The Barrister's Choice

by Kelly Anne Bruce

  Matthew was glad of it the change. He had much to do before he left for Whitehall. It had been barely a month since he had taken his vows to join the clergy. He had returned to his family home at Castborough to reflect on his vows and spend time with his family before assuming his duties at the Abbey in Whitehall.

  "When do you suppose Mother and Father will be returning to London?"

  "I am uncertain about that but I am planning to return with Hugh and Julianna at the end of the week."

  Matthew thought about that for a moment. He was not obligated to wait for his family in order to make his return to London, but he knew his mother would be much more understanding about him leaving if he was not alone.

  "Are you planning on visiting London yourself?" Henrietta asked him.

  "Yes, I had hoped to attend a few more social events before I left."

  "It will be good to see you at Almack's."

  Matthew smiled at his sister, the youngest and only girl among his siblings. "Hopefully you will not be the only one glad to see me."

  Henrietta’s eyes lit up. "And to whose favor are you hoping to receive?"

  Matthew stop short surprised that his sister had not guessed. "Why Miss Abigail Underwood, of course."

  It was Henrietta's turn to look confused. "Abigail Underwood? I did not know that the two of you were still so close."

  Matthew straightened his jacket. "Why ever not?"

  Henrietta looked away quickly. "Lady Abigail has garnered the attention of Lord Turnbull."

  Matthew was somewhat surprised to hear this, but he knew that Lady Abigail was quite popular. "Lady Abigail has many friends in and around London. I am sure she was clearly amusing herself in my absence."

  Henrietta nodded. “I am sure that is the case, I apologize if I worried you."

  "Not at all dear sister. I appreciate your concern."

  Henrietta stood up abruptly. "I think I shall go get ready for dinner. You know how Aunt Gertrude can be."

  "Aunt Gertrude? Do not tell me she will be at dinner tonight."

  "Oh yes. Indeed she will be with us.”

  "It will be nice to see Uncle Edmund, but Aunt Gertrude is a difficult woman." Matthew shuddered.

  Uncle Edmund was their father’s younger brother. Edmund lived not far from Castborough after serving a commission with the British Army. Matthew had always looked forward to seeing him. He had great memories of his uncle getting into mischief with him and his siblings when they were younger.

  Gertrude, his wife was another story entirely. A younger daughter of a duke from the north, she had made it very clear from their first meeting that she was neither impressed nor intimidated by the Duke and Duchess of Castborough. It made no matter that neither of his parents had done anything to make her act in such a way.

  She had at one point made a comment, implying that their father had somehow stolen the title from Edmund. Every person in the room had grown quiet not quite believing what they had just heard. It had been Henrietta who had broken the silence. Truth and logic spelled out by the innocence of a child.

  “Father’s the oldest son, the titles always passed on to the oldest son. The only way that Uncle Edmund could receive the title was for my father to die.” Henrietta had looked at her father and the back to it Gertrude. “Aunt Gertrude, you do not want Father to die, do you?”

  Aunt Gertrude had gasped swiping a hand out at Henrietta who had already taken a step back as though she had suddenly realized Gertrude’s true personality. “Impudent child.”

  Uncle Edmund had grabbed his wife’s hand. “Your comment did imply such an event.”

  Aunt Gertrude’s eyes flashed malevolently and Uncle Edmund turned to Henrietta with a chuckle. “My dear wife simply misspoke. We all want your father to live a long and happy life, my dear Henrietta.”

  Henrietta had gone over to her father winding her arm around his neck. She hugged him tightly, almost making him gasp for air.

  “Do not worry I am not going anywhere anytime soon.” Father had laughed at her sad face, a low rumbling laugh that never failed to make them all smile.

  While she had refrained from making any more comments about the Duke of Castborough, she had continued to act disdainfully about everything that she encountered. Every time Matthew saw her she had the same pinched look about her face, as though she had just smelled something ghastly.

  It was a wonder that his mother continued to invite Uncle Edmund and Aunt Gertrude to come visit. Those were the moments that Matthew realized the depth of his mother’s patience.

  Chapter 2

  “Ah, how nice of you to join us.”

  Matthew ignored his brother’s jab as he entered the drawing room to stand near the window. The room looked like some sort of macabre tableau. The room was full of people but not a soul speaking, it was a sure sign that Aunt Gertrude had already said something distressing to someone.

