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ChapterFourteen

Modesty And Impatience

Beatrice walked through the garden. She couldn’t explain her feelings. She had known from Edwin’s treatment of her that he was not cruel, but not knowing him fully had left some doubt. How he had sprung into action when Lord Pemberton visited told her everything she needed to know about his character.

He was a good man who did things the right way. He did have his business interests to consider, and he could have left her to deal with the scandal on her own and come out the other end smiling, but he was willing to fight with her.

Beatrice felt proud to be married to such a man.

Her feelings quickly shifted when she spotted Modesty in the gardens up ahead. Her thoughts had been profound and deep, an emotional journey to figure out exactly who Edwin was. But when she spotted her mother-in-law, all her thoughts and fears were replaced by unbridled amusement.

Beatrice burst out laughing. She had never laughed in such a way before, but the scene not twenty yards away from her was one of the funniest things she had ever seen.

The gardener did not share her joy, and he looked to be pulling his hair out as Modesty walked through the flowerbeds, holding a cane that she used to bushwhack some of the flowers.

Beatrice quickly ran over to get a closer look, but also to see if she could help.

“Please, Your Grace,” the gardener begged. “Those are not weeds!”

“Of course they are,” Modesty claimed. “You just told me they were.”

“No, I told you the small ones with the yellow tufts on top were weeds, but those ones are blue,” the frustrated gardener told her.

“I know what you told me. Now fetch me a spade, will you?” Modesty demanded. “Someone has to make this garden look respectable.”

“Is everything well?” Beatrice asked upon arriving at the comical scene.

“Oh, my dear, I don’t know. I’m trying to help, but I feel I am only making things worse.” Modesty looked around, as if she were surprised to be standing in a flower bed. “I only want to help, but I’m not, am I?”

Beatrice looked at the gardener with a glimmer of hope. He shook his head, and she almost burst out laughing.

“Let’s take a walk,” she suggested. “I know exactly how you feel. I often find myself making a mess of things when I’m trying to help.”

“Well, I can’t imagine that,” Modesty said. “You have only been here for a few days, and you have done nothing but good. It’s obvious how happy my son is.”

“Do you think so?” Beatrice asked.

“Oh, yes. He will not show it, but I know him better than most. He has had problems, but I see a light in his eyes that had not been there for a long time. The two of us might make things worse, but he is a fixer. If there is a problem, Edwin will fix it. You can count on that.”

Modesty laughed, and Beatrice could not help but laugh along with her. She had no idea why they were laughing, but it felt good to do so.

“Now, where is that spade?” Modesty asked. “There is so much work to be done in the gardens.”

“Mother, there you are!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she rounded the corner. “Wherever have you been?”

Modesty looked at Beatrice with an ashamed look on her face.

“Your mother has kindly shown me around the gardens,” Beatrice replied in her stead. “She has been showing me the flowers and instructing the gardener about what needs to be done.”

“That is all very well, but we have a ball to go to, Mother. Did you forget?” Elizabeth asked.

“I would never forget such a thing,” Modesty stated. “I was about to go inside and get changed. Why are you out here, looking for me instead of getting dressed, my dear?”

Elizabeth thought about it momentarily before turning to look at the manor.

Modesty took the opportunity to lean close to Beatrice and whisper, “Ihadforgotten about it.”

Beatrice placed a hand over her mouth to hide her giggle and smile as Elizabeth turned back around.