Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ryland hid in his study. The shooting party was nearly at an end. Only two more days—one of which would be taken up with preparations and execution of the ball—and his house would be his again. He usually found a great deal of entertainment at these parties and enjoyed spending time with his friends, but all he wanted now was quiet dinners where he could invite Aurelia to eat with him and Edmund. Afternoons spent riding together. Walks through the garden, then sitting together by the fire to warm their chilled bones.

Edmund pushed the door open, poking his blond curls and wide eyes through the doorway. "We are going to observe our squirrel, Papa. Would you like to come?"

He did. That was precisely the sort of thing he wanted to do with his time. If only it was possible at present. Only two more days, and his friends would all retreat, leaving him the opportunity to say yes. "I cannot. I'm afraid my guests need my attention, son. We are about to ride out to Dunder Hill to admire the view."

Edmund frowned. "When will your friends leave?"

Ryland bit back his smile. "Two days."

"Very well," Edmund said with a sigh that made him sound much like a weary old man.

"Where is Miss Beswick?" Ryland asked.

"Finding a blanket. She says it is much too cold to sit on the grass."

Ryland had to agree with her. "Will you close the door and come here for a moment?"

Edmund did as he was bid and crossed the room. He was antsy, clearly wishing to be outside already.

Ryland had thought he would wait until the party was over before speaking to his son about marrying Aurelia, but now was as good a time as any. "Miss Beswick has become very important to me."

Edmund blinked.

"I would like her to be my wife. Would you like for her to be your new mama?"

Edmund's eyes widened. "In truth? You mean it?"

A smile threatened to split Ryland's face, and he did his best to tamp it down. "I do mean it. I love her, Edmund. I want her to be in our lives forever."

Edmund turned his face away, his eyes narrowing. "Must I call her Mama?"

Ryland took his small hand and squeezed his fingers. "You must only do that which is comfortable to you."

"I want to call her Mama," he whispered.

Ryland's chest burst with warmth. "Then I am certain she would allow it, but you will need to ask Miss Beswick for permission first."

"Not until you are married," Edmund said. "It would be strange to do so before that."

Ryland did his best to keep his expression serious. "Of course. Now run along and listen well to Miss Beswick. She is still your governess today."

"Yes, Papa."

Ryland leaned back in his seat, watching his son scurry from the room. He and Aurelia had decided to wait until the shooting party was over before making any announcements, but now that the hardest conversation had been had—and had been much easier than Ryland expected—he did not see any reason to wait to make their announcement.

Pike knocked at the door, commanding his attention. "You've a visitor, my lord."

Ryland lifted his gaze. "Who?"

"Mrs. Florington."

Ryland got to his feet. Jane's mother had come? "Here? Now?"

"Indeed, sir. I've put her in the drawing room."

Ryland looked to the window where Edmund and Aurelia were walking through the garden, hand in hand, toward their oak tree. He would have prepared her for this eventuality had he known of it. Ryland invited Mrs. Florington to every event he held, but she usually didn't bother to travel to Tilton and attend any of them. That she'd deigned to come this time was entirely a surprise.

Oh, blast. How was Aurelia going to feel about this?

Swallowing his reservations, he thanked Pike. "Will you ask Congleton to lead the riding party? He knows the way to Dunder Hill. I had better remain here."

"Right away, my lord."

"Thank you."

Ryland scrubbed a hand over his face and went to meet his mother-in-law.

Mrs. Florington was exactly the same as the last time Ryland had seen her, on Easter, at her house in Kent. Her faded blonde hair was tucked under a white cap, curls peeking out and framing her narrow face. She asked all manner of questions about Edmund's growth, how his lessons were going, and how his riding was improving. Jane had been an excellent horsewoman, and that skill was important in their family.

It had not taken long for the conversation to turn toward Aurelia—how Edmund adored her, how Ryland had fallen in love with her.

"So," Mrs. Florington said shrewdly, "you've found another woman."

"She found me, in a way." He sat back in his burgundy wingback chair and held her gaze. "It is Edmund's new governess."

Mrs. Florington did not reveal what she was thinking, her face carved from stone.

Ryland continued. "I went to school with her brother, though we were never friends."

"She comes from a good family?"

"Good is relative," he said bitterly. "She's faced some trials."

"I'd imagine so, if she is now forced to work as a governess. Tell me, is she long in the face?"

Ryland laughed. "No. She is beautiful. In the beginning, she reminded me a good deal of Jane. Now that I've come to know her, their differences are much more obvious."

Mrs. Florington narrowed her gaze. "She treats Edmund well?"

"He loves her dearly. We both do."

She sat back, observing him. "I would like to meet her."

"Will you be kind?"

