recall a time when anyone had such a pleasant effect on her. It was more than the beginning of romantic attraction that she felt. Deep down, she knew this was a gentleman who had the potential to be a friend, a companion she could spend her life with, sharing its ups and downs. Perhaps he sensed the same connection she did.
“Lord Davenport,” her mother said, breezing into the room, “it’s good to see you again.”
She gave an elaborate curtsy that almost made Regina spit out her tea. But she managed to swallow it before any damage was done.
Lord Davenport quickly set his cup down and bowed. “Thanks for having me.”
“Oh, any time,” her mother replied. She sat in the chair close to Regina and gestured for Lord Davenport to sit. “I thought we’d sit and talk for a while before going out.”
Sensing her mother was up to something, Regina studied her expression.
“In fact,” her mother began as she took Regina’s cup from her and added more tea to it, “just last night, my daughter and I were talking.”
Regina’s eyes narrowed as her mother added a lump of sugar to the tea and stirred it with a spoon. “Where are you going with this?” Regina asked, sure she didn’t want to know. Morbid curiosity, however, was getting the best of her.
“You needn’t be so shy about it,” her mother told her then handed her the cup. “Drink up, dear.”
Regina shook her head and handed it back to her. “I’m not thirsty anymore. You take it.”
“Very well.” Her mother took a sip. “It’s very good. I should pay my compliments to Cook.”
“It is good tea,” Lord Davenport said.
“Would you like more?” her mother offered.
“No, thank you. Like your daughter, I’ve had enough,” he replied.
Regina wondered why her mother was stalling. There was obviously something on her mind—something she was scheming—and she had yet to come out and say what it was. And worse, the longer she waited, the more uncomfortable Regina felt.
“We usually drink green tea,” her mother rambled. “It’s supposed to be good for your health. Or so I’ve heard. But lately, we’ve been trying different flavors. Sometimes you have to do that, you know. Do something different so you can find out what you might be missing.”
“Where are you going with this, Mother?” Regina asked again. If she had any clue, she could take measures to turn the conversation in another direction.
“Just talking about tea.”
No, she was only using that as a means to get to what she really wanted to discuss. Regina closed her eyes for a moment and prayed for patience.
“As I was saying,” her mother continued, “trying something new might be exciting.”
“Are you referring to traveling?” Lord Davenport asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“No, though that is a good way of seeing what else life has to offer,” her mother said. “There’s more to the world than the little corner we live in.” Before Regina could open her mouth and suggest her mother get on with it, her mother gave the tea back to her. “What do you think of this black tea, dear? It’s good, isn’t it? Drink up.”
Deciding she’d had enough of this silly game, Regina put the cup back on the table. “This isn’t about tea, and I know it. What are you getting at?”
“Children. Specifically, grandchildren for me in my old age,” her mother blurted out.
Regina’s jaw dropped. They had no such conversation!
“Lord Davenport,” her mother continued, “I assure you that my daughter would make a wonderful mother. She comes from a healthy stock, too. She could have many sons.”
“That’s enough, Mother,” she spoke up once she could talk. She stood up. “Now is a good time to go to the carriage.”
Fortunately, Lord Davenport rose to his feet and agreed that a carriage ride sounded like a good idea. Relieved, she accepted his arm and hurried out of the room, leaving her mother behind them to catch up.
Chapter Eight
“You’re not
“Lord Davenport,” her mother said, breezing into the room, “it’s good to see you again.”
She gave an elaborate curtsy that almost made Regina spit out her tea. But she managed to swallow it before any damage was done.
Lord Davenport quickly set his cup down and bowed. “Thanks for having me.”
“Oh, any time,” her mother replied. She sat in the chair close to Regina and gestured for Lord Davenport to sit. “I thought we’d sit and talk for a while before going out.”
Sensing her mother was up to something, Regina studied her expression.
“In fact,” her mother began as she took Regina’s cup from her and added more tea to it, “just last night, my daughter and I were talking.”
Regina’s eyes narrowed as her mother added a lump of sugar to the tea and stirred it with a spoon. “Where are you going with this?” Regina asked, sure she didn’t want to know. Morbid curiosity, however, was getting the best of her.
“You needn’t be so shy about it,” her mother told her then handed her the cup. “Drink up, dear.”
Regina shook her head and handed it back to her. “I’m not thirsty anymore. You take it.”
“Very well.” Her mother took a sip. “It’s very good. I should pay my compliments to Cook.”
“It is good tea,” Lord Davenport said.
“Would you like more?” her mother offered.
“No, thank you. Like your daughter, I’ve had enough,” he replied.
Regina wondered why her mother was stalling. There was obviously something on her mind—something she was scheming—and she had yet to come out and say what it was. And worse, the longer she waited, the more uncomfortable Regina felt.
“We usually drink green tea,” her mother rambled. “It’s supposed to be good for your health. Or so I’ve heard. But lately, we’ve been trying different flavors. Sometimes you have to do that, you know. Do something different so you can find out what you might be missing.”
“Where are you going with this, Mother?” Regina asked again. If she had any clue, she could take measures to turn the conversation in another direction.
“Just talking about tea.”
No, she was only using that as a means to get to what she really wanted to discuss. Regina closed her eyes for a moment and prayed for patience.
“As I was saying,” her mother continued, “trying something new might be exciting.”
“Are you referring to traveling?” Lord Davenport asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“No, though that is a good way of seeing what else life has to offer,” her mother said. “There’s more to the world than the little corner we live in.” Before Regina could open her mouth and suggest her mother get on with it, her mother gave the tea back to her. “What do you think of this black tea, dear? It’s good, isn’t it? Drink up.”
Deciding she’d had enough of this silly game, Regina put the cup back on the table. “This isn’t about tea, and I know it. What are you getting at?”
“Children. Specifically, grandchildren for me in my old age,” her mother blurted out.
Regina’s jaw dropped. They had no such conversation!
“Lord Davenport,” her mother continued, “I assure you that my daughter would make a wonderful mother. She comes from a healthy stock, too. She could have many sons.”
“That’s enough, Mother,” she spoke up once she could talk. She stood up. “Now is a good time to go to the carriage.”
Fortunately, Lord Davenport rose to his feet and agreed that a carriage ride sounded like a good idea. Relieved, she accepted his arm and hurried out of the room, leaving her mother behind them to catch up.
Chapter Eight
“You’re not
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