“I won’t ever do that again, I promise. Are you going to tell Fletcher? He’ll be so angry with me.”
Audrey pulled her into an embrace. “No, dearest. I believe you’ve had enough of a scare that you won’t be wandering far from us again.”
Mia hugged her sister back. “I promise I won’t.”
“Good. Now wipe your tears and tell me why your views on marriage have changed,” Audrey said, handing Mia her handkerchief.
Mia wiped her eyes before answering the question. “I always thought of Lord Easton as merely a family friend whenever he came to Dandridge Manor to visit Kathryn, but ever since we’ve come to London, I’ve begun to feel differently about him. The first time we waltzed together, I felt cherished and protected. None of the other gentlemen I’ve danced with made me feel that way. Ever since then, I’ve begun to look forward to seeing him, and then when he saved me at Vauxhall Gardens, I knew I’d fallen in love with him.”
“You love Lord Easton?”
“I do, but I have no idea if he feels the same. Now I’m more confused than ever. What if he’s not interested in me?”
“Have you given him any indication of your feelings? Men do not always express themselves without encouragement.”
Mia’s mind wandered back to an odd comment Lord Easton had made during the Carter soiree.Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate what is right in front of us.Was that a clue to how he felt about her?
Before she could ponder that thought further, Beckwith knocked and opened the parlor door. “Lord Easton, my lady.”
Audrey turned toward the door. “Lord Easton, what a pleasant surprise. Please do come in.”
“Thank you, Lady Fletcher,” Easton said, striding into the room. His eyes sought Mia, and he smiled. “Good day, Miss Parker.”
She curtseyed. “Good day, Lord Easton.”
“I know it’s still early, but I wanted to see how you enjoyed last night’s entertainment,” Easton said.
“My lord, you’re always welcome. Would you care for a cup of tea?”
“Thank you, Lady Fletcher. That is most kind.”
Audrey walked over and tugged on the bell pull.
Mrs. Trotter appeared within moments. “My lady, do you wish something?”
“Yes. Please have Mrs. Culbert prepare a tea tray.”
“Right away, my lady,” Mrs. Trotter said with a curtsey.
When the tea tray was delivered, Mia poured cups for everyone. The three of them talked about their favorite part of the previous evening for the next twenty minutes before Easton stood. “Thank you for the lovely conversation, ladies. If you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to with Fletcher.”
“Of course,” Audrey said with a curtsey. “Good day, Lord Easton.”
Mia stood and curtseyed as well. “Thank you for visiting, Lord Easton.”
After he left the parlor, Audrey turned to Mia. “I think you may have your answer soon.”
“Really? He didn’t say anything in particular to me.”
“No, but feelings can be conveyed in other ways besides words.”
“I do hope you’re right,” Mia said.
Chapter17
Easton strode down the hallwayto Fletcher’s study. His heart was pounding as he thought about how to ask the baron’s permission to court and hopefully marry Miss Parker. She looked lovely today, as she did every time he saw her, and he wanted to see her lovely smile every day for the rest of his life.
When he came to the study, he stopped to collect his thoughts before he knocked and waited.