Page 11 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

Giving Minta a fond smile, she added, “I suppose we should turn in for the night.”

Once in her bedchamber, Minta rang for her maid, who prepared Minta for bed, taking down her hair and brushing it out before plaiting it.

“Anything else, Miss Nicholls?” asked Bertha.

“No, that will be all. Goodnight,” she told the servant.

Climbing into bed, she found sleep hard to come. Usually, she dropped off with ease but tonight was different.

Because her head was filled with thoughts of the handsome, taciturn Lord Kingston.

*

Two days later,Minta was at breakfast with her aunt. Her uncle had already finished eating and gone down to the stables to check on one of his horses which had a cough.

The butler entered the breakfast room with a smile on his face, bringing a silver tray directly to Minta.

“Miss Nicholls, the post has arrived from town and everything in it is for you.”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she thanked him, taking the bundle of letters sitting on the tray and holding them close to her heart.

“May I be excused?” she asked.

“Of course, my dear. I know how eager you have been to receive word from your loved ones.”

She left the breakfast room and went to her small sitting room, where she spread out the letters on the writing desk. Two were in Mama’s hand, one in Papa’s, and four had been written by Sera. Before Minta left for England, Mama had said they would direct all of their correspondence to the Westlake townhouse since her sister and brother-in-law spent a majority of their year there. Only two letters had arrived before they departed for the country, which had disappointed Minta tremendously. Apparently, these had accumulated and had now been sent down to Westfield. She hadn’t realized how much she had needed to hear from her family as she broke the seal on every letter and then arranged them by date.

She read the single letter from her father first, his image coming to mind. In it, he told her what he had been up to since her ship departed from Ontario. Minta had always enjoyed hearing about the details of the administrator’s office and she could hear her father’s voice as she read the letter. He closed it on a personal note, telling her how much he missed not only seeing but talking with her.

Know that you are missed and loved and I look forward to the day I can see you again, my darling, darling daughter.

Tears sprang to her eyes at her father’s words. She blinked them away and set the letter aside and took up the first of Mama’s. Her mother talked about settling into her role in her new home in her first letter, mentioning various neighbors she had met and the routine of her days. In the other one, however, Mama grew personal and told Minta that while she had cherished this time with Sera, she wished Minta could have stayed. Mama emphasized that Minta had done the right thing, however, and should enjoy her time at Westfield and the upcoming Season.

My hopes for you, my dear girl, are that you enjoy the society you find yourself in and that you will find a gentleman to love. I know it is not usually the way of thetonbut I do hope you can find a love as great as the one I have held for your father all these years. Don’t let your head rule your heart, Minta. Too many young ladies in Polite Society do so, marrying a title rather than a man. Choose a husband wisely, for you will spend decades with him and you want one who will love you—and make you laugh.

She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief she pulled from her sleeve, touched by her mother’s words. It surprised her when an image of Lord Kingston came to mind. She did not consider the marquess good husband material, at least for her, and figured the only reason she thought of him was because he was the only gentleman close to her age she had met. Although her aunt and uncle had introduced her to a few people while they were in town, none of those were near her in age, much less any of the men being single. Minta did know that, oftentimes, a woman her age wed a man twice that but she had hoped she would marry someone closer to her own age.

She set Mama’s letters aside and now gathered Sera’s, checking once more to make certain they were in the order in which Sera had written them. Minta settled into her chair and took up the first one, a smile on her lips as she began reading. She easily heard her sister’s voice in the words on the page. In the letters, Sera wrote of daily activities and how happy she was to have the time with Mama. The first three letters were breezy in tone but the final one had a much different one to it.

Dearest Minta,

I wonder how many of these letters are getting through to you. I know how many we wrote to Mama during the war and how few of those she actually received. I know I am addressing these to Uncle West’s London townhouse but that you may have already left there for the country. Or who knows? You may have already turned to town by the time you receive this.

Minta, I think I made a mistake staying in Canada. Although I enjoy the quiet life here, even more so now that the war has ended, I miss you dreadfully. In a way, I almost feel selfish. I have had Mama and Papa all to myself and have tried to soak up every minute of that, especially with Mama. You know how alike the two of us are. Being reunited with her has made a difference, especially in my grief.

Yes, I seem to continually run into Edward’s parents. His mother, in particular, always clings to me as if I am the last link to her dead son. Just when I feel that I am moving past Edward’s death, I see her again—and the pain is fresh once more. I believe in order to move past this tragic event that it would be best if I left Ontario altogether.

There is a possibility that Papa will be reassigned and come back to England within the next year. Minta, I do not want to wait that long. I have missed you dreadfully and long to be together again with you.

Because of this, I am going to tell Mama and Papa that I wish to return to England. The ships are booking up quickly with so many others wanting to go home, as well, so it may take me a while before I can secure my passage. I actually went to the shipping offices yesterday and inquired, finding out the next available berths for passengers would be at the end of April. I asked the shipping clerk when that would put me in London. He said with good weather most likely mid-June. If the weather turns out to be a bit stormy and rougher, then it would be the end of June.

I am determined to be on that ship, Sister. I know I will have missed the majority of the Season and so I won’t bother trying to attend events this year, but I simply must be with you again. I want to hear about all the new friends you have made and the many suitors who are calling upon you. I fear if I don’t return soon that you will wed and move off far away. If you do receive an offer and the gentleman’s country estate is a great distance from Westfield, then that would give me at least a few weeks to spend with you before your wedding and departure if I book the late-April passage.

I am posting this now and will work up my courage to tell our parents that their second daughter is also leaving them. Though I am certain it will sadden Mama, she will understand. Papa has already encouraged me to go, seeing how down I have been with you gone.

I do hope this letter reaches you, Minta, my wonderful twin, and that you are enjoying being with Aunt Phyllis and Uncle West. Have a wonderful time at all those balls and other events and pray that I have a safe journey to you.

All my love,

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