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Chapter 39
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My Mother’s Choice Chapter 40
‘I would certainly buy a collection of decently plain fabrics for my wife. None of this nonsense with damped under skirts and sheer gowns. Of course,’he drawled absently, ‘the sight of hard nipples displayed behind transparent gauze is rather intriguing the first time one sees it, but annoying in practice.’ He cupped a hand over an imaginary breast. ‘Therouge gets everywhere and stains the fingers. And the teeth, of course.’ She dropped her fork with a quick intake of breath.‘If I had spent the week with a mistress, I would, no doubt, bring you a most sensible wardrobe, well suited to your tastes, I’m sure. High necklines. Fabrics that don’t show wear. And a bracelet, perhaps.’He looked seriously into her eyes. ‘But, as I do not, at this time, have a mistress, or plans to acquire one, I contented myself with bringing the silks and satins home to my wife, since I noticed on leaving that she was most sorely in need of clothes.’Her mouth set in a prim line, disapproving of the joke h
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 41
An afternoon’s rest had done wonders for her mood. Of course, discovering that Lord Archie had lied in nearly every conversation they’d had might have done something to ease her worries. Her husband had no mistress. And hated the silkin the dining room as well. He taken time to show her, before the footman removed it, the place where, as a boy, he’d made charcoal alterations to the anatomy of one of the shepherdesses and expressed some relief that the evidence would be permanently removed by the redecorating.She touched a curl. And Authur liked her hair. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and smiled again. He hadn’t abandoned her at all, but had been thinking of her while in London. And he’d remembered the ring. It was a sentimental choice for a man she’d thought cared only for obedience and appearance. And he’d kissed it as he had the ring he put on her finger the day they were married.She hid a blush. Perhaps it was foolish and courting disappointment to spin fancies abou
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 42
The Duchess lay on the bed, glaring up at the hangings. The spiders were still there, too. She wondered—did she dare knock them down, or would her husband come raging into the room and insist that she might hurt herself on the sharp edge of the pillow? She was nowhere near the banister when the duke had plucked her off the bench. Surely he didn’t think her such a crack-head as to fall over the edge. Or worse yet, jump. If it came to that, she’d choose a less messy end, considering the amount of time and boric acid it had taken to return the entry hall marble to pristine white.She punched the offending pillow in frustration. It needed airing. As did the hangings.She’d tried not to think that way. But there was so much to do. If he wanted her to be idle, she’d learn how.And then she guiltily took the pillow and walked with it to the open window, pounding it on the sill before leaving itto hang in the breeze.‘Your Grace?’ There was a faint knock and the door opened to reveal a hesit
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 43
She toyed with the keys on her chain, watching them shine in the morning sunlight. It had been a lovely gift, but what did it mean? It made her happy to look at them, but was Authur happy that she wore them?Perhaps she should be more like Lucille. He’d never suggested it, but if he could have a happier, kinder, more devoted version of his first wife, Authur might not look so sad and brood so on the past. If she were someone who could embroider useless frills and paint inferior watercolours, and sit at the spinet in the evenings, singing tedious songs in bad French, someone who could display her good breeding to the best advantage of her husband.She sighed. If she could be someone she could never be. The servants in this house knew their place better than she did. Of course they hadn’t known it until she’d arrived and taken charge of them, but what did that prove? That she’d make a better housekeeper than a duchess, she supposed.And what was left to her now?Gardening, perhaps. She
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 44
Gwen fidgeted on the couch in the drawing room and tried not to look as restless as she felt. This was to be a typical night at home with her husband, and she must learn to enjoy it.The word caught in her mind like a lump in her throat.Home. This was home, she told herself. The memory of the place that had been home was already becoming indistinct at the edges. She remembered much happiness, of course, and she missed her father and Lady Danbury, but she must not forgetthe rest of it and be grateful for what she now had. This room was comfortable and quite pleasant, now that it had been cleaned and aired. Warm and quiet and spacious and the sound of the rain outside was distant and comforting. She didnot have to empty the pan in the corner that caught drips from the hole in the roof, as she had at home. She was not sitting in a draught.And despite the prickle of sunburn on her nose, she was not bone tired from a day’s exertions and ready for bed.Strangely, that was part of the p
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 45
When she seated herself at breakfast, her husband was, as usual, working his way through a stack of letters. He glanced up and passed an elegant engraved card down the table to her.‘Did you sleep well?’ he inquired.‘Yes. Thank you.’ And it was yet another lie. She had tossed and turned all night. Thinking of him.If he was aware of her troubled mind as she drank her coffee, he concealed it well. ‘It seems we have been invited to our first ball. An old family friend. I am sure he and his wife are most eager to meet the new duchess. Please see to the response.’She stared blankly down at the invitation. ‘I suppose we must attend?’He glanced back at her, arching an eyebrow. ‘I am surprised, madam, that is not the response I expected from you. You are supposed to go into raptures at the chance to finally have a social life in this Godforsaken county.You will answer immediatelyin the affirmative, and then return to me at lunch to beg and sweet talk and cajole until I agree that you mu
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 46
He was lying in his grave again. Alive and struggling, although the mourners gathered around the hole and looked down at him as though nothing was wrong. Lord Archie leaned over him and laughed. And then he moved away and Authur heard tools digging into the earth, and felt the cold slap of the first pile of dirt as it hit him in the face.He coughed and muttered a weak ‘no’, spitting soil from his mouth. And when he looked up again, his mother was there, and Lucille, and they were the ones holding the shovels. And he heard the cutting noise again, as the metal blades dug in and stuck stones. And the earth, showering in on him faster than he could dodge. And it lay heavy on him as he tried to raise a hand to cover his face, struggling to keep his nose clear so he could breathe, his mouth clear so he could shout. And suddenly, Gwen was there, standing over him, leaning on her shovel and watching him struggle for air.He screamed, ‘Gwen! No!’But her face was dispassionate. ‘Why must you
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 47
She woke the next morning in a fog of confusion. Even before opening her eyes she realised that things were different. The smells were wrong. And she was warmer than she had been in her own cold white sheets.Then she remembered. And opened her eyes. He was already awake, leaning against one arm and smiling down at her. Outside the hangings of the bed she could hear the personal attendant moving around, readying to receive the duke‘Good morning,’ he whispered. ‘Did you sleep well?’‘Yes, thank you.’ She had, she realised, and the fact surprised her. She had been restless ever since coming here, and her easiest nights had been in the first weeks, when she’d,worked herself to exhaustion and fallen into bed. But last night, after forcing herself into his bed to grant his request,she’d found more peace than she’d felt in a long time. It seemed there was even less to be afraid of than she thought.‘And you? Did you sleep well?’He stretched and yawned. ‘That was the best night’s rest I’v
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