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“Ignore her. I think she sneaked wine when nobody was looking.” She took Regina’s arm. “I’ll make sure she gets home. She’ll be fast asleep before her head hits the pillows.”
“I will not!” Regina protested.
Ellie rolled her eyes with a smile, nodding at Matthews. “Matthews, it’s gotten dark. Would you mind getting someone to escort my sisters back to their cottage?”
“I’ll escort them myself, my lady.” Matthews held the door open. “Ladies.”
Regina was still giggling as she left the house. Dorothea followed her, Matthews leaving last. Ellie stood at the door and watched them head down the drive. Dorothea caught up with Regina as she stumbled; Regina’s laugh carried through the air.
Ellie made a mental note to tell the servants not to serve Regina more than one glass of wine. She had clearly had more than one.
“I’m glad your sisters were able to enjoy themselves.”
Ellie squeaked and spun around. Lady Northampton was walking towards her. Ellie pressed a hand to her chest as her heart calmed down.
“I’m glad they did as well. Matthews is just escorting them back.”
“Good. This place can get incredibly dark at night.” The dowager countess peered at her. “Why didn’t you call for a carriage? That would have been better.”
“Oh.” Ellie now felt like a fool. “I hadn’t thought about that. They aren’t that far away.”
Lady Northampton sniffed. “I suppose it’s not something you would consider for a short distance.” She started to turn away. “Come with me, Eleanora. I want to have a word with you.”
Ellie wasn’t sure she wanted to do this. Where was Derrick? She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with this, being alone with his mother.
Taking a deep breath, Ellie clasped her hands together and followed her mother-in-law into the drawing room.
Chapter 17
Ellie followed Lady Northampton into the room, wishing her sisters had actually stayed. It would make her feel less nervous. Even though things seemed better between them, Ellie still wasn’t sure how to handle her. The dowager countess was an intimidating woman.
Derrick had told her that his mother was simply overprotective of her only child, and that was fair enough. Given everything, Ellie could see why.
It just didn’t help when she was left alone with the older woman.
Lady Northampton sat down on the settee and patted the cushions beside her. “Come and sit with me.”
“I…” Ellie hesitated, but the dowager countess shook her head.
“I’m not going to bite. But I’m getting older, and I don’t want to stand for too long.”
“You don’t look that old, Lady Northampton,” Ellie said quickly. “You’re probably more spritely than I am.”
Something flickered in Lady Northampton’s eyes, and her mouth twitched.
“I appreciate you saying something like that, but I am feeling every bit of my fifty years and then some. You’ll understand when you’re my age.”
Ellie had a feeling she would. Wishing that Derrick would come back sooner rather than later, she approached the settee and perched on the edge of the cushion. Lady Northampton looked bemused.
“If you sit any further forward, you’re going to end up on the floor.”
“Oh.” Her face getting warm when she realised she had been caught out, Ellie shuffled backwards. “What was it that you wanted to talk to me about, my lady?”
“I was watching you this evening, Eleanora. How you conducted yourself.” Lady Northampton smoothed her skirts down over her knees, not a crease in sight. “You did show me that you could be the consummate hostess when the need arises. I was very impressed.”
Ellie was momentarily lost for words. She hadn’t expected any of that. She licked her lips and tried not to twist her fingers together in her lap.
“Thank you, Lady Northampton,” she mumbled. “That’s very kind of you.”
