All's Fair in Love & Seduction by Beverley Kendall

Author:Beverley Kendall [Kendall, Beverley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-06-24T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Mama!” It wasn’t a greeting. Elizabeth had glimpsed her face in the mirror of the vanity in the bedchambers, and her eyes were red-rimmed, her face a mottled mess.

“Lizzie,” her mother practically shrieked in delight.

Soon Elizabeth was enfolded in slender arms, breathing in the scent of her mother’s favorite perfume. It reminded her of lilies and the tiny garden they’d had at their home in Penkridge.

Considered a beauty in her time, her mother had managed to maintain much of her looks, her complexion smooth, her brown eyes crinkled lightly at the corners and her hair, light brown and subtly streaked with gray.

Elizabeth found herself hugging her mother’s slight frame tightly, suddenly homesick and craving the warmth and loving security of family. But she refused to get misty eyed, especially in front of the viscount.

Her mother set her away from her. “Are you surprised?”

“Mama, what are you doing here? What about the house?”

“I didn’t receive a letter from you the week past. You know how I worry.”

“But I posted it.” Her mother would use any excuse to come to London. But their new residence had been in desperate need of renovations. And her mother trusted no one to oversee the effort and that included Elizabeth’s father and sister, Rebecca.

“I did receive a letter from Teresa.”

Mrs. Abernathy. Elizabeth suppressed a groan. That explained everything.

It was only then that her mother directed her attention to Derek. He hadn’t left but stood quietly behind them watching their reunion.

“Who is this, Lizzie?” Her mother’s smile welcomed the viscount. It was obvious she didn’t recognize him.

An awkward silence followed. Her mother’s smile fell as her gaze darted between them. Two lines formed on her brow.

“Mama, this is Lord Derek Creswell.”

A sharpened gaze returned to the viscount. Comprehension dawned on her mother’s face. She stood back and switched her scrutiny to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was immediately conscious of her half-buttoned gown under her pelisse and her disheveled hair under her bonnet.

“Then it would appear the viscount and I are acquainted,” her mother’s voice had iced over.

Derek acknowledged the fact with a terse nod.

“Elizabeth, remove your things and let us all adjourn to the drawing room where we can speak in private. If Lord Creswell has no objections,” her mother added.

There was no way she could remove either the bonnet or the pelisse. And she was certain her sharp-eyed mother was aware of it.

“Mrs. Smi—Lady Bartlett, I’d prefer to speak with you in private.”

Relief made Elizabeth almost light-headed. Before her mother could form a response, Elizabeth turned and fled up the stairs and straight into the privacy of her bedchamber.

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