"Of course I will," she said through a wicked smile. "But I just might make her squirm first."

"Mother," he said using a tone that was more often used to admonish Edmund. "She will be terrified."

"I am counting on it. Do not spoil my fun."

Ryland dragged a hand over his face.

Mrs. Florington waved him away. "Oh, go on. Fetch her. If you and Edmund love her, then I am certain to as well."

He hoped that would be the case. "Very well. I'll return shortly."

Aurelia arranged her skirt around her knees and stretched her legs out. The blanket she had spread on the lawn in front of the oak tree was not doing enough to keep the cold from seeping through her gown, and she felt her skin grow chilled.

"Edmund?" she said softly, hoping not to disturb him too greatly. "Only a few more minutes of observation, then we will go inside."

His tongue darted out, wedged between his teeth while he focused on his sketch of the red squirrel. They had finally seen the little squirrel again, much to Aurelia's relief, and Edmund had wanted to be outside every day to watch it. While she was glad for his focus and practice in patience, she was a little tired of staring at trees.

Besides, it was too far into October now to be comfortable outside for any great length of time.

A shiver swept over her torso. But then Aurelia looked down at Edmund, noted his careful strokes in creating the squirrel's tail, and bit back her complaints. She could manage a few more minutes. She had begun this entire squirrel-observation ordeal to begin with. She couldn't believe she had already been at Tilton for nearly two months, but the place had become her home.

In the days since her brother had come, she worried she would feel mounting guilt. Instead, the tension had seeped away entirely. Nathaniel had never once proven he deserved her loyalty, and now she was forced to return the ring he had stolen and settle the debts with his barrister. Once those were taken care of—on their honeymoon to London, she and Ryland had decided—she would be finished cleaning up after her brother. She would write to inform her parents of her marriage after it took place, and she would find contentment and love with the people who were showing up for her every day. Those who returned love and affection in equal measure.

A shadow fell over their blanket. Aurelia lifted her hand to block the sun as she glanced up, and she found Ryland looking down at them. Her heart skipped a beat, happy as ever to see him. "I do not wish to ruin your lesson, but there is a visitor here for you, Edmund."

He looked up. "Who, Papa?"

"Your grandmother."

Edmund closed his sketchbook with a snap. "Did she bring Tom?"

Ryland looked at Aurelia, then his son. "Not Lady Helena, Edmund. It is your other grandmother."

Edmund blinked at him. "But it is not Easter. We only see her on Easter."

"I sent her a letter inviting her to attend our ball. I am very glad she chose to accept it, and she's come a day early to spend time with you."

Nervous energy balled in Aurelia's stomach. She pushed to her feet, wiping grass and debris from her gown.

Edmund bounced on his heels. "Can I see her now, Miss Beswick? Can we finish our lessons later?"

"Of course, Edmund. We will resume them another time."

The boy took off across the lawn toward the house, his sketchbook under his arm, not waiting for his father to join him. Aurelia bent to retrieve the pencils he'd left behind and slid them into her pocket, then lifted the blanket, shaking it out.

"Allow me," Ryland said, reaching for the blanket.

She turned away. "I am perfectly capable of folding a blanket, Andrew."

He stepped back. "At least I know you are not too angry if you will still use my name. I worried you would find this difficult. Does it bother you?"

"How can it? I am glad she's come. She is an important person in Edmund's life." Aurelia finished folding the blanket and hugged it to her middle, grateful for something to focus her attention on. "Does it change anything for you?"

"No." Ryland took a step closer, lifting her chin. He repeated with force, " No . Is that what worries you? That I regret what I said the night Nathaniel came?"

"We have made no announcements. No one but your family is aware. It is not too late?—"

Ryland silenced her with a kiss. He slid his hand around her waist, pulling her close and tilting his head to deepen the kiss. When he leaned back, he held her gaze. "I want everyone to be aware, Aurelia. I am not ashamed of my love for you."

Her heart fluttered, her toes curling in her half-boots. "You are in earnest."

"I am. Perhaps I needed to grow since the first time we met, but I have done so. The time is ours, and I do not wish to waste another moment of it. I think it is wise for you to remain in the governess' room until we are married, but with your permission, I would like for Mr. Chatham to begin reading the banns Sunday. I do not want to wait any longer."

Aurelia looked into his dark brown eyes, smiling, until something he said niggled at her mind. She pushed back. "What do you mean, you needed to grow?"

"I was barely a lad when we met, Aurelia. Or do you not remember? I cannot recall whose ball it was, precisely?—"

"The Whitakers. Do you truly recall when we met during the Season all those years ago?" She scoffed. "How long have you known?"

"Only since Nathaniel came. It reminded me of this fresh-faced young thing who spilled a drink all over her gown and the absolute panic on her face. I tried to find you later that night so we could be introduced, but I never saw you again after that."

