Edwina’s brow shot up. “Pardon?”
Her uncle looked at her like she was a simpleton. “Is that not why you and Miles are here? To ask for my blessing.”
“No, we are here for an entirely different matter,” Edwina replied.
“Then you two aren’t engaged?” her uncle asked.
Edwina exchanged a look with Miles before confirming, “We are not.”
Her uncle frowned. “Whyever not?” he demanded. “I have seen the way you two look at one another and the hushed conversations.”
“We are just friends,” Edwina insisted.
With a huff, her uncle turned to Bennett. “What are your thoughts on this?”
Edwina held her breath, not knowing if Bennett would reveal that he had caught them in a compromising situation. If he did, she had no doubt that her uncle would demand that they should be married at once.
But to her pleasant- and rather unexpected- surprise, Bennett just shrugged. “I do believe the decision rests solely on them.”
She released her breath, grateful for her cousin’s discretion.
Her uncle shifted his gaze to Miles. “And what say you?” he asked. “Is my niece not good enough for you?”
Miles shook his head. “No, my lord, I would gladly marry Lady Edwina, assuming she would have me.”
“She will have you,” her uncle said.
“Uncle!” Edwina exclaimed. “I do believe I should have a choice in the matter.”
Her uncle gave her an exasperated look. “Lord Hilgrove would make a fine husband for you. He is an earl, and I doubt you would fare much better in the marriage mart.”
Miles interjected, “I agree with Lady Edwina. It is her decision and hers alone.”
“But she is a woman,” her uncle cried out. “They are prone to make irrational decisions based on their emotions and whatnot.”
Her aunt’s voice came from the doorway. “Lionel!” she exclaimed. “That was entirely unfair of you to say.”
Her uncle had the decency to look ashamed. “My apologies, my love. I am just trying to make a point.”
“A poorly worded point,” her aunt said, walking further into the room. “Edwina has every right to make this decision on her own.”
“But Miles is an earl,” her uncle pointed out.
“Yes, he is, but you can’t force these things,” her aunt said. “You must trust Edwina is making the best choice for herself.”
Her uncle looked displeased. “It would be far better if Edwina marries now than having her endure the Season.”
“You just don’t want to pay for her Season,” her aunt remarked.
“Precisely,” her uncle declared. “The purpose of having a Season is to make yourself as desirable as possible so you can attract a suitor. But Edwina has already attracted an earl. Is that not enough for her?”
Edwina lowered her gaze, not knowing what to say. Her uncle was adamant about her marrying Miles, not that she expected any different. But she didn’t dare reveal the reasonings behind her decision not to marry him.
Miles leaned closer to her and whispered, “Your uncle is acting very ‘marquessish.’”
A laugh escaped her lips and she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
“Did I say that right?” he asked.