  Matthew turned to ask Henrietta a question but before he could do so, Mrs. Gibbs walked into the room. “Dinner is ready if you would like to move to the dining room.”

  “Wonderful, thank you, Mrs. Gibbs.” Matthew’s mother said as they got up to leave the room.

  Aunt Gertrude gave her a disapproving look. They had all heard her opinion on being too friendly with the servants. It was quite ridiculous as Mrs. Gibbs had been with the family for years. She had begun her employment as the governess, having been able to keep five young boys and a spirited girl in check had made her the perfect choice to be appointed the head of the house. She was very nearly a part of the family which is most likely why Aunt Gertrude disapproved so very much.

  “Lord Colgrave, would you like me to take Miss Susanna?”

  Matthew’s eldest brother, Philip, turned to his wife. “Caroline, what would you like?”

  Caroline smiled at her husband and then turned to the girl with red hair sitting on her lap. “What do you think, Susanna?”

  “I want to go eat the kitchen with Mrs. Gibbs.”

  “You do?” Philip asked, his eyes wide.

  “Yes please,” Susanna pleaded. She leaned closer to her father and whispered very loudly, “Mrs. Gibbs always gives me extra dessert.”

  Philip started to get up from his chair. “Well, then maybe I should go eat with Mrs. Gibbs, as well.”

  “No!” Susanna put both hands on his chest and pointed to Caroline. “You have to stay with Mama.”

  “Oh,” Philip said. “Yes, how silly of me.”

  Mrs. Gibbs smiled and held out her hand. Susanna slipped off Caroline’s lap stopping to whisper to her father. “I will make sure that Mrs. Gibbs brings you an extra dessert.”

  “Thank you, my dear. That is very sweet of you,” Philip said touching a finger to her petite nose.

  “She is so charming,” Elizabeth said sharing a smile with James.

  “She must get that from her mother,” James surmised. Just two years younger than Philip, James delighted in teasing their eldest brother.

  “She does indeed, for which I am eternally grateful,” Philip replied taking Caroline’s hand in his.

  “As we all are,” Henrietta added garnering laughter from most of the room as the servants began to bring in the dishes to be served for dinner.

  “I am so glad that we can all be together for this dinner.” His mother looked around the table. “I only wish Charles and Beatrice had been able to join us.”

  “Have you heard from them lately?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I received a letter from Beatrice last week,” Henrietta answered.

  “How are they enjoying India?” Lady Ryleigh asked.

  “Beatrice says the weather is extremely warm but she is becoming accustomed to it. She has begun learning how the local people keep cool. They have only recently moved into the permanent residence and she was looking forward to finally setting up house.”

  “How wonderful for her,” Aunt Gertrude said her voice sounding snide.

  “Isn’t it though?” Elizabeth asked. “Wha
t an amazing adventure she and Charles have embarked on. I think it is quite wonderful.”

  Matthew spoke up hoping to keep Aunt Gertrude from making another comment. “And what of Charles? How is he faring?”

  Henrietta smiled knowingly at Matthew, she was quite protective of their older brother. He was lieutenant in the British Army that had turned his commission into a position with the East India Company near Bombay. “Charles has been given a battalion of his own. He and Captain Wainwright may be in command of their own outposts very soon.”

  “Very good,” Uncle Edmund said to the annoyance of his wife. “Charles has done very well for himself. It seemed like an odd leap for him when he left London, but it was a very shrewd decision.”

  “He was always one of the smartest of the lot of us.” James looked down the table before adding, “Second only to Hugh, of course.”

  “Thank you.” Hugh nodded. “Charles was always the most daring though. While the rest of us would hesitate, Charles had no qualms about taking those leaps. In all that time I never ever saw him feel regret that he had taken the chance.”

  “So, will you be joining your brother in India?” Aunt Gertrude asked.

  “No, he will not.” This was from Lady Ryleigh who leaned forward to address Aunt Gertrude herself. Lady Ryleigh, who was the Countess of Ryleigh in her own right, had been married to Hugh for less than three months. “Hugh will be much too busy holding my seat in Parliament. As you well know, as my husband, Hugh will represent my interest in the House of Lords.”

  Aunt Gertrude sniffed, seemingly realizing her comment was not only insulting to Charles and Hugh but also Julianna, Countess of Ryleigh, herself. "Oh, yes. I had forgotten."

  Hugh smiled amiably. "Quite all right, Aunt Gertrude."

