"You're all back just in time for dinner!" Penny announced. She glanced at the goose nestled in Tilly's arms. My goodness Tilly, did you wish to provide the main course?" she asked, eliciting a gasp of horror from Tilly.
"And how nice to see you, Mr Preston! Would you like to join us?" Penny enquired.
"Yes, that should be marvellous."
The words had scarcely left Mr Preston's mouth before Penny wedged herself between him and Miranda and offered to give him a tour of Woolford's grounds.
"By the way Miranda, Miss Sutton called earlier and is waiting in the drawing room. It would be such fun to have everyone around the table!" she called over her shoulder, as she steered a helpless Mr Preston away.
Miranda was miffed by this gesture, but there was little she could do in the moment, and her desire to speak with Stevie was more pressing for the timebeing. She rushed off to the drawing room.
As soon as she saw her, Stevie sprang up from her seat and hurried over, wide -eyed and breathless with excitement. "I saw you all from the window. What happened? Why was Mr Preston with you? Was Clive right? Pray tell!" she demanded.
Miranda was only too happy to inform her of the afternoon's events. "We had a fortuitous meeting on the high street and he joined us on our walk back. He called me an intriguing lady! And then I discovered he has a terrible fear of geese..."
"Oh my, that is odd indeed."
"The geese? I gather they can be quite frightening "
"No, calling you intriguing. That is a nice way of putting it," Stevie said with mock confusion.
"You do realise there's no need for you to articulate every thought, little one."
"Ah but that means he has certainly taken a liking to you! And are his feelings returned?"
Miranda pondered this. For so long she had discarded the notions of romance, believing her heart had been hardened against such things. But Mr Preston had provoked such a response in her that she had begun to believe that such mutual affection was possible. If nothing else, he had awoken a piece of her that she had believed to be long dead.
"Truthfully, He is unlike any gentleman I have ever met," she declared.
"Oh Miranda, you are smitten. You shall be Mrs Preston by summer's end!"
Stevie let out a squeal of happiness and clapped her hands, while Miranda was more tentative. They immediately subdued themselves as they were rejoined by Tilly and Charlie, who were in high spirits.
"Miss Sutton!" Tilly exclaimed, embracing her with an air kiss on both cheeks. "What a delight it is to meet Miranda's dear friend."
"And you," Stevie replied sweetly, dropping into a perfect curtsy. "One could scarcely believe that Miranda is related to a lady of such poise!"
"Oh nonsense! She has grown up very well indeed, much like her mother."
Heaven help me, Miranda thought.
Stevie chuckled. "Well, I do like to think some of my tutelage was also responsible."
"I say Miranda," Tilly said, turning to her, "the company you keep is delightful! How lucky you two were to have one another growing up."
As they walked down the hall to dinner, Stevie spun around, taking in all the extra new furnishings. "Goodness Lady Hartford, what have you done? The house is unrecognisable!" She exclaimed.
"Your powers of observation are lacking, Miss Sutton. The house has always been the pinnacle of refinement," Penny said in a huff.
"Don't mention it," Miranda whispered. "She's been working on impressing Tilly non-stop."
—
At dinner, Miranda dug into her gammon and potatoes with great gusto, causing Tilly to remark, "What a great eater you are Miranda! Aunt Penny must never worry about fattening you up!"
Miranda tried not to take offence at this.
"So Tilly, tell us all the news from the Ruteledge Estate," Mr Hartford asked.
Tilly dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Well, Mummy and Daddy are hosting a debutante ball this year, and Benji is debuting with Lady Scoffington of Bromley. Well bred, perhaps too much, and just as odd as him."
"Ah isn't that lovely," Penny said, with a note of disappointment in her voice. "There is a lid for every pot it seems. Perhaps even you, Miranda!"
Miranda stabbed her fork into her gammon.
"And what about your fair self?" Penny continued. "I hear you and a certain Duke may soon give us cause for happiness."
Charlie's mouth fell open and he dropped the sprouts on his fork. Tilly was unfazed, however.
"You must not pay attention to such rumours Aunt Penny," she said, setting down her cutlery on the side of her plate. "I assure you I am quite unattached." Her smile was beatific.
Miranda marvelled at how Tilly defused the situation with grace, before Penny pressed on.
"A lady as fine as yourself? But that cannot be! It will not do. We must find you an eligible gentleman before summer's end. Ah, Mr Preston, what is an unmarried girl to do?" Penny asked.
Mr Preston turned pink at the insinuation. "I could not possibly be called on for advice," he said coolly.
"Oh leave him alone Penny!" Tilly cried with glee. "You are too naughty."
Miranda's emotions flared as the two ladies dissolved into laughter. She snuck a glance at Mr Preston, who gave her an indecipherable look.
Alas, she was unable to speak to him alone for the rest of the evening, and they had to make their goodbyes in company.
"I shall see you ladies at the ball," he said with a small nod.
Miranda curtsied. "and you, Mr Preston."
—
Penny pulled her aside that evening. "Miranda my dear, I pray you will take full advantage of Tilly's time and learn a thing or two from her. She is said to be an excellent musician and seamstress, and she once courted the son of a Duke. She has been invited to Almacks and could have the pick of any young gentleman in London."
"How wonderful for her," Miranda replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Has it ever occurred to you that marriage is not of the highest importance in every lady's mind?"
"Not of the highest importance! Darling, it is the means for ladies to secure their futures and establish alliances between families. What could be of higher importance?"
She knew that the practicalities were an unfortunate truth for the fairer sex, but she tested her boundaries further. "It has come to my attention that one's own happiness must be of greater importance, for how strong can an alliance be if a marriage is weak in heart?"
Penny stared at her in disbelief. "Happiness? Oh you young ladies of today think everything is a fairy tale. Happiness will not keep a roof over your head."
"Perhaps not, but I cannot accept that it should be forsaken for security alone. Stevie is besotted with Norman and has a stable future."
Don't be what I call ridiculous, Miranda. I fear Miss Sutton and her engagement have been a poor influence on you! Simple men may be fine acquaintances, but a match would be beneath you, quite frankly. A young lady of your breeding is well-positioned to marry into high society. Now, there is another gentleman I have been meaning to introduce you to. Edmund Detorri is a naval officer..."
At this, Miranda tuned out the rest of the conversation, only nodding and murmuring agreement at the appropriate points. Her heart had begun to form an attachment to Mr Preston, and her mother's disapprobation would not be a deterrent.
