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Authors: Shirley Marks
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willingly, and in earnest, hugging his eldest. “Welcome home, Gusta.”
“Oh, Papa, how good it is to see you.” The sweet fragrance of rose water mingled with the warmth of fine woven silk, a female scent nearly forgotten by Edward, rose from her hair and the fabric of her dress.
“And I would be most delighted to
see
you as well, if only I were given an opportunity.” He felt his voice catch with the rush of sentiment, and he pulled at her arms, which were clasped tightly around his neck. “Come now, do allow me to take a proper look at you.”
Although she loosened her grasp, she did not release him altogether, keeping tight hold of his hands, and Edward regarded her at arm’s length. Augusta had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.
She resembled her mother, with the same eyes, auburn-colored hair, and the oval-shaped face. Most of all Augusta looked happy. Again Edward felt an unfamiliar lump of emotionin his throat. There was nothing more important that a father could ask for his daughter.
“She completely ruined your cravat. It’s crushed beyond all repair,” Frederick commented. “Am I to be totally ignored?” He held out his arms for his welcome.
Augusta finally released Edward to lean into her brother’s embrace. She planted a kiss upon each of his cheeks. “I am very happy to see you too, Freddie.”
“That’s better. I thought you’d abandoned me. And here I thought I was your favorite brother.”
“You’re my only brother, but I’d adore you just the same if I had a dozen,” Augusta stated with sincerity.
“Brave words, my girl.” Frederick tilted his head back, appearing a bit dubious of his sibling. He chucked her under the chin and smiled.
“I was just now heading up to my bedchamber to begin my toilette,” Augusta told them. “Char cannot wait to see the family, and expects us to join her this evening.”
“Char-Char is here?” Frederick’s gaze met Edward’s gaze before darting to Augusta.
“We had planned to dine at White’s, then attend the theater tonight,” the Duke replied, glancing at his son, who did not react either favorably or unfavorably at this possible change in their plans. Edward half expected Frederick might have some surreptitious rendezvous in mind, something akin to their first excursion to the opera.
“Her card arrived after you left, just before I arrived. Ralston—” Augusta called out for the butler.
“My lady?” He appeared at her side.
“Would you bring the note my sister sent this afternoon?” She gestured to her father, indicating Edward would be the recipient.
“At once.” Ralston stepped away to retrieve the item.
“And the invitation from Lady Kimball, if you would,” Augusta called after him. “We cannot possibly refuse Char, Papa. She would be crushed.”
“I have no intention of declining. I merely wonder how we are to meet our social obligations.”
“
Social obligations?
” Augusta huffed. “You sound as if it were a chore!”
The butler returned, holding out the missives to the Duke.
Edward opened one, skimming the message. “Your aunt Mary invites us, the four of us, to join the rest of the family for supper tomorrow night.”
“Why the rush?” Frederick stepped away from them, bringing the heels of his Hessians down more forcefully in a clear but perhaps an immature expression of his displeasure. “You’ve only arrived this afternoon and you’ll be here for weeks to come, I wager.”
“I cannot think why there is any hurry, Freddie.” Augusta sounded more offended than surprised at the behavior of her aunt at such a hasty summons for their presence.
“Only that it has been a long time since you or Char has seen your aunt and uncle. It might be years, I expect. As for this evening”—Edward could sympathize with his son; attending dinner at Charlotte’s would alter his plans—“you cannot blame her for wishing to see those who are so dear after such a long time parted from us. I must
“Oh, Papa, how good it is to see you.” The sweet fragrance of rose water mingled with the warmth of fine woven silk, a female scent nearly forgotten by Edward, rose from her hair and the fabric of her dress.
“And I would be most delighted to
see
you as well, if only I were given an opportunity.” He felt his voice catch with the rush of sentiment, and he pulled at her arms, which were clasped tightly around his neck. “Come now, do allow me to take a proper look at you.”
Although she loosened her grasp, she did not release him altogether, keeping tight hold of his hands, and Edward regarded her at arm’s length. Augusta had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.
She resembled her mother, with the same eyes, auburn-colored hair, and the oval-shaped face. Most of all Augusta looked happy. Again Edward felt an unfamiliar lump of emotionin his throat. There was nothing more important that a father could ask for his daughter.
“She completely ruined your cravat. It’s crushed beyond all repair,” Frederick commented. “Am I to be totally ignored?” He held out his arms for his welcome.
Augusta finally released Edward to lean into her brother’s embrace. She planted a kiss upon each of his cheeks. “I am very happy to see you too, Freddie.”
“That’s better. I thought you’d abandoned me. And here I thought I was your favorite brother.”
“You’re my only brother, but I’d adore you just the same if I had a dozen,” Augusta stated with sincerity.
“Brave words, my girl.” Frederick tilted his head back, appearing a bit dubious of his sibling. He chucked her under the chin and smiled.
“I was just now heading up to my bedchamber to begin my toilette,” Augusta told them. “Char cannot wait to see the family, and expects us to join her this evening.”
“Char-Char is here?” Frederick’s gaze met Edward’s gaze before darting to Augusta.
“We had planned to dine at White’s, then attend the theater tonight,” the Duke replied, glancing at his son, who did not react either favorably or unfavorably at this possible change in their plans. Edward half expected Frederick might have some surreptitious rendezvous in mind, something akin to their first excursion to the opera.
“Her card arrived after you left, just before I arrived. Ralston—” Augusta called out for the butler.
“My lady?” He appeared at her side.
“Would you bring the note my sister sent this afternoon?” She gestured to her father, indicating Edward would be the recipient.
“At once.” Ralston stepped away to retrieve the item.
“And the invitation from Lady Kimball, if you would,” Augusta called after him. “We cannot possibly refuse Char, Papa. She would be crushed.”
“I have no intention of declining. I merely wonder how we are to meet our social obligations.”
“
Social obligations?
” Augusta huffed. “You sound as if it were a chore!”
The butler returned, holding out the missives to the Duke.
Edward opened one, skimming the message. “Your aunt Mary invites us, the four of us, to join the rest of the family for supper tomorrow night.”
“Why the rush?” Frederick stepped away from them, bringing the heels of his Hessians down more forcefully in a clear but perhaps an immature expression of his displeasure. “You’ve only arrived this afternoon and you’ll be here for weeks to come, I wager.”
“I cannot think why there is any hurry, Freddie.” Augusta sounded more offended than surprised at the behavior of her aunt at such a hasty summons for their presence.
“Only that it has been a long time since you or Char has seen your aunt and uncle. It might be years, I expect. As for this evening”—Edward could sympathize with his son; attending dinner at Charlotte’s would alter his plans—“you cannot blame her for wishing to see those who are so dear after such a long time parted from us. I must
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