Chapter Twelve
“Where can he be?”
Eve and Caroline shared a knowing look and went back to writing notes.
Will’s ship from Gibraltar had docked in London early that morning.Word had been sent from Charles’s shipping agent as soon as theCanis Majorhad berthed at the docks.Adelaide had taken up a post in the downstairs sitting room nearest the front door to wait for Will’s arrival.
By mid-morning she was pacing the front hallway.By noon she stood just inside the front door, arms crossed.Waiting.
Will’s luggage arrived early in the afternoon, but there was no sign of Will himself.At three o’clock, Adelaide marshalled her troops.Eve and Caroline were each given a small pile of cards with instructions to write to everyone in London who could possibly tell Adelaide the whereabouts of her first-born son.
“That boy owes me three years of my life.I lost count of the nights I sat up and worried about him while he was on his secret mission in Paris.He is a wicked and cruel son if he thinks I should have to wait a day longer for his return.”
“He may have some pressing business matters he needs to finalize before he comes home,” offered Caroline.
Eve’s heart went out to her mother.For as long as she could remember, the arrival of the morning post had been an occasion of silence and dread within the family.Dread that among the letters and invitations would be a communication from British army command that the French authorities had uncovered Will’s true identity and he had met his fate at the hands of Madame Guillotine.
“Mama, he will come.If not today, then tomorrow.His luggage has arrived, so he clearly intends to come home,” said Caroline.
A knock at the door heralded Charles Saunders.Adelaide rose from her chair, a handful of notes held tightly in her hand.Charles came to his wife and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Will sent word.He has urgent army business to attend to which he cannot discuss.Suffice to say, he is in London and will be with us as soon as he can.In the meantime, I suggest we go on as we have done for the past one thousand, eight hundred and however many days since he has been away,” said Charles.
Adelaide took her husband’s advice and as a result, Eve found herself sitting in Lady Rosemount’s drawing room late the following morning.If her mother was still anxious about not being home when Will eventually did arrive, she hid it well.
The talk meandered through various safe topics, while Eve sat quietly waiting for it to land on the real reason for her and Adelaide’s visit to Rosemount House.She was nervous, all her self-confidence having fled the moment she set foot inside the front door.
“So, Eve, Frederick tells me you and he have recently become friends.I cannot begin to tell you how pleased I am he has found new friends since his arrival in London.He is not the most outgoing of young men and finds it difficult to socialize,” said Lady Rosemount finally.
Eve continued to chew on her cake long past when it was well and truly ready to be swallowed.It allowed her time to gather her thoughts and frame a suitable response.
The Freddie his mother described was nothing like the man she knew.
“Oh, so he is a shy young man.I hadn’t realized,” replied Adelaide.
Eve crossed her toes in her slippers and prayed.One of the lessons she had learned from playing the Rude Rules challenges was that keeping a straight face at all times was imperative.If people thought you found humor in a situation, they were likely to do one of two things: they either wanted to be in on the jest, or they got angry.Veryangry, in the case of several people she and Freddie had managed to offend during the game.
“He is a quiet young man, almost bookish I would say, which is why it is encouraging to see he has caught the eye of a lovely young lady.Especially, may I say, one from such a respectable and well-connected family,” replied his mother.
She caught her mother’s eye.Adelaide was beaming proudly at her daughter.
Eve picked up her cup of tea and took a hesitant sip.She was content to let her mother and Lady Rosemount do the talking.It allowed her to add to the long list of questions she was going to ask Freddie when next they were alone.
“Do you enjoy the countryside, Evelyn?”asked Lady Rosemount.
Eve felt the heat of two pairs of eyes looking straight at her.
“Yes.I’ve always enjoyed going to Scotland at Christmas.Mama’s family castle, Strathmore Castle, is in the wilds of Scotland, and I do love long walks among the hills and the valleys,” she replied.
Both her mother and Lady Rosemount sat back in their chairs, smiles evident on their faces.It was a morning for smiles.Eve had given the correct answer.They would see little point in a marriage between a headstrong city girl and a bookish lad from the country, but Eve had set their minds to rest.
“Well, then.May I suggest you and your mother come and visit us at Rosemount Abbey.I am certain the rest of the family would like to meet you both.My eldest daughter-in-law, Cecily, most especially would be interested in meeting Evelyn.”
A small bubble of excitement and fear formed in Eve’s stomach.Lady Rosemount had invited her to visit Freddie’s family home, which could only mean he had told his mother he was intending to make an offer for her hand in marriage.
“Mama?”she replied, suddenly in need of her mother’s reassurance.Things were beginning to move at a pace Eve could no longer fully control.
“That would be lovely.My eldest son is returning to England this week after a number of years abroad, so a visit would have to be after he has settled in at home.Would the end of the month suit your convenience?”asked Adelaide.
Lady Rosemount placed her hands together and nodded.“The end of the month it is.I shall let Frederick know.He will be most pleased.And in the meantime, I shall head home and make preparations for your visit.”
