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Chapter 35
Mary sat down to breakfast. The room was silent; no one seemed eager to speak to one another. Lady Rachel sat staring at her plate, buttering the same piece of toast for nearly five whole minutes as she scraped it time and time again with just the smallest sliver of butter. She clearly was so lost to her thoughts that she hadn’t realised what she was doing.
Charlotte was in a lighter mood, but she did not speak. There was a coldness between her and her mother which did not go unnoticed to Mary. It was clear that Charlotte had no wish to interact with Lady Rachel and Mary could understand completely, given the changes which had occurred between them of late.
And then, there was Mary’s father. He was still brooding quite a bit around his wife, not speaking to her or making any effort to engage. He handed Mary the sugar for her tea, but he said nothing, simply letting his gesture signal to her that he wished for peace between them.
It was a terribly strange moment and Mary didn’t know what to expect from the future, considering how awkward the present was. She wondered if there would ever be peace or if things would always be like this.
The previous afternoon, Mary had returned from visiting Miss Anne to find that her father had gone out. It was quite a shame, given that Mary was desperately eager to ask him about his meeting with Crispin.
She still didn’t know what they had discussed or what the conclusion might be. Had her father forgiven him for addressing the problems with Lady Rachel? Or had his pride been too strong, and he still hated Crispin?
Mary hoped that she would have a chance to ask her father after breakfast, but with how quiet and strained the atmosphere was, she imagined it was going to be more challenging than she might have expected. She would need to be patient, but also strong. She would have to be firm once she had the opportunity to ask him.
And as Mary sat there, trying to make her plans, a hesitant maid entered the dining room, holding something in her hands as she came over to Mary.
“Begging your pardon, Lady Mary, but this came for you,” the maid said.
Mary took it and thanked the maid before glancing in her father’s direction. He seemed to know what this was, and Mary felt his approval even without having to ask him for it.
She slowly unfolded the paper from around the book which had been packaged for her. And there it was. The very same book that she and Crispin had agreed to read together. The very same book Mary had almost finished reading in her bedroom upstairs.
“What say you, Mary? Is it a nice gift?” her father asked.
Mary smiled with trepidation. She opened the cover only to find a note that fell out. She next unfolded that to see what it said.
Dearest Mary,
I know that you have probably read a significant portion of the book by now. I am ashamed to say that I still have a quarter left to go. However, I should very much like to discuss what we have read thus far. I would be delighted if I might see you so that we have just such an opportunity.
I intend to go for a ride tomorrow, around ten in the morning. I thought that I might be so fortunate as to see you in the same place as we met before.
If I am fortunate enough to spot you from afar, I will certainly come to you and we may speak about what we have read up until now and make plans to discuss the remainder of the book at another time.
Yours Affectionately,
Lord Crispin Dunaway, Duke of Hanbrooke
Mary looked up at her father, wondering if he knew what the letter contained. She could see from his apologetic smile that he did and that he approved of her meeting with Crispin the following day.
Of course, that was going to be exceedingly painful, having to wait a whole day to see him. She wished that he had sent her the book and letter the following day, although it had been wise of him not to do so. This way, he could be sure that she did not have other plans which would get in the way of their meeting.
“If you will excuse me.”
Mary looked up, startled by the quiet sound of her stepmother’s voice. She had never heard such a solemn tone from Lady Rachel before and it was quite strange. But her stepmother stood and departed from the table, leaving the three of them. Once she was gone, Mary’s father let out a strained breath.
“Mary, I do believe that you will be meeting with Lord Hanbrooke in the near future?” he asked.
“If you will allow it, Father. That is what the letter has requested,” she replied.
“Very well. I am glad for it. I think that you will be happy to have your conversation with him after my previous actions in separating the two of you,” he said.
Mary smiled, not knowing what else to do. She really was happier than she had ever imagined. Knowing that her father approved of this meeting was something of a shock, but it was a shock that Mary wouldn’t trade for anything.
“And Charlotte, I do believe that Mr. Caldwell shall be coming by this afternoon. I spoke with him yesterday as well and I am well aware of the circumstances under which you and he have planned for your own future. I expect that he wishes to further arrange for the events you have discussed,” Mary’s father said.
Charlotte looked up at him with wide eyes and surprise. Mary realised in that moment what was going on. Her father had spoken with both suitors the previous day and, so far as it appeared, he had granted them permission to move forward with their intentions.
