Jillian Chantal

This week, the writers of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt round. We are still in my Regency tale.  Enjoy and be sure to check out the other tales here.

When James returned to his quarters after the boxing matches, he was surprised to find his mother seated at the round table near the window where he usually made notes in his journal before retiring for the evening. He’d picked up the habit in the army when he didn’t know if he’d love to see another day and wanted to jot down thoughts in case of his death. He still had the habit even though he wasn’t in mortal danger any longer.

Being slightly winded still and sure he smelled like sweat, he was a bit disconcerted to find her there calmly sipping tea. He stopped short of pulling off his soiled shirt. “Mother. What has happened to lead you here to lie in wait for me?”

She carefully set her cup in its saucer. “Why don’t you tell me?”

Bemused, he pulled out the other chair and sat. “Tell you what, ma’am?”

“Have you made an offer to Charlotte Marlowe?” Her hands clenched together on the tabletop. He was fascinated by how red they were becoming.

“Why would you think I did such a thing?”

“Answer the question, James.”

She spoke to him as if he were a child again. Anger surged in his breast. “What if I did, Madam? Would you punish me or make me break it off?”

To his utter shock, tears pooled in her eyes. “If you’ve done something as foolish as that, I couldn’t —or should I say, wouldn’t—ask you to go back on your word, but I must tell you, I’m very disappointed in you.” She stood so quickly, the cup of tea jostled in the saucer and spilled out onto the table. It trickled across the wood and some fell to the floor.

They both stared at it for a long moment.

His mother finally said, “That quite sums it all up, doesn’t it?” She walked toward the door. Her shoulders slumped which frightened him. She always held her posture erect and perfectly. “I’ll leave you and allow your man to assist in making you presentable.”