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Edwina smiled. “So did my husband. I do not believe they are still rakes now.”
"I am the fool for always paying attention to him," Kitty continued. "I cannot possibly help it, though, not when he makes me feel the way he does with just a simple kiss. Not when he makes me want to hit him and embrace him all at the same time. Not when—" Kitty trailed off, choking on a sob. She looked at Edwina almost sheepishly now. "I am hopeless, aren't I?" she asked dolefully.
"You are hopelessly in love, Kitty." Edwina sighed. She understood. "Whoever thought we would end up falling for cousins," she added.
"Oh, Edwina, I am sorry for being such a brooding goose these days. I could not even celebrate properly with you."
"It is fine, My Dear," she reassured her. "I do not want you to give up. If you truly want him, then make him see it."If only I could so easily take my own advice, Edwina thought inwardly.
"Oh, Steven is not getting away so easily!" Kitty laughed now.
"I doubt he would want to."
"Forgive my nosiness." Kitty brightened. "I simply must ask, for I am dying of curiosity."
She went on to ask her what the wedding night had been like. Edwina told her what she could, and that it was better than what they read in books, and better than the maids had described it.
Kitty declared, "I am getting married, too. If I must trap Steven, I will."
"Well, I already feel sorry for poor Steven. You are a handful, Kitty.” Edwina splashed her with some water.
Just then, an excited bark came. With barely any time for them to see a bounding Puppy, he splashed into the water, wetting them. His paws tickled Edwina's calf, and in her fit of laughter, she slipped and fell into the water, getting completely drenched.
"He must have followed us!" Kitty doubled over with mirth, When Puppy saw her excitement, he went after her, drenching her, too.
It was much later when they returned to the Mansion. Edwina was drenched and clutching a dripping Puppy to her bosom, while Kitty was struggling with small water plants stuck between the frills of her dress.
There was a commotion in the foyer, and they walked in to the sight of a strange woman hugging Albert and speaking Russian.
Chapter Thirty-One
"Chessman, where is my wife?" Albert asked as he entered the Mansion after returning from a visit to one of the farms on the Estate with his steward. He preferred to be told where she was so he would not have to look around for her. There was a yearning in him that needed her with great urgency.
“She is out for a walk with Miss Matthews, Your Grace,” Chessman replied, taking his great coat from him and handing it to a footman. Then he took the small silver tray the footman had been holding with a missive on it. “This arrived while you were out, Your Grace.”
Albert picked up the letter, but before he could have a proper look at it, an ear-splitting shriek sounded. His head whipped about as he attempted to find its source, and a woman threw herself into his arms. A woman that was not his wife. Only when she spoke—in Russian—did a grin of realization break across his face.
"Lannie!" he exclaimed, pulling away to have a better look at her face. His sister was the last person he expected to see. "You are supposed to be in Moscow," he added.
"I missed my brother too much," she responded in Russian, her smile wide.
Albert spoke Russian. He had made it his concern to learn the language after his sister had so naively thrown herself among the people at the very tender age of six-and-ten when she eloped with the man who was now her husband. He wanted to protect her as best as he could, hence, he had learned all he could about Russia in general. As it was, he would not have paid any price for remaining ignorant because Prince Konstantin Drachevsky adored his wife more than anything.
"I sent you a letter just yesterday. You could not have received it already," Albert said in Russian, laughing.
"Oh, I could not. Perhaps I even passed it along the way," Elaine replied, turning to look about the foyer. “I see nothing has changed. This brings me a lot of joy.”
Albert was happy to see his sister on English soil after six very long years. Although he had visited her a few times during those years, seeing her here was wonderful. This was their home, and he was eager to introduce her to Edwina.
Her unannounced visit was odd, and so was her appearance. In their last correspondence, she had told him that she was with child, thus, she should be in confinement by now. Something was not right; here she was, looking anything but with child.
"Are you alone?" he asked, referring to his brother-in-law.
"Yes," she responded brusquely before the smile returned to her face and she changed the subject. “I am excited to explore the grounds. I am sure my Glass Blanket has not seen some activity in a while.”
Albert bit back a smile. Her Glass Blankethadseen quite the activity recently, including a new claim upon it. She would have to duel Edwina if she wished to have it back.
“Are you having a party? Hersings appears to be rather busy,” Elaine asked, her eyes on the two ladies that had just come out of one of the drawing rooms and started up the stairs.
