Susan stepped back, bumping into Blake, who then sidled up to his wife and whispered, “All this charming tableau needs is James.”
“Bite your tongue,” Elizabeth muttered, making no apologies for eavesdropping.
“Lady Danbury doesn’t know that Elizabeth knows,” Caroline whispered.
“What are you three whispering about?” Lady D barked.
“Nothing!” It would have been difficult to discern which of the threesome yelled the word the loudest.
Silence reigned as Lady Danbury handed a cup of tea to Susan, then Blake leaned over and whispered, “Did I hear a knock?”
“Stop your teasing,” Caroline scolded.
“It was the cat,” Elizabeth said firmly.
“You have a cat?” Blake asked.
“It’s Lady Danbury’s cat.”
“Where is my cat?” Lady D asked.
“She hears everything,” Elizabeth muttered.
“I heard that!”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
“You seem in rather good spirits today,” Blake commented.
“It is far too exhausting to be distraught. I have decided to return to my previous custom of making the best of the worst.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Blake murmured, “because I just saw James ride up.”
“What?” Elizabeth whipped around to look out the window. “I don’t see him.”
“He already rode past.”
“What are you three talking about?” demanded Lady Danbury.
“I thought you said she heard everything,” Caroline mentioned.
Lady Danbury turned to Susan and said, “Your sister looks as if she’s about to suffer an apoplectic fit.”
“She’s looked like that since last night,” Susan said.
Lady D hooted with laughter. “I like your sister, Elizabeth. If you ever up and get married on me, I want her for my new companion.”
“I’m not getting married,” Elizabeth said, more out of habit than anything else.
Which caused both Ravenscrofts to turn and look at her with dubious expressions.
“I’m not!”
That was when the pounding began on the door.
Blake raised a brow. “And you say you’re not getting married,” he murmured.
“Elizabeth!” Lady Danbury barked. “Shouldn’t you be answering the door?”