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“It was the oddest evening,” she murmured.
That night as Edwina lay awake in her bed, she tried to reassure herself that everything was going to be all right but when her eyes fell on the miniature painting of her father on her nightstand, a new wave of anger enveloped her. Although he had been a caring father who had provided her with everything she wanted, his selfish decisions were the very reason she was in this predicament. He had chosen to replace her mother with a vile woman, and then left her to be torn to pieces.
She was all alone now, tending to wound after wound inflicted upon her by his new family. It was past three in the morning before she was able to fall into a restless sleep. As soon as the sun came up, she woke and performed her morning ritual without ringing for Danny. She did that sometimes, especially after Prudence had said, “Never let it be known that you do not have a lady’s maid. Thetonwould think me a horrible mother.”
Edwina understood that her privileges could be taken away at any time and contrived to be as independent as she could. Then she made her way to the kitchen to get some coffee before breakfast was ready. She loved how coffee rid her body of grogginess in the mornings.
As expected, the kitchen was already bustling with activity. She smiled, remembering how she had been in and out of the kitchen when she was younger. Prudence had forbidden her from visiting the kitchen since her debut but she stole away in the mornings while she slept.
"You did not sleep, My Lady, did you?" The Cook, Martins, asked as soon as he saw her. “Are you all right?”
Martins had been the Mercer House Cook for over a decade and Edwina saw a friend in him. She admired his culinary skills and they often sat and discussed different flavors.
"Oh, you should be more concerned about Mother’s four-minute eggs than me,” she said lightly. “I would appreciate some coffee, though.”
He grinned. “You shall have your coffee in no time, My Lady.”
Edwina took the coffee in the small library and everywhere she looked, memories of last night flashed in her mind. She might never see a library and not remember Albert and how he had made her feel.
Sometime later, a knock came and the butler entered, announcing, “You have a caller, My Lady.”
“At seven in the morning?” Edwina was surprised. “Who is it?”
"The gentleman would not give his name, My Lady," Larry said. “His manner distinguishes him as a nobleman.”
Edwina believed she knew who it was and her heart began to race.
Chapter Four
“Show him in and find Danny,” Edwina instructed, opting to receive him in the library.
“Yes, My Lady.” The butler bowed and left.
She released a breath, frowning at how nervous she was. The mystery of the masquerade had lent her ample confidence. She had nothing to shield her now but her wit. Danny entered and at Edwina’s nod, she found a chair in the corner and sat down to act as a chaperone.
Then Albert entered, taking command of the air in the room. He was even more handsome during the day. When their eyes met, a debonair smile slanted his lips. He walked to where she sat and held his hand out to her.
She was grateful their hands were gloved because she was already disconcerted, the memory of his touch warming her skin. "You look like you are looking at a ghost." He raised her hand to his lips and lightly brushed her knuckles.
She allowed a nervous laugh. "I was not expecting a caller this early. Certainly not you.”
He crossed to the chair opposite hers and lowered his large frame into it. “I am keeping a promise I made.” His eyes gleamed with amusement, much like he displayed when he had found her bending over to retrieve the tome she had dropped last night.
Heat crept up her cheeks and she looked away but not before she caught sight of his smile. She was saved by the butler announcing breakfast. Being an early riser, she always ate breakfast before Prudence and Tommen who woke at ten or eleven.
"Ah, breakfast." Albert removed a small gold watch from his waistcoat and examined it. “Rather early, but I knew that, which is why I timed my visit to coincide with it.”
"Did you just reveal that you came here to eat breakfast?” Edwina was unable to hide her surprise.
"Among other things, yes." He smiled and his eyes danced. He was charming. If his goal was to confuse her, he was succeeding. "Now, shall we?" He rose and gestured for her to precede him.
“Would you like to be served?” Edwina asked him when they sat down at the table.
He shook his head and reached for a brioche. “Breakfast is meant to be informal, is it not?”
Edwina smiled. “It is. May I ask how you know about the time I eat breakfast?”
“I sought information about you after the masquerade.”
