Page 78 of A Sorceress Comes to Call
Just get through the rest of the day. She’s leaving in the morning. Leaving for weeks and weeks. You can get through today.
“Now,” her mother said, “it is vital to remember, while I am gone, that you are still unmarried. Do you understand me? You must not allow anyone to place you in a compromising position and jeopardize your engagement.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“That includes your fiancé.”
Cordelia blinked at her, puzzled. How could her fiancé compromise her? He was already supposed to marry her, wasn’t he?
Evangeline sighed. “Some men have a tendency to… ah… wish to anticipate the wedding. You must be on guard for such things! If word got out, it could damage your reputation terribly. Under no circumstances are you to allow yourself to be alone with Evermore, do you hear me? Go nowhere unless you have a suitable chaperone.”
Her expression must have been suitably appalled, because her mother nodded, clearly satisfied. “I see you understand.”
“I… think… so?”
“Good. It is only three weeks. And that is the only thing that you need to worry about.” She rose to her feet, patting Cordelia’s head absently, like a dog. Cordelia was surprised at the flash of rage she felt, but she squelched it immediately. Just get through today.
“Don’t fret,” her mother said cheerfully. “You’ll be fine without me. It’s not that long. And of course you won’t be alone.”
“Of course, Lady Hester and Lady Strauss will be here…”
“Those two!” Evangeline rolled her eyes. “Useless, both of them. No, I mean that I’m leaving you Falada.”
Get through breakfast, Hester told herself. Get through breakfast and they’ll go off on the honeymoon. You just have to get through breakfast without going across the table and throttling Doom or beating your brother around the head and shoulders while screaming “Don’t you see what’s going on!?”
But of course he didn’t see. Samuel was the one person at the table who had no idea what was going on, which was probably why he seemed oblivious to any tensions taking place over the poached eggs.
“Such wholesome food,” Evangeline said. “Lord Evermore, your cook has done wonders.”
“Err… yes…” Richard said, looking over at the sideboard, which contained eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh asparagus, none of which had required any great culinary inspiration to prepare.
“And it is so charming to see the estate that my dear Cordelia will be mistress of! I am so sorry that we must rush off so quickly.”
“Well, I am certain that when you return, Cordelia herself will be able to give you a tour,” said Richard, while Cordelia turned a dull crimson and stared at her toast.
Imogene started to say something, but Hester had been watching her like a hawk and poked her smartly in the shin as soon as her mouth opened. Imogene turned it into a cough.
“You didn’t have to smack me with your cane,” she muttered, once the dreadful breakfast had come to a close and Evangeline had gone to make certain that all her trunks had been brought down.
“I absolutely did. I recognized that look.”
“What look?”
“The I’m-about-to-say-something-extremely-clever look.”
Her friend scowled, but didn’t argue. “It was clever.”
“Yes, and this is not the time to be clever, or have you forgotten what we’re dealing with?”
Imogene muttered something else, but sufficiently under her breath that Hester didn’t catch it.
“Everything in order?” asked the Squire, glancing at his pocket watch as Doom came traipsing down the stairs.
“Perfectly. Thank you so for your hospitality, Lord Evermore.” She turned to Cordelia. “Come give me a kiss and mind your manners while I am gone.”
“Yes, Mother,” said Cordelia, kissing her dutifully on the cheek. The girl turned to the Squire. “I hope to see you back soon, sir.”
“Mmm? Oh, yes, yes, quite.” Samuel patted her arm in a distracted fashion. “Back before you know it.”
