“Oh?”
“Yes, I pruned much earlier this year and I will not prune again until four weeks before the show. My theory is the stress will force the blooms and they will be even morespectacular.”
“Much like your theory in raising children,” Markteased.
Grandmamma laughed. “I do not think you have had any pruning at all, according to yourfather.”
“Did he tell you about our chatearlier?”
“He did. And he is in a horrid kerfuffle over you notmarrying.”
“Yes, and that is why I came to see you this afternoon. He is stressing the need for an heir before he… leavesus.”
“Yes, I know. But as much as he might like that to happen, it is not your responsibility to provide him one on cue. What is important is that you chose the rightwoman.”
“Yes, that is my point, exactly. And you have expressed subtle reservations to me about MissSophie.”
“Hmm. Yes, although she is lovely, I sometimes wonder if she has the grit to be yourwife.”
“How do youmean?”
Wesley appeared with the tea trolley, wheeling it to where they were sitting. It was not seemly to discuss personal family matters in front of the staff so they diverted to a less sensitive topic until the tea was served and Wesleyleft.
“How well do you remember your mother?” Grandmotherasked.
“Not well. My memories are hazy and sketchy. Sometimes I can see her face leaning over me, like when she was tucking me into bed. And sometimes I see her dressed beautifully standing at the top of the entryway staircase before descending to take the carriage to some event orother.”
Grandmother seemed lost in thought as she brought up her memories of her daughter-in-law. “But more than being just lovely, she was substantial. And by that I mean she was intelligent, caring, and able to handle almost any crisis. And that is what troubles me about yourSophie.”
“Yes, that concerns me as well,” Mark added. “I am not certain she has the depth of character that I am looking for in a wife andmother.”
Grandmother nodded. “Perhaps you might try spending more time with her. Test her out. See if she has the character. And if not, then you must begin aggressively searching for a new candidate. I agree with your father, you must make an alliance soon. I am not such a spring chicken, myself. If your father does not go first, then I just might. And I, too, should like to see an heir. And make certain any young lady you choose has the breeding and stature to be aduchess.”
“Like mymother.”
“Precisely.”
Mark stood up from the tea table. He went to the fireplace mantel where his grandmother had her miniature portraits displayed. He studied the one of his mother. It was a charming and accurate characterization of both her character andbeauty.
“Father was telling me the story he has told me, so many times before, of the first time he metMother.”
Grandmother laughed. “Is it the one about seeing her across the dance floor and falling instantly in love withher?”
“Yes. He has told it to me many times and I never tire of hearingit.”
She laughed again. “I am afraid that is a fairy story. The truth is quite different. Would you like to hear the real story?” sheasked.
Mark was astonished by this new information and came back to the tea table and sat down. “Yes, tell me, please. Although, I hope my illusions will not beshattered.”
“They may well be.” She said, as she shifted in her chair and brushed off her lap the crumbs of cinnamon and sugar from her tea toast. “Well, first of all, your father had a terrible complexion as a young man. He popped out with spots on his face every week or two and the day of the ball he had one of his worse cases ever. He was so embarrassed, he said he could notgo.
“But his father insisted and offered to buy him the horse he coveted if he would show himself at the dance. Now, unlike a young lady, he could not wear a hat with a veil to hide his broken-out face. So, he pleaded with me to let him cover his face with a concealing powder I had on my dressingtable.
“I am not sure it helped at all. It gave his face a plastered over, matte finish that made him look like the grand-dame in a pantomime. And when he finally arrived at the ball, he stood behind me and his father and was terrified to be seen byanybody.
“But his father was insistent that he meet his intended, and when she was spotted, your father gasped and went running out of the ballroom. And it was not until the ball was half over that his father managed to bring the two of themtogether.
“And your mother was both truly beautiful and also gracious. She gave no indication that she was put off by your father’s appearance. But he barely spoke to her at all. It was not until several weeks later when his spots had cleared up that he felt confident enough to meet her face to face again. It was only then that they began to court and discover the special qualities eachhad.”
