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Chapter 11
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My Mother’s Choice Chapter 12
Gwen stood at the back of the chapel, waiting for the man who was to seal her future. When the knock had sounded at her door, she’d expected the duke, but had been surprised to see Archie, holding a small bouquet out to her and offering to accompany her to the chapel. The gown she’d finally chosen for the wedding was not the silk, but her best day dress, and, if he thought to make a comment on the state of it, it didn’t show. It had looked much better in the firelight as she’d altered it. Here in ThornHill, in the light of day, the pitiable state of it was plainly apparent to anyone that cared to look. The hem of Lady Danbury’s green cotton gown had been let down several inches to accommodate her long legs, and the crease of the old hem was clearly visible behind the unusually placed strip of lace meant to conceal it. The ruffles, cut from the excess fabric of the bodice when she’d taken it in, and added to the ends of the sleeves, did not quite match, and the scrap of wilted lace at
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 13
She was still shaking with mingled passion and panic. How dare he? In a church! In front of the reverend! And she had responded like a cheap whore. If the kiss had been some sort of test of her experience, she’d probably confirmed hisworst fears. Her empty stomach groaned and she covered her mouth, afraid to look at the reverend’s wife unless she be sick on the marble floor. It would only have made the situation worse.And her husband would not have noticed. He was already striding out of the chapel and down the hall, following Archie at a safe distance, probably to make sure that he was headed towards the stables and away.She straightened her back and turned to the reverend and his wife, forcing a smile to her face. ‘Well.’ The word was arti-ficially cheery. ‘I must thank you, Reverend Noah, and Mrs Noah, for your concern in the matter of my safety and honour.’‘Hmm. Well, of course, the concern continues, your Grace.’For a moment she looked around, expecting to see her husband b
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 14
The reverend’s wife shut her mouth with a snap. ‘If I might see you for a moment in the hall, Gwen.’The word ‘now’was unspoken, but plain enough. And the sound of her name on his lips was strange, indeed. There wassomething about the way he said the ‘g’ that seemed to vibrate into a growl.‘If you will excuse me, for a moment, Reverend, Mrs Noah?’ And she rose quickly to join her husband in the hall.‘Your Grace?’‘You demanded my attendance, Gwen?’ He sketched a mocking bow to her.‘Not demanded. I requested that John find you and bring you back for our wedding breakfast.’‘I ordered no breakfast.’‘I did.’ She glared at him in frustration. ‘Perhaps you see no need to celebrate the day, and I could do without a continuation of this… this…melodrama, but the Noahs expect it of us and will not leave until the reception is performedDamn the Noahs!’‘Damn them indeed, sir,’she whispered, ‘but do it quietly. They are probably listening at the door.’‘I do not care what they hear. If the
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 15
She stared up into the canopy of the bed, watching a spider spinning in the gloom of a corner. Her husband would comesoon, and do what he would do, and it would be over. She tried not to review in her mind the detailed explanation thatLady Danbury had given her of marital relations. It would hurt the first time, but she was not to be afraid.She mentally cursed Lady Danbury for explaining it so. It must not hurt so very much or women would never allow a secondtime. She was not unfamiliar to pain. It could not hurt her body as much as leaving home had wounded her heart. She would survive.Lady Danbury had said that with some men it was not painful, but actually quite pleasant. When the man was loving and gentle, there was nowhere else you’d rather be than joined with them. Lady Danbury had known many men and had a chance for comparison.Since she was to know only one, whether it might be pleasant somewhere else need not concern her. As a matter of fact, it was annoying to think that
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 16
The duke stared down in to his brandy glass. He should be upstairs by now, waiting on his new wife, not in the library. gathering his courage, he poured another glass and drank. This was not how the day was supposed to run. He’d had no desire to take a wife and certainly not to yoke himself to the odd duck that had washed up on the doorstep yesterday. Eventually, he would have had to make a decision, but he had been enjoying the relative quiet in the house without the presence of his mother. He would get the estate back in order first. And something would have to be done about Achie. An uneasy truce atleast. They’d need to work through enough of the old problem so they would not be at each other’s throats. He had no real desire to throw his only living relative from the house for good, but it might be necessary if no solution could befound.He’d never intended to bring a wife into the mess that existed now. But one had forced her way into it and now he had another problem to deal wi
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 17
‘What in God’s name are you doing in the kitchen?’And why must everything you say to me be shouted? she screamed back in frustration , rubbing her temples.The duke was standing in the doorway, his arms folded in front of him. His words rolled over her in a torrent. ‘I came to your room, expecting to find you waiting, and had to look through the whole of the house before I found you.And here, of all places. Did you expect to sleep next to the fire, like the kitchen cat? Was I to call the servants to locate you? Wouldn’t that be rich? To have the household know that his Grace has had a wife for less than a day and already misplaced her.’‘Because it is all about you, isn’t it?’ she snapped. ‘And about what people think. That is why you had to marry me. That is the only reason I’m still here and I expect you’ll have cause to mention it whenever I make a mistake for the rest of my life.’‘If you wish to stay in this house, then, yes, it is all about my wishes. And if I say that what pe
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 18
The day dawned uncomfortably bright and early, and Gwen pulled the hanging curtains shut against it.After her visit from the duke the previous evening, she was at a loss as to what she could possibly say in the morning. No doubt her bags were packed and waiting for her in the entrance hall. But would he think to arrange transportation, or assume that she could purchase a ticket from her own funds?She laughed bitterly. As if there were such a thing. Her purse had been emptied by the trip to ThornHill , and showed no signs of magically filling itself for the return trip. And if she should return, where would she go? Her father had made it quite clear that there was to be no turning back from this course, and while the parting had been sweet, she knew he was sincere in his desire to get rid of her, for her own safety and his peace of mind.Unless she abandoned all pride and made a living on her back, as more than one nobleman had suggested. And what fool thought it better to be the who
My Mother’s Choice Chapter 19
So her husband had left the marriage bed still cold and ran off to to London to be with his… She deliberately buttered another slice of toast and bit into the corner, chewing as it turned to sawdust in her mouth. Well, there was no reason that it need bother her in the least. She had expected something of that sort to happen. And this was neither a love match, nor she some exciting girl. ‘It is all right, Archie. Thank you. You are right. It is better to know how things stand.’He sighed in obvious relief. ‘Good. I am glad you are taking this so well. And remember, as I offered before, if you need a strong arm to support you, and my brother is nowhere to be found, you can always call on me.’‘Thank you.’ She smiled suspiciously back at him. ‘And now, my dear, I must be off. To see about the responsibilities you would have me attend to.’ He sighed. ‘To appear as idle as I do requires a surprising amount of effort.May I have the honour of joining you at supper this evening?’‘Of cour
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