Alastair chewed his food and swallowed.
"Of course. One never knows when information will be useful. I most likely won't be of any use to Elise but I may one day find it helpful."
"Excellent! You learn to be a midwife and I'll make sure we've plenty of fine brandy, cigars and rugs to tread through." Lucien teased.
Mirabelle rushed into the room and went straight for the sideboard, hardly glancing at the men at the table. Once she'd heaped enough food on her plate to feed the three of them she sat next to Alastair. Lucien smiled and shook his head as he regarded her plate.
"Where do you put it all?" He asked in disbelief.
Mirabelle shrugged and she attacked a sausage with her fork and knife.
"I've got a lot on my plate today, figuratively and literally. I can't risk fainting away" She took a bite and chewed quickly.
"You've never fainted in your life, Mirabelle." Lucien returned.
"You don't know everything about me, Lucien. I might very well have. Just because you weren't there to make fun of me doesn't mean that it couldn't have happened." Her reply was mildly hostile. Alastair stared at her, calculating. Gilles was shocked by her tone.
"You're absolutely right. I apologize." Lucien said gently.
Mirabelle nodded regally.
"Have you?" He asked without a hint of teasing.
"Have I, what?" Mirabelle paused, a forkful of eggs hovering in front of her mouth.
"Fainted." Lucien was staring at her expectantly.
"Oh. No, never." Mirabelle popped the fork in her mouth and chewed.
Lucien sat back and roared with laughter. She shrugged and took another bite.
"That's aside from the point, Lucien. Stop assuming you know everything about me." Mirabelle took a long sip of coffee and turned to Gilles. "You're going to have to come up with some reason to remove Elise from our appointment with Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite. I don't want to risk her casting up her accounts in the middle of tea. Poor thing is quite green. Anna says that once she keeps some toast down she should feel better but we haven't had much luck yet. Elise is going to be exhausted."
Gilles slouched in his chair. It was hard to feel excited about having a baby when one's wife was going through hell.
"Why can't we just cancel? She should rest." He whined.
"And when would we reschedule? Elise could be like this for weeks, months even." Mirabelle scolded.
"Months!" Gilles pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned.
"Try to calm down, Gilles. She's not the first woman this has happened to."
"You're not supposed to be discussing this, let alone know so much." He countered.
Mirabelle rolled her eyes.
"Why not? If there's anything a young woman should know about it's pregnancy. I've known a few stupid girls that could have saved themselves a lot of heartache and scandal if someone had just explained a few things to them."
"I agree." Alastair replied.
Lucien grimaced.
"Careful, Mirabelle. Talk like that around the wrong people and it'll be assumed you're fast." He teased.
"Fast?" She laughed but it wasn't out of humor. "I may never get to have a child but at least I'm not ignorant. I'd rather be considered fast than stupid."
"Why won't you have any children?" Lucien looked stunned.
Mirabelle pushed her chair back and bolted from the room leaving behind an empty plate a shocked Lucien.
He turned to Alastair who stood and left the room. He looked at Gilles.
Not wanting to have what was sure the be an awkward conversation he shook his head.
"I believe they say it's in a woman's nature to change her mind. We have decided the best course is to give her time." Gilles got up, deciding he'd try to eat something. He'd need his strength if he was going to have to rescue Elise from dragons. He was relieved when Lucien shrugged and quietly began eating.
Gilles spent the rest of the meal formulating an excuse to extract his wife from tea with some of the foremost matrons of the ton.
Chapter 48
Putting all thoughts of Lucien from her mind, Mirabelle tried to make herself as useful as possible. She instructed The Mothers to stay with Elise and met with Ms. Hobbs, the cook and Bennings to make sure everything was going as planned for tea with the dragons. Mirabelle made sure the parlor was ready and met with Alice to look over Elise's ensemble for the afternoon.
Everything was in order when Mirabelle joined Elise in her room for lunch. She was definitely not hiding from Lucien. She was keeping Elise company. Mirabelle was relieved to see Elise having bread and broth and not looking as pale and wilted as earlier. She was optimistic when Gilles knocked on the door and carefully peeked in.
