“Have you talked with Fletcher yet?”
“No, Father, but I plan to later today.”
There, he had done it.
He’d finally told his family that he was interested in Miss Parker, although of course both Kathryn and his mother already knew. Chandler was right. It was time he let everyone know his interest in the young lady.
Mia slowly opened hereyes to see sunlight streaming into her room. She stretched her arms overhead and sighed. Last night had been both exhilarating and terrifying, but the one thing she couldn’t forget was how Lord Easton had comforted her after that man tried to attack her. Easton was her hero, and she wondered if he would visit today.
How was she going to let him know that her feelings about marriage had changed?
That was the dilemma. She couldn’t just blurt it out. She would have to work it into the conversation somehow, but she wasn’t sure how to do that yet.
A knock on her door interrupted her musings.
“Come.”
“Good morning, Miss Mia,” Beatrice said. “I’ve brought you some chocolate and toast.”
“Thank you, Beatrice.”
The maid placed the tray on her lap. “Let me see about your bath. Enjoy your chocolate.”
Mia took a sip of the chocolate and sighed. There was nothing better, in her opinion, than a fresh cup in the morning. It had a way of starting the day off on the best foot possible.
Two hours later, she went down to the dining room. She hadn’t expected to see anyone and was surprised when both Fletcher and Audrey were there.
“Good morning. I must say, I’m surprised to see you both here this morning. I’d thought you’d be sleeping in.”
“Good morning, dearest. I trust you slept well,” Audrey said.
“I did indeed,” Mia said, filling her plate with a variety of dishes from the sideboard.
“Did you enjoy the outing to Vauxhall Gardens?” Fletcher asked.
She nodded. “I’ve never had so much fun. I loved it and must thank Lord Easton for making the arrangements the next time I see him.”
“Easton is a good man. Someday, he’s going to make a young lady very happy, if he ever decides to wed.”
“Has he mentioned anything of his intentions to you?” Mia asked her brother-in-law, trying not to seem too interested in the answer.
Fletcher shook his head. “No, and honestly, I wouldn’t expect him to confide in me on such a personal matter.”
“Of course,” Mia said, stabbing a piece of ham on her plate. She’d been hoping that Fletcher could tell her if Lord Eastoneven wanted to marry this year. Now she’d have to ferret out the truth herself.
After breakfast, Mia and Audrey went into the drawing room while Fletcher headed to his study to review the latest reports from his steward. “Dearest, have you practiced the pianoforte lately?” Audrey asked.
“I have not.”
“If you don’t keep up your practicing, your skill will quickly diminish.”
Mia walked to the pianoforte. “Do you really think gentlemen will only marry a woman if she plays the pianoforte well?”
Audrey chuckled. “No, not exactly, but Society is such a stickler for what a young lady should be accomplished in, and the opportunity to meet eligible gentlemen will only happen if the ton deems you suitable. It’s certainly not fair, but that’s the world we live in. Why do you ask?”
“Umm…”
Audrey walked over to her. “Dearest, what is it? You seem troubled. You can talk to me about anything. You know I won’t judge you.”