His mother gaped at him. “Youhavetaken leave of your senses. The servants have plenty to do without adding learning on top.”
“Nevertheless, I should like to. Could you send out a query to the tutors? Or shall I apply at the employment office?”
“Oh good God, don’t go there. Never mind, I shall do it for you. Just one more task among the hundred others.”
He barely held himself back from rolling his eyes. “Thank you, Mother.”
“Just get me this Chinese tea. I shall write your letters while I wait.”
He nodded as he carried Yihui outside. Blue was brought back soon enough, and she settled into the saddle with ease. But just before he left, Chiverton caught his attention.
“Yes?”
“Her Grace wishes to ask you something before you depart.” The butler glanced disdainfully at Yihui and Blue. “The stable hand can hold the pony while you speak with her.”
Max nodded, disliking his own butler’s attitude, but choosing not to make an issue of it. After all, Chiverton had been their butler as long as Max had been alive. As such, he was given a little latitude. Though he was determined not to abandon Yihui for long.
“I’ll be right back,” he said before he headed in to see his mother. He crossed quickly into the parlor where his motherwas already at her writing desk. “Did you need something else, Mother?”
“I did,” she said as she looked up from the desk. “Have you written to the church yet? To post the banns?”
He winced. For all that his mother was dramatically inclined, she was not stupid.
“Er, no. I have not.”
“Do you think the regent will forget to check the papers?”
He shook her head. “No.”
“Do you think to delay him then? Say you had forgotten about this?”
Perhaps.
“Most wise,” she said with a nod. “You mean for her to cry off, yes?”
Since she’d already worked it out, he might as well admit it.
“Yes. I’ve explained it to her.”
“Good. I’ll shall support your charade in every way I can.”
He frowned at her. “But you just said that she was the only one who understood you. You were getting along famously with her.”
“Well of course I did. She’s going to get me that tea. Doesn’t mean I should accept her into the family. Good lord, imagine what your children would look like.” The lady gave a delicate shudder.
And that had him stiffening in anger. “She’s a smart woman, Mother. Worthy of respect.”
“Then she’ll have no problem landing on her feet—so to speak—once this dreadful situation is over.” She set her hands together on her lap. “Now go on. Get me this Chinese tea. I mean to try it and pray it doesn’t kill me.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Do you reallythink she’s ill? Or are you just making up to her?”
Yihui looked at Max. She didn’t understand the words, exactly, but she comprehended the meaning. He thought his mother exaggerated, and maybe she did. But her illness was real.
“Her channel moves badly. My tea will help, but she must do the rest.”
They were walking outside again, moving quicker than their earlier stroll. She could already tell she would be sore from sitting atop this pony for so long, but it was worth it to finally do something that she was trained to do.
