Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(42)

Finally, mother and daughter broke from their private talk to acknowledge the men in the room. Penelope spoke, looking into Nash’s eyes. Nash knew that look. She was going to stand her ground. Cecilia sat straight, arms crossed. These women were serious.

Penelope asked Nash, “Exactly when were you thinking we would be going on this honeymoon?”

Nash looked Penelope in the eyes while he scrambled for the right answer. He never could figure her out, and he wasn’t going to start now. He would never come up with the right answer.

“One week,” he said. Then he wanted to hide until the fallout was over.

Penelope seemed to relax. “Then it’s settled. We’ll go in ten days. That will give Mother and me time to plan everything she will need to do while we’re gone. And it will give me time to visit the modiste. I’ll need to know what kind of weather we should expect.”

Nash relaxed as well. “I love you, dear Penelope.”

Penelope gasped and looked around the room. “Nash.”

Nash took his eyes off Penelope and looked at Cecilia. “What is Cook serving this evening?”





Chapter 16


Nash, Penelope, Cecilia, and Edward were sitting in Nash and Penelope’s parlour. All breathed a sigh of relief that they weren’t under Avery’s roof any longer.

Nash wondered about the arrangement. Avery seemed happy to have them live with him, and it didn’t hurt his reputation that his sister’s family lived there.

But he also seemed to keep his distance. Or maybe that wasn’t it. He always seemed to separate his life from Cecilia’s and her family. Her friends were her friends, and his friends were his.

Edward didn’t think his uncle would introduce him to a girl he might be interested in. Their social lives didn’t mix.

Except for Henry. He always seemed to be in their way, making his presence known. Cecilia thought Avery wouldn’t introduce Henry to his friends’ daughters any more than he would Edward.

Nash asked, “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I’ve always been curious about how you came to live with Avery. I think I would enjoy hearing the story.

Edward said, “Enjoy is the wrong word. But we’d be fine about telling it, Mother? Penelope?”

They nodded.

“It all began when our father died.”

Mother looked blank. Standing in front of the gaping hole in the ground in the shade of the church, her eyes were open, but Edward knew she did not see.

He held Penelope’s hand firmly. He didn’t want Cecilia to disrupt her and inadvertently rebuff Penelope. At ten, Penelope wouldn’t understand why her mother would be so unresponsive.

Neither did Edward. Only two years older, he was doing his best to handle as much as he could. Twice he shut the door on a man who wanted to look to buy the furniture in the house.

Did they need to sell the furniture for money so they could eat? He didn’t know. He wished he could ask his father these things. Instead, his father dropped dead before Edward could even think to ask a question.

The service was over. The prayers at the cemetery were over. The townspeople had dispersed. The priest went to his mother, “Lay Balfour. Could you come into the rectory for a moment?”

She nodded. Edward didn’t believe she had any idea why she did. Someone asked her a question, and she nodded.

Edward followed his mother while he still held Penelope’s hand. He doubted he would let it go for the rest of the day.

The priest offered them all seats. “Lady Balfour, I need the names of your next of kin. The church needs to notify them about your husband’s death. Kin on his side of the family as well as on your side of the family.”

Cecilia responded by looking up into the priest’s eyes. “Father Jerry?”

The priest picked up her hand and swallowed it with both his hands.

“Lady Balfour, I’m Father Stevens. Father Jerry left the parish four years ago. I know you know this. Your family never missed mass.”

The priest breathed deep. He glanced at Edward and Penelope, and then his gaze turned back to Cecilia.

“Lady Balfour, can I get you tea? Would you like a few minutes to collect yourself?”

She looked at him, puzzled. “Whatever for?”

He turned to the children. “Lord Edward. Would you be able to supply me with the names and whereabouts of your kin?”

Edward squirmed in his seat. “I only know one. His name is Lord Avery Stanton. He is my mother’s brother. Uncle Avery.”

Father Stevens nodded. “Her brother. That’s good. A close relative. Do you remember any other kin?”

Edward shook his head. “No.”

“All right. I will write to your uncle. Do you know where he lives? Did you ever visit him?”

“No. He and my father weren’t close. My mother said it was too far to go for two people who don’t get along.”

The priest moved in his chair, closer to Edward. “I need to know where he lives. Do you know his profession? Does he have a wife and children? Think of everything you’ve been told.”

Edward looked back at his mother. She was staring, not having moved during this conversation.

“He’s of no profession. He’s some sort of Lord. He has a country estate – I don’t know where. He has a London townhouse. I think, but I’m not sure. My mother had a dowry.”