Only the tiny hitch in her pace revealed Fiona’s surprise at Eve’s words.Just enough for Eve to know that Fiona’s former beau’s presence in London came as no surprise to her sister-in-law.It was enough to make her wonder what else Fiona might be hiding from them.
“Were you planning on mentioning it to anyone?Or is this another topic that is none of my business?”
“How did you know?”
“He approached Francis yesterday at his club,” Eve told her.“It seems Lord Ramsay has finally summoned the nerve to ask for your hand.Did you know he was here?”
Picking through the details, Fiona told Eve of meeting Ramsay in Eaton Square after the Onslow ball.Whatever more there was to it, Fiona kept to herself.
“He dared to...”Eve’s eyes widened, and she lost some restrained polish for which she was known.She couldn’t believe that Fiona had gone out in the middle of the night to meet a strange man.Francis would likely murder Lord Ramsay if he ever heard such a thing.“We will never, never speak of this to your brother.”
“In my defense, you always said you were the very worst chaperone ever.”She bit her lip to stifle a smile.“You should be glad I did not have him come to my room as he wished.”
“Mama!”Eve bit back a piteous moan as her toddler, Preston, ran up to her as they reached their intended destination.“Ducks!”
“Yes, there are ducks, darling,” she said, brushing his dark hair affectionately with her fingers.“Do you want to feed them?Shall I go with you?”
“I’ll do it, Mother,” Laurie offered in a sacrificial tone, and Eve bit back a smile as it was clear he was eager to toss the breadcrumbs himself.Even at seven, Laurie was perhaps too conscientious of his position as Earl of Shaftesbury and tended to forgo many childish amusements.She often had to remind him that he was still just a little boy.
“Thank you, Laurie,” was all she said, digging the bread they had brought out of the pram and handing it to Ilona.“Please mind Preston around the water,” she warned as the boys dashed away.“He took a spill last time we were here.”
Ilona grinned merrily.“There shan’t be so much as a speck of mud on his knickers, I promise.”
Turning back, she found that Fiona and the nanny had already spread a blanket nearby where the nanny was seated with Alice in her arms.Fiona was walking slowly away toward the water, holding Lela’s little hands in hers to steady the one-year-old, who stumbled in baby steps after her brothers.
Very well, she would let Fiona evade the question for now.They had a long morning ahead of them, and even four rambunctious children would grow bored and sleepy before long.
Taking Alice from the nanny, Eve laid her daughter on the blanket before reclining next to her.Cooing to her, she tickled Alice’s belly and embraced the joy that filled her heart when the baby kicked her legs and laughed with delight.
“Good morning, Lady Glenrothes.”
Chapter 10
Harry brought red roses tonight for Moira.I think he might be on the verge of asking her to marry him.How can that be when he flirts with me so shamelessly?
Or does he flirt with every lady like that?
