“Yes, lovely,” her uncle replied, not bothering to look up.
Pressing her lips together, her aunt shared, “Edwina is wearing a maroon gown.”
“Wonderful,” her uncle muttered dully.
A flash of annoyance crossed her aunt’s face at his indifference. “Lionel!” she exclaimed in exasperation.
Her uncle finally tore his gaze away from the ledgers and brought his gaze up. “What is it?” he asked.
Tilting her head towards Edwina, her aunt prompted, “Doesn’t Edwina look nice?”
Her uncle shifted his gaze towards her. “I must agree with my wife. You do look lovely,” he declared, his voice holding a touch of sincerity. “I am glad to see that you are no longer wearing all black.”
Interjecting, her aunt asked, “May I ask what prompted the change?”
Edwina smoothed down the maroon gown. “My brush with death made me realize that there is still so much I want to accomplish,” she explained.
Her aunt nodded understandingly. “You are still young and have a whole life ahead of you.”
With a huff, her uncle grumbled, “Life is not as grand asyou make it out to be. The older you get, the more mundane tasks take over and dull the excitement of living.”
“You are being rather pleasant today,” her aunt remarked, her voice terse as she directed her comment at her husband.
“Would you prefer if I lied to Edwina?” he asked.
“No, but you could be a little more encouraging,” her aunt responded.
Waving his hand over his cluttered desk, her uncle said, “I just read a report on soil. It wasn’t the least bit riveting, but it had to be done.”
Her aunt shifted her gaze towards Edwina. “Do not let us keep you, Dear,” she encouraged. “I suspect you would rather do anything else than hear us bicker.”
“We are not bickering.” Her uncle paused. “Are we?”
Glancing at her husband, she confirmed, “We are.”
“Drats,” her uncle said.
Edwina took a step back. “I am going to join Bennett and Lord Hilgrove on the lawn. They are practicing archery.”
“Wonderful,” her aunt said. “Enjoy yourself, but do not be late for supper.”
As she made her way out of the study, Edwina had the briefest thought about how Lord Hilgrove would respond to her gown. Which was absurd. Why should she care what he thought about her gown or about anything else for that matter? They were acquaintances, nothing more. Yet, she did enjoy their conversations when he wasn’t so contrary. But surely those moments meant nothing.
Brushing aside that thought, Edwina exited the back door and stepped into the gardens. She headed towards the lawn where the archery targets were positioned.
Edwina came to a stop a short distance away and watched Lord Hilgrove release an arrow, its sharp point embedding itself perfectly in the center of the target.
“Well done,” Bennett praised. “I see your archery skills have greatly improved since our days at Eton.”
Lord Hilgrove lowered the bow to his side and smirked. “And yet, your own abilities seem to have stayed the same.”
Bennett chuckled before he turned his head towards her. His eyes widened. “Edwina,” he said. “You look different. Good different, though.”
Lord Hilgrove leaned closer to Bennett and joked, “That was poorly done on your part.”
Holding up his bow, Bennett offered it to Edwina as he asked, “Would you care to join us?”
“I would, thank you,” Edwina said as she accepted the bow. “It has been quite some time since I last shot an arrow.”
