She smiled. “I like her, Charles. Lady Cornelia is a thoughtful girl. She reminds me a bit of myself when I was young.”
“Does she? In what way?”
She shrugged her thin shoulders in the lacy wrap. “She espouses an interest in philosophical thought and poetry. She may wish to take up some cause or other beyond those required of her. You must respect that.”
“Yes. I believe she will.”
“And why does that make you frown?”
He wished he had some idea of what Nellie might do. Women were expected to obey their husbands, but he rather doubted his wife to be would follow that dictum too closely. “Providing it isn’t riding naked through the streets of Coventry, or something similar, to make some political point.”
She laughed. “You may not find marriage easy.” She reached up to push back his hair from his forehead. “You have been too long pleasing yourself. And you have become set in your ways.”
“Mama!” He raised his eyebrows. “You are finding fault with me?”
“I adore you, Charles. And your brother. But I’m not blind to the faults of either of my sons. Jason is too impulsive, while you are too reticent.”
“Reticent? Are you suggesting I’m a dull dog?”
“No! It is not your nature, darling. Life has made you so.”
“Life does tend to shape us.” It wouldn’t serve either his mother or himself to go into the reasons.
“Not irrevocably. Talk to your fiancée, try to understand her.”
“I intend to.” But he had no intention of revealing how difficult he found it.
“Good.” She lay back on the pillows. “Now go and spend your day with her. Enjoy yourself. You work too hard. You have an efficient staff to take care of much of it. I don’t know why you don’t put them to work.”
“I am constantly aware that I demand too much from them.”
“Nonsense. They are extremely well paid.”
“Perhaps I am like you and wish to remain in control.”
She smiled. “Impudent boy! Go! I shall see you at dinner.”
He tamped down his unease about his mother’s health as he quit her room.
*
In the latemorning, he and Nellie set out on horseback. The early mist had cleared away, promising a pleasant spring day. They rode their horses along a lane through woodland and meadows, while she asked him about his tenants.
He was pleased by her interest, interjecting at intervals with insightful questions. “I’ve chosen a nice spot for our picnic, which overlooks the river.”
His footman waited on the wide patch of grass. An umbrella shaded a blanket and cushions, a large wicker hamper sat beside it.
“Well done, John.”
“Oh, this is perfect, Charles,” Nellie said.
“Then I have chosen well.” He lifted her down from the sidesaddle, set her on her feet, and turned away to see to the horses.
A cacophony of noises rose up from water birds and ducks grubbing among the reeds. The breeze brought the smells of water and mud.
Nellie sat on a cushion and arranged her habit around her legs, while John poured them glasses of chilled champagne. Plates, napkins, and silverware were placed on a small table.
“You may leave us, John,” Charles said. “We will serve ourselves.”
