Chapter 6 #3
Harry has better manners than that.
Lady Daisy bent over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I did.” She grinned. “I take it you’re happy to see me.”
“I am.” Harry did a little skip without releasing her. “I cannot wait to show you my new toy! Uncle Winston got it for me.”
“Oh.” Lady Daisy’s face lit up.
“Harry, let the lady go,” Edmund said, unable to contain himself any longer.
Harry turned to look at him, a frown on his face. “Lady Daisy doesn’t mind if I embrace her.”
“Yes, well, there are other people in the room, Harry, and you should not ignore them. That is not the right way to behave, is it?”
Harry’s mouth turned down, and he shook his head.
Lady Daisy put a hand on his shoulder. “He didn’t mean to be rude, did you, Lord Harry?” she said.
Harry shook his head. Lady Daisy raised her head to look at Edmund. “You see. He was simply glad to see me, as I was to see him.”
Edmund took a deep breath and refrained from debating the matter. He could see that Harry was excited, and it pained him to play the scold.
So, he swallowed all his further comments and said softly, “Harry is not the only one who is pleased to see you this afternoon, Lady Daisy.”
She gave a small, startled laugh, then retorted, “Shall I expect you to embrace me too, Your Grace?”
“Oh, yes,” Aunt Regina interrupted, rather gleefully. “I should like to see my nephew get a bit carried away with his emotions for once.”
Edmund smiled at his aunt, then turned his gaze upon Lady Daisy. “One show of affection is enough for this afternoon.”
“I suppose it is,” Lady Daisy mused.
She patted the plump sofa cushion and motioned for Harry to sit beside her.
In a most obliging manner, Harry plopped comfortably onto the spot and instantly began telling her all about the new carriage toy he’d just received from Winston.
Lady Daisy listened attentively and once, for a lingering second, Edmund caught her sneaking a secretive look in his direction.
What is she thinking?
Edmund was on the verge of interrupting the conversation so he might speak to Lady Daisy himself when Mr. Alberts brought in trays of sandwiches and cakes as well as two kettles: one full of tea, the other brimming with coffee.
Once everyone was served, Lady Archworth looked around the group and said, “Harry darling, why don’t you go in the kitchen and ask Cook to give you some of the chocolate I brought you?”
Harry jumped up at once and sprinted right out of the room, abandoning his conversation with Lady Daisy in favor of finding a cup of rich hot chocolate. Edmund watched him go before turning his attention back to his aunt, eyebrows raised.
Why did she send Harry from the room? What is she about to say that she didn’t want him to hear?
Edmund did not have to wait long to hear his aunt express what was on her mind.
“So, Lady Daisy, do you have much interest in child rearing?” she asked.
Edmund almost snorted the tea out of his nose.
Lady Daisy blushed. “Well, I would like to have children of my own one day.”
“Is that so? What if the man you chose already had a child? Would you raise the child as your own?”
Lady Daisy slid his aunt a sidelong glance. Edmund thought about intervening, but for some reason, he was interested in her reply.
“Well…of course, I would not shun them. I cannot imagine doing that to a child. But it would be difficult for me to state what I would do with any certainty when I have no experience with such a situation.”
Edmund lifted his chin, oddly proud of her answer. She might be young, but she comported herself well and thought through her responses before giving them.
“A wise woman, after my own heart,” Lady Archworth said, echoing his thoughts.
Daisy nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you, but really it’s common sense.”
Edmund smirked before taking another sip of his tea. In his time on earth, one thing he’d come to know for sure was that common sense was not so common.
“Edmund, what do you think?” his aunt asked.
He raised his eyebrows, wondering why he was being dragged into the conversation. “I think she’s right. A person never knows how they will act in any situation until they are confronted with it.”
Lady Archworth nodded. “Oh, so you are both in agreement?” she smiled. “That’s good.”
Edmund opened his mouth to caution his aunt about building castles in the air, but then remembered Winston’s words.
If I am to convince everyone that Daisy and I are really a couple, I cannot reject every aspersion Regina casts in our direction.
“Well yes, Aunt. Lady Daisy and I agree on a number of things. We found that out during our last meeting.”
Lady Daisy widened her eyes at him meaningfully. He nodded to her, then jerked his eyebrow slightly, indicating that now was the time to begin playing along and present a united front.
She gave him a shaky smile while placing her teacup on her saucer and folding her hands neatly in her lap. “Yes, your nephew has some fascinating views that I am eager to explore further.”
Lady Archworth beamed. “That is wonderful news. Simply wonderful.”