"We were at many of the same balls," she said. "I was utterly taken with you, but I knew who you were and I assumed you'd want nothing to do with Nathaniel's sister."

He cringed. "At the time, that very likely would have been the case."

"Then you met Jane," she said softly.

"Yes." His smile grew solemn. "I would not change the course of my life for the world. There is no deep regret within me that I married Jane. But we have found our way back to one another, and I have a feeling I will thank God for that every day for the rest of my life. If it is agreeable to you, I would like to introduce you to Jane's mother."

Aurelia's chest burst with love and appreciation for this thoughtfulness and honesty. She did not dislike the pocket watch he wore or the portrait of Jane holding infant Edmund she'd seen in Ryland's room. She would never wish for Jane's presence in their lives to be diminished. Aurelia's envy for that woman had slowly transitioned into a sense of camaraderie and understanding. Jane was the only other woman who'd loved Ryland and Edmund in the same way as Aurelia. She understood her.

"I would like to meet Jane's mother, if you think she will not despise me."

"She is expecting you," he said softly. "I have told her all about you and she would like to meet. You will like her." Ryland took her hand and placed it around his elbow, leading her away from the massive oak tree and toward the back garden. "If you will agree to have the banns read, does that mean you will also accompany me to the ball tomorrow night?"

"It's been ages since I've been to a ball." Her throat went dry. "Andrew, what will people think?"

He stopped walking, but did not remove his hand from where it lay on top of hers, pressing her fingers into his arm. "I cannot predict how you shall be received, and I will not pretend that the people of Harewood are immune to gossip or scandal. But I accept whatever comes our way, and I do not think any of the people who truly matter to either of us will be anything but happy for us."

"What of Tilly? Mrs. Pike? The rest of the servants?"

Ryland cringed. "I cannot pretend to know how they will feel. You ought to speak to them."

"Have you spoken to Edmund yet?"

"Yes. He intends to ask your permission for him to call you Mama, but not until we are married. I have a feeling he will place the request directly after we are wed."

She stifled a watery giggle. "You sound exactly like him sometimes."

They continued walking. "What a fortunate young man I have."

Ryland led her through the back door and down the corridor toward the drawing room. The men were out on their ride, so the house was quiet. Aurelia would not say so to Ryland, but she was glad the shooting party was nearing its end. It would be lovely to be able to walk freely again without the potential of seeing Mr. Smedley about the house.

Edmund's eager voice could be heard long before they reached the drawing room, the door having been left open in his excitement to see his grandmother. Ryland stepped in first, taking the blanket from Aurelia's arms and giving it to Tilly, who stood just inside the door. Ryland led Aurelia to the sofa and the woman sitting on it, her faded blonde hair styled beneath a white cap, her gown screaming of wealth. She lifted blue eyes to Aurelia and gave her a critical sweep.

"Mrs. Florington, allow me to introduce Miss Aurelia Beswick, Edmund's governess."

Aurelia dipped in a curtsy.

"Come and let me look at you." Mrs. Florington patted the cushion beside her.

Aurelia swallowed her surprise and took the seat while the older woman analyzed her. Silence sat in the room, even Edmund leaning back to watch the situation unfold.

"You are very beautiful," Mrs. Florington finally said, though it sounded like an accusation. She wasn't smiling, her shrewd eyes narrowed. "Similar to Jane in some ways."

Aurelia's cheeks burned. "Thank you."

Ryland stood beside her, looking down at his mother-in-law. "She has been a wonderful addition to our home."

"I do not doubt it." She looked hard at Aurelia's face, her mouth sternly pressed together, eyebrows furrowed. "Edmund tells me you sing like an angel."

She did not know what to say. Her stomach was in knots.

" Better than an angel, grandmother," he corrected. "I told you she sings better."

"Oh, of course." She smiled at her grandson before returning her attention to Aurelia. She gave one concise nod. "It seems you are taking care of my men, and for that, I think I shall always like you, Miss Beswick."

Aurelia straightened. The approval seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Ryland chuckled. "Shall we start up a game of whist? I'm certain I can find a willing fourth."

"Not just yet," Mrs. Florington said. "Edmund promised me a particular treat first. Something about a puppet he made."

"You've lost an eye on that, have you not?" Aurelia asked. It had been heavily used in the days since he and Tom made their puppets.

"Yes. I have made that part of the story. Do not say any more, Miss Beswick. I will fetch it now!" He hopped up from the sofa and ran from the room.

Aurelia chuckled, following him with her gaze. Her eyes caught on Tilly, standing near the door and smiling at her.

How had she become so fortunate as to have everything she could ever hope for?