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“Now, this is getting interesting. Anyone I should know about?”
Edward cleared his throat. “I’m being humorous.”
Graham looked at his best friend as though he could see right through him. “I’m not so sure. I’ll tell you this much, my friend. I understand why you ask. Society ladies, for all their pearls, feathers, and ruffles, are not as appealing as they think they are. I find myself looking at commoners all the time, in the biblical sense.”
“You look at everyone in the biblical sense.”
“But there is something so appealing about the forbidden fruit.” Graham kicked his heels into his horse’s sides and proceeded slowly. “The girl with the smudge of dirt on her cheek. The laundress. The humble cook. One wishes to just snatch them right up out of their miserable existences and make ladies out of them. But just as soon as they had their fair share of pearls, feathers, and ruffles, they’d be no better than the ladies we tried to escape from in the first place.”
“What would I do without you? Your wit keeps me sane.”
“But it is the truth. And my hunch is that you have been contemplating the laundress.”
Edward muttered under his breath, “Not the laundress.” It was Laura he was thinking of. But that was just a fantasy, was it not? A passing fantasy. No more.
“Anna Rutley will be joining us this afternoon.”
Edward fell silent for a moment. “Were you the one that invited her?”
Graham playfully brought a hand to his chest. “Moi?”
“I didn’t invite her.”
“She’s a pretty thing.”
Edward smiled. “With her pearls, feathers, and ruffles.”
“They all come off at the end of the day.” Graham kicked his heels into his horse once more and sped forward quickly.
Edward did the best he could to catch up, and the two men raced through the field with abandon. So, was it Graham who invited Anna after all? Was he so keen on Edward falling for her? Edward had never heard Graham express any interest in Anna. It seemed odd.
Arriving back at the estate, Edward felt a chill in his bones from the ride. Upon entering, he ordered Harrison to start a fire in the study and requested two cups of tea. The way Graham strutted through the estate in his riding boots, one would think that he was the owner of the house, but Edward didn’t mind. He was pleased that Graham could call the estate his second home. Despite his swagger, Graham was kind to all around him, much like Edward.
The two men seated themselves in the study, the fire crackled, and a knock was heard on the door. It was Laura. Edward felt his heart sing. He eyed her as she bashfully crossed the room and placed the tray on a side table. She curtsied and exited. Time stood still while she was in the room, and Edward watched her every step. This did not go unnoticed by Graham.
“That must be the laundress.”
“Stop.”
“I knew that my instincts were right.”
“Her name is Laura Hawkins. She’s from Sage Brook.”
“Much better looking than the last.”
“Her employment here has nothing to do with her looks.” Edward believed his own statement. Many things were appealing about Laura, and her beauty was only one of them. He recalled the previous day when she was standing in the study with him alone. Edward relished the fact that he put her at ease and that Laura admitted to her enjoyment from living under his roof. The memory warmed him, but Edward couldn’t share any of this with Graham, even though the fellow was his best friend.
“I must say, I admire your self-restraint. Had I pretty girls living under my roof, my home would turn into a brothel.”
“I’ve noticed the comely staff at your manor.”
“That was done on purpose. I know myself.”
As the two men sipped their tea, Edward looked into the warm fire and became dreamy. He did not require self-restraint. His respect for women came from experience. He’d already walked down the wrong path and wished that Graham would not do the same.
Within an hour, the guests began to arrive, and Edward and Graham came into the parlour to greet them. There was an assortment of high society ladies, dressed in their finery, and among them was Anna. Her blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, and diamonds dropped from her ears. All in all, Edward had to admit that she was an exquisite woman.
Graham whispered to Edward. “If you’ll excuse me, I have about a dozen ladies to woo.”
