Candice Hern by The Regency Rakes Trilogy

Author:The Regency Rakes Trilogy [Trilogy, The Regency Rakes]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-20T14:44:40+00:00

Chapter 13

"I have not seen this in an age," Olivia said as she held up a coral-colored Norwich shawl retrieved from the depths of the mahogany clothespress. "You ought to take it along, I think."

Mary reached for her shawl and ran her fingers over its fine texture. "Yes, I shall probably need every wrap I own for those cool Devon evenings." She placed the shawl among the pile of garments and accessories heaped upon a chaise in her dressing room, where she and Olivia were deciding which items of her wardrobe to take to Pemworth Hall. Every so often her maid, Sally, came to remove the pile of clothes for airing or cleaning prior to being carefully packed in trunks for the journey to Devon.

Mary had experienced an uncharacteristic bout of nerves over the trip to Jack's primary estate, where she would meet her future mother-in-law and other members of Jack's family. It was one thing to be accepted among London Society where she was well known. But to face Jack's family, who must surely have been expecting someone quite different for his bride, caused Mary a good deal of consternation.

Jack had been very reassuring when he had sensed her uneasiness. "Mama will adore you, my dear," he had said. "You must forgive her, though, if she seems a bit reserved at first. You must understand that she has been overcome with grief this last year. I am certain, however," he said with a roguish grin, "that a wedding will greatly improve her spirits."

And so she and Olivia were preparing for the trip to Pemworth Hall, where in three weeks' time she and Jack would be married in the family chapel.

"What about these, Mary? Shall you be needing them as well?"

Olivia smiled as she held out a sturdy pair of brown leather half boots that had certainly seen better days. Olivia often teased Mary about this particular pair of boots, telling her that a woman of her wealth could surely afford to replace things when they became worn.

"Oh, by all means," Mary replied, retrieving the faded, scuffed boots from Olivia and clasping them fondly. "They are my most comfortable boots, you know. Jack tells me there are some rugged walks along the shorelines and I am sure they will be just the thing."

"Has he told you much of Pemworth?"

"Oh, indeed," Mary said. "He has spoken at length about what to expect in terms of the house, the grounds, the servants, the tenants—everything. It is obvious he loves the place. He grew up there, you know. Whenever he speaks of Pemworth, it always leads to some tale of his youth or childhood." She chuckled as she recalled some of Jack's more amusing anecdotes. "I have learned much about him these past few weeks."

It was true. Though she had set out to avoid discussions of the past, such stories always seemed to crop up. He loved to speak of his childhood at Pemworth. Occasionally he would ask some general question about her own childhood.

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