With her eyebrows incredulously raised, Miss Meyer asked, “I beg your pardon, Anthony, but could you clarify exactly what it is you mean?”
“In truth, the reason I was so eager to spend time with you outside of the estate was so that I could get to know you better. Spending a day dressed like this, meeting your childhood friend, experiencing the world differently—it has opened my eyes to several aspects of your life that I was previously oblivious to.”
Catherine pretended to be interested in something outside her window.
Who was she to get in the way of their honest discussion?
Roughly half an hour later, His Grace’s tiredness got the better of him and caused him to rest his head on Miss Meyer’s shoulder. Catherine still continued to look out of the window.
Maybe his association with Miss Meyer isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Chapter 23
“Oh, Cecilia, will you stop this nonsense? Don’t you think you’re being a shade too dramatic?” yelled Anthony at the door.
Meredith nudged his side, “Don’t say things like that. You’re only making it worse.”
It was now Day Thirty-Two out of the agreed upon ninety days. Anthony decided that he and Meredith were finally ready to tell Cecilia about their relationship. Anthony could have done without Cecilia running off. But to her credit, she was handling this news a lot better than he had expected.
Meredith leaned against Cecilia’s bedroom door.
“Lady Cecilia, I imagine I am the last voice you want to hear right now. And you have every right to be upset, but allow me to say that—”
The door suddenly swung open and Meredith had to catch herself from falling forward.
“I’m not upset, Miss Meyer,” blinked Cecilia.
“You aren’t?”
“Well, not anymore, at least. I was a bit dismayed at first at having to share you with Brother. However, I also could not think of anyone else I would rather have as a sister-in-law.”
Anthony felt his face grow hot.
“Cecilia! Such things are not your concern.”
“I beg your pardon, Brother. Is not the reason you have decided to tell me these things because you and Miss Meyer are now engaged?”
Anthony opened his mouth to reply, but couldn’t find anything to say.
Of course he and Meredith weren’t engaged. Not yet, at least.
So far, they had enjoyed keeping each other company and yes, once or twice Anthony caught himself thinking, “I wouldn’t mind doing this for the rest of my life.”
But he found Cecilia’s candid questions unsettling at best. So this time it was his turn to storm off. Meredith found him fuming whilst seated at the garden table.
“Who’s being dramatic now, Tony?” she teased.
Anthony nodded towards the empty garden chair next to him and then crossed his arms.
“This is different. I’m trying to teach her that she is far too young to be concerned with these sorts of things.”
“She was only asking a question.” Meredith cooed, “And it was a good one at that. If you don’t mind me saying, dear Tony, I believe the main reason you are so angry is because you yourself are unsure of where we stand.”
She sat down and straightened her skirt.
“These past few weeks have been spectacular and a great deal of fun.”
“Indeed, the day we went riding is still my favorite.”
