Lady Provie’s stern features softened by the smallest degree as she nodded gracefully into her chair while a servant poured fresh tea into delicate porcelain.
“Good morning, David,” she replied, lifting the cup with elegant fingers before taking a measured sip.
David leaned eagerly across the table, resting his elbows beside his porridge despite earlier instructions to do no such thing.
“Did you dance at the ball last night?” he asked, his eyes shining with curiosity. “I wish I could have danced.”
Amelia smiled into her teacup, grateful that his greatest concern remained ballroom dancing rather than the dreadful events of the previous evening.
“I did not dance,” Lady Provie replied, stirring her tea with slow, deliberate circles before setting the spoon neatly upon the saucer. “I fear I am rather too advanced in age for such energetic pursuits.”
David frowned at her with touching sympathy, as though she had confessed to a terrible illness.
“That is unfortunate,” he said earnestly, tilting his head. “I would still dance if I were old.”
Valerie promptly pressed her napkin to her mouth to hide a laugh while Amelia suddenly found the butter on her bread utterly fascinating.
Even one of the footmen coughed suspiciously into his sleeve, though whether from dust or suppressed laughter, Amelia could not say.
Lady Provie merely lifted one elegant brow and regarded David with admirable composure. “I shall remember your encouragement,” she replied, inclining her head towards him with surprising dignity. “Though I suspect society might not share your enthusiasm.”
David accepted that explanation with all childlike seriousness. Amelia privately decided the world would be a happier place if more people viewed dancing through the eyes of a six-year-old.
Lady Provie lifted her teacup once more before glancing deliberately towards Amelia. “Besides,” she began, pausing just long enough to command everyone’s attention, “there was rather a great deal occurring last night with…”
Amelia’s heart lurched so violently that she nearly dropped her own cup.
No. Absolutely not. David must never hear about Helen in such a careless manner, not while Gabriel is absent and unable to decide how the truth should be revealed.
“Indeed, there was much going on with all the guests to speak with,” Amelia interrupted Lady Provie smoothly as she set her teacup onto its saucer with careful precision.
She smiled pleasantly at Lady Provie, though the firmness in her eyes left little room for misunderstanding. “And an astonishing quantity of food to be enjoyed,” she added lightly, folding her hands upon the table. “But that was all. Nothing significant occurred.”
She held Lady Provie’s gaze, silently pleading with the older woman to leave the matter untouched.
The breakfast room became noticeably quieter as Lady Provie studied Amelia across the polished mahogany table. Neither woman blinked nor looked away for several long moments. Amelia’s pulse hammered beneath her calm expression, but she refused to yield. Whatever quarrels existed between the adults, David deserved another morning filled with nothing more frightening than porridge and talk of dancing. To Amelia’s immense relief, Lady Provie finally lowered her eyes to her tea without another word.
Valerie immediately seized the opportunity to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“Quite right,” she said brightly as she reached for another piece of bread and spread it generously with butter. “Nothing significant happened whatsoever.” She looked towards David with an encouraging smile. “However, my dance card was full the entire evening.”
David’s mouth fell open in astonishment. “The entire evening?” he repeated, sounding as though she had survived a military campaign.
“I fear so,” Valerie replied with exaggerated solemnity as she placed one hand dramatically against her forehead. “I scarcely sat down once.”
David regarded her with genuine horror before shaking his head. “You must be very tired.”
Valerie laughed softly and nodded. “Indeed, I am,” she admitted, tearing off a small piece of toast. “I have therefore devised a most sensible plan for today.”
“What sort of plan?” David asked eagerly, abandoning his porridge altogether in favor of the far more pressing matter.
Valerie smiled, “I thought I might take one of my books into the gardens,” she said, glancing towards the windows where bright sunshine spilled across the lawn. “Perhaps the servants couldspread a few rugs beneath the old oak tree.” She looked back at her brother. “Would you and Grover care to join me as I take leisure?”
David brightened immediately. “For reading?” he asked hopefully, though Amelia suspected he intended to do considerably less reading than Valerie imagined.
“For reading,” Valerie confirmed with an amused nod. “And perhaps a little sleeping if the sunshine proves too pleasant.”
David considered the proposal very seriously before another thought occurred to him. “And Grover and Shadow?” he asked hopefully.
