“Papa, Mama.” Anne beamed at us, her light brown hair still in rag curls. Petite with a cheerful air, my daughter was a comely girl. She held out a note, her hand trembling. “Papa, Nigel has requested an audience.”
“Has he indeed?” I had been waiting for this day with anticipation and dread. The children—well they were no longer children—had been insistent that they would ask for the announcement to be made when they were both ready. That time was at hand, and although I had expected it, my heart rested in my throat. With a teasing grin I wasn’t feeling, I said, “What, pray tell, does he wish an audience for?”
Anne clutched the note to her chest and jumped up and down in her exuberance. “He wants to formally propose! Finally, we’re getting married. Isn’t it romantic?”
I glanced at Eleanor to gauge her reaction. Jeweled blue eyes were lit with unshed tears. A trembling smile curved her mouth. “It is very romantic.”
“When does he want this audience?” I asked.
Anne rolled her eyes at me and wrinkled her nose. We had the same sense of humor and often played off each other. “Immediately. He’s waiting for you in your study.”
The knot in my stomach tightened, yet I couldn’t let her see my upset. I wouldn’t put it past Nigel to be waiting. Eager young pup. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time in my schedule. “Is he here right now?”
“No, of course not. If you ask a silly question, expect a silly answer. He wants an audience on Thursday afternoon. Say you can see him, please, Papa.” Anne plopped down in the chair beside me and laid her hand on mine. Burn marks puckered her hand and forearm, scars from a childhood accident involving a lamp.
“I am sure your father can see him next week,” Eleanor said.
“According to his secretary, Papa is scheduled to be at Parliament until the end of the month and the only time he can truly spare is on Thursday when he sees to his ducal duties. Thus he must carve out a time for Nigel.” She bit her bottom lip, glancing from Eleanor to me. “Lord Flynn will be back from the country by then and we want to get married in a fortnight. There is a ship leaving for Greece that our friends have booked travel on and we would like to join them.”
Eleanor stiffened, the color hueing her face during our earlier conversation draining. Panic entered her eyes, her breathing turning erratic. “I understand you are eager to marry. Nigel asking your father for your hand is merely a formality. We can start planning the wedding with or without the proposal, and Nigel can ask next week.”
“Mama, it’s not the same.” Anne’s face fell, and she stared at me with pleading eyes. Of the two of us, I was the most vulnerable parent because I had a hard time saying no to my children, especially Anne. My daughter had a set idea in her head, and like Harry, once she made up her mind, there was no dissuading her. “We discussed my plans in detail, and you agreed that when the time was right, we would celebrate with the family.”
“I have somewhere I need to be on Thursday.” Eleanor brought her bottom lip between her teeth and lowered her lashes. There was something definitely off about her behavior, and I suspected it had to do with that mysterious letter. “The ladies’ guild is depending on me.”
“What time did you schedule our meeting?” I asked Anne, trying not to jump to erroneous conclusions about Eleanor’s continued avoidance.
“The proposal is at four,” Anne said with a thankful smile, appearing as confused as I was by her mother’s odd behavior. Eleanor was a devoted mother who was usually enthusiastic about celebrating every milestone our children had.
The fact she tried her best to dissuade Anne for the sake of a guild luncheon was suspect. “That should give you enough time to dine with the ladies. Anne can plan the supper celebration if that will lighten your burden.”
“What about Atticus? He has classes until Friday. Perhaps we can arrange the event for Saturday so the entire family is here?” Tightness rested around her mouth, and the tears she had been suppressing drifted down her cheek.
“Actually, he doesn’t have class this Friday, so he will be here on Thursday afternoon to celebrate with us.” Anne had a determined gleam in her gaze. My daughter rarely gave up when she had her mind set on something.
“Then it is settled.” I leaned in and placed my hand on their combined ones. This was a momentous occasion for our family, and I didn’t wish for unfounded suspicions to cloud it. “Indeed, we will all be blessed by this union.”
Anne leaned her head against her mother’s sleeve, and Eleanor slipped her arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “Are you sure you wish to marry so soon?”
“Nigel and I discussed it and we agreed on a small ceremony in a fortnight’s time with our family in attendance.” Anne lifted her head and straightened, the moment of tenderness eclipsed by her excitement. “The ship to Greece will be a great lark with our friends.”
“It sounds very lovely.” I sat back in the seat, my smile dimming somewhat. I could practically read Eleanor’s mind, and my earlier suspicions toward her were shaming. Like me, the enormity of the proposal was a bit overwhelming, which would account for her unusual reaction to the news. While we expected it, it still carried a hard punch. Except there was still the matter of the letter she hid from me, added to her muttering another man’s name in her sleep.
I tried to shake off the doubt, yet it had implanted itself in my mind. Could Eleanor be having an affair? And if so, with whom? Obviously, some man named Guy.
Or I was totally off the mark. Either way, I had to find out.
