Page 29 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

For some reason, her words made Linnet feel rather uneasy. She could feel the other woman’s gaze sweeping her from head to foot in shrewd appraisal.

“What a little thing you are!” she announced. “Like a little bird. Not what we were led to expect at all.” She shot a look at her daughter-in-law. “If I had known, I would have brought Chilton along with us.”

Lady Enid rolled her eyes. “Lady Linnet is married, mother-in-law,” she pointed out, sotto voce.

The other woman brushed this aside. “Oh, tush! I daresay, there’s scarcely been time to make it legal,” she smiled, showing a lot of teeth. “And for all we know it may yet be annulled.”

Linnet sat up straighter in her chair. “I can assure you, Lady Jauncey, that my marriage is quite finalized. I have been married now for almost a month.”

“Indeed?” The older woman hesitated as if she wanted to say something further, but wasn’t sure how to frame the words.

“Pray do not be indelicate, Mother!” Lady Enid forestalled her sharply.

“Nonsense Enid! We are all friends here! I’m sure little Linnet would not take aught I say amiss . . . ”

“I am both wedded and bedded,” Linnet blurted out, wanting there to be no misunderstandings. “The deed was done within an hour of the vows.”

A shocked silence greeted her words. Sybilla’s jaw dropped and Enid burst out in surprised laughter.

“I never!” said Lady Sybilla, sitting back in her chair.

“Good for you,” said Enid, raising her goblet in another toast. “And here’s to plain speaking Lady Linnet!”

Linnet raised her own cup in toast and took a hasty sip.

“Well he certainly didn’t waste any time about it,” said Sybilla crossly. “And I suppose that—er—the showing . . . ?”

“Gods, Mother!” objected Enid, plunking her goblet down. “Could you be any more—?”

“The bedsheet was displayed from the north tower on the day of our marriage,” said Linnet promptly.

Sybilla gave a forced smile. “All as it should be,” she said tightly. “Quite right. Quite right.” She was practically gnashing her teeth at this point.

If it wasn’t for a possible budding friendship with Enid, Linnet would have written off the visit as an unmitigated disaster!

After the rocky start, Lady Sybilla managed to talk loudly about herself for the next hour, drink five cups of apple wine, and nod off to sleep in her chair. She let out a light snore as she slid sideways down into the cushions.

Linnet stared and then nearly burst into giggles when her gaze met Enid’s.

“Thank the gods for that,” whispered the younger woman, her hazel eyes gleaming with mirth. “I thought she’d never stop talking!”

Linnet covered her mouth and choked back a laugh. “Oh dear, she was so put out of sorts by my good health,” she said her voice wavering.

Enid stood up and gestured for Linnet to join her over by the window where they could talk without disturbing her mother-in-law. “Yes, she is bitterly disappointed that she did not snare you for Chilton,” she said in a low voice as soon as Linnet joined her. “Your estate is at least twice as big as ours.”

Linnet schooled her features to look serious. “I am sorry that my aunt lied to her, but indeed she lied to me too. They had me quite convinced I was at death’s door.”

The smile dropped from Enid’s face. “That is truly wicked,” she said with feeling. “I am glad you had the good sense to untangle yourself from their clutches.”

Linnet blinked. She reached out and touched Enid’s hand briefly. “Thank you,” she said, thinking of her proposal to Mason. “How did you know it was at my own instigation?” she marveled.

Enid squeezed her hand back and gave a low chuckle. “You are so . . . decided.” she said with a nod. “You know your own mind. And you give strong voice to your thoughts.” She smiled. “I admire that in a woman.”

Linnet gazed back. “Thank you, Enid,” she breathed. “That is the nicest compliment anyone has ever paid me.”

They stood looking at one another a moment.

“Let’s be friends,” said Enid.