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"Neither am I." Elaine smiled warmly, and as Edwina regarded her, she thought she caught a glimpse of melancholy in her expression. It quickly vanished, though, leaving her to think she had imagined it.
"Glass Blanket is an interesting name, I must add. Albert told me the history behind it."
"Forgive me but I am going to kill your husband for revealing my secret.” She laughed and Edwina joined her, leaning against the back of her seat and enjoying their rapport. “But it looks like something from a fairy tale, does it not?"
“It does, indeed,” Edwina agreed.
Just then, a brief knock sounded before the door was opened. Albert walked in. "There you are!” He made a show of looking relieved. “Henceforth, you must tell me where you are going. It took me ages to find you.” He glanced at Elaine. “Oh, good day, Lannie."
Elaine rolled her eyes and shook her head, while Edwina said wryly, “If the Mansion was not so large, you would not have any trouble finding me.”
“Do you want a smaller home?” he asked, raising a single brow. She bit her lip and shook her head. His mouth slanted. "And whose demise are the two of you plotting?" He walked into the room and sat down beside Edwina, the warmth of his body reaching her.
"Yours!" Edwina and Elaine chorused, laughing.
"Heavens!" His eyes widened as his hand touched his chest.
Their laughter filled the room before Elaine rose. “I should go and write to Konstantin,” she said.
"I hope I did not interrupt anything," Albert said.
"Nothing we have not already concluded," Elaine said over her shoulder. "Oh, and I will have you know that I hate peas, Edwina." Her sly smile was the last thing Edwina saw before she closed the door behind her.
"Peas?" Albert asked, turning to face her.
"It is a rather long story." Edwina chuckled. Elaine had tried her.
"I hope she did not give too much trouble." He took her hand.
"On the contrary, I have never met a more unpredictable character."
"I am uncertain if that is a good or a bad thing."
"It is a good thing. I like her." She looked down at their interlaced fingers.
"It takes her time to warm to people she just met. I hoped she would accept you, and it appears she has." He stood, pulling her up with him. “It is a miracle.”
"I thought she was going to fight me for authority. I confess that I armed myself for it." Edwina raised her face to meet his when he began to lean down. He kissed her softly.
When his head came up, there was worry in his eyes. "Elaine is… she is going through a difficult time."
He did not say any more, and she did not pry. She instead looped her arms around his neck and drew his head down for another kiss. "I have something to show you," he whispered against her lips.
Chapter Thirty-Four
"It had better be worth interrupting my quiet afternoon." She smiled through their kiss.
"Believe me, it will be." He took her hand and started toward the door. “Why are you not with the other ladies?”
“They are on a trip to the village. I have a ball to plan though.”
“Perfect.” He grinned, a gleam in his eye. “I need you.” Her cheeks warmed when he said that. She knew he needed her for a reason that was different from what she was thinking, but she could not help it. He led her to the stables.
“Rufus, fetch her,” he ordered when they walked in.
"A new arrival?" She asked him, thinking he had purchased a new horse. He sucked in his lips, not saying anything. Excitement began to curl in her stomach. Rufus appeared with the Andalusian mare she had ridden the other day.
"I hope you have that name ready, Darling," he collected the mare's reins and handed them to her, "because she is all yours."
