Page 4 of An Accidental Elopement

“If you want any help, you know I will be more than happy to come and give my advice,” her mother said from the other side of the table.

Cecilia felt cold dread in her stomach. One of the benefits of Flint’s estate was that it was a three-day journey from that of her grandfather, where her parents also stayed for much of the autumn and winter. She would not have to entertain her mother on a daily basis when they lived there.

“Thank you, Mother, that is very kind of you, but I’m sure I can manage on my own,” Cecilia muttered and looked at Flint because she did not know what else to say.

“I’m sure you can as well. Your daughter is very capable,” he told her mother sitting across from him, as if her mother did not know. But maybe her mother actually did not, otherwise, why would she mollycoddle Cecilia this way all the time?

Even though Cecilia enjoyed Flint’s company, it was a relief when the duchess rose and the rest of the women followed her to the drawing room. Cecilia had been aware of Lord Archibald’s presence on her other side throughout dinner. He had not spoken to her again, nor had she spoken to him, which was for the best. As much as her body strained to take in any hint his was giving, like his warmth, scent, and an accidental touch, she was not to have anything to do with him.

As the men joined them, Lady Addinggrove, Flint’s sister, and the eldest Miss Drummond proposed that they would play The Aviary. It was a party game that could be both daring and fun, depending on who you played it with. Cecilia had played it at several house parties before and it was always a good way to steal a kiss from the man you were interested in. Before Mark Walfingham, she had dared a few times to kiss a man’s stumbled cheek when the opportunity arose.

She had had several suitors but sadly had not attracted a titled gentleman her first two seasons. And her third she had only had eyes for the blasted Mr. Walfingham. Her fourth season she had not won Flint’s heart by playing The Aviary, but perhaps tonight she would at least be given a chance to kiss him. Perhaps that could drive her thoughts away from Lord Archibald and stop him from eyeing her when he thought she was not looking. Which was also why she urged Flint on when he seemed reluctant to play.

Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Camborne, and Captain and Mrs. Drummond all said that they did not wish to participate and retreated to a corner with sofas and chairs in front of the fireplace. Cecilia could hear how the women immediately started to praise their grandchildren while the men talked about real estate prices.

They arranged the chairs in a circle on the other side of the room. Cecilia sat down next to Flint. Her lips instantly pressed into a thin line as Lord Archibald took the empty seat next to her. Yet she would not dignify that with a look. They each told Lady Addinggrove which bird they wanted to be. Cecilia picked the red wing, her favorite bird, to make it easier for Flint to pick her.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, my aviary is complete, and if you will now, please inform me: To which of your birds will you give your heart, to which of my birds will you entrust your secret, and from which of my birds will you pluck a feather,” Lady Addinggrove said in a dramatic voice.

She was two years Flint’s junior, happily married to a baron, and visibly pregnant. Cecilia could not help but envy her a little. The situation, not her husband, obviously. Lord Addinggrove was the most brooding and aloof gentleman she had ever met.

Cecilia’s attention was drawn to Amy Drummond, the youngest of the Drummond siblings present as it was her turn first. When she said she wanted to tell her secret to the swan, she had to pay a forfeit, since no one had chosen that bird. Lady Addinggrove gave the others the task of coming up with an impossible tongue twister.

Lord Archibald and Flint’s brother Percy soon started concocting an almost impossible and quite frankly downright vulgar tongue twister, if Cecilia understood all the references correctly. He leaned a little towards her since Percy Eavesgrave was sitting on Flint’s other side. Cecilia felt the heat of his body all along hers and focused on a painting on the wall as she tried to keep her breathing even. She would not react to him. She would not.

She was relieved when Lord Archibald leaned back in his seat and all attention was on Miss Amy who had to repeat the tongue twister which she did not manage until her fifth attempt.

Cecilia was more intrigued though since it was Lord Archibald’s sister, Lady Hester, next. Cecilia’s parents hoped that her brother Algernon would impress Lady Hester – and that she in turn would take his mind off the vicar’s daughter back home, whom Algernon had been in love with since childhood.

He had admitted to her earlier as they were walking down to dinner that he found Lady Hester rather pretty and did not mind her rather eccentric manner. Cecilia would not exactly call her pretty, but her violet eyes, almost perfect oval face, and high cheekbones certainly added to her charm.

Lady Hester had a multitude of areas that did not really work for her though: Her hair was a muddy blonde color, she was shaped like a pear with a small bosom, wide hips, and a large bottom, and would, in Cecilia’s opinion, not be a suitable wife to a titled gentleman. She was simply too focused on her own interests, which seemed to be mainly birds.

“I will give my heart to...” Lady Hester began and sent her brother a pleading look. Cecilia turned to look at his profile and saw him smirk and cross his arms, clearly not giving her any indication of which bird he had chosen. Cecilia recognized the gesture from her own brothers and made her dislike him a little less. “To the grouse,” Lady Hester finally finished the sentence. “And tell my secret to... the parrot.”

She sent Francis Drummond a look as she spoke.

“And I will pluck a feather from... the blackbird.”

Lady Addinggrove shook her head as she checked her list.

“I’m afraid that there is no blackbird in my aviary. You will have to pay a forfeit. I say that you must... kiss each corner of the room!”

Cecilia saw how color drained from Lady Hester’s face as both Algernon, Francis Drummond and Percy Eavesgrave rose and stood in one corner each. Lady Addinggrove started battering Flint to go stand in one of the corners, but he refused.

Lady Hester slowly rose and started in the corner where Percy Eavesgrave stood. She gave him a peck on the cheek and proceeded to the corner where Algernon stood. Cecilia watched how her brother put his arms on Lady Hester’s upper arms to steady her. Cecilia met his gaze for a moment but could not read anything from it before he shrugged. Her attention was again caught by Lady Addinggrove and Flint’s discussion.

“Just go stand in the corner, please,” she interrupted them. It was becoming more embarrassing that he refused to stand there than that he did.

“Do you think so?” Flint whispered.

Cecilia nodded decisively.

Flint rose and trudged to the last corner, while Lady Hester was giving Francis Drummond a peck on the cheek. Cecilia smiled as Lady Hester’s surprise at finding Flint in the corner clearly showed in the way her body froze for a moment. She walked on however and planted a kiss on his cheek, almost stumbling into him as she did so.

Cecilia frowned as she thought that Lady Hester might have lingered too long, leaning against Flint while she found her footing, and she felt her stomach turn over as she saw the blush on Lady Hester’s face as she walked back to her chair, her eyes on the floor.

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