A Lady's Honor by A.S. Fenichel

Author:A.S. Fenichel
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-10-18T21:49:40+00:00

Chapter 12

No. 7

An Everton lady is never to lose her temper or raise her voice.

—The Everton Companion

Rules of Conduct

An hour before luncheon two carriages arrived with Markus’s family. At least, part of it. The youngest, Adam, was still at school and would remain there. Father’s whereabouts was unknown, and as long as he was nowhere near Rosefield, that suited Markus.

Watson lined the staff up on both sides of the steps leading to the house, and Markus stood at the top with Phoebe and Honoria until a footman opened the carriage doors and his mother stepped out.

Markus trotted down the steps. “Hello, Mother. It is good to see you.”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “You are looking better.”

“Thank you.” Markus didn’t expect a lot of affection. If Margaret ever made a display of emotion, he would have no idea how to react.

His sister, Dorothea, and her husband, Thomas, rushed over from the other carriage. Dory smiled, and her red hair blew in the breeze. “Markus, you look wonderful. Really. I am so happy you are doing well.” She wrapped him in a hug and kissed both his cheeks.

“It is good to see you too, Dory. I am sorry to have missed your performance for the prince. I shall never forgive myself.” Markus’s heart contracted and guilt swamped him. He should have been there, meant to be, but had gotten drunk and forgotten all about it.

“I suppose if you must batter yourself about it, you can, but I have already forgiven you.” Dory gazed at the house just as Arwen walked outside with Elizabeth in her arms. Her face lit up and she rushed up the steps. “Oh goodness, how she’s grown.”

Thomas shook his hand. “Markus, you all right?”

Thomas had been Markus’s friend since their school days. The two of them, Michael Collins, and Daniel Fallon had been inseparable since the first day at Eton. Markus had been too drunk to care when Dory and Tom had eloped to Scotland. His list of regrets from the last two years continued to grow.

“Better than I have been in a long time, Tom.” It was true. Even with the looming truth that Phoebe would not accept his offer of marriage and she would leave Rosefield for a life of toil in London, he still felt stronger than he had in years.

“I am happy to hear that. I have a lot to discuss with you this week. Your father has been unable or unwilling to handle his affairs, and things became perilous for a time.”

It wasn’t a surprise, but Markus still shuddered at the notion of more finances to sort out. “Let’s talk after luncheon, Tom. I am certain you have very little good news and a full stomach might soften the blow.”

Tom laughed and slapped Markus on the back. “It is good to see the gardening is being looked after again. Last time we were here things were looking bleak.”

“It was a disaster,” Mother said.

“Well, much has changed in the past few weeks. Miss Hallsmith has hired a staff and put order back in Rosefield.

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