by Bryn Donovan
Abigail smiled at the praise of her mother. She so rarely received any that it brought a warm flush of colour to her cheeks. “Thank you, Mother.”
“I certainly feel relieved knowing that everything is now taken care of,” Lady Grey continued. “Do keep me informed of the progress.”
Abigail dipped into a curtsey. “Of course, Mother.” She knew a dismissal when she heard one, and she quickly made herself scarce.
She all but ran up the stairs. Abigail paid the French countryside scenes painted on the wall coverings little heed. She had seen them so often that they had lost their charm to her.
As she entered her room, Marie Ann looked up. “Ah, there you are.”
“Yes, here I am. We got the fabric picked out, or I guess I should say that I did.” Abigail threw her shawl onto the bed. “Get me out of this woollen nightmare of a dress.”
Marie Ann tsked at Abigail as she came over to help rescue her mistress from the monstrosity. Abigail was already trying to wriggle out of the dress, and Marie Ann’s deft fingers made quick work of the ties that kept the dress cinched tight. Before long, Abigail was liberated, and Marie Ann went to get one of the casual muslin dresses that Abigail preferred.
“You have not spoken much over your Duke lately.” Marie Ann’s words brought Abigail’s gaze around to the maid. “Since it was announced that your sister was to marry Duke Honeyfield you have not said a word. I was just curious as to how you were holding up?”
Abigail sighed heavily and sank onto her bed, the muslin dress piling up around her. “I was silly for being so invested in a man that I do not even know. Perhaps the story of him that I have woven is what I truly adored. He could be nothing like that.”
“So, you are truly happy for your sister then?” Marie Ann sat down next to Abigail.
She frowned in thought. “There is little left to do but try to focus on Serena’s happiness.”
“I am glad that you feel that way. I should hate to think of you pining for a man who is married to your sister.”
Abigail nodded along with Marie Ann’s words. She was right of course. Nothing good could come from having such a fixation. Marie Ann gave Abigail a pat on the leg. “I am sure the perfect gentleman is out there for you yet.”
“Assuredly so,” Abigail agreed with a smile.
Marie Ann got up and straightened her skirt. “Do you need anything, Miss?
Abigail drew in a deep breath. “No. I am fine. I might just rest until the evening meal.”
“Very well. I shall make sure you are not disturbed.” Marie Ann gave Abigail one last smile before she left her alone.
In the quiet of the empty room, Abigail looked towards her window. It overlooked the gardens that her mother was so proud of. Lady Grey often said that any home without a garden was not truly a home.
Abigail stared at the roses blooming, but she did not see the blossoms. She saw Duke Honeyfield’s strong jaw and deep brown eyes. Chiding herself, Abigail frowned. The Duke of Richmond was a fairy tale that she had created.
She ached for her sister and wished the woman could see the Duke the way she did. If Serena could but glimpse Abigail’s vision of the Duke, all her fears would melt away. Of course, it was hard to see something that might not be there at all.
“Are you a mirage, my Duke, built up by my fevered dreams?” Abigail’s heart ached at how right calling him her Duke felt, yet he was not hers to claim. He never had been hers in the first place.
Colin eyed his mother with a dull stare. The woman was walking leisurely back and forth on the garden lawn. They were outside under the pretence of playing a game of cricket, but it was a flimsy game at best.
Only Colin’s father, the Senior Lord Honeyfield, seemed intent on the game. Colin played, but his heart was not in it. That was more than could be said for Colin’s mother who was content to ramble while holding her bat.
“You have not spoken much of your upcoming nuptials, Colin. It really is not fitting for a man to be so unmoved. Is not your wife lovely?” His mother’s eyes bored into him, pressing for an answer.
Colin hefted his bat up onto his shoulder. “She is quite fetching, and she seems a perfectly charming young lady. We have not had the customary courtship, so I am afraid that my knowledge of her virtues is limited at best, Mother.”
“Oh, what is there to know?” It was Colin’s father adding in his perspective, not that anyone had asked. “She has good breeding and is well-enough off.”
Colin fought the urge to roll his eyes all the way back into his head. “Yes,” he said and cleared his throat. “I do believe you have won, Father. Well played!”
The grin on his father’s face was as delighted as a schoolboy’s on the last day of term. It did not even matter if his opponents had not really been trying. The victory was its own reward.
“I say, sporting about is a fine exercise for the body, but it does make one very tired.” Colin’s mother turned pointedly towards the house and clapped her hands to call over the staff that she had kept waiting in the wings. The maids bustled over carrying trays that held drinks. “Lovely,” Colin’s mother said as if her prayers had been answered by a miracle, rather than her own planning.
“Indeed,” Colin agreed as he set aside his bat. “Forgive me for dashing off, but I have to call upon James this afternoon.”
Colin’s mother smiled. “Oh, do tell him that we said hello.”
“I shall.” Colin inclined his head to his mother as he scooped up his coat off the back of a lawn chair. “Father, were you accompanying me?”
His father shook his head. “No, no. I think I shall retire to the tavern and see if the fellows are about.” He looked over at Colin’s mother. “That is, if it sits well with you, Dear?”