"May I come in?" He seemed so unsure. Mirabelle thought it was adorable.
"Of course! I'm sorry Anna scared you off!" Elise still sounded weak but she brightened when he walked in.
Gilles carefully stretched out next to Elise and began playing with her hair. Mirabelle smiled at how tender he was with her. She felt something in the vicinity of her heart ache and looked down. She knew she couldn't settle for less than what they had and she suspected she couldn't have that with anyone but Lucien. Feeling her eyes begin to water, Mirabelle set her tray aside.
"I'm going to see how things are going with Anna and Alice. Try not to disturb her too much, Gilles. She needs to have as much energy as possible. Did you come up with an excuse to cut her visit short?"
He smiled wickedly.
"I have everything arranged."
She chuckled. Just before she shut the door she gave Gilles her most threatening glare.
"Remember: she needs to rest." With that she closed the door and marched down the hall.
An hour later, she returned to Elise's room and almost whooped to see her almost dressed. She looked a little paler than usual but otherwise well.
"How are you feeling?" Mirabelle asked, jumping out of Anna's way as she rushed past with a shawl and shoes. She frowned. The last thing Elise probably wanted was to wear shoes but bare feet would not go over well this afternoon.
"Much better. Anna was right. Once I was able to keep something down, it passed. I'm quite hungry right now, actually. Will there be something more substantial at tea?" Elise asked hopefully.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait until afterwords. Anything more than a bird's appetite will be frowned at. I'll tell cook to have sandwiches or pies ready. Gilles has arranged your escape, maybe he can have something in his pocket for you to eat."
Elise giggled as she dutifully slipped on her shoes. Mirabelle admired her for going through with the appointment. She was quite the little soldier. Lord knew, if it were her, she would have cried off over a sniffle if it meant getting out of tea with those two. Mirabelle knew that Elise would have been nervous enough without the shock of the pregnancy. She'd been so harshly judged in the past and knew that so much was riding on this tea being a success.
"You know, I'm so proud that you're my sister." Mirabelle whispered as she put her arms around Elise and looked at her in the mirror. Taken aback, she nodded and took Mirabelle's hand, squeezing it gently. "I know this is the last thing you want to do right now and you have a million things on your mind."
Elise smiled and cleared her throat.
"Actually, my mind has been completely blank all day. I think I'm in shock. Every time I try to focus on something, it slips away from me. Though I'd be more than happy to sleep all day."
"I told Gilles to have you out of there in half of an hour. After that, you do whatever you please." Mirabelle squeezed her shoulders. "Stay here and try to relax. I'll come for you once they're settled. I want you to make a grand entrance." She was almost through the door when Elise stopped her.
"The thing I wished for most as a child was a sister. You're even better than I dreamed you'd be." Elise whispered.
Mirabelle ran across room and hugged Elise. The stayed that way for a few moments before Mirabe
lle kissed her cheek.
"Don't you dare make me cry, Elise!" With that she swept from the room.
As Mirabelle was descending the stairs, Lucien walked out of the study. She considered turning and running back up the stairs but he looked up before she had the chance.
"Mirabelle, about this morning..." She cut him off.
"Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite will be here any minute now. I need to join The Mothers in Elise's parlor." She avoided making eye contact and busied herself examining and shaking out her skirts. Lucien bowed his head and retreated into the study.
Mirabelle slowed down before she reached the parlor and took a deep breath. She needed to be on her best behavior. Channeling as much grace and dignity as she could, she glided in and stood in between The Mothers. Mirabelle smiled, the three of them looked as if they were facing an inquisition.
"How is Elise?" Madeline asked under her breath. The bell rang and Bennings walked past the parlor door. He looked at them and they all nodded that they were ready.
"Much improved. She's ready and waiting for me to bring her down." She whispered.
"Bon! If they think she is totally dependent upon others, they will forgive her absence more easily. I do not like making her out to be weak but in this case it will serve." Maman whispered quickly.
