Page 37 of His Bluestocking Bride

“I think I am more used to the idea in my mind if not in practice.” Ellen smoothed a wrinkle in her skirt and folded her hands tightly in her lap.

Mrs. Banner’s laugh was low and soft, her expression merry. “I remember what it was like. You have ideas of how to do things, your mother’s advice ringing in your ears, but you doubt yourself every time you change something the housekeeper has put into place.”

“Oh, that’s it precisely.” Ellen could allow herself to laugh too. “I have to pretend I know what I’m about. But Mrs. Burk is rather wonderful. She listens to what I have to say and is always willing to try my ideas. Thus far.”

“I rather like Mrs. Burk. She is the aunt of my cook, Mrs. Lawless. They occasionally have tea in my kitchen and let me pop in now and again to join them.” Mrs. Banner wrinkled her nose and leaned in close to Ellen. “But you mustn’t tell anyone about that. It would be scandalous that an employer takes tea with her cook and visiting servants.”

Ellen could not repress her grin and she raised a hand to her heart. “I will not say a word to anyone.”

“What’s this?” Mr. Banner asked, coming closer to the women. He and Marcus had stood near the doorway, chatting quietly while their wives reacquainted themselves. “They are not in our house above five minutes and you already have Mrs. Calvert swearing fealty to you? You are devious, darling.”

Mrs. Banner shook her head, pursing her lips at him. “Not at all. We are merely sharing secrets with one another. I only demand fealty from you, Peter.”

“Secrets? Do I get to know any of them?” Marcus asked, settling in a chair a pace from where Ellen sat. “I am convinced my wife has any number of secrets, but I have yet to learn many of them.”

Ellen blushed. “I don’t have any secrets at all. Besides the one Mrs. Banner shared with me, and I am not at liberty to share that one with you.”

“But you are so quiet most of the time. You must have many interesting thoughts you keep to yourself.” He turned to Mr. Banner and spoke with near pride. “My wife is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met, for all she says few words.”

“That is the mark of intelligent people, or hadn’t you heard?” Mr. Banner chuckled and leaned back in his chair as much as his formal wear would allow. He steepled his fingers before him and raised his chin in a lofty manner. “Which is how you know, Mrs. Calvert, that your husband is not such a person. The fellow could talk the ears off a mule.”

Ellen darted a glance at Marcus and saw he regarded the comment with amusement, which gave her the confidence to smile. “I am not certain that’s true, Mr. Banner. If you will permit me to say so, I believe that people of great intelligence, or even good thoughts, tend to disguise the fact that they have such. Some with silence. Others by spouting nonsense.”

“I’m not certain whether you paid me a compliment or not,” Marcus protested through a chuckle.

“I was not speaking of you, but of Mr. Banner,” Ellen quickly corrected, raising her eyebrows at her host and trying not to smile too broadly.

Mrs. and Mr. Banner laughed, the one daintily and the other with a roar. “Oh, you will do well here, Mrs. Calvert. You have brought us a kindred spirit, Calvert.”

She felt heat creeping into her cheeks but pushed aside the desire to duck her chin when she saw Marcus’s eyes glittering at her. “Indeed, I have. I grow more pleased with my choice in wife every day.”

He did?

Ellen’s cheeks must have gone red by now, but she turned her attention to her hostess, willing the blush away. That he would say such a thing in company gave her heart a lift she had not known she needed. “I understand you have children, Mrs. Banner. I am accustomed to being surrounded by toddling nieces and nephews and I confess I have missed the darlings. Will you tell me about your little ones?”

“Careful, Calvert.” Mr. Banner’s tone became cautious and his face a mask of seriousness. “This bodes ill for you.”

“Oh, stop.” His wife leaned forward enough to tap him on the wrist, narrowing her eyes at him. “Do not listen to a word he says, Mrs. Calvert. My husband adores our children. He has a level of affection one does not normally see fathers convey.”

“It’s true.” He sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I am at their beck and call. The nursery bell has but to ring and I am there, ready to slay dragons.”

“For our son, Arthur. He is three, but I think he has already decided he wishes to build a round table and go on a quest to find Camelot,” Mrs. Banner confided with motherly pride. “And Peter encourages him.”

“We have a daughter, too. She is but one year and a quarter.” His chest swelled as he spoke of her. “But already walking about as if she owned the world.”

“Every little girl ought to be confident,” Ellen said, lips twitching at his obvious pride. Would Marcus feel that way about fatherhood? They had barely spoken of the idea of children. She knew he wanted an heir, at least, to carry on his name and inherit the estate.

Mrs. Banner’s eyes glowed, gazing into her husband’s similarly soft countenance. “They are the center of our world.”

The footman reappeared and bowed, announcing dinner.

“We will not stand on ceremony,” Mr. Banner said as he held his hand out to his wife. “We have kept the table small so we might all converse at ease, and I intend to take my wife in.” He bent and brushed a kiss on her gloved hand.

Marcus stood and held a hand out to Ellen for her to take as she rose from the couch. They followed the Banners into the hall. Marcus bent down, bringing his lips near her ear, and spoke softly enough that their hosts would not hear. “You miss your family? Ought I to worry?”

Ellen looked out of the corner of her eye at him, tilting her head to one side. “Not yet. You are marvelous company, Marcus.”

“That is something of a relief,” he murmured, his eyes skimming her profile in a way that made her wish to duck her head. Instead, she tilted her chin up and did her best to exude confidence. It was easier to feel it here, among the Banners, than it had been at the party the night before.