Chapter 14
“Do I have to wear this?” Tilly pouted as Edith helped her adjust her dress.
“Whatever do you mean? You look lovely in this dress.”
Tilly shook her head. “I don’t mean that,” she said. “I mean the thing under the dress…”
Edith nodded in understanding and gently smoothed the fabric. “Short stays do require some getting used to, but they are a requirement for when you are older and have to wear stays or corsets.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Don’t what?”
“Wear stays or corsets.”
“Well, that would be highly improper. And as the daughter of a duke, you must be as proper as possible.”
Tilly let out a groan. “I don’t want to be proper.”
“Do you want lemon drops?”
Tilly immediately perked up and nodded enthusiastically.
Edith reached into her pocket and pulled out a sweet. “Be good tonight, and you shall have more.”
“Thank you,” Tilly mumbled, sucking on it. “Who is coming again tonight?”
“The Duke and Duchess of Richmond and their children.”
“Luke and Anthony?” she asked.
“Exactly.” Edith smiled. “We will also be hosting Lord Mallowby. He was the Duke’s friend who came with us to the wedding.”
“The one who said the thing that made everyone laugh?”
Edith’s cheeks turned pink as she remembered James’s joke. “Yes,” she sighed. “Him.”
“Will he explain to me why what he said was funny?” Tilly asked innocently.
Edith felt her stomach drop and shook her head. “Ah, no. His joke was not a polite one, so you won’t understand it until you’re older.”
Tilly nodded solemnly and thought for a moment. “So, he’s not allowed any lemon drops?” she asked.
Edith laughed and shook her head again. “No, not if he makes more jokes like that.”
“Good.” Tilly nodded. “I think only Anthony, Luke, and I should be allowed to have them.”
“Is that because you don’t want to share?”
“It’s not that!” Tilly cried out, indignant. “But everyone else is an adult who should already know the rules! You don’t get lemon drops if you’re an adult.”
“I don’t think that’s fair. What if His Grace is especially good tonight?”
“He won’t be.” Tilly pouted, determined not to share.
“But he will be eating dinner with us.”
Tilly’s eyes widened. “He will?” she whispered.
Edith nodded.
Tilly’s face scrunched up in thought. “All right. If His Grace stays and eats all his dinner with us without running away, I suppose he can be allowed one lemon drop.”
“Are you sure he might not be allowed two?” Edith asked, suppressing a giggle.
“Only if he’s nice all night,” Tilly declared. “I don’t want Luke or Anthony to think he’s mean. Or worse.”
“Worse?” Edith asked as concern flooded through her veins.
“Yes. What if little Anthony believes it’s appropriate to be grumpy like His Grace? Then the Duke and Duchess of Richmond will have a grumpy baby!”
Edith covered her mouth and did her best to restrain her mirth, but her shoulders shook. “I do not think you need to be worried about that.”
“I think I do,” Tilly insisted. “He can already talk! I don’t want him to learn to talk badly!”
Edith couldn’t hold it in anymore; the laughter burst out of her.
“The Duke and Duchess of Richmond will make sure that their son learns to speak with proper decorum,” Edith said, patting Tilly’s shoulder.
“I hope so.”
Edith led Tilly downstairs to the dining room. Servants were busy laying out the appropriate cutlery and cups for drinks. Laurence was overseeing everything.
He looked up as they entered. “There you both are! I was wondering what was taking you so long,” he said with a smile.
“We just had to finish adjusting Tilly’s dress.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re both here. Lord Mallowby should arrive at any moment, and I can’t have you both being late for our own dinner.” He chuckled.
“We could never be late for our own dinner because we’re already here,” Tilly said, looking a little confused.
“But if we did not go downstairs in time, then we could have been late,” Edith explained.
Tilly frowned as she thought about it. “But…”
“Well, either way, you’re both on time,” James’s voice came from behind them.
Edith gasped in surprise, turned to see his grinning face, and shook her head. “Lord Mallowby, welcome,” she said with a smile.
“It is lovely to be here, Your Grace,” he returned. “Ah, and this must be Miss Tilly.”
“Good afternoon, Lord Mallowby,” Tilly greeted, bobbing a little curtsy.
“My, my! What a charming young lady!” James praised, before crouching to her eye level. “Now, Tilly, I have something for you. Can you close your eyes and hold out your hands?”
Tilly looked confused but nodded and did as she was told.
James grinned and pulled out a small box with a bow on it. Edith raised an eyebrow as she watched, unsure what he was up to.
“And… open!” he intoned.
Tilly opened her eyes and frowned. She looked up at Edith, silently asking if she could open the box. Edith nodded.
Tilly slowly unwrapped the bow and opened the box. She gasped in delight when she found a delicate confectionery.
“Oh no…” Edith chuckled behind her hand.
Tilly seemed to almost vibrate with excitement. “Thank you, Lord Mallowby,” she said, desperately trying to keep her voice calm.
James nodded. “You’re welcome, young lady.”
Tilly hesitated for a moment before putting the box on the dining table and reaching into Edith’s pocket.
“Excuse me?” Edith laughed.
“It’s important!” Tilly protested, before taking out a lemon drop and handing it to James.
James raised an eyebrow and looked between his friend and Edith.
“Ah, I have been giving those to Tilly to encourage good behavior,” Edith explained.
“Aha!” James laughed. “And I have been good?”
“Very good.” Tilly nodded.
