“Good morning, Branson. Today, I am here to speak with Lady Amy.” “I will inform her, sir,” said Branson as he went to find her. Ben could see through the open door of the drawing room that Lady Sibbridge was propped up in a chair with her feet resting on a footstool. She had a cloth over her eyes and seemed to be asleep. By her side, Mattie was sitting in a chair engaged in whitework embroidery. Seeing that it was Ben that had been admitted, she got up quietly from her chair and setting down her needlework came out to the front hall. “Good morning, Lady Mathilde,” Ben said pleasantly. “Good morning, Sir Benjamin. I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I acted rudely when I was with Mr. Throckmorton. I hope you will forgive me.” “You did nothing of the kind, Mattie. May I call you Mattie as your family does?” Mattie was pleased at that. “Is your mother unwell?” he asked with concern. “She began to feel unwell yesterday after the Throckmortons left.” “I am sorry to hear that.
