Page 22 of A Match of Misfortune (Bachelors of Blackstone’s #7)
Chapter Fourteen
C ecily sat in the library with Theo on her lap and Jamison tucked near her side, reading to them from The Fables of Aesop. “ Which should we read next?” Cecily asked.
Jamison flipped a few pages, then stopped. “This one.”
“The Peacock’s Complaint?” Cecily asked, making certain it was the one he wanted.
He nodded, appearing sure of his choice.
“Very well.” She cleared her throat. “ The peacock presented a memorial to Juno, importing how hardly he thought he was used in not having so good a voice as the nightingale; how that pretty animal was agreeable to every ear that heard it, while he was laughed at for his ugly, screaming noise, if he did but open his mouth. ”
“The peacock does sound funny when it calls,” Jamison said. “And it is loud.”
Cecily nodded. “It certainly is. Which is why it likely complained to Juno. Should we see what happens?”
Jamison nodded.
“ The goddess, concerned at the uneasiness of her favorite bird, answered him very kindly to this purpose: If the— ” Cecily attempted to turn the page, but Theo stopped her, pointing to the picture of the peacock with Juno looking down on it from the clouds above.
“Pea-cock,” Theo said.
“Yes. Very good. That is a peacock.” Cecily turned the page to continue.
“ If the nightingale is blessed with a fine voice, you have the advantage in point of beauty and largeness of person. Ah! says he, but what avails my silent unmeaning beauty when I am so far excelled in voice? The goddess dismissed him, bidding him consider that the properties of every creature were appointed by the decree of Fate; to him, beauty; strength to the eagle; to the nightingale, a voice of melody; the faculty of speech to the parrot; and to the dove, innocence. That each of these was contented with his own peculiar quality, and unless he had a mind to be miserable, he must learn to be so too. ”
“Can parrots really talk?” Jamison asked, scrunching his nose.
Cecily smiled at the only thing Jamison seemed to have taken from what she’d read. “Not quite like us, but they can repeat some of what they hear.”
Theo turned the page back to the previous page and pointed at the peacock again. “Pea-cock.”
“Yes, peacock,” Cecily said, giving him a little squeeze.
“Can you read another?” Jamison asked.
“That is enough for now.” Mrs. Markham stood, scooping up Theo and reaching out a hand for Jamison to take. “It is time for you to go upstairs and have your supper.”
Jamison gave an endearing pout. “I am not even hungry. Can I not stay down a little longer with Auntie Cecily and Auntie Adelaide?”
“No, my dear. We are to have dinner at Brayton House tonight and must depart in a few minutes.”
Cecily set her hand on Jamison’s shoulder. “I shall read you more fables tomorrow. ”
He gave a small huff but then nodded and took hold of his mother’s hand.
“I feel for the peacock and his ugly voice.” Adelaide, who had been seated next to Cecily on the settee, glanced down at the outline of her legs beneath her dress. “It is often hard not to want what others have.”
Cecily’s heart squeezed at Adelaide’s acknowledgment, and she wrapped her arm around her sister and pulled her in close.
“I know. The unfairness of it must feel unbearable at times, and I honestly don’t think anyone would blame the peacock in his desire to have what he does not.
” She placed a soft kiss atop her sister’s head.
“But other than being content with the hand fate has dealt each of us, I believe this particular fable is attempting to make the point that it is often difficult to see the value of the gifts we have each been given. None of the other birds likely doubt the immense benefit it would be to be set apart as the loveliest of them all, except the peacock himself.”
“I suppose so.”
“Sometimes others see our strengths more clearly than we do ourselves.” She noted how her sister’s petal-pink dress perfectly accentuated her lovely complexion, and her hair styled half-up with golden curls cascading down her back made her look like some sort of woodland fairy.
She was a vision. “Which is why I shall remind you of your beauty. But not only that, you are also kindhearted, and witty, and intelligent, and?—”
Adelaide giggled. “I didn’t say any of that so that you’d feel obligated to shower me with compliments.”
“Oh, but I don’t feel obligated, nor was I finished. You are also sincere and creati?—”
Adelaide turned toward Cecily and curled her fingers into her sister’s stomach. “Don’t make me stop you,” she said, though she didn’t even give Cecily a chance before she began wriggling her fingers .
Cecily laughed, yanking free from her embrace and pointing at her sister. “Stop! You know how ticklish I am.”
Adelaide did not look the least bit repentant.