She laughed lightly as she sipped the drink the servant had brought to her while stretched out in one of the white chairs that were set up out on the lawn. “It bothers me not, darling. Go and have fun with your friends. Lady Easton is due by to show me some lovely patterns for my stitching.”
Colin shook his head. “Well, then if you two are all set for your afternoons, I shall be about mine.” With one last dip of his head to his parents, Colin made his way back towards the house.
The London estate of the Richmond duchy was a magnificent home, but Colin preferred the country estate over it. Hopefully, his visits to London would be less frequent once the wedding and all this Season nonsense were behind him. It would be nice to only return for his duties in the House of Lords or to oversee some business deal.
Colin went to fetch his horse while trying to decide whether the idea of being a reclusive Duke was even possible with the social expectations that his mother had of him. His wife would likely have a similar need for socialising. He drew in a dissatisfied breath.
The stable boy must have seen Colin coming because he led Colin’s horse out to him already saddled. “Thank you, Adam,” Colin said with a pleased smile. The boy grinned broadly as Colin tossed him a coin for the good service.
London during the Season and London the rest of the year seemed vastly different to Colin. The streets swelled with lavishly-clad ladies and gentlemen during the Season as everyone sought to be seen or make connections for their children. Colin much preferred the months of the year in London where the streets were less congested with the carriages of the wealthy, even if he was one of what the lower class called the Ton.
His journey to James’s estate was not lengthy, thankfully. Colin tipped his hat to the doorman as he came up the steps. Manny had been a fixture at the door of the Earl’s estate for the last few years, and Colin had become fond of the older man. “Good Afternoon, Your Grace,” Manny said as he held the door out of Colin’s way.
“And to you, Manny,” Colin replied in kind. “Is the Earl in his study?”
“Nay, Your Grace. The Earl is with Lady Wilton in the conservatory.”
Colin nodded and set off towards the conservatory. Lady Wilton was James’s mother. Since James had step
ped into the title of Earl of Mornington, his parents had taken on an older family name. Colin still thought of the woman as Lady Balfour most of the time, but that name would go now to James’s wife. That was if the man ever chose to gain one.
Colin gave the doorframe, for there was only an open archway into the conservatory, a rap with his knuckles. James seated near his mother looked around. “Ah! Colin! Come in,” James called eagerly, a bit too eagerly.
Stepping through the archway, Colin gave Lady Wilton a smile and a bow. “Lady Wilton, I had heard that you were injured, but I did not know that you were put away so.”
Lady Wilton was in a padded chair with her right leg propped up on a low table. Pillows cushioned the woman’s ankle that was wrapped around with linen as if it had been broken and not just twisted. Lady Wilton frowned and heaved a sigh. “I regret that you have to see me like this, Your Grace. The doctor says it is just a sprain, but it hurts so that I think he is a charlatan.”
Colin gave the woman a polite smile. “I am sure with rest that it shall be quite well soon. I should hope so anyway, or you might miss my wedding.”
“I would drag myself there, Your Grace,” Lady Wilton assured Colin with such earnestness that he had no doubt she might try.
With a chuckle, Colin ventured, “May I borrow your son for a bit? I wanted to run some ideas by him.”
“Certainly.” Lady Wilton looked over at James. “Well, go on, James. Do not keep the Duke waiting.”
James gave Colin a grateful look as he willingly consented to do as his mother asked. Once they were out of the conservatory and away from his mother’s eyes, James whispered, “Thank you for remembering to come by.”
“Been stuck in there long, have you?” Colin gave James a grin as they walked towards the man’s study.
James shook his head. “You have no idea.”
They shared a laugh as they made it to James’s study. Once inside, they both collapsed into the brown leather chairs and breathed a sigh of relief at their escape. “So, what did you want me to stop by for? Or was it just to make sure that you were not entrenched with your mother all afternoon?”
“I will admit that I had a sneaking suspicion that father might abandon me to my fate, but mostly I just wanted to see if I could talk you into perhaps having a bit of a jaunt before your wedding.” James leaned forward and steepled his fingers as if thinking of some mischievous scheme.
Colin laughed. “I actually have to make a business trip before the wedding.” He thought about James’s suggestion. “I can see that you are eager to be free of your home for a bit, and there is nothing that says I cannot have some company for my travels. If you wish to go along, then I would be amicable to it.”
“What sort of business trip?” James leaned back as he eyed Colin with the wariness of a rabbit out in the field.
Colin shrugged. “Just securing some work to be done on the country estate. I want it in motion before the wedding, so that my new bride can see the progress.”
“I should like to be out of London for a bit,” James said. He pushed his lips out, and Colin watched the man’s mind work. “Very well, I shall accompany you. What sort of work are you having done to the estate?”
“I want to design a new addition to the main house and also a new bridge over the river that borders the fields,” Colin said with a shrug. “It should make the craftsmen in the area plenty happy with work for a few months or so.”
James nodded. “Going to stick your parents in the new addition, are you?”
“Only if they insist.” Colin chuckled. “It is mostly to help us all spread out as the generations grow. I almost feel that my mother will want to stay in London most of the year. She does love her parties.”
