She comes from an excellent family, and it would be–"
"Mother," he cut her off, wearily. "I merely said that I thought the walk was pleasant. Unfortunately, I do not see myself with her. Sorry to spoil your plans."
Edith's eyes widened slightly at his response, but she pressed on, undeterred. "What does she lack, then? What could possibly be wrong with Lady Eugenia?"
