“No, it is only its owner you enjoy abusing.”
Miss Leigh arched her brow. “At every opportunity.”
Shifting his seat so that it was next to hers, David leaned over to nudge her shoulder with his, causing her hands to slip. Which earned him a narrowed look as she continued, but it didn’t stop him from doing so again.
“You are ridiculous, sir.”
“At every opportunity, Miss Leigh.”
Chapter 27
Every estate and property boasted soothsayers in the form of an ancient tenant or retainer with miraculous aches and pains guaranteed to predict the coming weather. Yet despite Greater Edgerton’s best fortune tellers predicting a long and warm autumn, winter swept with a flourish.
Snow was nowhere to be seen, but the temperature was low enough that driving out was hardly an enjoyable occasion, even with hefty lap blankets and bricks warming their feet. But there were few avenues by which a gentleman could secure a lady’s company without raising eyebrows, and an open carriage ride gave them a semblance of privacy.
And thank the heavens that was the case, for there was no one to witness this debacle with Mrs. Ellery.
With the reins wrapped around his hands, David guided the pair of horses down the narrow country lanes surrounding the town. Pulling to one side, he allowed a cart to pass before nudging the horses forward, and he cursed himself for having chosen a more sedate course.
If they were in the town, he could blame his silence on needing to concentrate as he drove. But beyond the occasional passing cart or carriage, there was no excuse when the conversation lapsed once more. David didn’t recall such awkwardness at the concert, but that had been over a fortnight ago, so perhaps his recollection was hazy, or all the hubbub had hidden the fact that they had little to say to one another.
Taking both reins in one hand, David rubbed his face and forced his eyes open. Mrs. Ellery’s gaze drifted to him as a yawn hit him hard enough that he couldn’t stifle it.
“I apologize,” he said with a grimace. “It is not you. The past few weeks have been exceptionally busy, with many long hours spent poring over my family’s business.”
For all that it was the truth, he couldn’t help but think that it was far less difficult to keep his thoughts engaged when Miss Leigh or Benjamin was about.
“Think nothing of it,” she said with a smile. “With your father absent, I do not doubt that many of his responsibilities have fallen on your shoulders, which must be difficult to manage without him to guide you. Besides, my husband was much the same. Forever burning the candle at both ends.”
Ducking her face away from him, she added in a rush, “And now, it is my turn to apologize. I suppose it is uncouth to speak of him when driving out with another.”
David ignored her statement concerning his father and shrugged away the rest. “I would find it more disconcerting if you never wished to mention him. Many are trapped in unhappy marriages, and I am glad to know that was not true of yours—however short it might’ve been.”
Mrs. Ellery nodded, though she said nothing more. Her hands clenched the blanket draped across her lap, and she turned her attention to the passing trees as David stared down the road. With their branches and the fields bare, the world was stuck in what was the ugliest time of year. Neither autumn nor winter. Simply a brown, barren mess waiting for the snow to cover it in white.
Investing in the railroad in Manchester was a fine idea. Risky, to be certain, but as Mr. Cox thought it sound, David couldn’t help but agree. All speculation was uncertain, but their man of business never put anything forward that was too precarious, and they had plenty of other investments to keep the loss (if there was one) to a minimum. That was good.
Another yawn struck, but he was able to suppress it.
Forcing himself back to the conversation, David scrounged his thoughts for something to say. “Do you read, Mrs. Ellery?”
“I am capable,” she replied in a dry tone.
David glanced in her direction and found her smiling.
“I am glad to know your education was not neglected,” he answered in kind. “But do you enjoy it?”
“I am fond of ladies’ magazines, and I read any pamphlet I can get my hands on, but I fear novels are too expensive a pastime for me to indulge often.” Pausing, Mrs. Ellery straightened with a wince. “Forgive me for being gauche. One of the basic tenets of polite conversation is not to mention money, but I fear it is too often on my mind for the topic not to slip out occasionally.”
David nodded. “Quite understandable. Don’t fret. I would much rather have an honest conversation than sit about discussing the weather. I cannot stand the pretense.”
And it wasn’t as though Mrs. Ellery’s financial troubles weren’t known. Her husband’s income had never been great, and his untimely death hadn’t improved matters. However, one didn’t acknowledge such things—no matter how well-known they were. And as David considered it, he realized just how much he disliked the falseness of it all. It was little wonder that Miss Leigh was such a dear friend, for she avoided pretense as much as he.
Unless she was pretending to be a poor piano player. That was quite amusing.
Jerking his thoughts back to the present, David turned his attention to his companion again, but the young widow was staring off into the distance, her thoughts clearly wandering far from this moment as much as his. Surely that was not a good sign.
Four candidates for his Mystery Lady. Miss Hooper seemed a sweet enough girl when she managed to string three words together, and she was infinitely more suitable than Miss Lyons. And Mrs. Ellery was pleasant company, he supposed. But even when employing a generous dose of allowance for the difference in behavior, as Miss Leigh had suggested, none of them enticed David. Even if his Mystery Lady was more reserved without the mask, there was no way that any of these three could be her.
