Waiting for Mr. Darcy by Chamein Canton

thank you.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œWould you like to come in and join me for some coffee and one of these heavenly treats?”
    â€œI’ll have to take a raincheck. I need to run some errands, but you enjoy.” He started to turn away.
    â€œOkay. I’ll see you around, Harry.”
    â€œOkay, Nate.”
    Nathaniel still had a grin on his face when he closed the door.
    He looked like a kid on Christmas morning who just found a big, bright, shiny red bike. There is something between these two and I know it. Now all I have to do is get the lady of the manor to come around. Harrison walked back home.
    * * *
    While Sunday afternoon meant work for Alicia, it was usually high tea with Bunny at four p.m. sharp for Gabby. However, she’d told her mother she had an early dinner engagement with a patron in order to move tea time to one p.m. It hadn’t raised any questions.
    Dressed in a simple royal blue sheath dress, Gabby watched as Rosie set a vase of tea roses on the table.
    â€œThank you, Rosie. The living room looks great.”
    â€œYou’re welcome, ma’am.”
    â€œAre the scones and tea sandwiches ready?”
    â€œYes.” Rosie straightened her apron out.
    â€œSorry about wearing your uniform on Sundays. My mother is very old school.”
    â€œThat’s okay, Ms. Blanchard, I understand.” Rosie continued fussing with the table.
    Gabby’s style of running a household was more relaxed. Her mother, on the other hand, was a full-time socialite and had a formal staff of maids, butlers and cooks to manage the house. She ran a tight ship. As a child, Gabby had heard the staff refer to her as General Patton in black pumps, an apt description that still applied.
    Gabby looked at her watch. “My mother will be here shortly. I’m going to make a call.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Gabby dialed as she walked onto the terrace.
    â€œHello?” Lauren whispered.
    â€œLauren?”
    â€œHi, Gabby. Can you hold a minute?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œThanks.” Lauren looked over at a sleeping Randy and slid out of bed. “Just one more minute,” she whispered.
    â€œOkay.” Gabby’s interest was piqued.
    Lauren put her robe on and went into the living room. “Thanks. How’s it going, Gabby?”
    â€œFine. Are you all right? It sounds like you have a sore throat or something.”
    â€œI’m okay. I had to keep my voice down.”
    â€œI see. You have company.”
    â€œYes. Is there anything wrong with that?”
    â€œNot at all. It’s not high tea with Bunny, but it’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”
    â€œOh, my God. Is it four o’clock already?” She rubbed her eyes.
    â€œNo. I’m having tea with Mom a little earlier today because I have my own plans for later.”
    Lauren sat on the sofa. “Plans you don’t want Bunny to know about. I’m intrigued.”
    â€œI’m sure you are, but first I want to hear about Randy Rivera.”
    â€œAlicia has a big mouth.”
    â€œHonestly, she didn’t tell me much. She actually said I should call and have you fill me in.”
    â€œWhat’s to tell?”
    â€œI would say there’s a lot to tell, considering how it all got started with that ass Ken.”
    Lauren’s face fell. “Don’t say that name to me.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but he is a jackass.”
    â€œYou won’t get an argument with me about that. Although if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have met Randy, had too much to drink and wound up in bed with him.”
    â€œJesus, Lauren, that’s hardly the romantic tryst we talk about.”
    â€œI know, but last night was.” She grinned.
    â€œOh, you got a chance for a do-over.”
    â€œAnd what a do-over it was,” she announced.
    â€œI’m happy for you, Lauren, but that was a little too much information.”
    â€œSpeaking of