  "We are looking forward to Parliament coming back into session in the next month," Lady Ryleigh told them.

  "I can imagine." Then apparently forgetting her manners once more, And Gertrude said, "Your marriage had quite the unexpected boon for you Charles. Did it not?"

  Lady Ryleigh made to stand up but Hugh gently laid a hand on her arm calming her in an instant. Hugh tilted his head as he looked at his aunt and said, "Yes, I feel extremely blessed to have found a caring young lady who is not only beautiful and smart but also kind enough to be understanding of those around her who are not as kind and caring."

  Henrietta who was seated next to Matthew had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

  James seeing that the conversation was lacking gestured across the table to Matthew. "Matthew, what are your plans between now and your appointment?"

  "I am hoping to leave for London with Henrietta in the next few days."

  "London?’ Elizabeth asked. “I thought you would stay here until you were to leave for Whitehall.”

  “I am hoping I will not be long in London, but I have several social engagements that I need to attend. I will most assuredly be I returning to Castborough and eventually on to Whitehall."

  "Perhaps Abigail Underwood will save a dance for you." Henrietta teased him.

  "I should be so lucky," Matthew said in reply.

  "Lady Abigail's sudden betrothal was quite the surprise, was it not?" Lady Gertrude said.

  Matthew felt his heart drop. Surely Aunt Gertrude was being spiteful after the previous conversation.

  "Her betrothal?" Elizabeth asked. "We were in London only a week ago and there was no news of this."

  Lady Gertrude looked quite excited that she knew something with the others did not. "As I said, it was quite sudden. The news was spreading around the day that we left London."

  Henrietta glanced at Matthew before asking. "Are you quite sure?"

  "Yes. The story I heard was that Lord Turnbull visited Lady Abigail's father to ask for her hand. Lord Turnbull is a first son, so I cannot imagine that Lord Galloden would have any reason to refuse."

  Henrietta sucked in a breath and Matthew felt his face grow hot. Clearly, he was not good enough for the likes of Abigail Underwood seeing as he was a fifth son. His mind was whirling, the conversation was continuing but he could barely hear it. He could not fathom what had happened and all he wanted to do was escape to the silence of his room.

  "Perhaps we should retire to the library for some sherry," Matthew heard his father say.

  "That sounds lovely, dear," his mother agreed.

  Matthew stood up with the rest of them but when they had reached the hallway he turned to Hugh. "Please give everyone my apologies but I have business to tend to."

  Before Hugh could respond Matthew turned on his heel and continued down the hall.

  Find out more about Hugh’s story, A Brave New Life.

  http://kellyannebruce.com/books/matthew-the-repington-chronicles/

  About Kelly Anne Bruce

  Kelly Anne Bruce has loved the Regency era of English culture since her teenage years. The country estates, London city happenings, and lovely wardrobes are part of the allure.

  But the people of that time are what draws Kelly in. The hierarchy in society is fascinating. A sense of pride in who they are and where they come from matters even if the person isn’t from nobility. Their concern over propriety while behaving less than properly gives plenty of opportunities to tell a tale.

  Kelly Anne is an American, married to an Englishman. They live in Cambridge, which happens to be her favourite city in England. Their two cats and a dog run the household remarkably well!

  Facebook

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKellyAnneBruce/

  Amazon

  http://amzn.to/2ozVNs7

  Website

  http://www.KellyAnneBruce.com

  Join Kelly Anne Bruce’s Readers Group

  If you want to stay up to date on new releases and get notifications about sales and other fun stuff, join Kelly Anne’s Readers Group.

  You might even get a freebie or two!

  http://kellyannebruce.com/join-the-readers-group/

  Also By Kelly Anne Bruce

  Want to find more sweet and clean Regency romance stories from Kelly Anne?

  The Jilted Earl

  The Duke’s Heart

  Their Second Chance

  The Duke’s Big Surprise

  Find all Kelly Anne’s books on her Amazon Author Page!

  http://amzn.to/2daUf2L

  Sweet River Publishing

  Sweet River Publishing is dedicated to sweet and clean stories. Our authors write wholesome and inspiring stories to make our readers feel good, encouraged, and happy. They strive to write entertaining stories you’ll enjoy immensely.

  These stories are suitable for all ages!

  If you’d like to hear about new releases, special prices, and other good news about our authors, you can join the group to be part of the fun.

  http://www.subscribepage.com/fromfb

  www.sweetriverpublishing.com