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So much for London.
Well, I supposed I’d asked for it.
Sofia turned back to a show she was watching on my tablet, allowing me to sink back into the novel on my Kindle.North and Southwas a classic and seemed to fit given where we were going, even if the industrial town of Milton wasn’t exactly these lushly rolling hills. But before I could get too far into the scene where Margaret Hale finally realizes that cotton baron John Thornton isn’t quite the heartless man she thought he was, I was interrupted by the buzz of my phone.
Finally, Xavier checking in.
But it wasn’t Xavier.
Kate: How’s merry old England?
I sighed. I’d spoken with Kate last night, in need of someone to process the events at the restaurant before Xavier had come home. Since Kate had been at a family dinner at the time, however, our conversation had only led to near-continuous texts from all my siblings since.
Matthew had threatened to teach the duke his own lesson in civility if he didn’t get his act together. Kate had wanted to know what the dress code was for a real-life English manor. Lea said if Xavier didn’t pop the question before Monday, I should just leave him to his terrible family and come home. Nonna suggested I make everyone her manicotti and was appalled they would actually hire a cook to feed everyone rather than making it themselves. And my younger sisters, of course, mostly just wanted to know if there were any other available young gentry in the area they could meet if they wanted to visit.
The truth was, they were all worried about me. No one had actually thought spending the summer in England was a good idea in the first place—except Joni, the youngest. And if Joni thought it was a good idea, it probably wasn’t.
Me: Merry enough, but very old, as usual. And now it’s very green.
I snapped a picture of the passing countryside, which currently included a lot of picturesquely crumbling cottages in the distance and sent it to her.
Kate: Looks cold. Those places can’t have very good insulation. I bet they get moth holes like crazy too.
I rolled my eyes. My fashion hound sister would think first of the moth holes.
Me: I honestly wouldn’t know. All my knits are acrylic, not wool. Only the cheap stuff for me, you know.
Kate: So where’s the duke taking you tonight? He better have a fantastic date night planned since he’s dragging you all the way up there.
Since discovering that Xavier was actually a member of the peerage, my siblings no longer used his name, only his title. As if, despite the fact that they never saw him, they knew it would get under his skin. I supposed it was better than “cheating douchecanoe.”
Me: We’re getting to Kendal late afternoon. I doubt there will be much time for a date. He’s pretty busy, especially with what’s going on with his uncle.
Kate: He’s not with you?! Why the heck not?
I sighed, already anticipating where this was going.
Me: He left early this morning. But he got us train tickets. It’s fine.
Kate: Wait, wait, wait. First the guy makes you cry last night, then leaves you for his castle, and once he finally lets you tag along, he’s abandoning you to the train?
Me: omg he is not abandoning us! He has a lot of stuff with family he has to deal with.
Kate: YOU are his family.
I paused. Was I, though? Sofia, yes. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t the slightest bit peeved he hadn’t waited at least for her. Or at least volunteered to send the helicopter he’d apparently taken back for us. She would have liked that a lot.
Yeah. When Elsie mentioned that one this morning, I wasn’t pleased.
But me? I wasn’t sure I qualified. Girlfriend, yes. Mother of his child, yes. But family? That was still a work in progress, wasn’t it?
Me: It’s fine. We’re fine. I’m going to stop texting now.
Kate: If you say fine one more time, I’m going to smack you across the ocean.
Me: FINE, I’ll stop.
Kate: Brat. My love to Sof. We miss her. And you too, you stubborn fool.