Madeline and Mirabelle nodded as the parlor doors were swept wide and Bennings announced their guests.
"Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite."
Both women swept in, their gazes swiftly searching the room. Lady Gasden's eye narrowed. Mirabelle and maman curtsied and greeted them. They curtsied for Madeline and looked expectantly at maman.
"Please, have a seat!" She waved them towards two chairs at the far end of the low table. She was saving the two lounges. It was agreed that they should have a direct view of the door and Elise needed to sit in the middle of one and have a spot free for Gilles.
"We were expecting the new Lady Cambroke to join us." Lady Gasden remarked as she sat. Her chins shaking with impatience. Mirabelle decided they had to shake with impatience. Lady Gasden oozed it. While the old tartar was hard to please, she was never cruel and was generally considered fair minded. She loved to terrorize the younger set but she could also be an advocate of an underdog. Secretly, Mirabelle liked her and aspired to be just like her one day. She suspected the feeling was mutual as the old woman often sought her out at balls and musicales to berate her hoydenish ways, usually with a smile.
"I'm most anxious to meet Lady Cambroke, I understood she was in residence." Lady Hathewaite smiled expectantly at maman. "I've heard the most unsettling rumors about your son's mystery bride."
Mirabelle bit her tongue and held on to her serene expression. Lady Hathewaite was a rabid gossip, and shameless about it. But she was known to make sure her information was accurate before she shared it and rarely passed anything before it wasn't thoroughly vetted. It was one thing to be known as a gossip monger within the ton but Lady Hathewaite wouldn't remain at the top of everyone's guest lists if she was thought to be malicious or a fabricator.
"We cannot comprehend how such things could have been printed about such a sweet young lady." Maman made her displeasure very clear. "No doubt the product of very small, jealous minds."
"Indeed, both of our houses will not have her slandered in such a way. That poor girl has done nothing to deserve to be treated so." Madeline leveled her most threatening gaze at both women. It had been agreed that the Clerendon and Spencer position would be made very clear and any discussion of Elise's reputation would be brought up before she joined the group.
"I'm sure it's as you say, ladies but the lady in question is a complete mystery. Almost nothing is known of her reputation. All we have heard are vague hints that she might be unacceptable and that she might have coerced his lordship." Lady Hathewaite spoke carefully but it was clear she was fishing for information.
"She has no reputation, I assure you." Mirabelle stated with certainty. "In fact, she's lived in isolation her whole life. She's never gone about in society in Surrey and has never entertained a single visitor while at Longwood."
"You can't be serious. How can a countess manage to avoid receiving callers? Even if she had the blackest reputation, people would still call upon her. We would have heard of her before she married his lordship if there had been anything serious." Lady Gasden reasoned.
"She was like a princess locked in a tower before my brother rescued her." Elise mused with exaggerated sweetness. "I can assure you, she did not coerce him. If you believe that, you do not know him at all. In fact, it took a great deal of wooing on his part. It was love at first sight for him, he's quite taken with her." Mirabelle knew she was laying it on thick but she wanted to appeal to their romantic sides.
"And Lady Cambroke? Was it love at first sight as well?" Lady Hathewaite asked as she leaned forward. She was hooked, they just had to pull her in. Maman cleared her throat.
"I'm certain it was a very similar experience for Lady Cambroke." She stated enigmatically. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite looked confused.
"And where is this Lady Cambroke? I'd like to meet her and judge her for myself." Lady Gasden blustered.
"That's what we were hoping for, Patrice." Madeline stated as she nodded at Mirabelle. She rose and curtsied to the room.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll get Lady Elise." She turned and did her best to walk calmly as she passed Bennings with the tea trolley.
It took Mirabelle only a minute to reach Elise's room, she ran once she was out of sight of the parlor. Elise looked nervous but lovely though a touch tired. She assured her everything was going very well in the parlor and that she would be a success.
Gilles was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, out of sight of the parlor. He squeezed Elise's hands and kissed her cheek, promising she would have them at her feet.
