Page 53 of An Accidental Elopement

“Oh, sweetheart, have you been sleeping here?” her mother-in-law cooed and came to Cecilia’s side, stroking her cheek briefly then seemingly thinking that she might be overstepping a line. Cecilia closed her eyes as she wished Millie would continue. Her own mother was not one to show physical affection. She had seen that Millie would more moderately, a pat on the hand or arm, a squeeze of the hand.

“I was just resting,” Cecilia muttered and did not meet either of their eyes.

“Being newlywed can be hard,” Lady Lindley offered emphatically and came to stand behind Millie.

“What do you know? You were pregnant and in love, that hardly constitutes hardship in my book,” Millie commented in a teasing voice that Cecilia had not heard her use before.

“Your difficulties do not have to lie in the man you chose, but the circumstances. Let me remind you that until Edwina married Henry five years ago, many people still turned their backs on us,” Lady Lindley told them as if this was an everyday subject.

Cecilia had not been out when Henry and Edwina had met and married each other within the span of a fortnight, but she had heard the rumors and knew that it had been the scandal of the season. Not least because Henry’s father had had an affair with Lady Lindley before she married the earl.

“Right,” Millie told her mildly and smiled at her friend. She turned towards Cecilia again. “If you need someone to talk to, I would be very happy and honored if you would talk to me.”

Her gloved hand came to rest on Cecilia’s. Cecilia smiled appreciatively even though she knew that she could never confide the matter in Millie.

“Or me,” Lady Lindley cut in. “Not all things are meant for your mother-in-law’s ears.”

Cecilia looked at the other woman for the first time. Among the many rumors of her was that she had given people advice on the more intimate aspects of their lives before she married.

The woman’s dark brown eyes met hers with an unwavering gaze that immediately made Cecilia trust her.

“I am very good at keeping a secret. Is that not so, Millie?” Lady Lindley nudged Millie’s shoulder.

“I suppose in most aspects, yes.”

“In all those that matter, surely. Both of you would be shocked by the secrets people have shared with me over the years.” Lady Lindley smiled secretively as she stated this.

Millie and Cecilia exchanged a gaze and when Millie’s lips curled, Cecilia could not help but smile as well.

“Do you wish to speak to Lady Lindley, my dear? I can attest to the fact that it can be very helpful. Archie’s father and I once had some troubles and Lady Lindley helped us resolve them.”

Cecilia looked at Lady Lindley again. Something about the middle-aged woman made her certain that she would keep her secret, but Cecilia was not used to confiding them in others.

“Perhaps...” she began but trailed off.

Lady Lindley nudged Millie’s shoulder again and she rose and moved aside. Lady Lindley took her vacated seat.

“I will meet you in the greenhouse in half an hour. Perhaps more if Lady Archibald has a lot on her mind,” she told Mille over her shoulder.

“There is no need to rush on my part. Take as much time as you need, Darling.” Millie gave Cecilia an encouraging smile and a small nod. Along with her endearment, it made Cecilia feel a bit warmer. She returned the smile and watched Millie leave the lake house.

“Now,” Lady Lindley said, as the door was somewhat closed, and they could see Millie walking in the direction of the hothouses. “Usually, people would confide their problems in me of their own accord, but back then, they were also paying me to help them solve their problems. Since you have not, I will not expect you to simply tell me what the matter is. Unless you want to of course?” she added with a beaming smile.

Cecilia shrugged and felt like curling into herself. She had no idea what to say. In many ways, it did not even feel like her secret to tell, which was also part of the problem, was it not? Since she wanted Archie to consider her opinion as well.

“I don’t know...” she muttered.

Lady Lindley made a sound that told Cecilia she was considering the matter.

“If I tell you a secret of my own, will you then tell me one of yours? I promise it will be a salacious one and not some lame old woman’s secret like I took two cakes at tea yesterday or whatnot.”

Cecilia thought she had made her face expressionless, but it was clearly showing more than she had intended to give away because Lady Lindley laughed and said:

“Not that salacious. Heavens, woman I am five and fifty. You don’t continue to climb around on the furniture in athletic positions and have an insatiable desire.”

Cecilia coughed since her immediate reaction had been to laugh. Despite having consummated her marriage only a week ago, she recognized some of the athleticism that Lady Lindley spoke of. She blushed at the memory. It seemed impossible that it would be as easy between Archie and her as it had been for those perfect days of their marriage.

Lady Lindley chuckled.