Chapter 5 – Cousin Eddie

Cousin Eddie jumped down from the train when he caught sight of Eleanor.

“Why, the blushing bride-to-be has come to greet me herself!” He bowed over her hand. “I’m honored.” Then he tossed the hand aside, put an arm over her shoulders, and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, Eleanor.”

“Hello, Eddie. How was the trip?”

“Dull. Like always.” Edward Comtess turned to the baroness. “Mother! Love and light of my life! How are you?”

She got a kiss on both cheeks, which she suffered with as much dignity as possible.

“Imp,” she said.

Edward didn’t bother denying the accusation. “Oh! I had better track down my luggage. I’d rather not lose it all.” He bounded off.

Eleanor said, “I see he hasn’t changed much.”

“I wonder how I ever gave birth to such a creature,” Lady Serrs-Comtess grumbled.

“I’m my father’s daughter, Edward belongs to you—substantive variations do show up from time to time.”

Eleanor felt the hum of her nerves increase as the silence stretched on. She glanced at her aunt, hoping she hadn’t offended her.

The baroness didn’t look upset. She looked thoughtful. The older woman pulled her eyes away from her niece.

“Bateson?”

Eleanor tried to hide her surprise. “Yes. Did you read him?”

“You forget, Eleanor, Archie was a scientist.”

Archie Serrs-Comtess was Eleanor’s deceased uncle. In truth, Eleanor had forgotten. She remembered glass bottles, a cluttered table, walls of books, and a quiet, unknown man, all hidden behind the door to the forbidden study. It had never occurred to her that his hobby might have had such a large influence on his wife.

Helena went on, “I assume you’ve read Darwin.”

“I have.”

Her aunt nodded to Edward, who had reappeared on the platform with his luggage and a boy to help carry it. “What do you think? ‘Let the strongest live and the weakest die.’ I despair for him.”

“A sense of humor can be a strength, Aunt Helena.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I have to.”

This time Helena watched her niece from the corner of her eye.

Edward cried out as he approached them, “Let’s get you home! Please tell me dear Uncle Erravold sent the car.”

“Never,” Lady Helena said.

“But we’re in a hurry, right?” He turned to his cousin. “Don’t you have a wedding dress and other froufrou to select?”

“I think you’ll be disappointed,” Eleanor said.

“Only if I don’t get to help!”

“This is a serious matter, Edward,” Helena snapped.

Cousin Eddie adopted a more serious air. “I’m sorry, Mother. I know it is.” He turned to his cousin. “I hope I haven’t upset you, darling Eleanor?”

“I’m in tears.”

Lady Serrs-Comtess saw Eleanor’s gentle smile and Edward’s much more brazen smile, and rolled her eyes.

“Jackanapes. Both of you.”

“Hardly fair! Little Ellie is the sweetest woman in the world.”

“A well-behaved monkey is still a monkey. Now, come along.”

As they walked back toward the carriage, Edward leaned over and whispered to Eleanor, “When’s feeding time at the zoo?”

“Lunch will be at one, unless it’s delayed, but you have to eat in your cage.”

Edward made an excited oooh noise.

When they got back to the house, Edward was sent bursting in with his natural tactlessness. He acquired the information he was sent for, returned to the back door, and shouted outside, “It’s all right, Eleanor! Taylor says the reporters are gone. There’s still some man at the door—oh! Is he Penn? Can I get an autograph?”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Inspector Haley, the man who had been at the front door, took a few steps back to see what was happening at the other end of the house.

Helena came in first. “Edward, if you don’t stop shouting that drivel, I’ll have you burned at the stake.” She glanced down the length of the hall. “That is Detective Chief Inspector Lucas Haley. He’s a policeman.”

“A policeman?” Edward made a face. “Never mind then.” He suddenly became thoughtful. In a strange voice (he must have borrowed from someone more sensible), he said, “The old duke really is taking this seriously, isn’t he?”

Eleanor came inside. She ignored her cousin and crossed over to the officer. “Inspector, you’re still here?”

“For the moment,” Haley said. “I was on my way out.”

Eleanor started to say, “How did—” but then stopped.

She felt acutely aware of Edward’s presence, as if his aura had a weight to it. While she appreciated his verve, she didn’t want everything to become a joke. She tried to think of a way to get the inspector by himself.

“Shall I walk you to the gate?”

If Haley was surprised, he hid it well. “I would be honored, Lady Serrs.”

Eleanor led him away.

Edward tried to follow them, but his mother’s hand latched around his arm.

“I didn’t get a chance to shake his hand!” Edward said. “What will his impression of me be?”

“An accurate one.”

“I should go with her.”

“You should greet your host. I know you’ve been trained in manners.”

“But—”

“But what?”

Edward scowled. “Very well. Where is His Grace this morning?”