“That is an interesting tidbit to be aware of.” It was Nash’s voice that cut through the moment, and Cecily glanced over her shoulder to find Nash entering the room, wearing his formal attire.
“Nash!” Adelaide brightened instantly. “Are you to go to the Rothsburgs with us?”
“It seems so.” He plopped down in the seat across from them, looking unusually sullen. “Rothsburg would not allow me to refuse. At the dock earlier, he mentioned pains of death and never forgiving me.” He lifted his hands. “So here I am, apparently not quite ready for my demise just yet.”
“Well, we are glad of it.” Adelaide looked at her. “Aren’t we, Cecily?”
She gave a stiff nod. “Of course we are.” Nash’s eyes moved across her features at an intentional pace, and Cecily shifted beneath the intensity of it. “Have you heard any news about your ship?” she asked, eager to call his attention elsewhere.
“Unfortunately, no.” He gave a hollow chuckle. “ Unfortunate , indeed,” he muttered to himself. Adelaide sent her a sideways glance. “But that’s the last thing I care to discuss, so what else might we talk about?”
Adelaide glanced between the two of them with a curious expression. A slight smile touched her lips, but she said nothing, so Cecily searched her mind for a topic that would not provoke either of them. “Adelaide has nearly completed her filigree project,” Cecily offered, smiling at her sister.
Surprisingly, Nash appeared genuinely intrigued. “Is that so?”
Adelaide nodded. “I’m working on the last side of the box. It should be finished in the next day or two.”
“I’d love to see it. ”
As though he’d meant at that moment, Adelaide gestured for Sarah, who sat on a chair near the wall, to join them. “Might you help me into my chair?”
“I can fetch it for you, miss.”
“I cannot remember exactly where I put it, so I shall come along,” she said, far too eagerly. Was she fighting back a smile? “Besides, the Markhams will wish to leave soon, so I might as well return to my chair.”
Sarah did not hesitate to do Adelaide’s bidding, but before she could pick her up, Nash stood. “Here. Allow me.”
Sarah glanced at Adelaide, who gave a nod of permission, and she moved to the side so Nash could take her place. Though Sarah was strong and able, Nash picked Adelaide up as if she were weightless.
With cautious movements, he brought her to her chair and carefully set her in it. “There you are.”
“Thank you.” Adelaide smiled up at him, then her gaze slid to Cecily, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Instantly, it became clear what her sister was about.
Cecily shook her head, but it was too late.
Sarah was already guiding Adelaide’s chair from the room.
What was it about young ladies and their need to find romance where it was not?
Cecily would certainly have a chat with her later.
Nash resumed his seat, appearing none the wiser.
In the ensuing quiet, Cecily traced her thumbs along one another in her lap, her gaze on the shelves of books to her right.
“How were your calls this morning?” Nash asked, breaking the silence.
“I did not go to the Rothsburgs’ today. Bridget wrote saying she needed to take the day to rest, which, considering her condition, was probably wise.” Cecily had also been grateful for a reprieve.
Nash held her gaze. “What condition is that? ”
“Oh.” Cecily straightened in her seat and shook her head. “I assumed … never mind.”
“Come now. You can’t leave it there.”
She arched a brow. “She shared it with me in confidence.”
Nash leaned forward. “Then tell me in confidence.”
Cecily lowered her chin, pinning Nash with a look.
“That is not how it works.” Though she did not doubt the Rothsburgs would care little if she told him.
Mr. Markham and Mrs. Markham had also been informed, as had Adelaide.
She guessed it was Nash’s business that had kept him from hearing the exciting news.
“All I shall say is that nothing is amiss with Bridget.”
“But you said she …” Nash’s brow lowered, then understanding dawned on his features. “She is with child?”
Cecily tucked her lips inward and gave a small nod.
“I shall give Rothsburg a sound talking to for withholding such extraordinary news.” For the first time since entering the room, he smiled, and Cecily found she was glad for it.
For the Markhams’ sake. Not that they had seen Nash often over the last several days, but each time they had, he’d looked more downtrodden than the day before.
“You mustn’t. It is not as though you have been around to have received it.
” She had not meant for her comment to come across with as much accusation as it did.
Honestly, she did not want to be insensitive to his plight, for she could not imagine the stress of waiting to hear of his ship, but surely every waking hour did not need to be spent at the docks.
Nash leaned into his chair, his gaze focused on her. “You seem cross at my absence. You had best be careful, or I might conclude that you’ve missed me.”