Chapter 12
The day after she hadtea with Emma, Bett still hadn’t decided what to do about Peter. Should she confront him about not telling her of Noah’s visit?
Would it make any difference at this point?
At least she now knew Noah had come to call on her. That had relieved her mind greatly because she’d been afraid he didn’t care for her anymore. Perhaps it was time to tell Peter and Cecily of her feelings for Noah and see what they had to say.
Bett made her way to the upstairs parlor to have tea with Cecily. Her poor sister-in-law was very uncomfortable these days, with the birth only weeks away, and there wasn’t much Bett could do to help her besides keep her company.
The August heat was becoming unbearable, and Bett could only imagine how uncomfortable Cecily was feeling.
Cecily looked up from her embroidery when Bett entered the parlor. “I’m very pleased to see you, Bett. I was so disappointed when Peter told me yesterday that you preferred to have tea at Fleming Manor instead of here.”
Bett’s mouth fell open. “What did you say?”
“Yes. I woke up from resting, ready to enjoy an afternoon of good conversation, but Peter said you’d already left to go to Fleming Manor.”
Bett was flabbergasted that Peter would outright lie to his wife. His high-handedness had gone on long enough. She wouldn’t let him get away with telling such lies. “Cecily, it wasn’tmy choice to travel to the Fleming Manor. Peter told me you weren’t feeling well and asked me to cancel the engagement.”
Bett watched a range of emotions flit across Cecily’s face. Would she accept that Bett was telling her the truth? The last thing she wanted was to cause any problems between them, but Peter was wrong to lie to his wife.
“Well, I suppose my darling husband was merely worried for me,” Cecily finally said.
It didn’t surprise Bett in the least that Cecily wouldn’t criticize her husband in front of her. There was no point in discussing the point any further. “That was probably his reasoning. With the baby coming soon, I’m sure he didn’t want you to be overly taxed,” Bett said.
She was saved from any more discussion about it when the maid brought in a tea tray.
“Shall I pour for you, Lady Williams?” Kate asked.
“Yes. I can hardly move about these days.”
Kate poured out the tea and handed each of them a cup. “Do you require anything else, my lady?”
“No, thank you, Kate. You may go.”
The maid curtseyed and left the room.
“Are you feeling any better today?” Bett asked.
“Peter’s heir is quite active these days. I can barely fall asleep before I feel him kicking me. Then it’s difficult to return to sleep.”
“It won’t be long before you’re holding your precious child in your arms,” Bett said with a wistful air.
“Does it make you sad to see me with child?”
“Oh, no. You mustn’t think that. I’m overjoyed for you and Peter. Don’t worry about me. Perhaps one day, I’ll be holding a child of my own soon.”
“Really? Have you met someone?”
It was now or never. Time to tell Cecily about Noah. Bett knew her sister-in-law would share the information with Peter so she wouldn’t have to confront him about his lack of civility when Noah came to call.
“I did. It was at the Fleming house party back in June. His name is Mr. Hughes.”
“Mr. Hughes? Why does that name sound familiar?”
Bett decided not to reveal the fact that she knew Noah had come to call on her. “Have you met him?”
“Oh, now I remember!”
