Winning Miss Winthrop by Carolyn Miller

Author:Carolyn Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2018-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

AUNT DRUSILLA WAS sadly not mistaken. Lady Milton’s threatened visit the next day somehow transmogrified into a dinner invitation, which, issued as it was by Mama, neither of them could prevent. The following evening’s meal was not even leavened by the presence of the general, as Lady Milton’s murmurs had snaked into Mama’s misgivings, resulting in her declaration to not wish her daughter to have anything to do with “that man” until further notice.

Her aunt’s objections were fierce, but Mama was adamant, leaving Catherine upset, and more determined than ever to not sit meekly by when Lady Milton made her outrageous comments, as she inevitably would.

Perry joined them, his absence at yesterday’s visit due, so his mother had said, to her sudden need to secure the services of a Doctor Janus. Of course, her lack of immediate need—evidenced by her sitting placidly in Aunt Drusilla’s drawing room—lent doubt to such assertions, only furthering suspicions that Perry’s absence was merely a device to inveigle a return visit, during which the oh-so-helpful son would be produced.

Why such measures were necessary remained a mystery, until halfway through the meal, during the second course, when the beeswax candles had lowered an inch.

Catherine turned to Perry, seated on her right. “So, tell me how you have been these past months. I have rarely seen you since the Hawkesbury dinner.”

“Perry has been most assiduous in his duties to the good people of St. Hampton Heath.”

“Your duties?” Catherine asked.

“I assist Father with some village concerns.”

When his talk on what such duties involved shifted to plans concerning his father’s farm, and more particularly, breeds of cows, she nodded, returning her attention to the roasted capon. Aunt Drusilla might not always appreciate her guests, but she did know how to set a fine table.

“And the lodge, of course.”

She glanced up. He was still talking to her? “I beg your pardon?”

“He said he means to soon move to Ivy Lodge,” Lady Milton enunciated loudly, as though she might be talking to a deaf person.

Catherine glanced at her aunt amidst a horrible suspicion. Aunt Drusilla’s horrified expression suggested she shared similar distrust. Surely he wasn’t …

Perry intoned something about doing her a great honor. “For when I marry—”

“Lady Milton, may I enquire about your daughter’s youngest child?”

Desperation indeed, from her aunt whose loathing of Lady Milton’s constant references to her daughter had led her to issue an edict to never introduce Sophia into conversation. “For that woman introduces her too often as it is.”

Lady Milton, either oblivious to her son’s precipitous advances or simply pleased at such interest in her beloved Sophia, proceeded to list dear little Lucien’s various accomplishments, including—marvel of marvels—talking, at the age of seven months!

“I was not aware such prodigies existed in your family.”

“Well, to be sure, the babe sounds more like a mewling kitten most of the time, but I declare, when he sees me, the first thing he does is cry ‘Mam-mam.’”

“I’m sure many small children would cry for their mothers given such cause,” murmured her aunt.

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