“Step aside from that creature now, Ellen. I will have Francis remove it immediately.”
“You can’t do that, Mother. It’ll die; you know it will. You can’t possibly do that. I will not let you!”
“What has come over you, child?” Lady Bamber asked, bewildered because Ellen had never stood up to her like that before. “I will simply toss it to the streets where it belongs. I am sure some other fortunate soul will find it.”
“No one will save the kitten, Mama, you know that,” Ellen said.
The Dowager was confused. She had never seen her daughter argue for a cause so passionately. “Fine then,” she said begrudgingly. “Let the creature remain in the kitchen. But if I see it near me or my invaluable pieces of furniture, you can be sure that it’ll be the last time it steps foot in this home. Francis, please remove the creature,” Lady Bamber said to the butler.
“Oh, thank you, Mama. Thank you,” Ellen laughed.
“And how did your walk with the Earl go? I hear that you two caused quite a stir at the park.” Ellen was silent. She did not know what to tell her mother. “Well—” her mother prompted. “Should I be expecting a proposal soon?”
“We just took a walk, Mother. I think it’s a bit too soon to expect a proposal,” Ellen replied.
“Why? Did you do something to annoy the Earl?”
“No, Mama. Why do you always assume that I can do no good?”
“The Earl comes from a respectable family, but I would not trust him too quickly, so you best behave yourself. Do not bring shame to this family.”
“I understand, Mama.”
“Perhaps we will learn of the Earl’s intentions soon enough,” Lady Bamber said.
“He seeks to c—”
The butler interrupted Ellen’s statement. “A message from Lady Conolly, Your Grace,” he said.
“It’s Marjorie. I must go right away.”
“I forbid you to. I have warned you to stay clear of that young lady. She knows nothing better than to prance all about town saying that women are equal to men. Balderdash!”
Ellen took her mother’s hand. “Please, Mama. You know how rarely we see each other. And now she has sent for me since Andrew has forbidden her from coming here. What if she’s of a poor disposition and needs a friend to take care of her?”
Her mother sighed. Ellen was certainly becoming quite petulant. “Fine. But only if Andrew goes as well.”
“Mama—”
“I will not have just the two of you in a room. Nothing good ever comes out of it.”
“Fine.”
“And you both best be sure to come home on time.”
ChapterFive
When Marjorie opened the door herself to welcome Ellen, she was surprised to find Andrew standing stiffly there too.
“I see you brought the statue with you,” she said as a way of greeting
“And, as always, it is not a pleasure to see you,” Andrew retorted.
Marjorie turned to Ellen. “What is he doing here? Does he follow you everywhere now?”
“I am only here to keep you two in check and decent. I can think of a dozen other places I will rather be,” Andrew chipped in.
“You mean like in the arms of your famous mistress?”