“Think this quite an honor, Lord Mallowby,” Edith quipped. “Tilly was quite insistent that her lemon drops not be shared with any of the adults.”
“That’s not entirely true.” Tilly pouted. “I wanted His Grace to have some, if he was nice!”
Edith watched as Laurence blinked in surprise and then let out a chuckle. “My oh my, it seems I’ll have to work hard tonight to earn that honor.”
“Oh, yes,” James agreed, his voice muffled by the lemon drop.
“No talking with your mouth full,” Tilly chided.
James covered his mouth and laughed, nearly choking on his lemon drop.
A moment later, the butler arrived and announced they had visitors. Edith was very happy to see who entered the room.
“Well, it seems we have arrived at a good time,” Ava said as she and her family walked in.
“Ava, it is so good to see you again,” Edith greeted as she walked over to her friend and took her hand.
“It is wonderful to see you too, Edith.” Ava smiled.
Anthony and Luke appeared in the doorway, looking around the grand dining room.
“My mama said you live in a castle!” Anthony cried out.
“Yes!” Tilly giggled, running over to her friends. “Well, not right now, as you can see. But this house is also quite grand!”
“Does your castle have a guardian of the house, like we do?” Anthony asked.
“A what?” Laurence asked, frowning.
“Pudding,” Ava elaborated with a smile.
James laughed again. “What a lively group we are!”
“Stop talking with your mouth full!” Tilly admonished.
“I swallowed it!” James protested.
“Swallowed what?” Luke asked.
“A lemon drop,” James answered.
Anthony’s eyes went wide. “Can I have a lemon drop? Please, please, please?” he begged.
Tilly looked at Edith.
“Has he been good?” Edith asked, grinning at Ava.
“Well, he did say please,” Ava said thoughtfully.
“But he was whining about having to wear shoes today,” Christian reminded her teasingly.
Anthony’s face fell. “But I want one,” he mumbled.
Tilly looked between the adults and Anthony, utterly heartbroken by his pitiful display.
“Hmm,” Ava murmured, pretending to think hard. “I suppose if he said sorry for whining, he could have—”
“Mama! Papa!” Anthony cried, looking at his parents. “I’m very, very sorry for whining. I will do better. Can I have a lemon drop now?”
James had to turn away so he didn’t laugh at Anthony’s antics. Tilly looked pleadingly at Edith and Laurence.
“Your Graces, are you happy with his apology?” Edith asked.
“I am,” Ava replied.
“I suppose it will do.” Christian grinned.
Edith nodded and took a lemon drop out of her pocket and gave it to Anthony. The little boy beamed and immediately started sucking on the sweet.
James finally burst out laughing while trying in vain to muffle it with his hand.
Tilly shook her head. “Why are you friends with Lord Mallowby, Your Grace?” she asked Laurence, looking up at him.
“Truly, I could hardly say,” he drawled.
“Hey!” James protested. “I have stuck with you through thick and thin; I believe that is point enough.”
“I suppose,” Laurence conceded.
“I still question it,” Tilly mumbled, earning another grin and a pat on the shoulder from Laurence.
Edith giggled as she watched the scene, enjoying the warmth. Laurence noticed and stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Ava glanced between Laurence and Edith and raised an eyebrow. Edith blushed, realizing that her friend had noticed what was happening. She gave her a smile and a small nod.
Ava beamed and nodded. “I am glad to see we are all doing well,” she said pointedly.
Dinner was soon served, and the group sat down to eat.
“I really am quite taken with this townhouse,” Christian admitted, looking around the room.
“I have noticed,” Edith said. “I think you’ve looked at the walls and paintings more than your food.”
“I cannot help it!” he protested. “And it is giving me some ideas for Richmond House.”
“Oh no,” Ava groaned.
“What? This room alone would be wonderful for hosting gatherings and events,” Christian argued.
Edith tilted her head. She had lived there for a while now and had never considered that option.
“And there’s a ballroom down the hall,” Laurence said.
“Well, there you go!” Christian laughed.
Edith nodded, but she had already slipped into her own thoughts.
An event. She’d already been to several for her charity. But hosting one might make her life easier. She could bring the donors to the townhouse rather than chase them down.
She pondered this point for the rest of the evening, even as she went to tuck Tilly into bed.
Eventually, she couldn’t sit on it any longer and went to find Laurence.
“Laurence, may I have a word with you?” Edith asked as she stepped into his study.
“I always have time for you, Edith,” he replied with a smile, turning to face her. “What is it?”
“I have a favor to ask you, and I worry that you will be opposed to it.”
“Speak your mind. I won’t know what it is until you share it with me,” he encouraged.
“I wanted to ask if I could host a charity event at the townhouse,” she said.
At her request, his hand tensed around the quill. “A… an event?”
“Yes.”
“You know I am not fond of those sorts of things,” he sighed.
“I know, but please consider that it is important to me.” She watched as his expression softened, and he signaled his defeat.
“Edith, you really do have me wrapped around your finger,” he said with a half-chuckle. “I will allow it. But it must not be too frivolous.”
Edith gasped and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Laurence.”
“You are most welcome.” He smiled, kissing her cheek. “Go on, go prepare for it. The estate shall not suffer the indignity of a half-measure affair.”
“You have my solemn word that I will not allow that to happen.”
With a smile on her face, she turned and walked out of his study, only jumping joyfully once she knew he couldn’t see her.