“My mother says the country air is good for her aches,” James replied. “That usually means that I stay in London more than I really need to just so I do not have to listen to her.”
Colin grinned. “Careful, she might hear you.”
“Heard anything out of your bride to be?” James eyed Colin with a curious glint in his eye.
Colin nodded slowly. “I sent her a letter, and she replied. That is about all I can say. She seems a sweet and charming young lady.”
“That is all you ever say,” James complained.
With a sigh, Colin asked, “What more can I say? With my having to leave and her busy with preparations we shall not truly get to know each other until after the wedding.”
“Shame that, but it cannot really be helped. Such is the way of arranged marriages.” James frowned. “Been thinking about marriage myself, and whether it really would be better. Mother insists that marriage makes the world easier to handle, but I think her perspective might be different than from my father’s.”
Colin agreed that Lady Wilton might not see marriage in the same way that they did. Women needed marriage for security, and that was not really why a man chose to marry. “Despite all the reasons and logic of marriage, James, I should think a man of your whimsy would be at least interested in love.”
James snorted. “I thought about using you as an example of that particular notion, but look at you. You have relinquished the notion and put rationality in its place.”
“You say that as if rationality and love cannot coexist.” Colin did not like the notion that one had to be devoid of adoration to gain respectability. That was nothing short of blasphemy if Colin had ever heard it.
James’s eyebrows rose as he eyed Colin. “It is not I that is marrying for reasons other than love, Colin.”
“I am still hopeful that warmth and respect can blossom into love,” Colin replied. “Perhaps not right away, but look at your parents. They married through courtship, and you do not seem convinced of their enduring love, James.”
They sat in silence for a moment before James slapped his hand on the arm of his chair. “To Hades with all this talk. You shall have me in the depths of dark depression. Let us drink!”
“I can see what your future wife’s life will be like,” Colin jested. “I pity the poor woman.”
James snickered and shook his finger at Colin. “Might be right. Better be prudent and not marry.”
“I do not think your mother will hear of that.” Colin looked at his cousin as James poured out two generous portions of brandy in green glass tumblers.
Colin did not resist the brandy that James held out to him. He gratefully accepted the glass and took a tentative sip. “So, you have given no true thought to any of the young ladies you have met this season?”
James shrugged. He downed a good portion of the brandy in his glass before he looked at Colin squarely. “Your lass’s sister is a fine looking young woman.”
“As she looks exactly like my bride-to-be, I would assume that she is indeed,” Colin replied with amusement.
James gave Colin a wink. “Still, she at least did not seem too dull.”
“You met her for a moment you said,” Colin reminded his cousin.
James grinned. “I did, but they were less dull than the other moments.”
“Your standards must be dreadfully low at this point if that is your criteria for choosing a bride,” Colin rebuked with a laugh.
James agreed with a nod of his head. “Probably so. When shall we embark on your travels?”
Colin waved his hand dismissively. “I am in no hurry, but we could leave tomorrow if you are eager to be off.”
“You are a king among men, Colin,” James declared as he lifted his tumbler to give Colin a toast. “Tomorrow would be splendid. Are you certain that you can leave that quickly?”
Colin sat his tumbler down on James’s desk. “Indeed. I have been planning on this trip ever since the match was struck between Lady Haddington and myself. I need just tell my father and mother of my itinerary.”
“Then I shall meet you at the estate first thing in the morning, Your Grace.” James sat his tumbler down next to Colin’s on his desk.
Colin gave James a slap on the shoulder. “I h
ave no doubt that you will be there before the birds are awake and singing.”
“Do not tempt me, or I might just go tonight and sleep at your estate.” James walked to the door of the study to open it as he and Colin made their way towards the front entrance.
Colin had no doubt that James probably would do just as he said. “Give your mother and father my regards,” Colin said to James as he always did when he left their home.
James assured him, “I shall. Godspeed, Colin.”
Chapter Fourteen
“I cannot believe that the day is finally here,” Abigail said with a smile as she looked at her sister. They had been left alone finally to wait until they were called to walk down the aisle.
Serena’s face looked a little green, and Abigail frowned at her sister. “Are you sick, Serena? You look as though you are eating a mouthful of those sprouts that you hate so much for dinner.”
“I cannot do it,” Serena whispered. “Adie, I cannot marry someone I do not even know.”
Abigail shook her head. “But he sent you a lovely letter.”
“Which you replied to because I could not bring myself to,” Serena countered. “You are the one who should be in this gown, not me. You have looked upon the Duke of Richmond with adoration since the beginning of the Season. He is your Duke, not mine.”
Abigail clutched her small bouquet of flowers to her chest. She could not believe Serena’s words. They would be called upon any moment to go through those doors and face the Duke. “Serena, you cannot call off the wedding!”
“I do not wish to,” Serena said, her face contorted in pain. “I want you to go in my stead.”
Abigail’s mouth dropped open. “You have gone mad. I knew you were under a lot of stress, but to lose all reason like this.”
“I am not insane, Adie,” Serena whispered. Her voice was urgent with the pressing time. “Please just listen to me. You know in your heart this is not right. I know it too.”