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"You are invited, too," Albert said.
"I will be praying for you, Al, because I think you are slowly descending into madness.”
"You worry too much.” Albert began to take off his boxing gloves.
Steven shrugged. “Who will help me host parties if you die of heartbreak?”
Albert laughed and reached for a towel from a footman to wipe the sweat off his face. “You win this round but I shall see that you are not as lucky next time,” Steven said, reaching for a towel, too.
“My win has more to do with skill than luck. Hone your skills and challenge me.”
“Oh, I will.” He turned to leave but paused. “I hope your fiancée did not contrive to trap you in this.” Albert began to dissent but stopped to think about it. Edwina had been very bold that evening. He recalled the odd look she had exchanged with that lady she called Kitty; then their conversation that morning—
“No, Steven, I do not believe I am being trapped. She would not have agreed to part ways at the end if her intentions were different.”
“I hope you are right.”
* * *
After an adequate breakfast, Edwina retrieved the book she had left in the library earlier and was on her way to her bedchamber when she heard voices from her father’s study. She thought nothing of it at first but when she heard Prudence say her name, she decided to move to the door and listen.
She wished to know their plans for her. Knowing earlier would allow her to prepare a counter move. "Look at it objectively, Mother," Tommen said. "We stand to gain a lot from Edwina's marriage to the Duke."
"I did not know personal interest is your own notion of objectivity," Prudence responded, her tone sounding displeased. "We do not need anything from anyone and I certainly do not wish to be in Edwina’s debt."
"Are you not going to consider the advantage, Mother?"
"Edwina is going to Cornwall, Tommen, and that is the end of it!" Prudence snapped.
"I sent the Earl’s messenger back," he said.
"You did what?” Edwina could feel Prudence’s anger from the other side of the door. She was grateful the messenger had been sent back, however.
"For once, Mother, can you trust my judgment?" Prudence was silent.
"Please?" Tommen implored. A chair scraped against the floorboard, startling Edwina and sending her flying from the door lest it suddenly opened and she was discovered.
It was no secret that Prudence was a very proud woman but Edwina failed to understand why she was so opposed to her marriage to Albert. The marriage was unlikely to happen. She had nothing to worry about. Still, should her stepmother not be glad she would be off her hands?
“Mother, our debts have grown,” came Tommen’s voice.
“Yes, I know that but do you think the Duke would just pay them off?”
“Certainly not, but our creditors might be kinder if they know of our connection to him.”
“No, Tommen. Call the Earl’s messenger back to escort Edwina to Cornwall.” Edwina dashed up the stairs to her bedchamber. There was more to what was going on and she was determined to find out. After the Duke’s house party.
In the late afternoon, she called at Kitty’s Manor to tell her about the house party and ask if she would be interested in accompanying her. When she arrived, she found Kitty absent and was about to leave when she heard Camilla, Kitty’s mother’s voice. "Edwina!" Camilla was descending the stairs.
She smiled. “I thought you were out with Kitty."
"No, My Dear. Kitty went for a ride through the park with the Viscount Henshaw,” Camilla replied. "Shall we?"
She gestured for Edwina to follow her to the drawing room where she rang for tea before sitting next to her. "Are you all right, My Dear?" she asked, her smile fading.
That simple show of concern tightened her chest and she swallowed. She had been longing to talk to someone who would understand and perhaps even commiserate with her. Kitty was a good listener but there were some things that only a mother could understand, and provide comfort and advice.
"I don't know," she replied truthfully. Her only grand dream was to get away from Prudence and Tommen and gain her independence. Now it appeared she would get the first but not the second. If she could find a husband at the house party, then perhaps her life would be as she wanted.
