Part 42 (1/2)

”But I love it, Edith. Truly, I do. The school is a marvelous place; I'm so proud of John. Besides, I only go once or twice a week now that we've moved out to the Abbey. John's teaching me to drive and he says he'll buy me my own motorcar soon. That will make it so much easier to get back and forth.”

”Your own motorcar? Surely you jest!”

”Indeed not,” Christobel said indignantly. ”I'm a perfectly able driver.”

Edith just shook her head. ”Honestly, you never cease to amaze me. Why, you make me feel so...so old-fas.h.i.+oned. Now that I think about it, you're quite like the town of Cranford, aren't you?”

”Are you saying I'm brash and ill-mannered?” Christobel teased. Truth be told, Cranford was beginning to grow on her.

”No, just that you're forward-thinking and capable. I think perhaps you-and Cranford, too-represent the future of England, while people like me, well...” She trailed off, shaking her head. ”I fear we're more suited to the past. The world is changing so quickly, isn't it? I can only wonder what it will be like for little Ezekiel here.”

Christobel shook her head. ”Goodness, I've never known you to be so contemplative. Is that what motherhood does to you? Anyway,” she continued, ”I'll settle down soon enough with a babe of my own, and-”

”Do you mean that you're already-”

”Heavens, no!” she cut her off. ”We've only been married two months, after all.”

”Yes, but I'm fairly certain the pair of you got a head start on such matters,” Edith said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

”Edith!” she scolded, though of course it was true. Still, she hoped to have the renovations entirely complete at the Abbey before setting up a nursery. If only she could keep her hands off her husband. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.

”Why, you're blus.h.i.+ng, Christobel.”

”Oh, shut up! Besides, it's your own fault. You're the one who not only insisted we play hide-and-seek that day, but who also paired us up.”

”If I'd had my way on that particular day, I'd have paired you with Sir Edmund, instead. What a ninny I was!” She shook her head with a smile.

”Speaking of Sir Edmund, did you hear that he and Miss Bartlett are engaged?”

”No! Wherever did you hear that?”

Christobel folded her arms across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, feeling smug. ”I had it from Miss Bartlett herself, just last week. We've been corresponding, you know. I quite like her. You do realize this means that you made not one, but two successful matches this year?”

”Why, I suppose you're right, though the couples got a bit mixed up. Still, I expect I can take credit.”

”Unmarried ladies and gentlemen from all over are going to be clamoring for your invitation come autumn. It shall be quite a spectacle, I think. Look, Zeke is waking up.” He'd begun to make soft mewling noises as he rooted around. ”He must be hungry.”

Edith smiled warmly as she readjusted her bed jacket and placed the baby at her breast. ”It hasn't even been two hours, greedy little b.u.g.g.e.r.”

At the sound of a motor, Christobel rose and hurried to the window, drawing aside the drapes and craning her neck to make out the familiar sight of the s.h.i.+ny green motorcar chugging up the drive in a cloud of dust.

”There's John!” she said, her heart racing in antic.i.p.ation. ”I'm glad he made it in time for supper. He's so looking forward to meeting his nephew.” Dropping the drapes back into place, she turned back toward her sister. ”Wait, not just his nephew-little Zeke is also John's first cousin once removed, isn't he? Goodness, I didn't think of that before now.”