been more focused on Grandmother, but in truth, he’d nearly forgotten that anyone else was in the room when he gazed into Miranda’s eyes. They seemed to search his, and if he wasn’t mistaken, there was pain in their grey depths and he had wanted to ask. Afterall, she wasn’t the one who had been left anxiously waiting at the ball. Why was she pained upon seeing him? Unless he mistook sympathy for pain.
“Will your wife not be joining us?” Grandmother asked Lynwood, drawing Wesley’s attention once again. He really should remain focused on the matter at hand and not Miranda.
“I’m afraid the viscountess is in the nursery with our child. She hopes to join us shortly.”
“That tells me all that I need to know of Lady Lynwood.” His grandmother gave a stiff nod.
“I don’t understand,” Lynwood said slowly and with concern, as if he wasn’t certain if his wife had been insulted.
Miranda slid her brother a worried glance as she went about preparing the tea.
“She is seeing to the care of her child, not a nurse or maid, despite who her guests may be, and I find it quite admirable.” Grandmother accepted the cup and saucer from Miranda. “So many parents leave the care of their children to others and it’s quite distressing. Thank goodness I was around when my grandchildren were born, or they may not have ever enjoyed the loving care of a family member.”
“Grandmother,” Lucinda warned under her breath.
This was not a conversation for polite company. Though Grandmother spoke the truth and had often invaded the schoolroom to pull them from studies so that they could venture out of doors.
“Lucinda, you know I do not hold my tongue. When I have an opinion to offer, I give it.”
“Yes, of course.” This time it was his sister who colored with embarrassment.
“I do wish my grandson would get about the business of filling the nursery, as you’ve begun to do, Lord Lynwood.”
Wesley choked on his tea. “Grandmother,” he warned in a low tone.
“You and Lynwood are of a similar age and he is doing his duty, and it’s time that you did yours.”
What the blazes was she going on about? Before they left Forester Hall, she’d informed him that she had every intention of protecting him from wishful misses during the wedding celebrations. Well, unless the right miss was present and then she’d not bat an eye at seduction.
Unintentionally, he glanced to Miranda. Only a few months ago, it had been Miranda who he’d contemplated filling that nursery with. But as she never returned, after promising to do so, he assumed she was not of the same mind.
Thankfully, Miranda wasn’t looking at him, but neither was she looking at anyone else. Instead, her grey eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips. Wesley followed to where her eyes were focused, but the only thing there was the fern, yet she glared at it as if it had offended her in some manner.
“Lucinda, dear, you still have time of course, but no woman should remain unmarried past the age of one and twenty. Miss Vail is lucky that someone was willing to offer for her given her advanced age.”
Miranda gasped and returned her attention to Wesley’s grandmother.
Miss Vail happened to be Diana and Miranda’s older sister, and the one to marry Somerton in a sennight. And, Miranda was two and twenty and had just been thoroughly insulted. Though his grandmother was rarely an embarrassment, Wesley was beginning to regret bringing her with him.
“I pity you, Lord Lynwood.”
“How is that Your Grace?” Lynwood’s voice was strained as was the polite smile.
“You still have three sisters to see married. Luckily Miss Adriana is still young enough to attract attention, but I fear it will become difficult for Miss Cordelia if you don’t see her married soon, and then there is this one.” She gestured to Miranda. “Well, I wouldn’t waste any time in seeing that she marries posthaste, or you might be stuck with her for the rest of your life.”
“Grandmother!” Wesley scolded. Since when did she go about insulting misses, especially when she was a guest in their home?
“While I appreciate your concern, Your Grace,” Miranda bit out through a tight smile and clenched teeth, “we are not here to discuss the shelf that is apparently looming in my future, but how His Grace intends to recompense Bocka Morrow for the loss of a ship, as well as the cargo. And further, how he plans to prevent it from occurring in