"Thirty minutes, starting now!" Mirabelle whispered as she led Elise away.
Bennings passed them and winked at Mirabelle.
"You look exceedingly lovely today, my lady." He said quietly. Elise smiled in his direction.
"Thank you, Bennings." She whispered.
When they entered the parlor, everyone stood. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite left their jaws on the floor. Mirabelle stifled a giggle as she guided Elise through the room and around the chaise, positioning her at it's center.
"Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite, it's an honor to make your acquaintances." Elise announced in their direction and curtsied. Mirabelle kept her hand on her arm, exaggerating her role as Elise's guide.
"Dear God, the girl is blind!" Lady Gasden declared.
"But not deaf." Mirabelle added. Lady Gasden narrowed her eyes at Mirabelle then smiled.
"True. My manners are slipping in my old age."
"Did you ever truly have them?" Mirabelle asked with a wicked grin. "I would be very disappointed if you did." She winked at the older woman.
Lady Gasden laughed.
"Miss Spencer, we'll have to see about a husband for you. Your tongue has gone unchecked for too long!"
Elise laughed her enchanting laugh and Mirabelle knew the old dragons were all but hers.
"Please, let's sit." She smiled as she carefully lowered herself to the chaise.
Mirabelle was careful to arrange Elise's tea just as Gilles always did and handed it to Elise. She smiled and thanked her before taking a dainty sip. Behind the tea cup she mouthed to Mirabelle.
"I'm starving!"
Mirabelle placed a biscuit on a plate, took Elise's cup and passed it to her.
"Explain to me how the good people of Surrey never sought your company or favor, Lady Cambroke." Lady Gasden demanded.
Mirabelle felt Elise steel herself as she carefully set the plate on the table. She held her head high and Mirabelle wanted to cheer her on.
"The good people of Surrey were uncomfortable with my being blind, they shunned me as a child and I believe they were very displeased with my marriage to the late earl as he was many years my
senior."
Lady Gasden sorted and shook her head.
"It's not as if one can catch blindness and it's hardly your fault." She said as she waved an imaginary pest away. "And she's hardly the first girl to marry an elderly man for security. I can't imagine what else a girl in her position could do."
Lady Hathewaite nodded vigorously. Maman and Madeline smiled behind their teacups. Success was imminent.
"And you've been all alone since the late earl passed? And no one visited when he was alive?"
"No one, my lady." Elise confirmed.
"You poor child. Whatever did you do with yourself?" Lady Hathewaite asked breathlessly. Mirabelle wanted to dance a jig. Lady Hathewaite had cast Elise as the romantic heroine in her tale.
"I played the piano most of the time and Longwood has a large garden that was designed to be safe for me."
"She's an absolute virtuoso at the piano!" Maman shared.
"You must play for us before we leave!" Lady Gasden demanded. She was known to be a rabid fan of music. Mirabelle inwardly grimaced, it wouldn't fit into the time before Gilles was to whisk Elise away if he didn't make his entrance soon. But it would be a good move tactically. Highlighting Elise's talent would make her even more favorable and limit Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite's scrutiny of Elise's past.
"Why don't we go now?" Mirabelle suggested. The Mothers looked surprised and she stared at them pointedly in response.
"Let's!" Agreed Lady Hathewaite as she stood. Mirabelle stood and took Elise's hand, raising her carefully.
"This is just the thing! I don't know why I didn't think of it." Mirabelle whispered to Elise as they led everyone to the music room. "Gilles will be along soon and you won't have to answer anymore of their questions."
"Oh! I like that!" Elise whispered back and brightened.
At the piano Elise became radiant. She tested the keys and took a moment deciding what to play. A moment later a delicate, haunting melody began to fill the room. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite both melted into their seats, hypnotized. Elise blossomed before them and held them enthralled. They didn't notice Gilles enter and lean against the door. Mirabelle admitted that he looked quite dashing and thoroughly and blissfully enamored with his wife. When the song ended both women sighed dreamily and Gilles clapped lightly and pushed away from the door.
Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One Page 26
