Page 1 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

Chapter One

Ontario, Canada—August 1815

Minta Nicholls stoodon the wharf, her father to her left and her twin sister on her right. Sera took Minta’s hand and squeezed it in anticipation.

Looking out, she saw the long-awaited ship now sailing into the harbor. They had every indication that Mama would be onboard. Mama had stayed behind in England when Papa had been appointed as an assistant to the Administrator of Upper Canada four years earlier. While Papa had taken his daughters to Ontario with him, Mama had remained in England to nurse her father in the last few weeks of his life. They had expected her to follow shortly.

Then the war with the Americans broke out and Mama was stuck in England. Minta thought it bad enough England was already at war with Bonaparte and resented the brash Americans for trying to take advantage of England’s attention being elsewhere and attempting to annex parts of Canada to their new United States.

What was supposed to have been a year in Ontario had turned into four. Minta and Sera had missed making their come-outs in Polite Society. Their aunt, Lady Westlake, had always promised a Season for the twins. Now, however, they had missed it and the two Seasons beyond that. If they returned by next spring, they would be two and twenty, already considered on the shelf by many of theton. Minta already worried about finding a husband.

Not Sera. She had lost her Canadian sweetheart in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane and still mourned for him, despite the fact there had been no formal arrangement between them. Minta hoped returning to England and taking part in next spring’s Season would bring Sera out of the sadness that clung to her.

“I think I see Mama!” cried Sera. “Look, to the right.”

“It is Mama,” she agreed, squeezing her twin’s hand.

While Minta had missed her mother terribly, she knew it had been far worse for Sera. Sera and Mama were so like one other, reserved in nature. Minta took after her father, Sir Radford Nicholls. He was a larger-than-life figure and enthused about everything. In a way, Minta felt a bit guilty that because of her vivacity, she was always noticed well before Sera. Because of that, she had grown quite protective of her twin over the years, never more so than during their sojourn in Canada.

“I hope your mother will like the house,” Papa commented. “Of course, you girls have put nice touches on it.”

She wondered how her father felt about seeing his wife after such a long time. She knew theirs had been that rare love match, and the thought they had been apart for so long tugged at her heart. She couldn’t imagine how lonely her father had been.

Anticipation rippled through her as the ship drew near and Mama caught sight of them on the docks. She began waving wildly, which was very much out of character for her. It let Minta know just how eagerly Mama looked forward to the reunion with her husband and daughters.

By the time the ship docked, they had moved close to the ramp and watched as Mama was the first down the gangplank. Sera started to break free from Minta to rush to their mother, but Minta held her fast, predicting Papa would want to be the first to greet Mama. Sure enough, he moved swiftly toward the gangplank, his gaze focused on his wife. Mama lifted her skirts and ran the rest of the way, throwing herself into his arms. In an uncharacteristic display of public affection, Papa briefly kissed Mama and then grinned at her.

“Come see the girls,” Minta heard him say and Mama briskly moved the rest of the way down the gangplank and reached them.

Minta released her hold on Sera’s hand and her sister flung herself into Mama’s arms. By now, both women were crying and Minta herself blinked back tears. Mama and Sera embraced for a long moment and then Mama pulled back and cradled Sera’s cheek.

“My Seraphina, how you have grown into such a beauty.”

Her twin blushed profusely, as she did whenever she received any compliment.

Mama turned and smiled broadly. “Araminta, my darling. Come here.”

She moved to her mother and warmly embraced her, the familiar smell of roses clinging to Mama. Suddenly, tears poured down Minta’s cheeks and she realized how much she had also missed Mama.

Holding her at arm’s length, Mama said, “You, too, Araminta, have grown into a beauty just as your sister. Oh, how I regret these years apart from you girls.”

While Papa saw to Mama’s luggage, the three women linked arms and returned to the waiting carriage.

Sera insisted on sitting by their mother, lacing her fingers through Mama’s as she asked, “But how are you, Mama? The three of us have had each other these past few years. I am so sorry about Grandpapa’s death.”

As usual, her mother looked stoic and briefly told them about the last few days of her own father’s life. Letters had been sparse during the war and so they began filling in the blanks as to what had happened during their long separation.

Papa joined them in the carriage, sitting next to Minta, smiling across at his wife.

“I cannot tell you how good it is to see you here,” he proclaimed. “We have missed you so very much, my love.”

With watery eyes, Mama echoed the same sentiments.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at what had been their assigned home in Ontario. While Papa had been the chief civilian aide to Major General Isaac Brock when they’d first arrived in Upper Canada, he had taken over a large part of duties as the Administrator of UC, the title held by Brock, since the major general was already so involved in the military affairs of Upper Canada. When Brock was killed in battle the following October, the crown had assigned a new Administrator for Upper Canada. With the war continuing, however, the subsequent military commanders focused more on battles and were frequently gone, leaving Papa, a civilian, in charge of the day-to-day duties.

Minta wondered just how long her father would remain in this post. Now that the war with the Americans had ended, thanks to the Treaty of Ghent, she assumed a permanent administrator would be named. She did not know whether Papa would feel obligated to remain or if he would ask to be reassigned and come home to England.

Whatever his plans might be, however, Minta would be returning to London as soon as possible. She hoped her aunt’s offer of providing a Season still held. She would ask Mama about it, but wanted to give her a little time before broaching the subject.

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