Mrs. Warren led her into the room off the entry hall and said, “Now tell us what happened and do not leave anything out.”
With a sigh, Edwina shared, “Lord Hilgrove and I were having a discussion and one thing led to another and we almost kissed.”
“You did?” Mrs. Warren asked, exchanging a worried glance with her husband.
“Yes, and Bennett caught us,” Edwina said. “Next thing Iknow, Lord Hilgrove has offered to marry me, and Bennett accepted on my behalf.”
Mr. Warren furrowed his brow. “You do realize that people have married for much less,” he said, the concern evident in his frown.
“Yes, but we didn’t kiss,” Edwina said. “Wealmostkissed. There is a difference.”
“That may be true, but you were caught in a scandalous position by your cousin,” Mr. Warren pressed. “It is only right that you marry Lord Hilgrove.”
Tossing up her hands, Edwina asked, “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, and always yours,” Mr. Warren replied. “But I am trying to have you look at this objectively.”
Edwina turned her attention towards Mrs. Warren, who had been unusually silent. “What do you think?”
Mrs. Warren offered her a weak smile. “We would be happy to hide you away until this passes, but I do not think that is the right thing to do.”
“You don’t?”
“No, Lord Hilgrove seems to be a fine man,” Mrs. Warren said. “Why do you take issue with marrying him?”
Edwina felt her shoulders slump. “Because he could never love me. He is still in love with his late wife.”
Mrs. Warren approached her and placed a comforting hand on her sleeve. “There is only one reason why I see you objecting to this marriage, then.”
“What is that?” Edwina asked.
In a calm voice, Mrs. Warren said, “You love him, don’t you?”
Edwina reared back, not wanting to believe it was true. “No, that is impossible. We are friends, nothing more.”
“Yet your eyes betray your emotions,” Mrs. Warren said. “You care for him far more than just a friend.”
“I may care for him, but that is a far cry from loving him,”Edwina defended. “Besides, it doesn’t matter. Lord Hilgrove is marrying me only out of honor.”
Mrs. Warren dropped her arm but remained close. “I think there is more there, for both of you.”
“You would be wrong,” Edwina asserted. “I can’t… I won’t… marry a man that doesn’t love me.”
“Then what shall you do?” Mrs. Warren asked.
A thought occurred to Edwina. “I can run away and play golf. It is all the rage in Scotland and I am sure I can learn to love it.”
“That is an interesting option, but let’s put it aside for now,” Mrs. Warren suggested.
A knock came at the door of the cottage, interrupting their conversation.
Mrs. Warren departed from the room to open the door and a moment later she returned with Miles by her side.
Edwina huffed, dispensing with the pleasantries. “What are you doing here?”
Miles smiled, as if he found her blunt question to be humorous. “Hello, my lady,” he replied. “It is good to see you, too.”
“We just saw one another in the library, or have you forgotten?” Edwina asked, her voice taking on an edge.
