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Authors: Moonlightand Mischief
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cocooning warmth.
She knew she could linger over her bath, since she had likely awakened before most of the other guests. It had always been her habit to rise unfashionably early.
Opening her eyes, she noticed a flannel cloth and a cake of soap on a small table next to the tub. Trying not to slosh water, she leaned forward and picked up the soap. As soon as her wet fingers caressed the cake, the scent of wisteria assailed her senses. Rubbing it between her hands, Mariah inhaled deeply as a wave of spring suddenly enveloped her.
She found it rather ironic that after dreading the visit, everything about Heaton enchanted her eyes and senses.
Except the thought of her next encounter with Lord and Lady Walgrave. Never before had she been confronted by such an awkward situation. She prayed she would be able to comport herself in a normal fashion when next she encountered the earl’s paramour and her cuckolded husband.
Another low thrum of thunder penetrated the silence of the antechamber. If she could not explore the grounds, she decided, she would ask the housekeeper to give her a tour of the house.
Despite the storm—and the dreaded encounter with the earl and Lady Walgrave looming ahead—Mariah realized that she was actually looking forward to the day.
***
Some time later, after making her way to the morning room, Mariah discovered that Steven, George, and Lady Davinia, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Spence-Jones and Lady Charlotte, were already present. Relief mingled with her pleasure, because neither the earl nor Lord and Lady Walgrave were in the room. Facing them could be avoided a little longer, at least. She assumed the rest of the guests were late risers like her mama. After bidding everyone good morning, she sat on the sofa next to her younger brother. Lady Davinia, looking sunny in pale yellow despite the dreary weather, smiled at Mariah. “You are just in time, Miss Thorncroft. Young George was just about to share some very exciting news.” “Oh?” Mariah looked down at George’s smiling face. “You’ll never guess, Mariah! The Master of Arms is going to show me the armory! I will not only get to try on a suit of armor but he will show me the swords and shields and maces.” By his expression Mariah could tell her little brother felt very near to heaven. “How very exciting.” “I would not mind taking a look at the armory myself,” Mr. Spence-Jones put in. “Would you mind if I joined you on your tour, young man?” Mariah smiled at the fair, solid-looking man, liking his indulgent attitude toward her brother. “I would like that, sir,” George replied. “Why don’t we all have a look?” Mrs. Spence-Jones chimed in, her dark eyes alight with interest. “I think it would be an excellent way to spend this dull morning. Besides, I take the greatest interest in everything about Heaton,” Lady Charlotte proclaimed from her seat by the window. “I think it would be great fun,” Lady Davinia agreed, looking to Steven with a warm smile. Taking note of the partiality Lady Davinia showed
her brother, Mariah smiled. She had instantly liked the beautiful young lady when they had first met in Bath. Though it was too soon to hope for anything truly romantic, she hoped that this budding attraction between the lady and Steven would continue to flourish. She knew her brother well enough to tell that beneath his cordial demeanor he was more than a little attracted to the lovely Lady Davinia.
“I wonder where Stone is.” Lady Charlotte pouted, fretfully smoothing the skirt of her russet-colored morning gown. “I do hope he will join us, for the earl always tells me the most interesting stories. Alas, I know that he often reserves his mornings for the care of estate matters.”
Looking at the elegant blonde, Mariah could almost feel sorry for her. By the possessive, proprietary tone that she used regarding the earl’s activities, it seemed clear that the beautiful widow felt that the earl belonged to
She knew she could linger over her bath, since she had likely awakened before most of the other guests. It had always been her habit to rise unfashionably early.
Opening her eyes, she noticed a flannel cloth and a cake of soap on a small table next to the tub. Trying not to slosh water, she leaned forward and picked up the soap. As soon as her wet fingers caressed the cake, the scent of wisteria assailed her senses. Rubbing it between her hands, Mariah inhaled deeply as a wave of spring suddenly enveloped her.
She found it rather ironic that after dreading the visit, everything about Heaton enchanted her eyes and senses.
Except the thought of her next encounter with Lord and Lady Walgrave. Never before had she been confronted by such an awkward situation. She prayed she would be able to comport herself in a normal fashion when next she encountered the earl’s paramour and her cuckolded husband.
Another low thrum of thunder penetrated the silence of the antechamber. If she could not explore the grounds, she decided, she would ask the housekeeper to give her a tour of the house.
Despite the storm—and the dreaded encounter with the earl and Lady Walgrave looming ahead—Mariah realized that she was actually looking forward to the day.
***
Some time later, after making her way to the morning room, Mariah discovered that Steven, George, and Lady Davinia, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Spence-Jones and Lady Charlotte, were already present. Relief mingled with her pleasure, because neither the earl nor Lord and Lady Walgrave were in the room. Facing them could be avoided a little longer, at least. She assumed the rest of the guests were late risers like her mama. After bidding everyone good morning, she sat on the sofa next to her younger brother. Lady Davinia, looking sunny in pale yellow despite the dreary weather, smiled at Mariah. “You are just in time, Miss Thorncroft. Young George was just about to share some very exciting news.” “Oh?” Mariah looked down at George’s smiling face. “You’ll never guess, Mariah! The Master of Arms is going to show me the armory! I will not only get to try on a suit of armor but he will show me the swords and shields and maces.” By his expression Mariah could tell her little brother felt very near to heaven. “How very exciting.” “I would not mind taking a look at the armory myself,” Mr. Spence-Jones put in. “Would you mind if I joined you on your tour, young man?” Mariah smiled at the fair, solid-looking man, liking his indulgent attitude toward her brother. “I would like that, sir,” George replied. “Why don’t we all have a look?” Mrs. Spence-Jones chimed in, her dark eyes alight with interest. “I think it would be an excellent way to spend this dull morning. Besides, I take the greatest interest in everything about Heaton,” Lady Charlotte proclaimed from her seat by the window. “I think it would be great fun,” Lady Davinia agreed, looking to Steven with a warm smile. Taking note of the partiality Lady Davinia showed
her brother, Mariah smiled. She had instantly liked the beautiful young lady when they had first met in Bath. Though it was too soon to hope for anything truly romantic, she hoped that this budding attraction between the lady and Steven would continue to flourish. She knew her brother well enough to tell that beneath his cordial demeanor he was more than a little attracted to the lovely Lady Davinia.
“I wonder where Stone is.” Lady Charlotte pouted, fretfully smoothing the skirt of her russet-colored morning gown. “I do hope he will join us, for the earl always tells me the most interesting stories. Alas, I know that he often reserves his mornings for the care of estate matters.”
Looking at the elegant blonde, Mariah could almost feel sorry for her. By the possessive, proprietary tone that she used regarding the earl’s activities, it seemed clear that the beautiful widow felt that the earl belonged to
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