Page 6 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

Chapter Three

Westfield, Essex

Minta excused herselffrom breakfast and went to a small parlor that Aunt Phyllis had designated for Minta’s use. It had a piano in the corner and so she practiced singing and playing every day. She also used the room to read and write letters. It felt wonderful to have a bit of privacy, especially because there were always so many servants around.

She had visited her aunt and uncle with her parents and sister before but living with them let her see how very different this world was from the one she had grown up in. Papa had an adequate salary from the government and they had a couple of servants in Ontario. A cook and maid lived in while a washerwoman had collected their laundry twice a week.

Westfield, however, had too many servants for her to count. The household teemed with footmen and maids, supervised by a butler and housekeeper. The stables also had several servants. On the estate itself, there was everything from a blacksmith to a farrier to the many tenant farmers. That didn’t even include the London servants. Minta had arrived in London back in October and remained in town with Aunt Phyllis and Uncle West until just before Christmas, when they had come to Westfield. Uncle West preferred town life and so the childless couple remained in town for most of the year. They returned to the country estate and usually stayed from late December until early March, when Aunt Phyllis was eager to return and start replenishing her wardrobe for the new Season.

Thanks to her uncle’s generosity, Minta already had several new gowns, which had been made up while they were in town. The dressmaker had created those gowns for Minta and promised a slew of others once she returned in the spring. It felt wonderful wearing such pretty clothes and she looked forward to the ballgowns that would await her.

It did make her sad, though, to be experiencing all of this without Sera. The twins had never been separated until Minta stepped onto the deck of the ship that brought her across the Atlantic from Canada back to England. She wished with all her heart that her sister could be with her as they conquered the Season together.

She understood, however, that Sera needed time to heal from losing Edward, as well as spending time with Mama. While Minta adored being around people, as did her father, Sera and Mama were shy and liked a quieter life. She only hoped that her twin would return by next Season. Minta would be an old hand at it by then.

And perhaps even a married woman.

The possibility of marriage had her as excited as the idea of all the many social affairs she would attend. The only troubling thing would be not having Sera by her side to talk about everything she experienced. How was she to know which gentleman she should wed if her sister hadn’t even met him? To go from sharing a bed and most of her day with Sera to being separated by thousands of miles was troubling. Sera was so levelheaded and always steered the more quick-acting Minta in the correct direction. Without Sera’s advice and guidance, Minta worried she would make the wrong decision and accept an offer from a man her sister wouldn’t like.

Sitting at the writing desk, she decided her first letter this morning would be to Sera. She wrote to her twin every week and her parents every other week, hoping her letters were getting through in a more timely manner now that the war was over. She had already received three letters from Sera, who seemed content to remain in Canada and was introducing their mother to the small society there.

Minta had just begun her letter when a knock sounded on the door, followed by her aunt flying into the room, holding a page in her hand.

“Oh, Minta, I am thrilled!”

“What is it, Aunt Phyllis?”

She rose and went to the settee where her aunt took a seat.

“The marquess is coming to dinner tonight. And he is bringing Lord and Lady Danbury with him.”

Having no idea who these people were or why the prospect of them coming to Westfield for dinner had her aunt so worked up, Minta sat expectantly, knowing Aunt Phyllis would quickly clue her in.

“The Marquess of Kingston, my dear,” her aunt explained. “He is one of our neighbors. I have not seen him since he was a boy. He was recently at war, you know. His brother died in a tragic accident last year and the title passed to the second son. I have asked him to dine with us several times but he has always been engaged. Until now,” Aunt Phyllis said, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

“Lord and Lady Danbury are great friends of his and visiting Kingwood now. Since they are leaving tomorrow, he asked if he could bring them along or he would come to Westfield at another date. Naturally, I wrote to him immediately and told him they were more than welcome. Lady Danbury is very sweet and kind, while Lord Danbury is quite dashing.”

“You are excited to reacquaint yourself with the marquess now that he is an adult?” Minta asked.

Aunt Phyllis pursed her lips and then said, “It is always good to know a marquess, my dear. Especially when he is a neighbor.” She smiled. “I especially want him to meetyou.”

Her aunt’s knowing look let Minta know where this conversation was heading.

“You think to introduce us before the Season even begins.”

“Exactly.” Aunt Phyllis smiled triumphantly. “The previous Marquess of Kingston was a lovely man but dying childless caused the title to pass to his younger brother. He will be conscious of that fact and most likely wish to wed sooner rather than later in order for the title to remain in the Perry family and not pass to another branch or even revert to the crown.”

Taking Minta’s hand, her aunt squeezed it. “This is a perfect opportunity to get you in front of the marquess before he peruses the Marriage Mart. You are such a lovely young woman, Minta. I hope this will give you an advantage over the other girls of this Season.”

“There is always the chance that he won’t like me, Aunt,” she reminded. “Mama always worried about our hair being red. She was afraid we would stand out—and not in a favorable way.”

Aunt Phyllis waved away that thought with her hand. “Nonsense. Both you and Sera are beautiful and charming. And if Lord Kingston proves to be not interested in you, it is his own fault. At least meeting him will give you a bit of practice with society before you even make your debut.”

Rising, her aunt concluded with, “Wear the azure gown this evening, Minta. It will bring out your eyes.”

She smiled. “It is one of my favorites. I will be happy to do so.”

Aunt Phyllis left and Minta sat several minutes, pondering over what tonight would be like. She had worried slightly that she would feel a bit out of place entering Polite Society at her advanced age. The same might be true for Lord Kingston. Obviously, he was not raised to be the marquess and only found himself one after his brother’s death. He, too, might feel a bit out of sorts. It would be lovely if they could enjoy one another’s company here in the country. It would give them both a familiar face to see once the Season began.

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