Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(75)

“You and I are going into the kitchen, and you are going to ask Cook to show you today’s menu, after pleasantries, of course.”

Mirabelle nodded.

Penelope put Mirabelle in front of her and gently pushed her into the kitchen.

“Hello, Cook,” Mirabelle said, her voice low, her eyes on her gloves.

Cook turned around, smiled brightly, and curtsied. “Lady Mirabelle, how may I help you?”

Mirabelle looked over at Penelope. Penelope folded her arms across her chest and pretended to look for birds on the ceiling. Mirabelle turned back to Cook.

“May I, please, if I could, would it be alright with you if I saw tonight’s menu?”

“Right away, My Lady,” Cook said then went to her book and lifted out the paper for tonight’s menu.

She walked over to Mirabelle and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Mirabelle said, taking the menu with gloved hands.

Penelope came up behind her. “Mirabelle, do you have any questions for Cook?”

Mirabelle shook her head and handed the menu back to Cook. She turned and fled the kitchen.

Penelope mouthed ‘thank you’ to Cook then left. She found Mirabelle in the hall. “Let’s go to the parlour, shall we?”

Cecilia was sitting by the window doing needlework when Penelope and Mirabelle entered.

Mirabelle sat but Penelope couldn’t. She walked around the room twirling in her skirts and regaling her mother with the wonderful performance Mirabelle put on in the kitchen.

“Mother, she was splendid. Better than I would have guessed. I am so proud. Oh, and Mother, I keep forgetting, but Mirabelle likes to be called Mira. Isn’t that a beautiful name?”

Cecilia smiled then turned to Mira. “Tell me how you feel dear.”

Mira looked at her gloved hands and, in a low voice said, “It was fine.”

Cecilia said, “Pardon, Mira? I think my hearing is going. I couldn’t quite catch what you said.”

Mira looked at her ear, something Penelope figured she must have learned to do so she wouldn’t have to look people in the eyes.

“It was fine,” she said louder.

“Oh, that’s good dear,” Cecilia said then went back to her embroidery.

Penelope sat next to Mira and told her how well she did. She asked her how it felt.

“Fine, thank you,” she said.

“Good. Would you like to go for a walk? I think we should take a break before we start again.”

Mira nodded.

Thomas helped them with their wraps, and they put on their bonnets. Penelope walked toward a favourite meadow explaining to Mira that she liked the wildflowers there.

Penelope circled her arm around Mira’s and told her a story about how she and Edward tried to play with a ball in the meadow but had too much trouble finding the ball when it landed on the ground because the wildflowers were two feet high.

They both laughed. Mira’s laugh was so light and lovely, like wind chimes Penelope once heard made from glass. Then Mira stopped short, and Penelope bounced back to her having continued to walk arm in arm.

“What is it, Mira?”

Mira looked at her gloved hands then wouldn’t move. Penelope looked up to see Edward and Sir Jeffrey approaching.

She looked over at Mira. “Relax. You don’t need to do anything.”

“Hello, gentlemen. I trust you have had a productive day?” Penelope said as she curtsied. Mira curtsied also.

After bowing, Sir Jeffrey said, “These lands are beautiful. Your brother has some work ahead of him, but we can make him a gentleman farmer.”

“Before Sir Jeffrey, I didn’t know where to put the wheat from the sheep. But I’m learning. How are you ladies? It’s a beautiful day for a walk.”

Penelope nodded. “It is, Edward. I was just telling Mira about our sad attempts to play ball in this meadow.”

Edward laughed. “Be careful, there may be a stray ball or two still hiding in the high grasses.”

Penelope could see out of the corner of her eye that Mira was still rigid, staring at her hands.

“Well, gentlemen, if you will excuse us, we are not quite through enjoying our afternoon walk.”

After a few curtsies and bows, the ladies walked on.

“I think I’ll pick some of these flowers, Mira. Would you help?”

Mira nodded, and Penelope stood still. “Can we try something, Mira? Could you say ‘yes’ when I ask you to help?”

Mira nodded and said, “Yes.”

Penelope smiled. “Thank you, Mira.”

Penelope realized from the way she was talking with no one answering her that she could talk to a stone wall. She supposed she always had the ability, but now she knew for sure. She and Mira picked flowers, and every once in a while, Penelope told a silly joke to make sure someone besides the stone wall was listening. She would hear Mira’s angelic laugh and be satisfied.

“Let’s head back to the house?” Penelope asked.

Mira nodded.

“Uh, uh, uh. Say ‘yes,’ don’t nod,” Penelope said, shaking a finger at Mira.

“Yes,” Mira said with a smile.

One word at a time, Penelope thought.

*****

Edward dismounted and knocked on the cottage door. Cara answered.

She opened the door wide and curtsied. “My Lord,” she said. “Tea?”