allârequired a shovel.
âIt will be such a tragedy if we have to move indoors,â Mrs. Royle continued. âOne could hardly call it a picnic in such a case.â
Honoria nodded absently, still analyzing the clouds. There was one that was a bit more gray than the rest, but was it drifting toward or away?
âWell, I suppose there is nothing I can do but wait and see,â Mrs. Royle said. âAnd no true harm done. A gentleman is just as likely to fall in love indoors as out, and if Mr. Bridgerton does have his eye on Cecily, at least she will be able to impress him at the pianoforte.â
âSarah is quite accomplished as well,â Honoria remarked.
Mrs. Royle actually stopped and turned. âShe is?â
Honoria wasnât surprised that Mrs. Royle sounded surprised. She knew for a fact that she had attended last yearâs musicale.
âWe probably wonât be inside, anyway,â Mrs. Royle went on before Honoria could comment further. âThe sky doesnât look so terribly ominous. Hmmph. I suppose I must admit that I had been hoping Mr. Bridgerton might take an interest in Cecilyâoh, I do hope that maid catches her in time to get out the blue dress; sheâll be cross if she has to changeâbut of course Lord Chatteris would be even more exciting.â
Alarmed, Honoria spun back around to face her. âBut heâs not coming.â
âNo, of course not, but he is our neighbor. And as Cecily said the other day, this means that he will dance with her in London, and one must seize oneâs opportunities where one can.â
âYes, of course, butââ
âHe does not bestow his favor on many young ladies,â Mrs. Royle said proudly. âYou, I suppose, due to your prior connection, and maybe one or two others. It will make it easier for her to capture his attention. This way, Lady Honoria,â she said, motioning toward a row of flower arrangements on a nearby table. âAnd besides,â she added, âour property is like a little bite out of his. Surely, heâll want it.â
Honoria cleared her throat, not at all certain how to respond.
âNot that we could give it all to him,â Mrs. Royle continued. âNone of it is entailed, but I couldnât possibly slight Georgie that way.â
âGeorgie?â
âMy eldest son.â She turned to Honoria with an assessing eye, then waved her hand through the air. âNo, youâre too old for him. Pity.â
Honoria decided there could not possibly be an appropriate reply to that.
âWe could add a few acres to Cecilyâs dowry, though,â Mrs. Royle said. âIt would be worth it, to have a countess in the family.â
âIâm not sure heâs looking for a wife just yet,â Honoria ventured.
âNonsense. Every unmarried man is looking for a wife. They just donât always know it.â
Honoria managed a small smile. âI shall be sure to remember that.â
Mrs. Royle turned and gave Honoria a close look. âYou should,â she finally said, apparently having decided that Honoria was not mocking her. âAh, here we are. What do you think of these flower arrangements? Are they a bit too heavy on the crocuses?â
âI think theyâre beautiful,â Honoria said, admiring the lavender ones in particular. âBesides, it is still so early in the spring. Crocuses are what is in bloom.â
Mrs. Royle let out a heavy sigh. âI suppose. But I find them rather common myself.â
Honoria smiled dreamily and trailed her fingers across the petals. Something about the crocuses made her feel utterly content. âI prefer to think of them as pastoral.â
Mrs. Royle cocked her head to the side, considered Honoriaâs comment, and then must have decided it required no response, because she straightened and said, âI think I will ask Cook to make biscuits.â
âWould it be
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