Page 68 of Blame It on the Earl (The Duke's Estates 3)

It was too bad that the duke and duchess had not come along today. Their friendliness would have boosted Sarah’s consequence. But a thick packet had arrived for them, heralding a crisis at one of the duke’s other properties. They had stayed behind to prepare replies, much to the disappointment of the villagers.

Kenver paused beside one of the exhibits of handwork and let his parents go ahead. Watching Sarah praise the quality of the stitches and seeing how much her knowledgeable comments were appreciated, Kenver could not understand why his family didn’t see her as a welcome addition to their ranks.

“Sarah!”

Turning at the sound of her name, Sarah saw her father and mother approaching, a surprise that ought to be delightful rather than complicated. But was not. When first married, she had asked Lady Trestan if they might invite her parents for a visit, since her old home was too far away for a call—more than two hours on horseback riding through the fields and longer by carriage. Sarah had thought it would be pleasant for the two families to be better acquainted. But Kenver’s mother had put her off and made her feel she was asking for some onerous favor rather than a commonplace and kind gesture. Later, when the Pendrennons’ attitude became clear, Sarah had dropped the idea. She didn’t want her family to see the way she was treated at Poldene. Now the sight of them coming toward her made her heart ache. And when she was enfolded in her mother’s embrace, she had to fight back the tears.

When they drew apart, her mother examined her and said, “Sarah, are you all right?”

Sarah strove to sound convincing. “Yes, Mama.”

“Lady Trestan was…very cool when we asked where you were.”

So they had already encountered her. Too bad. “I didn’t know you were coming to the fete,” Sarah answered.

“We thought we would make the drive since we had not seen you in so long.”

This was a reproach. Sarah heard it and didn’t know how to answer. Her mother took her arm and led her along the line of exhibits. Kenver and her father paused to examine one of them.

“Tell me how you are,” said her mother in a low voice. “I know something is wrong.”

She couldn’t lie, but she didn’t wish to reveal the truth. She looked away.

“When the earl and countess did not come to the wedding…” Sarah’s mother paused, then went on. “I knew they were not pleased with the match. But now that you are married and part of the family…” Her voice trailed off.

Sarah doubted that Kenver’s mother would ever see her so.

“Are they not treating you well, Sarah? You can always come home.”

“And cause another scandal?” Sarah couldn’t keep a hint of reproach from her tone.

“I don’t care,” was the fierce reply. “I won’t have you mistreated.”

“Thank you, Mama.” Sarah blinked the tears from her eyes.

“You don’t have to thank me for being your mother.” They walked on, leaving most of the crowd behind. “I thought you wanted to marry him, Sarah. It seemed so to me. If I was mistaken…”

“I did.”

“But if he makes you unhappy…”

“Not Kenver, Mama.”

Her mother met her eyes and then looked back over her shoulder at the elder Pendrennons. “I see.”

“But it’s all right. We are moving into our own house in a week or so.”

“Where? Nearer to us?”

“No,” Sarah answered regretfully. “It is a little farther off, but we shall have our own home. We can visit.” As soon as she had Tresigan in order, Sarah thought. She feared her parents wouldn’t think much of the place.

“That’s good.”

“Don’t mention it to anyone else just yet. We haven’t told Kenver’s parents.”

This earned her an appalled look, as if things must be far worse than her mother had imagined.

“Just because we don’t want arguments,” Sarah added. “The house isn’t quite ready.”

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