The Lady Diviner Boxset 0-3 by Rosalie Oaks

Author:Rosalie Oaks [Oaks, Rosalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780645300581
Publisher: Parkerville Press

12. In which spinsterdom is contemplated

All in all, Elinor was impatient for Aldreda to wake up that evening. She was in need of some comforting feminine friendship: someone with whom she could discuss the utterly abominable behaviour of the earl, and the stupidity of beautiful selkie men. Aldreda was just the one for it. Spinsters always had a rather jaundiced view of men, one which Elinor currently wholly shared. Perhaps she would be a spinster as well and live happily with Aldreda in a cottage – somewhere far from Devon.

Elinor put Samuel out of her room in preparation for Aldreda’s arrival, though she was loath to renounce the comfort of his purring presence. The sun was lowering behind a grey sky, etching orange through the heavy clouds. Elinor sat in the armchair by her window and waited.

She woke up some time later. All colour had left the sky, but the clouds had parted a little, showing some stars. How long had she been asleep? Aldreda, as a bat, hung from the curtains, her delicate wings folded.

The vampiri slid down, transforming into human form as she landed on her feet.

“Sorry I am late,” said Aldreda, but she did not offer an explanation.

Elinor assumed Aldreda must have overslept, like herself. “We have been rather busy lately,” she acknowledged. She yawned and went to fetch a miniature black silk dress. “I feel better for having had a nap myself.”

While Aldreda dressed, she took in Elinor’s face, which was, no doubt, still a little puffy from her bout of man detestation. Once Aldreda’s clothes were neatly in place, she frowned up at Elinor. “What is the matter, my dear?”

“Beresford.” Elinor’s tears welled up again. “I have discovered that he is an insensitive brute.” Her story poured out.

Aldreda was sympathetic. “He leapt to conclusions. Silly man.”

Elinor almost resisted this description of the earl until she recalled her resolute commitment to spinsterdom. She must cultivate a suitable disdain.

“Yes, he was utterly ridiculous, puffing out his chest in misguided jealousy.” Elinor paused. “Yet, he did not want me to go near him when we were in the library. I do not understand him! It is all so mortifying.”

Aldreda shook her head. “I think Beresford was trying to be honourable in that instance. It is not the act of a gentleman to kiss you alone in the library. That is what he meant, when he said it was inappropriate.”

Elinor sniffed. It was a bit late now for Beresford to discover a sense of honour. He had kissed her before. Though, to be fair, that was after the heat of battle, when they had faced down villains and emerged triumphant. What had since given him a disgust of her? Elinor’s shoulders slumped anew. He had probably realised that an earl needed a proper wife – a more appropriate one – one who did not skulk around the countryside at night. It was excessively irritating, as he actively pursued such skulking himself.

Elinor’s melancholy thoughts were interrupted by a different type of skulking.

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