Page 7 of An Ill-Made Match

Eden drew herself up, but remained silent. Her uncle had turned quite purple. In the main, her uncle’s moods were fairly even, he usually only blustered and shouted when he was feeling ill-at-ease about something. In truth, he was under a lot of stress and his wife, Eden’s aunt Gwenda usually only added to his burdens, rather than supporting him. That was usually Eden’s role. She felt a pang of conscience at making things difficult for him now.

“Well!” he huffed. “I have said enough, I think. I hope you will consider my words. Since your father died, I have tried to do my best by you, I think you will admit.”

Eden felt herself stiffen under the mention of her ne’er-do-well father. “You have, Uncle,” she agreed in her most colorless voice.

“Have I not sponsored you at Court and raised you in my own home?”

“You have provided for me most handsomely, Uncle.”

“There now,” he said, climbing down off his high horse. “I hope you know I am fond of you, child.”

“Yes, Uncle,” she said, for it was true. In his own way Leofric Montmayne had acted very handsomely by the wife and daughter of his younger brother Godwin. No-one could claim any differently in all conscience.

“Run along now,” he advised. “For Hobson has everything well under way here. Make yourself useful by rousing your grandmother from her self-imposed exile. Unless,” he added doubtfully. “You wish to try and raise your aunt.”

Eden could think of nothing she would like less. Instead she hurried off in the direction of the North tower.

**

Eden found Lady Dorothea Montmayne ensconced in her private rooms and surrounded by her tapestry looms.

“What say you to this match?” her grandmother asked, after suffering a kiss on the cheek by way of greeting. “Will he do for her?” she asked. “Is he enamored of her?”

Eden sank down into a seat and pondered how to reply diplomatically. “He admires her beauty greatly,” she said at last.

“My own instinct tells me he is not the one for her,” continued Lady Dorothea with a sigh. “He is handsome to be sure. But I predict they would be living in separate abodes by this time next year. Lenora barely tolerates court.”

Eden looked up, startled. “Oh but…”

Dorothea turned a gimlet gaze upon her. “You think because she is the toast, she enjoys the adulation?”

Eden frowned. It seemed their grandmother was far more insightful where Lenora was concerned than she had been. “She rides out,” she said stubbornly. “Her company is much sought after…”

“She does not enjoy the society of young men,” said Lady Dorothea dismissively. “She never has. She dislikes being fawned over or pawed.”

Eden hesitated. “I do not think Roland Vawdrey is the fawning type,” she said slowly. “His admiration has barely taken any physical form that I have seen.” She thought a moment. “I am not sure they have even spent much time in each other’s company,” she said with a helpless shrug.

“And yet, you are sure he admires her?” asked her grandmother sharply.

“Of course, he asked for her hand after all,” pointed out Eden, feeling uncomfortable.

“There are some men,” said the older woman. “Who see a wife merely as a possession. They want the most sought-after, the most beauteous, the most admired. They do not see her as a help-meet or even as a person, simply as a way of triumphing over others.” She looked at Eden shrewdly. “Could it be that the youngest Vawdrey is such a one?”

“I barely know him,” Eden said, not adding that what she did know, she did not like. “I am not qualified to answer such a question.” She cast about her. “His older brothers both seem happily wedded. Mayhap, once married to Lenora, he would come to appreciate her finer points, her sweet nature…”

“Pffft!” Lady Dorothea interrupted abruptly. “Not he! He is his father all over again. Did you ever meet Baron Vawdrey?”

“Not that I remember-”

Her grandmother’s lip curled. “He was a great churl of a man, much given to shouting and railing. He rode roughshod over both his wives, and was more considerate toward his hounds than his spouses!”

Eden sat quietly a moment. “Then what is to be done?” she asked hopelessly. “Lenora insists this is the right step for her.”

“She said that?”

“Yes, not even an hour ago.” Lady Dorothea seemed much taken aback by this. “Don’t misunderstand me, grandmother,” Eden said painstakingly. “She was far from enthusiastic…”

“Lenora is never enthusiastic about anything,” cut in her grandmother despairingly. “Except for soothsayers and cats!” Sadly, this was nothing but the truth, and Eden could make no argument. “Well, there is precious little we can do,” she said heavily. “Except watch events unfold.”