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Authors: Claire Firth
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fire. ‘But it is a fine horse my cousin has acquired. We are thinking of siring him with the mare I purchased this year - any foal born from that reunion would be a stunner. What do you think Sophia? You were only saying the other day what a pretty thing she was?’
‘ A good idea, my love,’ Sophia responded.
He looked at her suspiciously, seeming to observe the way the two women were sitting closely together, as if in conspiracy.
‘So what mischief have you ladies been up to in our absence?’
‘ Us? Mischief? What can you mean?’
‘ Now I know you have been making mischief. You always get that certain look in your eye.’
‘ Interesting,’ Guy commented mildly, turning his gaze onto Isabelle. ‘How long will we have been married do you think Isabelle, before I too can read your expressions so easily? I never know what is going on in that mind of yours.’
‘ Well that makes two of us,’ she returned lightly, ‘for I don’t think there ever was a man who concealed his emotions as well as you.’
They were words that were to come back to her later that day as they were welcomed by his mother, for his return greeting was almost jovial as he embraced her warmly.
‘We are well, thank you mother and yes, we are enjoying married life. Charles, come say hello to your Grand Mama.’
Charles positively skipped up to his grandmother, in great spirits ever since Isabelle had suggested he ride with them in the carriage.
‘He usually travels behind, with Nanny Peters,’ Guy had said tersely.
‘ Well, I think as this is our first outing as a family it would be nice for him to travel with us and give poor Nanny Peters a break. Do you not agree?’
‘ As you wish.’
Now as the old woman finished embracing her grandson she turned to her daughter in law.
‘And you, Isabelle. Are you also enjoying married life?’
‘ Very much, thank you. I think Guy and I are getting used to each other’s foibles.’
She could not look at Guy as she spoke, instead taking Charles by the hand and following the Dowager into the house.
‘Take the luggage up to the Blue Room,’ the old lady instructed the footmen, and for the first time it occurred to Isabelle to wonder about sleeping arrangements. She felt a flurry of nerves in her stomach.
‘ I have put you and Guy together as you are so recently married,’ the older woman said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘Although that can easily be remedied if you so wish?’
‘ That will be quite acceptable, mother. Thank you,’ Guy said coolly. His swift look to Isabelle held a hint of warning. His mother was the sole reason for their wedding. Clearly he did not wish her to know their marriage was anything other than perfectly normal.
‘ Good. Now come through for some tea…’
That night it was just the three of them.
‘ Claudia and Lionel will be joining us tomorrow,’ the Dowager informed Isabelle over dinner. ‘That will make Charles happy as he enjoys playing with his cousins. Claudia was the one who insisted on celebrating my birthday, even though if it were left to me I would far rather forget them now. But she has a point I suppose - who knows how many more I shall see in.’
‘ Mother, I’m sure you will see a great many more now that you have recovered so well from your initial attack. But admit the reason you invited us was to keep you sane whilst my sister and her family are here.’
His mother smiled. ‘I cannot tell a lie. I do find them all rather exhausting. And talking of which, I think I will retire now if you have no objection? I go to bed earlier and earlier these days.’
After she had departed, Guy and Isabelle looked at each other. Then Isabelle made to rise from her chair. ’Well, I think I also may retire early,’ she began.
‘ No. Stay and talk with me for a while if you will?’
She stared at him uncertainly, not wishing a repeat of the previous
‘ A good idea, my love,’ Sophia responded.
He looked at her suspiciously, seeming to observe the way the two women were sitting closely together, as if in conspiracy.
‘So what mischief have you ladies been up to in our absence?’
‘ Us? Mischief? What can you mean?’
‘ Now I know you have been making mischief. You always get that certain look in your eye.’
‘ Interesting,’ Guy commented mildly, turning his gaze onto Isabelle. ‘How long will we have been married do you think Isabelle, before I too can read your expressions so easily? I never know what is going on in that mind of yours.’
‘ Well that makes two of us,’ she returned lightly, ‘for I don’t think there ever was a man who concealed his emotions as well as you.’
They were words that were to come back to her later that day as they were welcomed by his mother, for his return greeting was almost jovial as he embraced her warmly.
‘We are well, thank you mother and yes, we are enjoying married life. Charles, come say hello to your Grand Mama.’
Charles positively skipped up to his grandmother, in great spirits ever since Isabelle had suggested he ride with them in the carriage.
‘He usually travels behind, with Nanny Peters,’ Guy had said tersely.
‘ Well, I think as this is our first outing as a family it would be nice for him to travel with us and give poor Nanny Peters a break. Do you not agree?’
‘ As you wish.’
Now as the old woman finished embracing her grandson she turned to her daughter in law.
‘And you, Isabelle. Are you also enjoying married life?’
‘ Very much, thank you. I think Guy and I are getting used to each other’s foibles.’
She could not look at Guy as she spoke, instead taking Charles by the hand and following the Dowager into the house.
‘Take the luggage up to the Blue Room,’ the old lady instructed the footmen, and for the first time it occurred to Isabelle to wonder about sleeping arrangements. She felt a flurry of nerves in her stomach.
‘ I have put you and Guy together as you are so recently married,’ the older woman said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘Although that can easily be remedied if you so wish?’
‘ That will be quite acceptable, mother. Thank you,’ Guy said coolly. His swift look to Isabelle held a hint of warning. His mother was the sole reason for their wedding. Clearly he did not wish her to know their marriage was anything other than perfectly normal.
‘ Good. Now come through for some tea…’
That night it was just the three of them.
‘ Claudia and Lionel will be joining us tomorrow,’ the Dowager informed Isabelle over dinner. ‘That will make Charles happy as he enjoys playing with his cousins. Claudia was the one who insisted on celebrating my birthday, even though if it were left to me I would far rather forget them now. But she has a point I suppose - who knows how many more I shall see in.’
‘ Mother, I’m sure you will see a great many more now that you have recovered so well from your initial attack. But admit the reason you invited us was to keep you sane whilst my sister and her family are here.’
His mother smiled. ‘I cannot tell a lie. I do find them all rather exhausting. And talking of which, I think I will retire now if you have no objection? I go to bed earlier and earlier these days.’
After she had departed, Guy and Isabelle looked at each other. Then Isabelle made to rise from her chair. ’Well, I think I also may retire early,’ she began.
‘ No. Stay and talk with me for a while if you will?’
She stared at him uncertainly, not wishing a repeat of the previous
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