“He is tolerable, I suppose,” Edwina lied.
“Well, you could use a handsome suitor, or two,” Mrs. Warren said. “You are much too beautiful to go unnoticed for much longer.”
Edwina appreciated Mrs. Warren’s kind words, but she knew that she was no great beauty. With her brown hair and slightly tanned skin, she was forced to acknowledge that she didn’t embody the traditional beauty associated with debutantes. At least, she wasn’t entirely unfortunate to look upon.
Mr. Warren spoke up, drawing back her attention. “You look just like your mother did at this age.”
“I wish I had known her,” Edwina admitted.
“Your parents waited years to finally have you, and were overjoyed when your mother was expecting,” Mr. Warren said. “It was a shame that she died so shortly after you were born.”
Mrs. Warren placed a comforting hand on Edwina’s shoulder. “Your mother was kind and generous, and she would be proud of the woman that you have become.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Warren,” Edwina said, touched by her words.
Dropping her hand to her side, Mrs. Warren remarked, “Do not let us keep you. We would talk to you for hours if we could.”
Edwina tipped her head at Mr. Warren. “I shall call upon you shortly to see how you are enjoying that book.”
“I will be looking forward to it,” Mr. Warren acknowledged.
Wearing a stern expression, she asserted in the firmest voice she could muster up, “And do not leave that chair for any reason until the doctor says you can.”
Mr. Warren saluted her, his eyes holding mirth. “Yes, my lady.”
“Good,” Edwina said. “Then my work here is done.”
Mrs. Warren gestured towards the corridor. “Allow me to walk you to the door.”
While they approached the main door, Edwina said, “I hope I was able to convince Mr. Warren to remain in that chair a little while longer.”
“I hope so,” Mrs. Warren responded.
Edwina stepped out of the cottage and said, “Good day.”
With a warm smile gracing her lips, Mrs. Warren informed her, “You are always welcome in our home. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
Mrs. Warren waved her hand in front of her. “Now, off with you. Go enjoy dinner with that handsome gentleman.”
“I never said he was handsome.”
“You didn’t need to,” Mrs. Warren said as she closed the door.
Edwina started down the path, wondering what Mrs.Warren was thinking saying such an outlandish thing. It didn’t matter that Lord Hilgrove was handsome. She had no interest in spending any more time than she had to with him.
Standing in front of a mirror, Miles meticulously adjusted his cravat before his valet helped him into his jacket. Bailey had been his batman during the war and they had fought side by side with one another on countless missions.
However, those days felt like a lifetime ago.
An image of Arabella flashed in his mind, and he quickly banished it. Dwelling on the past served no purpose. His wife was gone. Why couldn’t he just accept it and move on? Yet the pain remained, taking hold of his heart and making him utterly miserable.
Bailey took a step back and asked, “Will there be anything else, my lord?”
“Not at this time,” he replied. “You may go.”
After Bailey had departed from the room, Miles walked over to the window and stared out into the gardens. He sighed as he dropped his head. It was a blessing and a curse to fall in love. He had created beautiful memories with Arabella, but in the end, he was just left with an empty heart.
