Page 67 of So Wild A Heart

He left, and she returned to the books, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.

There was a tentative knock on the library door, and a moment later Elizabeth sidled in. She looked from Miranda to Mr. Strong as her hands clenched and un-clenched. Miranda stood up, concern rising in her.

“Elizabeth? Are you not well?” She walked over to the older woman quickly and took her arm. “Here, sit down. Mr. Strong, would you be so good as to pour my stepmother a glass of water?”

Mr. Strong jumped up to go to the sideboard, where a pitcher and glasses stood. He poured out a glass of water and hurried over to Mrs. Upshaw with it, his forehead knitted in concern.

“Are you feeling all right, ma’am?” he asked.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Such a bother over nothing. Really. Oh, is this hot chocolate? Perhaps a little sip of that.”

“Yes, of course.” Miranda slid the cup over to her stepmother, and Elizabeth drank from it.

She set the cup back in its saucer and gave Miranda a forced smile. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just thought we could talk a little. I can come back another time.”

“No. Of course we can talk now.” This was precisely the sort of odd behavior that Elizabeth had taken to exhibiting. She and Elizabeth had been together less than an hour or so earlier, and Elizabeth had indicated then that she was not interested in talking. Now here she was looking as if she was about to fall apart if she did not talk to Miranda.

Miranda turned to Strong. “Why don’t you go back to work, Mr. Strong? I need to talk to my stepmother for a while.”

“That is so sweet of you, dear,” Elizabeth told her as Mr. Strong bowed and swept the books up under his arm, leaving the room. “But you did not need to. I could have come back another time.”

“It’s all right,” Miranda assured her. “You have saved poor Mr. Strong another hour of pain, that’s all. Think of yourself as his guardian angel.”

“Poor man. He always looks so…distressed.”

“I know. He thinks I am an ogre. I am finding that people in England have a grave mistrust of change.”

“Yes, no doubt,” Elizabeth agreed somewhat distractedly. She glanced around the room, looking up at the balcony, then quickly away.

“Now,” Miranda said, “what brought you to see me? I know you don’t enjoy the library.”

“Well, I can’t help thinking, every time I come in here, of you falling.” Elizabeth waved her hand toward the balcony, where a sturdy new railing had been installed. “It is so dreadful.”

“No harm done.”

“Perhaps, but still…to think of what could have happened! It makes my blood run cold.” She shivered as she took another sip from the cup.

“I know. But you mustn’t worry about it. Nothing like that will happen again, I assure you. That sort of thing happens once in a lifetime.”

“I supposed. It’s just…I don’t much like it here, Miranda. Joseph is so happy with his renovations, but, well, don’t you find it a trifle boring? No parties or balls or opera or theater.”

“Yes. It is a bit rural,” Miranda agreed. “I am sorry if you are bored. Papa and I are busy working on the renovations. I didn’t really think how little you would have to do.”

“It’s all right. That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve been in my room, thinking. Miranda…” She set down the cup and leaned closer to Miranda, putting her hand on Miranda’s arm, looking intently into her eyes. “Dearest, are you happy?”

“What? Yes, of course.” Miranda smiled at her and patted the hand Elizabeth had laid on her arm. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know. I worry. You looked so…tired and melancholy this morning when I was talking to you.”

“I did?” Miranda said, surprised. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…”

Elizabeth nodded earnestly. “It worried me. I went up to finish that crewel work I began the other day, but I found I could not concentrate on it. I kept thinking of your face. Is—is he making you unhappy?”

“Devin? Oh, no, Elizabeth, not at all. You must not think that. I am very glad I married Devin.”

“Really?” Elizabeth looked doubtful. “I worry that it was a mistake. I fear that Joseph pushed you into it.”

“Elizabeth, you know that no one pushes me into anything. I married Ravenscar because I wanted to. And I am quite happy. I am only a little tired this morning from the party last night.”