even blink. “Henry has always told me my constitution is as impregnable as a fortress.”
Constance looks between us, her beautiful brown eyes blinking. “Now, now—let us not have a tiff in the morning. Honestly, my dear”—she looks at me and shakes a slender finger that would look perfect on a piano—“you ought be more appreciative of such affection, not to mention that he is the prince. And you, young man, must be prepared to endure grudges and grumbling from the menfolk.”
Edward raises an eyebrow. He looks genuinely puzzled. “Why?”
“At breakfast, all the ladies could talk of nothing but how you refused to leave Katriona’s side. Now all the husbands will be nagged about how they should aspire to your level of attentiveness.”
I giggle. Edward chooses to turn to the window in dignified silence, but a telltale blush is spreading from his neck to his ears. I’m tempted to tease him, but I decide not to since Constance is still here.
“How is Thomas, by the way?”
Constance nods. “Lords bless him; he is doing all right. We gave him a right good scolding, and he’s forbidden to go out for the entire week.”
“Teach him how to swim,” Edward says, his tone frigid. “As well as Tristan and Liana.”
“ Rosie ? But—”
“Unless you prefer that she never walk near the lake or go rowing?”
Constance looks scandalized. “You cannot suggest that my only daughter, brought up with propriety and care, go swimming in the open air. Have you not considered her reputation? What will the neighbors think?”
“It is, of course, not my place to advise how you raise your children. Remember, however, that were Kat not present when Thomas fell in, he might have drowned.”
“Pardon me,” I add, straightening my spine. “But having talked to Rosie, I do believe that she wishes to learn more than simply the lessons you have assigned her.” I give an account of how Thomas bullied Rosie and how she preferred to work on math problems than her needlework. “I’m not saying that her . . . um . . . lady lessons are bad, but should we not respect her desire to broaden her knowledge?”
Constance purses her lips; obviously she’s conflicted between the conventional way of raising her daughter and the new information that I have presented. “But even if I allow Rosie to take different lessons, there are no resources. The governess knows very little other than literature and music. And it’s impossible that I send her to boarding school along with Tristan and Thomas.”
I fold my hands and give her my best imperial gaze, perfected by practice with Madame Dubois. “That you need not be worried about. I am already involved in the planning for a girls’ school. Both rich and poor will be allowed to attend, so girls can receive a practical education—not a superficial one that revolves around pleasing menfolk. Will you allow Rosie to be sent to the school when it opens?”
A brief look of surprise from Edward, but his reaction is just beautiful. “You may be assured that this girls’ school will receive full support from the crown.”
Silence ensues. “But . . . I don’t . . .” It’s the first time I’ve seen Constance stammer. “I must have time to think it over.”
“Certainly.” I smile at her encouragingly. “I look forward to a favorable reply.”
When Constance leaves us, Edward comes to my side and threads his fingers through mine. I look into his eyes, and my heart feels like bursting from the admiring, affectionate gaze in his face. It has been some time since he looked at me like that. “Now that is the Kat I know and love.”
15
Edward slips the engagement ring onto my finger. It is set with emeralds, diamonds, white topaz, amethysts, and rubies—gemstones that form his name. Somehow, the jeweler was able to fashion the gems in a pattern that doesn’t look too flashy, for which I’m thankful.
It’s the day that our engagement is officially announced.
Constance looks between us, her beautiful brown eyes blinking. “Now, now—let us not have a tiff in the morning. Honestly, my dear”—she looks at me and shakes a slender finger that would look perfect on a piano—“you ought be more appreciative of such affection, not to mention that he is the prince. And you, young man, must be prepared to endure grudges and grumbling from the menfolk.”
Edward raises an eyebrow. He looks genuinely puzzled. “Why?”
“At breakfast, all the ladies could talk of nothing but how you refused to leave Katriona’s side. Now all the husbands will be nagged about how they should aspire to your level of attentiveness.”
I giggle. Edward chooses to turn to the window in dignified silence, but a telltale blush is spreading from his neck to his ears. I’m tempted to tease him, but I decide not to since Constance is still here.
“How is Thomas, by the way?”
Constance nods. “Lords bless him; he is doing all right. We gave him a right good scolding, and he’s forbidden to go out for the entire week.”
“Teach him how to swim,” Edward says, his tone frigid. “As well as Tristan and Liana.”
“ Rosie ? But—”
“Unless you prefer that she never walk near the lake or go rowing?”
Constance looks scandalized. “You cannot suggest that my only daughter, brought up with propriety and care, go swimming in the open air. Have you not considered her reputation? What will the neighbors think?”
“It is, of course, not my place to advise how you raise your children. Remember, however, that were Kat not present when Thomas fell in, he might have drowned.”
“Pardon me,” I add, straightening my spine. “But having talked to Rosie, I do believe that she wishes to learn more than simply the lessons you have assigned her.” I give an account of how Thomas bullied Rosie and how she preferred to work on math problems than her needlework. “I’m not saying that her . . . um . . . lady lessons are bad, but should we not respect her desire to broaden her knowledge?”
Constance purses her lips; obviously she’s conflicted between the conventional way of raising her daughter and the new information that I have presented. “But even if I allow Rosie to take different lessons, there are no resources. The governess knows very little other than literature and music. And it’s impossible that I send her to boarding school along with Tristan and Thomas.”
I fold my hands and give her my best imperial gaze, perfected by practice with Madame Dubois. “That you need not be worried about. I am already involved in the planning for a girls’ school. Both rich and poor will be allowed to attend, so girls can receive a practical education—not a superficial one that revolves around pleasing menfolk. Will you allow Rosie to be sent to the school when it opens?”
A brief look of surprise from Edward, but his reaction is just beautiful. “You may be assured that this girls’ school will receive full support from the crown.”
Silence ensues. “But . . . I don’t . . .” It’s the first time I’ve seen Constance stammer. “I must have time to think it over.”
“Certainly.” I smile at her encouragingly. “I look forward to a favorable reply.”
When Constance leaves us, Edward comes to my side and threads his fingers through mine. I look into his eyes, and my heart feels like bursting from the admiring, affectionate gaze in his face. It has been some time since he looked at me like that. “Now that is the Kat I know and love.”
15
Edward slips the engagement ring onto my finger. It is set with emeralds, diamonds, white topaz, amethysts, and rubies—gemstones that form his name. Somehow, the jeweler was able to fashion the gems in a pattern that doesn’t look too flashy, for which I’m thankful.
It’s the day that our engagement is officially announced.
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