Chapter Eleven
Freddie stood and watched as Eve’s carriage pulled away.He had half turned away when another carriage drew up outside the house.
It was the Rosemount travel coach.Seated at the nearest window was his mother.A footman stepped down from the coach and opened the door.
“Frederick, what perfect timing.One guest leaves as the other arrives,” she said, taking his hand.
Freddie schooled his features into that of the dutiful son, while inwardly thanking the gods his mother had not arrived five minutes earlier.
His mother was spending a few days in town to check up on him, and once she was satisfied he had not burnt the house to the ground, she would head back to Rosemount Abbey.Hopefully.
Freddie Rosemount was not the first son of any family to wish his parents would stay out of his life.
“Who was that you were saying farewell to?The footman on the back of the carriage looked to be wearing the livery of the Saunders family,” his mother said.
Freddie’s heart sank.His mother had seen the carriage with Eve leaving and he had no time to find a lie.Within the hour his mother would have penned a note to Adelaide Saunders mentioning having just missed the family member who had been visiting at Rosemount House.
He could not stand by and let Eve’s reputation be called into question.It was time to step up and defend his girl.
“Come inside, Mama.You must be tired from the journey.Then we can talk.”
Eve kept a low profile for the next day or so.Freddie had sent word that his mother was in town and they would have to wait a few days before attempting to resume the game.She took his note as a blessing in disguise; a rest from the game gave her the opportunity to catch up on some well needed sleep.Going out night after night with Freddie was taking its toll.
It also gave her time to think on how she could get Freddie to reveal his feelings for her.The kiss had been all that she had hoped for, but whether it led to him declaring himself to her was uncertain.
“Ah, just the person I wish to speak to,” said her mother, catching Eve in the upstairs hall.
Eve held her breath.Those words were never ones she enjoyed hearing.It usually meant she was either in trouble or, worse still, about to spend an evening listening to the latest gossip from among London society.She wasn’t sure which she hated more.Gossip never transpired to be half as good as it was initially reported.
With reluctance, she followed her mother into her formal drawing room and took a chair near the window.She straightened her back and sat with hands clasped ladylike in her lap.She waited for her mother to speak.
Instead, her mother came and sat next to her, taking Eve’s hand softly within hers.“I received a note from Lady Rosemount this morning.Apparently, you have become acquainted with her son, Frederick, and she would like to meet you.Isn’t that lovely news?”asked Adelaide.
Eve stilled.She had thought of several things her mother could take her to task over, including her treatment of Caroline.The news that Freddie’s mother wanted to meet her was a lightning bolt she had not seen coming.
“Yes,” she replied.
She felt Adelaide’s gaze boring into the side of her head.Nothing got past her mother.If Freddie had decided to make mention of their friendship, then it made sense she do the same.
“We met a few weeks ago at a party.He knows Francis,” she replied.
Throwing her brother’s name into the mix could only help to steer her mother away from thoughts of impropriety on her daughter’s part.She privately prayed the sibling code of silence would still hold.
“I’m surprised you didn’t make mention of him until now.Or was it your intention not to tell me about this young man?”asked Adelaide.
Eve swallowed deep and turned to her mother.“We are friends.Though matters may eventually head in the direction of something more, I cannot at this point say.”
Adelaide met her gaze.Eve suddenly felt naked.Why did mothers know when their daughters were not telling the whole truth?“Well, Lady Rosemount has invited you and I for tea later this week.I have accepted the invitation on our behalf, assuming you would want me to do so.”
Eve nodded.There wasn’t much else she could do.It felt odd that while she had been making secret plans to win Freddie’s heart, he had made several unexpected moves of his own.The kiss had taken her completely by surprise, and she had thought of little else since.
Meeting his mother took things several miles past where she thought they were in their budding romance.With Adelaide now aware of the relationship, it wouldn’t be long before the discussion turned to the matter of a betrothal.
“Yes.That would be lovely.I am looking forward to meeting Lady Rosemount.Though of course, if you think Will’s impending homecoming will disrupt our visit I would be happy to postpone it.”
Adelaide smiled.“Absolutely not.Your happiness is as important to me as is your brother coming home.Once he is back here in Dover Street, I shall be able to see him every day.The opportunity for you to meet with your potential future mother-in-law is something to be treated with the dignity and reverence it deserves.”
Mother-in-law.
The very words sent shivers of fear down Eve’s spine.What if Lady Rosemount was a stickler for protocol and behavior?She would see right through Eve’s charade of a well-bred young woman and know she was entirely unsuitable for her son.
Then where would she be?
