Winston grinned. “I think she is fine the way she is.”
“She acts more like a hoyden than a lady,” her uncle remarked. “I wonder what bad habits she learned at that boarding school.”
“Melody went to the same boarding school and she doesn’t appear to have picked up any bad habits,” Bennett stated.
Edwina’s uncle waved his hand in front of him. “Yes, but Melody has always been much more reserved than her sister.”
Edwina knew that no truer statement had ever been said. Elodie and Melody may look very much like one another, but that was where the similarities stopped. Elodie was outspoken, loud and opinionated, whereas Melody was more of an observer and tended to just follow her sister’s lead.
Shoving back his seat, her uncle said, “Pardon me, but I have work that I need to see to. Will you inform Mother of this?”
Bennett nodded. “I will.”
After her uncle departed from the dining room, Winston said, “I must admit that I am rather nervous about Elodie attending her first Season.”
“You and me both,” Bennett muttered. “I could see her challenging a gentleman to a duel for the slightest offense.”
“What is worse is that she would probably win,” Winston retorted.
Edwina laughed, knowing her cousins’ words held some truth to them.
Bennett leaned to the side as a footman collected his soup bowl. “Regardless, we have our work cut out for us.”
“Yes, we do,” Winston agreed.
As the footmen brought out the next course, Edwina was happy to have Elodie and Melody home. She had always been close to them and she looked forward to learning more about the circumstances surrounding Elodie driving a coach.
Chapter Seventeen
As the sun climbed higher in the sky and streamed its warm light through the windows, Miles entered the dining room and saw Elodie and Melody sitting at the long, rectangular table.
“Good morning,” he greeted with a smile as he pulled out a chair and took a seat across from them.
The sisters murmured their greetings in return, their voices gentle and refined.
At first glance, it was difficult to distinguish between Elodie and Melody, but upon closer inspection, subtle differences could be seen. Elodie’s delicate features were adorned with a sprinkling of freckles along the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Meanwhile, Melody had a single dimple that appeared on her right cheek whenever she smiled.
Elodie reached for her teacup, her eyes meeting Miles’ as she asked, “How are you enjoying your stay at Brockhall Manor, my lord?”
“I have enjoyed my time immensely,” he replied honestly, taking a sip of his own tea.
“That is good to hear,” Elodie said. “I understand Bennett and Winston are planning to go angling today. Will you be joining them?”
Miles shook his head. “No, I have agreed to escort Lady Edwina to the village instead.”
“For what purpose?” Elodie inquired.
Melody quickly interjected, “That is not our concern, Sister. Remember what our headmistress said.”
Elodie blew out a puff of air. “I do try to forget everything that Mrs. Taylor said.”
“A genteel lady does not pry into the personal lives of others,” Melody shared. “It is uncouth to do so.”
“But it is imperative that I know why they are going to the village,” Elodie argued.
Melody gave her a disbelieving look. “Why is that, exactly?”
“I need to know if I should accompany them,” Elodie replied. “Or I might need to buy some more ribbons.”
