“You have one of those faces people trust, Lady Honoria,” Mrs. Merrick said. “Approachable. Understanding. Kind.”
Honoria’s cheeks heated, and she stared at her plate, uncomfortable with the compliment.
“It’s true,” Drake said. “And in this case, it reflects the person within.”
Unable to bear Drake’s praise any longer, Honoria placed her serviette next to her plate. “If you will excuse me.” She made no explanation, but rose as quickly yet politely as possible.
Outside the dining hall, she pulled in several deep breaths, her lungs burning from the influx of air. Pain, dull and throbbing, assaulted her heart.
A soft, comforting feminine voice sounded behind her. “My lady?”
Quickly wiping away the building tears, Honoria spun around. “Mrs. Merrick.”
Compassion shone on Mrs. Merrick’s face. Even as a girl of thirteen, Honoria would run to the Merrick cottage when she had a scraped hand or knee. Mrs. Merrick never lectured about the proper comportment of young ladies.
“My son is a fool.”
Blink.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, he believes he’s doing the right thing. The honorable thing, but he’s wrong. He does Miss Weatherby, himself—and you—a disservice by pursuing a woman he doesn’t love all because of a perceived duty.”
“She is correct, Honoria.”
Honoria spun toward her mother’s voice. When had she joined them?
Mrs. Merrick curtsied. “Lady Stratford.”
“Mrs. Merrick.” Her expression inscrutable, her mother nodded toward the other woman, then turned her full attention on Honoria. “Unless overcome by illness, one typically remains at the dining table until the host rises. Naturally, your father and I grew alarmed at yoursudden departure.” No censure tinged her mother’s words, only genuine concern. “But it would appear it is not illness of the physical variety that precipitated your withdrawal. Perhaps Mr. Merrick has something to do with your distress. Especially given Mrs. Merrick’s statement when I appeared.”
Mrs. Merrick remained stoic, yet she defended her son as any mother would. “My son would never intentionally do anything to cause Lady Honoria pain, my lady. In fact, he wished to attend to her himself, but I dissuaded him, explaining it wasn’t proper.”
The movement so minimal, one would easily miss it, but her mother’s brows lifted a fraction. “Indeed? Then we are of like mind, Mrs. Merrick. It would not do for either my daughter or your son to be caught in a compromising position.”
“Drake would never!” The words flew from Honoria’s mouth before she could call them back, and this time, her mother’s brows did rise.
“Let us hope not. Nevertheless, I agree with Mrs. Merrick that a union with Miss Weatherby would be unwise if he only does so out of a sense of duty.”
Was this the same woman who had stated it was Honoria’s duty to marry well? Who had convinced her to give Drake up?
“Mother, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say something so . . .”
“Plebeian?” her mother asked, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Perhaps I’m learning something from all you young people with your ideals of marriage being based on love. I’ve only to observe Ashton and the duchess, Lord and Lady Montgomery, and yes, even that rake who left you for an American, to see the power that love can wield.”
Honoria was speechless. A small spark of hope flickered to life to have the two women she loved dearly as champions.
“Now, if you must take your leave, go now. Mrs. Merrick and I shall make your apology to Burwood and the other guests.”
“What of Father?”
“Leave your father to me, but regarding the conversation between the three of us, perhaps we should keep him in the dark.”
Her mother took Mrs. Merrick’s arm, a tiny smile gracing her face. “Come, Mrs. Merrick, let us repair to the dining room as if nothing has happened.”
And as the two women walked away, Honoria glimpsed her mother as she must have been as a young girl, full of mischief and the love of secrets.
She wished she would have known her mother as she was then, and her heart squeezed.
