"There hasn't been an announcement, so they can hardly be engaged," Ella said with a flippant roll of her eyes. Sometimes Patience focused too much on the rules of propriety for Ella's tastes, but her friend had good sense. She pressed her lips together, nearly bursting with the idea that she'd hatched with Mr. Brinsley. She wanted to tell them both and hear them oo and ah over their cleverness. Something held her back though, and she sipped her tea instead. Perhaps talking about Daphne wasn't the best course of action just now. She wanted this to be a true surprise for Daphne, and of course she had the nagging doubt that Robert could not be found. There was always a chance the man really was dead.
"You should ask to meet her, Olivia, find out everything about her. If she is wonderful or bitter. If she's worthy of your brother," Ella said in encouraging tones. Clearly it was better to talk about her friends' siblings instead.
"Patience, I doubt those rumours would follow her into marriage. And there are many more rumours about her delightful sister, Edith, and by comparison I don't think your family would worry too much. I cannot imagine how such rumours get started, but I assure you that Edith, at least, is an agreeable woman. And I cannot doubt that Abigail is not at least as agreeable, though she does seem shy when I have seen her at gatherings.
"Of course if you find Miss Mountford-Miles to be less than perfect for your brother, then why not play matchmaker? Certainly a sister knows who would be best for her brother, even better than the brother himself."