A Bride for Lord Albany by Angelina Jameson

Author:Angelina Jameson [Jameson, Angelina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Emma attended the theater at Covent Garden with her sister. Traveling around London in the wake of a duchess was a heady task. Amelia appeared never to tire of all the toadying-up.

“I think I would forget my own name,” Emma said after the hundredth time someone said, “Your Grace” to Amelia.

Her sister laughed behind her fan. “My husband tells me he does forget his name quite often.”

“The duke was feeling ill this evening?”

“It is but a touch of rheumatism. He asked me to go along without him. He is not an admirer of the production King John or for that matter, Shakespeare.”

Amelia’s husband was now fifty. The exact age when Emma’s husband had died. She wasn’t worried about the duke dying of debauchery. He wasn’t the drinker or womanizer Lord Upton had been.

During the intermission, the party in the next box offered to bring them refreshments. Amelia accepted the offer. Emma recognized her sister’s favorite part of the theater experience was observing the people around her, especially the goings-on in the pit.

Once the boxes surrounding them were empty, Amelia asked, “What are your plans, Emma?”

“I shall enjoy the delights of London until I accompany my daughter-in-law to Essex.”

“You’re being deliberately obtuse. You know I’m asking about the future.”

Amelia had spoken in affectionate tones. Their parents, long dead, had not been the warmest people. Amelia had been a lovely, sweet sister despite always saying what was on her mind. She also hadn’t let Emma cast her aside as Emma had done with Louisa.

“I will reside at the dower house. I’m looking forward to being nearby to watch my first grandchild grow up.”

“A new baby…” Amelia’s words sounded wistful. Despite a loving marriage, she and her husband had never had children. “There is nothing else you wish to do now that your sons are married off?”

She thought a moment. Solitude had been her companion for so long she didn’t fear it. To her surprise, her thoughts strayed to Lord Albany before she squashed them.

“Perhaps I will return to my painting. It has been some years since I completed a project.”

“You were quite talented at drawing and painting. I often forget that as you are the most graceful dancer I have ever seen.”

“All my small accomplishments were for naught.”

Amelia knew her sister’s marriage had been an unhappy one. Emma had told her sister Lord Upton had been useful to get her with child and for nothing else.

“You are still young enough to remarry.”

“I am almost 50.”

Amelia laughed and tapped her playfully on the arm with her fan. “Nonsense. I am a year older than you. I am not ready for fifty.”

“I have my sons and their families. That will be enough excitement in my life.”

Emma had spent so many years in near seclusion it was hard to imagine any other life. Her greatest regret was not reconciling with Louisa before the woman’s death nearly two years ago.

Louisa had attempted a relationship after Emma married. Emma had rebuffed most of Louisa’s attempts, had made excuses why Louisa couldn’t visit her in the country.

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