The Merry Month of May Read Free Page B

the flowers,” young Rufus announced. The smaller boy sat down and began to cry.
    Haldiman beckoned the wide-eyed butler and had the boys taken to the kitchen. “I expect you are hungry as well,” he said to Miss Harvey.
    “I could nibble something,” she answered eagerly. “We haven’t had a bite since five. I told Peter to stop over at Ringwood and continue on in the morning, but no, he listens to no one but himself. He must be home tonight. Not that his pockets are to let,” she added swiftly. “Betsy left him very well to grass. Her fortune would amount to twenty-five thousand in your money.”
    Haldiman blinked in astonishment at this forthright recital. “I’ll ask the butler to bring some mutton as soon as he returns. Meanwhile you will want to see Mama, Peter.”
    “Yes, I’ll go right up.”
    “She’s in the saloon. I had best prepare her.”
    Lady Haldiman’s failing ears had picked up a slight commotion in the hall and she came straggling out, rearranging her skirts and pulling her cap up. “Who is calling at such an ungodly hour? Has there been an accident?” She looked at Peter, shook her head, looked at Haldiman, a strangled sound caught in her throat, and she swooned away in a dead faint.
    Miss Harvey shrugged her shoulders and asked, “What ails the old malkin? That must be your nanny, eh Peter?”
    “She is my mother.”
    “Lud, you never mean it!”
    There was a scurry of carrying Lady Haldiman to a sofa, calling for wine and a feather to be burned, and fanning her. Miss Harvey elbowed the gentlemen aside and said, “Let me take care of her. I’ve often seen the old ladies at home cave in. Their first sight of an Indian usually does it. I must loosen her gown.”
    After a moment Lady Haldiman opened her eyes again, and seemed perfectly restored to health and sanity. “Good God, Peter! What a turn you gave me. I thought it was you. So you have decided to come home, eh? Where is our tea, Rufus? You know Peter likes his tea. And this is your lady, I suppose?”
    “No, Mama. This is Miss Harvey, my wife’s sister.”
    “Missed her? You never mean she’s left without saying good day to me.”
    “Mama is hard of hearing,” Peter explained to Miss Harvey, and turned back to his mother. “My wife is dead, Mama,” he said, loud and clear.
    “Ah, she is the wise one. We should all be in our beds. I shall see her in the morning. Then who is this pretty young thing?” she asked, turning to Miss Harvey.
    After two or three repetitions, Lady Haldiman had grasped the details. Tea arrived and while the new arrivals ate, Lady Haldiman and her elder son sipped tea and exchanged uncertain, troubled glances.
    “I am the proud father of two boys, Mama,” Peter said.
    “No, no, we shan’t bother with toys tonight,” she agreed, frowning. “I am not at all sure your toys are still here, Peter. I gave a lot of old things to the church sale. How long have you been married?”
    “Five years.”
    “And no children, eh? A pity. You will have to marry and try again.”
    “I have two sons.”
    “Two months? You have all your life. There is no rush. I daresay you will offer for Sara again.”
    Peter flushed a deep pink and looked at Miss Harvey. That young lady’s eyes flashed and she demanded, “And who, pray, might Sara be?
    “A neighbor,” Haldiman replied dampingly.
    She looked coyly at Peter. “I believe you had a flirt before leaving home,” she teased. “Not a word of that did you mention to Fiona, you sly dog.”
    “There is no need to buy one,” Lady Haldiman told her. “We have half a dozen dogs around the place.”
    Miss Harvey rolled her eyes ceilingward in amusement.
    The uneasy conversation continued for half an hour. When Miss Harvey was replete and Lady Haldiman thoroughly awake, the ladies retired to bed.
    “Shall I take my old room?” Peter asked.
    “You and I have a few things to discuss before you retire,” Rufus told him. “In my study, if you please.”
    Peter