“I will try,” her aunt murmured as she took a bite of her soup.
With a chuckle, her uncle asked, “You are still worrying, aren’t you?”
“I am,” her aunt replied.
Her uncle turned towards White. “Will you send out two riders to look for Lady Elodie and Lady Melody?”
“Yes, my lord,” the butler replied with a tip of his head.
Bennett interrupted, “I could go look for them, as well.”
“As could I,” Miles offered.
Her uncle shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“What if the coach has a broken wheel and they are on the side of the road, utterly helpless?” her aunt asked.
Winston chuckled. “Elodie… helpless? I think not,” he said. “Most likely, she would have tried to replace the wheel herself.”
The sound of a door slamming in the distance could be heard and it was followed by someone shouting, “Mother!”
Her aunt perked up in her seat. “They are home.”
A moment later, a disheveled looking Elodie and Melody stepped into the dining room. Their blonde hair had escaped their chignons, dirt coated their gowns and Elodie even had dirt splattered on her face.
“What happened to you?” Edwina’s aunt asked, rising.
Elodie blew out a puff of air. “I had to drive the coach when our driver grew ill.”
“You did what?!” her father exclaimed.
With a slight shrug of her shoulder, Elodie responded, “It was either that or walk to the nearest village for help.”
Melody clasped her hands in front of her. “I thought it was rather brave of Elodie,” she declared.
Bennett rose from his chair and addressed Elodie. “How did you even know how to drive a coach?”
“It was difficult at first, but I got the hang of it.” Elodie turned to one of the footmen. “Will you fetch the doctor for Alfred? I worry that he is more ill than he was letting on.”
Edwina’s uncle tossed his napkin onto the table. “A lady does not drive a coach, under any circumstances,” he shouted.
“Well, thisladydidn’t want to walk miles to the next village,” Elodie responded.
Melody nodded. “It really was our best option, Father.”
“No, your best option was to wait in the coach until help arrived,” their father countered.
Elodie reached up and removed a leaf from her hair. “I am not some helpless female,” she stated. “Besides, I have always wanted to drive the coach and I succeeded. No one died.”
Edwina’s aunt approached her daughters and said, “What’s done is done. Why don’t you two go take a long soak and I will send dinner up to your bedchambers?”
Melody sighed. “That sounds delightful.”
Elodie looked longingly at the table. “I do want a long soak but I am famished.” She walked over to the table and retrieved a piece of bread. “This should hold me over until I have dinner.”
“Allow me to escort you to your bedchambers,” Lady Dallington said before leading them out of the dining room.
Edwina’s uncle huffed. “What am I going to do with Elodie?”
