“It’s Augusta, my dear.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to see that woman just as much as she hadn’t wanted to see her nephew earlier. “What do you want?”
“I would like to talk.”
“Augusta,” Ellie answered, hoping she didn’t sound as irritated as she felt, “I’m lying down. I’m tired.”
“Please, dear. Your father urged me to come talk to you.”
Ellie hesitated. Dare she believe the woman? Augusta had used the excuse before, and it had worked. Now Ellie wondered if she should deny her stepmother’s request. Unfortunately, it boiled down to one thing; did she have the patience to argue with the older woman?
Grumbling under her breath, Ellie scooted off the bed so she could answer the door. She opened it before turning back toward her bed and flinging herself on the mattress. “Make it quick. I’m really tired, and I need to get rested before tonight’s events.”
“Oh, my poor dear.” Augusta rushed to the bed and stroked Ellie’s back. “Do you wish us to cancel our evening? I’m certain your father would rather stay home, as well. Lord Trenton would understand, too.”
Not see Vincent until tomorrow?That was not an option. He was the only person who could calm her ire. He was the only person who understood the turmoil boiling through her. And he was the only one whom she felt safe with.
“No, Augusta.” She tried not to glare at the other woman. “I don’t want to cancel. I just want to sleep for an hour, mayhap two. I’ll feel rested after that.”
Augusta sighed heavily before sitting on the edge of Ellie’s bed. She swept an auburn lock of hair away from her forehead, patting it as though trying to keep it with her coiled hair.
It had always been difficult for Ellie to think of this woman as her parent. She was so much younger than Ellie’s father—much too young to know anything about parenting. Even Dominic didn’t think of Augusta as his mother. The woman was much too self-centered.
“My dear, your father and I are worried about you. We both feel the stress of finding a husband has made you extremely irritable.”
Ellie held in a surprised gasp. Was she jesting? The burden of finding a husband was making Ellie hard to live with, but whose fault was that?
“Indeed?” She arched an eyebrow. “What made you come to this conclusion?”
Augusta nodded toward the hall. “I overheard the way you spoke to Edgar a few moments ago, and I must say, I’m very displeased that you are not more polite. He has taken a liking to you, and he has treated you with nothing but kindness. You could at least show him a little bit of respect in return.”
It was difficult for Ellie not to roll her eyes. Could the woman be that obtuse? “The truth is, Augusta,” she said between clenched teeth, “I don’t want that man in my home.”
A flash of anger crossed the older woman’s expression and darkened her eyes. “But it’s my home, too.”
“It’s been mine longer.”
Whether it was the stress of finding a husband, or the strain of everything that had happened today, Ellie was exhausted from having to hold her tongue around a woman she couldn’t trust.
Augusta gasped and placed a hand to her bosom. “I say, Ellie, that was just uncalled for.”
“Actually, it’s not.” Ellie shook her head as she moved off the bed and stood. “I have tried to tolerate you since you married my father, but I cannot do it any longer, especially since you have brought your nephew tomy hometo torment me. If you want me to return to my normal self, then I beg of you, send Edgar back where he came from. He isnotwanted here.”
Augusta released another loud gasp and stood. Her brow was creased, and lines of anger appeared around her mouth and the corner of her eyes. “I will not stand for this kind of talk about my nephew.”
Ellie pointed toward the door. “Then leave. Nothing is stopping you.”
Huffing, Augusta folded her arms across her bosom and stomped out of the room. Ellie followed so that she could close the door.
Her hands shook as fury built inside her. Tears pricked her eyes, and she didn’t know whether to cry or shout at the top of her voice. She couldn’t be in this house another moment withthat woman.
There was only one thing to do. Ellie needed to convince Vincent to cause a scandal that would force them to wed sooner. Then again, perhaps she didn’t have to say anything to him. What if she just started the scandal herself and let the consequences fall where they may?
After all, Vincentwasa rogue.
Ellie smiled. For Vincent, tonight would just be a normal evening. He might enjoy it. And for her, it would be a way out of this house. It would also fulfill her curiosity about the marriage bed. But she was quite certain she would enjoy herself immensely and never regret it.
Chapter Ten
