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He grimaced and shook his head.
"Few of my travels have been pleasant excursions. My experiences in Portugal and Spain were anything but agreeable."
"I beg your pardon, Captain. I did not mean to remind you… offend you…"
"Quite understandable, Miss. We old soldiers may eventually turn our experiences into tales of adventure, heroics, and derring-do, at least that is what I have been led to expect. But right now, my recollections are less than pleasantly memorable."
She nodded gravely.
"I am sure that your eloquence will return someday."
He nodded in return.
"I hope so. Now I must return to my duties. I will send your maid to join you."
When he went back into the hotel, Ronnie felt sad, sorry that she had led their pleasant conversation into dreary, painful memories for him. So much for prying. Now she had to find a way to inspire his affability towards her again.
******
When Veronica returned to the hotel from her walk, she hurried to their apartment, eager to tell her mother and sister of sights they would be sure to enjoy. And anxious to remove her half boots and wiggle her toes. Just as she propped her feet on a footstool, her sister scurried into her room and softly closed the door.
Cici spoke in a near whisper.
"I think Mama is napping but she will be awake soon, and I have to tell you this before she gets up. Tomorrow we are to take the carriage to see Lady Stapleford and William's sister, Anthea. I mean just Mama and me. You are to stay here."
"Two Montgomerys are probably enough for them at once. They won't care about meeting me anyway. It is you, William's future bride, they want to know."
"But that is not why…"
Ronnie stretched out her bare feet.
"That is fine with me. I assume I will have many years to get to know William's family."
"But wait. There is more."
"What are you whispering about?"
"I don’t want Mama to know that I am telling you." Cici waved at the door. "She could be eavesdropping."
"Telling me what?"
"It may not be tomorrow or the next day, but sometime soon, Lord Appleby is coming to Weymouth to propose to you."
"What? Again? I already have declined his offer."
"Mama says she encouraged him to try once more."
Ronnie straightened up, groaning.
"Oh, drat it all. As Father would say, what the deuce."
"Mama instructed Captain Drew to arrange excursions for you and Appleby."
"She knows I refused him."
Cici sat on the bed and threw her hands wide.
"I do not understand you, Ronnie. You were almost rude to Lord Appleby."
