Miss Wilton's Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack

Author:Josi S. Kilpack [Kilpack, Josi S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2018-01-22T05:00:00+00:00

Aiden arrived at Mrs. Simmons’s house at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon, his palms sweaty and his neck hot with anxiety. He held two bouquets of flowers in one hand and took a deep breath as he heard footsteps come to the door. Mrs. Simmons’s man answered the door and led him into the drawing room, where Mrs. Simmons and Catherine looked up from the hoop in Catherine’s hands. Both of them smiled quite naturally. Mrs. Simmons ushered Aiden toward a chair.

“Shall I take your flowers, sir?” the footman said.

“Oh, yes, thank you,” Aiden said, turning back toward the servant. “Two vases, please—one for Mrs. Simmons and the other for Miss Wilton.”

The servant looked to Mrs. Simmons, but kept his professional smile in place as he took the bouquets and quit the room. Aiden wished he could ask about the shared look, but this portion of the visit was for Catherine’s sake.

Lenora had never replied to his letter, sent five days ago now, but he’d sent another yesterday afternoon asking for a private visit today when he collected Catherine. By the looks of things, the day had gone well for Catherine and Mrs. Simmons. He had not been summoned to intercede.

Unfortunately, it had not been a complete success as he still had not received Miss Keighly’s letter of agreement to terminate their engagement. He’d asked her to respond immediately so he might proceed with the choice of his heart. But he could not wait another day to talk to Lenora. He felt as though each day created more distance between them.

“The flowers were very thoughtful of you,” Mrs. Simmons said, though there was something sad in her smile that made his heart skip a beat. She turned to Catherine and brushed the girl’s hair, worn loose today, behind her shoulder. “Catherine was a great deal of help. I’m so glad she was able to come.”

Mrs. Simmons did not strike him as a woman who said what she did not mean. She looked back at Aiden. “We organized all my threads, which had become quite a jumble in my workbasket, and then I offered to help her begin a cushion.”

Hadn’t Mrs. Henry said that Catherine was specifically opposed to needlepoint? What kind of magic did Mrs. Simmons employ?

“It sounds like a wonderful day,” Aiden said. He turned his attention to Catherine for the first time since his arrival. “Did you enjoy yourself, Catherine?”

“Very much,” Catherine said, though her eyes remained intent on the needle, thread, and screen in her hand.

“Why don’t you go to the second-floor sitting room, Catherine, and continue working,” Mrs. Simmons said. “Remember to keep your stitches small, yes, just like that. I’d like to speak with your uncle for a few minutes.”

Catherine looked at Aiden, instantly suspicious, and then at Mrs. Simmons. “Are you going to tell on me, Aunt Gwen?”

Aiden tensed. She had misbehaved after all?

“Have I something to tell about?” Mrs. Simmons asked, raising her eyebrows.

Catherine seemed to consider that, then nodded and took her screen with her as she left the room.

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