Gayle Buck by The Hidden Heart Page B

smoother than they might have been in several instances. Caroline, you would not believe the roads. No, nor the lack of proper service that one is obliged to accept. It was nothing like one might expect whilst traveling in England.”
    “But that was only between the largest of cities, my lord. Surely you have not already forgotten the gracious reception with which we were greeted and the pleasures provided for our entertainment when we disembarked in the capitals,” Lady Eddington said.
    “By Jove, you’re right! Now that I come to think on it, we could not have asked for a better time than what those foreigners provided us once we had visited our British embassies and made ourselves known,” Lord Eddington said.
    “I particularly liked Athens. I do not think that I have ever laughed and danced so much in my life as during the week that we remained there,” Lady Eddington said. “I should like to go back sometime.”
    “Then we shall!” Lord Eddington declared. He smiled at his lady. “You may have anything that your pretty heart desires of me, as you know.”
    Lady Eddington appeared properly pleased by this generous declaration, but Lady Caroline did not feel so sanguine. She glanced from one to the other of her companions, both of whom seemed to have forgotten where they were. She could not but feel somewhat left out in the cold when her beloved brother and her new sister-in-law gazed at one another so bemusedly and to the exclusion of all else. Once more the specter of Mrs. Burlington’s allegation that Lady Eddington would be more than happy to see her take leave of Berwicke Keep surfaced.
    She became angered at herself for succumbing to Mrs. Burlington’s planting of doubt, but still she could not help feeling a measure of uncertainty.
    Lady Caroline told herself not to be a nodcock. Even if it were true, she hoped that she would have sense enough to make a graceful departure without invoking Lady Eddington’s ill will, for that would naturally affect the relationship between herself and her brother.
     If it appeared that her presence did indeed prove to be a damper to the private cooings of the newly wedded pair, she would make the decision herself before anyone else could request it of her. That would be a trick, indeed, if she knew anything at all about her aunt’s character and that particular lady’s propensity to throw up a topic to discussion until one was heartily sick of the entire matter.
    Lady Caroline was still chiding herself for the ungenerous thought when the door to the drawing room opened and Mrs. Burlington swept in. She was followed by Simpson and two of the footmen. The three menservants carried trays piled high with all the necessaries of a substantial tea.
    “Well! You have returned safely, my lord, and none the worse for wear,” Mrs. Burlington said, giving her hand to Lord Eddington, who had risen from his chair to greet her.
    “You are looking well, Aunt Amaris,” Lord Eddington said. Some of his genial air had dissipated, which earned him the swiftest of glances from his new bride.
    Mrs. Burlington did not wait for his lordship’s reply, but at once turned her smile on Lady Eddington. “As for you, my dear child, anyone with eyes in her head can see that you are in fine fettle. Your countenance is positively glowing! How happy I am to see you again and to be able to renew our delightful acquaintance.”
    “And I, Mrs. Burlington. I much enjoyed our little talks before my marriage to his lordship,” Lady Eddington said, smiling up in a friendly way at Mrs. Burlington.
    “Oh, you must not stand upon such ceremony with me, my dear. After all, we are all family now, are we not? Pray address me as you would your own dear aunt,’’ Mrs. Burlington said.
    “Thank you, I am sure,” Lady Eddington said with an engaging little laugh.
    While this short interlude of exchanges had taken place, tea was set out and those who were standing settled into their places. Mrs.