Reassuring words. “Thank you, my lord. That was most helpful.”
“You’re welcome.” His gaze turned back to Sadie. “How do you know so much about what new mothers want?”
She chuckled. “My lord, most women know these things. I just put it into words.”
The countess sniffed. “And no one taught you to keep your opinions inside. I promise you, Miss Sadie Allen, no man wants a woman with a sharp tongue.”
Sadie’s tongue wasn’t sharp so much as blunt. She had no difficulty saying what was on her mind, whenever it came to mind. Iseabail found that admirable. She had spent so much of her life silently subservient to her mother, then terrified into silence by her uncle, that she had no strength to speak up at all.
Iseabail set aside her quill. “I think I shall change into something else for our walk with Mr. Bates. This dress binds too much.” It was a gift from Mairi and a bit too tight in the bodice and loose in the arms. She wanted to wear something that showed her height and cleavage to advantage.
“I don’t think so,” the countess stated. “I don’t want you making up to the man. He’s too common for either of you.”
The earl was halfway out the door when he heard that. “Mother, he’s a good man. He would honor his wife.”
“I don’t care if he’d put her on a pedestal and shower her with gold.”
Sadie snorted. “Whyever not?”
“Because he’s not goodton.And as my charges, you can both do better.” She turned a hard glare on both women. “I will find you good husbands with better pedigrees.”
“And less money,” Sadie said.
The countess sniffed. “Money isn’t everything.”
Said the woman who’d always had it.
The countess’s gaze softened. “I would prefer you to have feelings for the gentleman you marry. Life is hard enough without marrying a man you cannot respect.” She shook her head. “No, the more I think upon it, I believe I shall bar the door to him.”
Bar the door! But then Iseabail would never be able to hire him. Thankfully, the earl objected before she could say anything.
“That’s too harsh, Mother. I respect the man.”
“Then you may meet with him whenever you will, but my girls will not. They are here to find husbands and he does not qualify.”
The earl pursed his lips, but decided not to argue. “You will do as you please,” he said as he made his bows. “As will Reuben, I expect.” Then with a distractive way, he collected his hat and coat and departed.
Which left Iseabail to plead Mr. Bates’s case. “You shouldn’t bar the door to the man. We’ve promised to walk with him—”
“Then he will be disappointed.”
“—And Lady Rebecca,” Iseabail continued. “We cannot afford to insult her.”
The countess pursed her lips. “Her mother won’t allow it either.”
“But she might. Or Lady Rebecca will sneak out. Either way, we must go walk with her. If for no other reason than to protect her from Mr. Bates.”
“She is rather young and silly. Just the kind of girl who might be tempted by a rogue.”
“Exactly,” Iseabail declared as she headed upstairs to change.
“Not so fast, my girl.” The countess stood up. “I am not so blind. What is your interest in Mr. Bates? I’ll not allow you to marry him.”
“But what if I hired him?” she asked.
“For what purpose?”
To kill her uncle.
