Read Online Connie (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 3) by Mary Kingswood - Free Book Online Page A

her husband, Connie hoped for something more equal for herself.
    She looked at the Marquess, aristocratic hauteur infusing even his dance steps, and wondered. It would be as well, she told herself, not to be fooled by his pleasant manner. She would need him made very docile by love before she could consider him as a husband. And then she thought again of the younger brother, less handsome, but charmingly eager to please, and wondered.
     
     
     

7: An Invitation
    Two days later, Connie and Belle went to stay at Willowbye to oversee the beginnings of the decoration phase, now that most of the building work had been completed. Lady Sara had gone on one of her mysterious journeys again, although where she was going and what she planned to do there she would not say.
    This created a dilemma in Connie’s mind, for it would not be possible to take their usual chaperon for outings, Miss Bellows, their former governess.
    “Miss Bellows must stay here with Dulcie, Grace and Hope,” Connie said fretfully. “Is it quite proper for us to stay at Willowbye without her, do you think? I know you and Mr Burford are as good as married, but even so…”
    Belle laughed. “Oh, we shall be thoroughly chaperoned, sister, for Cousin Vivienne is still in residence at Willowbye.”
    “Oh. She has not moved into the Dower House yet?”
    “No, and still refuses to do so. It is beneath her dignity, apparently.”
    Connie gasped in outrage. “That is monstrous! The house is yours — well, Mr Burford’s at present, but the lease is signed and everything legal, is it not?”
    “And the rent paid for a full year in advance, so that Cousin Henry may defray the cost of repairs to the Dower House. He very kindly stays on too and tries to stop his wife interfering, but I fear we shall have to be hard-hearted soon and ask them to leave.”
    “Indeed you must! There cannot be two mistresses in one house.”
    “Quite so,” said Belle.
    Their arrival at Willowbye was rather different from Connie’s previous visit, when only Mr Burford and Cousin Henry had emerged to greet them. The two men were both there again, loitering timidly in the doorway, while the steps in front of them were occupied by Cousin Vivienne, Mary, and James’s young wife, Alice. A whole troop of footmen and grooms also appeared to hand the visitors out of their carriage, unload their boxes and take care of the horses. These were augmented by the butler and housekeeper, issuing terse instructions.
    “How very pleasant this is,” Belle said, stepping forward to greet the ladies and shake hands with Cousin Henry. “Such a reception! We could not have expected it.”
    “Do come in,” Cousin Vivienne said, for all the world as if she were the mistress of the house.
    Belle made no response, instead placing her hand on Burford’s arm with a warm smile that he answered with one of his own. For an instant, Connie felt a pang of some emotion that was not quite jealousy, but rather a wish that she too had a man who looked at her in just that way. As Ambleside looked at Amy, too. The sooner she could make the Marquess fall in love with her, the better. Or Lord Reginald, perhaps. But the moment passed, and they all proceeded into the great hall. The boxes of books had been cleared away, and the walls were plastered but still unpainted.
    Several maids in neat uniforms waited to relieve them of coats and bonnets and gloves. Amongst them was an older woman with a severe face, her clothes well-cut but plain.
    “Ah, Beecham,” Belle said. “You have arrived safely, I see. Are you settling in well?”
    “Very well, thank you, madam.”
    “Connie, Beecham is the lady’s maid I have engaged. You will not mind attending my sister during her stay, Beecham? We shall be sharing the rose bedroom in the new wing.”
    “It would be a pleasure, madam, but I believe it is to be a different room.”
    “I have chosen the green room for you, Belle,” Cousin Vivienne said. “It is a more