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Chapter 31
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My Mother’s Choice Chapter 32
She walked down to dinner that night with her head held high to match the graceful neck she had never known shepossessed. And when she entered the dining room, Archie was there and sprang to his feet at the sight of her. ‘Gwen.’ He said her name in a kind of sigh, unlike the usual playful tone he used when addressing her. ‘I swear I had no idea.’ He crossed the room, and she cast her gaze to the floor as he walked slowly around her. ‘Whose plan was this, then? Have you been to London and back in an afternoon that you appear so fine?’‘No,’ she said. ‘This was Parton’s doing. She insisted.’ ‘Then you must take her advice in all things, for she is wise for one so young. Is that a new gown as well?’‘You spoil your compliments with base flattery, Archie.This is the same dress I have worn to dinner these two weeks.’‘I did not mean to flatter you. It is just that…your transformation is so startling… Frankly, Gwen, I can hardly look at the dress, the woman wearing it is so radiant.’She
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 33
She did not want to think of the loneliness. Not just now, when she was standing too close to another.‘And you, Gwen dear, should not be abandoned to the darkness that is our family home. You deserve better.’She closed her eyes against the words. Everyone kept insisting that she deserved more than she wanted. She couldbe happy but for the desire of those around her to improve her condition when she was content.‘A flower like you must not be kept in the cold and dark, but must be given light and warmth so it may flourish.’ His hands brushed slowly up her arms as if to dispel the chill, but she shivered at his touch, realised their proximity and made to pull away.But his arms were strong and held her fast, and they seemed to leech the strength from her body as his eyes gazed down into hers. And then, instead of holding her, they were drawing her closer and his head was dipping down and his lips met hers.The kiss was sweet, and all the more seductive because she knew it was wrong.
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 34
There was rowdy movement in the courtyard. Gwen could hear it through the open window. She rose from where she’d slept, leaning against the door, and straightened the cramps out of her back. Through the wood she could hear more sounds, fainter, of servants rushing about trying to look busy.Fire, perhaps?No, someone would have come for her, even if they disliked her management.There was a sharp rapping on the panel of the door near her bed and she stared back in surprise.‘Your Grace, are you awake? I’d come in, but the door is locked. It’s time to dress. Quickly. His Grace, the duke, is back.’Oh, God. He’d returned. Just as if he’d seen what had happened the night before and come to call her to account. She unbolted the door and Parton hurried into the room.They threw together her morning dress and combed her hair, and she surveyed the results in the mirror. If possible, she looked even worse than when he had left her. The dress, which had been sorry when she’d arrived at the hou
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 35
‘Are you seriously recommending that we reward drunkenness and theft with an increase in salary?’John looked as though he’d rather die on the spot than suggest such a thing.‘Yes, I am,’she continued. ‘When people are forced to do menial tasks for an ungrateful master, they find ways to take back some of their own. They steal; they shirk their duties; they skim from the budget, short-change the grocer and water the wine. I know that your estate must be profitable and can afford a significant increase in the household budget. At the moment, your servants are robbing you blind and the house is a shambles.’He stared up at her. Speaking plainly, madam.’‘I speak the truth. The housekeeper is gone because she bought inferior cuts of meat, doctored the books and kept the difference. The staff is in turmoil, but at least dinner will be edible. A rise in pay will smooth the ruffled feathers below stairs, prove that I have the ear of my husband in these matters, and allow me to get the house
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 36
‘Glad they meet your approval, Parton. Run along now, and let me have a word with my wife.’The maid dropped a curtsy and disappeared with a giggle.Her husband crossed the threshold and moved towards her, sitting on her bed, looking even more masculine when surrounded by frills. ‘I trust you’ll be more comfortable,’ he said cryptically, ‘now that your things have arrived.’She spun to face him. ‘They’re not my things, and you know it fully well.’He replied, ‘Of course they are yours. The trunks are labelled, and, if you notice, the tags in the gowns bear your name. Madame V in Grey street. A very fine dress maker and milliner.’ He touched the silk of a bodice. ‘You have exquisite taste.’‘Is this what you’ve been doing for the last two weeks?’she snapped. ‘Playing dolls at a dressmaker?’‘Of course not. I left general instructions and she filled the order. It is hardly necessary for me to oversee every aspect of your wardrobe.’‘I did not ask you to oversee any part of it.’‘But cl
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 37
She sat alone at the lunch table with cold salmon and apprehension. She was being punished, she suspected, for the outburst in the bedroom.And then she heard the distant sound of doors opening, and commotion in the hall. She was beginning to suspect that, wherever he went, a cloud of noise and action swirled around the duke.He strode into the dining room and took his place at the,head of the table, barely noticing her, as footmen rushed forward to fill his plate and glasses. He fell to eating, without saying a word, but stopped after a few bites, to look up at her. Hisexpression held no cloud of memory of his earlier outburst.‘This salmon is uncommonly good. Did you sack the cook as well?’‘No. I merely oversaw the purchasing of the foodstuffs.You’ll find, now that the food that is ordered actually makes it to the table, the quality of the meals has improved.’‘And will continue to improve, after the cook hears of the increase in pay?’‘I believe she has already heard, your Grace
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 38
Authur looked after her in stunned relief. Of all the situations he was least able to deal with… He couldn’t bring himself to cross the threshold of the cottage again, much less be of use when he got there. And she seemed so unafraid of,the outcome. Didn’t she know how it would be? He shook his head to clear the dots dancing before his eyes. ‘Come on,Paul. Let’s see if we can find your daughter a doctor, shall we?’‘Yes, Master Authur. But who’s the great lady we left with young Mary?’‘I have no idea,’ he muttered.‘Eh?’‘It’s my new duchess, Paul.’‘Your mother, is it?’He sighed. Paul sometimes got confused about things.No wonder Mary had been screaming. ‘No, Paul. I’m duke now; remember? And the fine lady with Mary is my wife.’‘Ah, yes. Congratulations, your Grace. But I thought the Lady Lucille- was with child as well.’He was catching up, but still not in the present. ‘Not Lucille. That was ten years ago. The Lady Lucille died…’ the air became thick and caught in his throat ‘…
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 39
Strange, she thought, how much things could change in a day. Parton was hooking her into one of her many new gowns, a sprigged muslin day dress, and she was preparing to meet her husband for breakfast. A husband who hadn’t shouted at her in almost twenty-four hours, she thought with a smile.She’d inquired about the whereabouts of her brother-in- law, and been told that he’d left as soon as his brother arrived.‘Not unlike him,’admitted Parton. ‘He and his Grace don’t get along well, and he tends to up and disappear on a regular basis no matter the location of the duke. He was about due if you ask me.’Relief flooded through her. There was enough to worry about, without fending off the unwanted attentions of Lord ArchieShe quizzed herself. Had they been unwanted?She did not wish to dishonour her husband, she told herself.But his conversation had been pleasant. And the touches, however brief, had been exciting and she’d longed for more after each meeting.And he’d given her more eac
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