A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano

growth.”
    Katherine looked at him for a long minute and then began to fidget.
    He’d made her uncomfortable, probably because he wasn’t comfortable discussing God, and he certainly couldn’t compare to Arabella’s comfort with the subject.
    How would it feel to have such an abiding faith?
    Before he could think of anything to say to ease the tension that had settled over the room, his mother set her teacup on the table with an uncharacteristic thud and smiled brightly in his direction.
    “Getting back to why your sister and I are not in the most pleasant frames of mind,” Louise said. “We had made plans to go to dinner with your father and Harold, but they canceled our plans without even allowing us the courtesy of a chance to respond.”
    Even though his mother was smiling, there was fury pouring out of her eyes. He’d never once seen his mother display anything other than slight disapproval.
    “You could always join me for dinner,” Theodore heard come out of his mouth, even as his heart began to ache when his mother and sister sent him looks of obvious astonishment.
    “I fear I must have misheard, Katherine, but I swear Theodore just invited us out to dinner with him,” Louise said slowly.
    Theodore summoned up a smile. “I’ve been invited to dine at Douglas and Gloria Beckett’s house, and Zayne made a point of telling me to extend you an invitation. The dinner begins at six.”
    Louise frowned. “You’ve never asked us to accompany you to dinner.”
    “Then I’ve been very remiss in my duties as a son.”
    Louise stood up and moved to stand in front of Theodore,leaning over to touch his forehead. “Are you feeling well, dear?”
    Another pang settled in his heart. “I’m fine.”
    “He looks fine to me,” Katherine said, “although he is acting unusual.”
    “He must be tired from his trip. That would explain his odd mood,” Louise said, surprising Theodore when she scooted next to him on the chaise. “What were you doing while you were out of town?”
    “I was fetching Miss Arabella Beckett home.”
    “Why?”
    “My objective was to get her back in time for Hamilton Beckett’s wedding, but unfortunately, Miss Beckett was rather difficult to find.”
    “She was lost?” Katherine asked.
    “ Misplaced is a better word.”
    “How does one get misplaced?” Louise asked.
    “If you knew Miss Beckett, you’d understand.”
    Louise bit her lip. “Now that I think about it, I don’t know if we should come with you tonight. Your father does not approve of progressive women, and Miss Beckett is one of the most progressive women in the country.”
    “Harold would definitely not approve of me associating with such an independent, and need I say, vocal lady,” Katherine said.
    Alarm shot over Theodore when his mother and Katherine exchanged some type of odd look that he didn’t comprehend before both ladies jumped to their feet and headed for the door.
    His mother suddenly paused and looked over her shoulder at him. “You may return for us at exactly thirty minutes before six and not a moment sooner. Katherine and I need to make ourselves presentable for the dinner party.” With that, she hitched up her skirt and raced out of the room behind Katherine.
    He simply sat there for a moment, at a complete loss as to what had just occurred, until the thought came to him that he’d somehow managed, unintentionally of course, to open up a rather large can of worms.
    He had a sneaking suspicion his father and brother-in-law were not going to be amused.

 7 
    I do so hate to say this, Mother, but it seems that while I’ve been away, your abilities with the reins have taken a turn for the worse,” Arabella said as she leapt off the phaeton before the groom could assist her, resisted the urge to kiss the ground, and then looked up to discover her mother scowling down at her.
    “My driving is perfectly acceptable,” Gloria said before she accepted the hand of another groom and stepped onto