Marrying my secret admirer after my husband's fake death novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Father Benedict gave a gentle, helpless smile. “Oh, you silly girl, you misunderstood what your aunt meant. She just wanted to say we weren’t prepared to have you over. Justin told us you wandered around the garden for quite a while earlier–clearly, we weren’t good hosts today. Please forgive us for that, will you?”

Justin leaned in and whispered, “Edith, relax. It’s just family here.”

Sarah chimed in, “We’ve already seen off the other guests. Now it’s just you, and we can focus on making you feel at home. You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? What would you like? I’ll make it myself!”

Justin chuckled softly and leaned close to Edith, lowering his voice. “You know, it’s a rare treat for my mom to cook. You should take her up on it.”

Edith waved her hands in embarrassment. “Oh, that’s really not necessary, Mrs. Hawksley. I only stopped by to wish Mr. Hawksley a happy birthday and drop off the gift my mom and I picked out.”

Father Benedict offered Sarah a reassuring smile. “You’re too eager, dear. Can’t you tell? Edith is still as shy as she was when she was little. Give her a few more visits and she’ll warm up. No need to insist on dinner tonight.”

Sarah relented with a light laugh. “Alright, alright, she’s shy. I won’t be that overbearing old lady who won’t let you leave. Justin, why don’t you open the gifts?”

Jayne had chosen a pair of jade ornaments–perhaps not the most expensive kind, but still of exquisite quality.

Justin smiled, running his fingers lightly over the jade. “Mrs. Sumner, this is far too generous.”

Compared to Jayne’s elegant gift, Edith’s present seemed much more personal, almost the sort of thing a close friend would give rather than a guest at a formal gathering.

Edith felt a flush of embarrassment. She realized, belatedly, that a bottle of perfume was perhaps too casual for the occasion. How could she have thought it was appropriate?

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