Page 28 of Rescued from Betrayal
“You are welcome.”
He retook his seat without removing a robe for himself, and she wondered at his imperviousness to the cold. Several secondspassed as she soaked in the warmth of the blanket. She’d had enough of the silence. While she liked her solitude, she was also not used to the amount she’d been given over the last week.
Her yearning for conversation finally overcame her discomfort and she said the first appropriate thing that came to mind.
“My uncle visited me this morning before the wedding.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, he came to give me a wedding present and wished me well.” And to beg her forgiveness, but only after she’d refused to see him. But she would not tell Sir Nathaniel that part.
Not one to be waylaid at the front door, Uncle Percy had shown himself to her personal parlor where he’d teased and cajoled her until she’d finally admitted why she was put out with him. He’d apologized for not including her in the details, insisting he was only trying to spare her the pain of planning a wedding he knew she did not desire. But when he’d realized how hurt she was, he’d immediately gathered her in his arms, soggy tears and all.
Of course she’d forgiven him. How could she not? At least he’d wanted to see her before she had to be shipped off to hide this ridiculous scandal. Her parents had not even given her that much.
She waited for Sir Nathaniel to make a remark on what she’d told him, but he simply nodded and glanced out the window. Her spirits sank.
Fine. If he was going to pretend she’d not spoken, she would too. They did not need to talk, even if they were married.
A minute or two passed.
“His Grace will be coming to visit in six weeks to see how we are getting along,” Sir Nathaniel finally said.
“Yes, he told me he would pay us a call.” Melior clamped her mouth shut. Where was her resolve? She’d just promised not tospeak to him and yet the moment he opened his mouth she’d jumped on the sentence like a love-starved puppy.
She bit her lip and shook her head at the terrible analogy. She was not love starved nor anyone’s dog.
“Also, John mentioned he would be returning to the neighborhood in a fortnight. He has had his fill of London, poor man.” Sir Nathaniel finally looked at her.
“I had forgotten that Lord Newhurst lived near you. How far away is his estate?”
“Three miles at most. His mother and mine were dear friends, so we have known each other from our cradles. I am sure he will pay a call to announce his return, so we will not be entirely without friends.”
He said the last bit to himself, and Melior wondered if he was dreading the next few months as much as she was, but Lord Newhurst would be of little comfort to her. The man rarely spoke with her, and when he did it was only to elaborate on some obscure word or phrase. He was an odd man, to be sure.
“And who else can I expect bridal visits from in the next few weeks?”
Maidstone she’d come to understand, was a decent-sized village with a bustling trade industry. There must be some sort of Society there to fill her time.
“I…” Sir Nathaniel laced his fingers together and stared out the window. “I am unsure. It will depend upon who is aware that I am married.”
“Was it not put in the papers?”
“Your uncle mentioned it, but…”
When he did not finish she leaned forward to attract his attention. “But what?”
He pinched the fingers of his left glove one by one before answering. “It takes a few days for London papers to reach Maidstone and my mother does not get out much to speak withfriends, so it might be some time before you will receive your first visitor.”
Excuses. His mother was quite capable of writing letters, or at least her lady’s maid could write them for her. And Maidstone was not that far from London that papers should take days.
It was the scandal; she was certain of it.
No one would want to visit the fallen daughter of a second son, even if that son was in line for a dukedom.
Sir Nathaniel peered at her. “I am sure when word gets around, you will not want for company. You are likely to have ladies from all over the county coming to call, that is,ifyou will receive them.”
The inflection he used made her bristle. What did he mean byif? Did he think her capable of being remiss in her duties as a hostess? Or perhaps he thought her too proud. Maybe she should be. If all of Maidstone society was as disdainful as Sir Nathaniel then she’d rather not spend her mornings entertaining them.
