Lord Dallington barely seemed to listen as he spoke over her. “Good, good.” He returned his attention back to Miles. “I was rather pleased when Bennett told us you would be visiting for a fortnight.”
Miles gave a polite nod. “I appreciate you opening up your home to me,” he said.
Growing somber, Lord Dallington remarked, “I was deeply saddened to hear that you lost John so closely to your wife.” He paused. “Fortunately, with you inheriting a title, you were able to leave that blasted war behind.”
Miles tensed as he worked to keep his voice steady. “Inheriting an earldom is not why I left the war,” he asserted.
With a bob of his head, Lord Dallington replied, “Yes, but your influence will be much greater in the House of Lords than on the battlefield.”
Miles struggled to keep a polite mask on his face as he revealed, “I have yet to take up my seat in the House of Lords.”
Lord Dallington gave him a pointed look. “You must take your duty to King and Country much more seriously. You are an earl now and that comes with certain responsibilities.”
Lady Dallington spoke up. Her soft voice carried awarning as she addressed her husband. “Lionel, you are being terribly inconsiderate to our guest, considering his situation.”
“Forgive me,” Lord Dallington said, his expression softening as he turned to his wife. “I often become overly passionate on a subject that is dear to me.”
The butler stepped into the room and announced dinner was ready to be served.
Lord Dallington extended his arm to his wife and led her from the drawing room.
Bennett offered Miles an apologetic look. “I apologize for my father. He can be rather blunt in his assessment of things.”
“I remember,” Miles said. “And you have nothing to apologize for. Lord Dallington isn’t wrong. I should take up my seat in the House of Lords.”
“You need time to grieve…”
Miles put his hand up. “Enough talk about this,” he said, speaking over his friend. “I am famished.”
Bennett’s eyes held compassion as he tipped his head. “Very well.” He turned back towards Edwina. “May I escort you to the dining room, Cousin?”
Edwina stepped forward. “Thank you,” she responded.
Miles remained rooted in his spot as he watched them depart from the drawing room. He wished he could say that Lord Dallington’s reaction to the death of his loved ones was uncommon, but it wasn’t. It was all too familiar. He had endured too many conversations where people dismissed his grief as inconsequential or couldn’t comprehend why he was still grieving.
All he yearned for was not to feel so broken. How he could achieve that, he wasn’t quite sure.
Chapter Three
Edwina sat at the dining table as she listened to the conversation going on around her. She felt no need to interject her thoughts, not that they would be welcomed by her uncle, who appeared to barely tolerate her as of late.
She sat alone on her side of the table, which was preferable to her. Her cousin and Lord Hilgrove sat across from her, while her aunt and uncle occupied the opposite ends of the table.
Edwina took her fork and moved the food around her plate. Her uncle hadn’t always treated her with such disdain. Growing up, she had always enjoyed being around him, but everything changed when he inherited the title from her father. He grew distant, almost cold, a stark change in his demeanor towards her.
She had often asked herself why the sudden change. Had she done something wrong to earn his ire? If so, she wished she knew what it was so she could fix it.
Her aunt’s voice broke through her musings. “Are you not hungry, Dear?”
Realizing she had been caught woolgathering, Edwinalowered her fork to the plate and replied, “I’m afraid not, but the food was delicious.”
“That it was,” her aunt agreed.
Her uncle cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “You should be more present in the conversation, especially when we have guests dining with us,” he chided.
“Yes, Uncle,” Edwina acknowledged.
“You mentioned calling upon someone earlier,” her uncle said. “Who was that again?”
