The Youngest Dowager: A Regency romance(16)
Marissa’s first action, once the immediate shock of the Earl’s accident had died away, had been to write to Jane urging her to join her and enclosing a bank draft to hire a post chaise and postilions.
Marissa hurried forward, her hand outstretched in welcome. ‘Cousin Jane! How very glad I am to meet you at last. I do hope you have not had too fatiguing a journey. Please, let me make you known to my husband’s cousin. My lord, Miss Venables, who has so kindly hurried to support me. Cousin Jane, the Earl of Longminster.’
Miss Venables’s thin eyebrows rose a further fraction as she returned his lordship’s bow with a demure curtsey. She might be a spinster of forty-two summers, Marissa thought with a stirring of amusement, but that did not dull her discernment of good looks, she suspected.
‘Shall we go up to your rooms, Cousin Jane? Marissa suggested as the footmen carried the luggage out of the hall. ‘Luncheon will be in about an hour, but I am sure you would like a cup of tea to warm you.’
As soon as they were alone in Jane’s rooms, Marissa turned to hold out her hands to the other woman. ‘I cannot tell you how much I am obliged to you for coming to support me in such haste. I do hope it did not cause any inconvenience to your employers.’
‘I had already given them notice.’ Jane squeezed her hands in return, then removed her pelisse. ‘Although I liked their children, I could scarcely tolerate the parents. Your letter could not have come at a more suitable moment, Lady Longminster.’
‘You must call me Marissa. We are going to be good friends.’ She found her fingers gripped warmly in response.
‘I do believe it too, Marissa.’
Mary came in, bobbing a curtsey. ‘Shall I unpack now, ma’am? James has put the tea tray in your parlour, my lady.’
‘Thank you, Mary.’ Marissa turned to her cousin. ‘Mary will see to your needs until we can find a suitable girl of your own. Now, let us go down to my sitting room, the fire should be well alight by now.’
Seated either side of the hearth, with Gyp curled up on Janes’s feet, they found themselves slipping into an easy conversation, as though they had known each other for years.
‘You are honoured indeed by Gyp’s attentions as foot-warmer. He is normally wary of strangers, although perhaps he is mellowing, because he likes his lordship too.’
‘One can quite see why,’ Jane said, leaning down to scratch behind Gyp’s ears. ‘From the little I saw of him just now he seems to be a gentleman whose manners and appearance must be universally appealing.’
‘Why, this fire is almost too warm,’ Marissa murmured, pushing her chair back and fanning her inexplicably hot cheeks.
‘It must be disconcerting to have a stranger, however amiable, in the place of your husband,’ Jane observed. ‘And presumably his lordship will be bringing his wife here as soon as possible. Has she remained in Jamaica?’
‘Lord Longminster is not married, but he does have a young sister who has travelled to London with him. He has asked if I will be willing to have her live with us while he returns to the West Indies to settle his affairs, as he expects to be away for quite some time.’ Marissa realised that her original letter to Jane had been very brief. ‘I did not explain when I wrote, but I am moving to the Dower House in the grounds as soon as possible. There is ample room for Lady Nicole.’
Jane set her cup on the table. ‘It will be most pleasant to have a young person with us, I am sure. But will you not regret leaving your home? It is truly, er, magnificent.’
‘How tactfully you put it! Since you ask me, I will tell you candidly that I hate this mausoleum. It is cold, impersonal and has never felt like my home. On the other hand, the Dower House does feel like a home and I hope you will like it as much I do. The Earl has said I may redecorate it as I wish, but it is like this room – comfortable and a touch faded, warm and just big enough. I have no desire to change it.’
‘I love it already, my dear.’
Chapter Six
Marcus got to his feet as they entered the dining room. ‘I trust it will not be inconvenient, Cousin, but with the weather turning milder I thought it would be as well to leave for London after this meal. I should reach Downham Market before it is too dark, put up at the King’s Head there, rest the horses and push on first thing.’
‘Your sister will be so pleased to see you, my lord,’ Jane remarked as soup was served. ‘I understand that she is rather a young lady? To be in a strange city, even with friends, can be unsettling.’
‘Indeed, ma’am, although frankly the person to be unsettled is most likely to be Mrs Montfort, charged with keeping control of an impetuous girl who is all agog to explore Town when she should be choosing mourning gowns.’
Marissa listened to the conversation with something approaching dismay. Why had Marcus not mentioned his intention to leave today? Had her outburst of emotion repelled him? He had behaved with great tact and kindness at the time, but, like all men, would find such displays distasteful. Of course she had known he was going up to Town to fetch Nicole, but somehow she had not expected it to be so sudden. And she had not expected to feel so bereft.
No doubt it was because she was so used to having a man ordering affairs. She would soon become accustomed to his absence when he left for Jamaica. Her little household of ladies would by then be settled in the Dower House and she would be so busy she would not notice. And, finally, I will be in control of my life.