Christmas Wedding Wish by Julia Justiss

Author:Julia Justiss [Justiss, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373295197
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

To her relief, it was Faith rather than her perceptive older sister who walked in. Automatically Meredyth shifted her attention from her own worries to whatever concern had brought her little sister calling.

‘Too excited about London to sleep?’‘Yes, that too,’ Faith said. ‘Although if I do no better at attracting other gentlemen than I have with Thomas Mansfell I shall vastly disappoint all of you.’

‘Nonsense,’ Meredyth said roundly, giving her sister a hug. ‘With your grace and sweetness of character, the London beaux will fall at your feet. And don’t despair of Thomas either. He may not realise how grown-up and lovely you’ve become until he sees your beauty reflected in the admiring eyes of other men.’

‘Perhaps,’ Faith said. ‘I do so like him. But then, as you said—and I do thank you for it, sister—I hope to enjoy the attentions of a number of suitors before I choose one to wed. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.’

Feeling a niggle of unease, Meredyth said, ‘Then what did you want to discuss, my dear?’

Faith grinned at her. ‘I may pine for a Mansfell admirer, but you, big sister, already have one—and how very particular he is!’

When Meredyth tried to demur, Faith shook a finger at her. ‘Even Sarah, ill as she’s feeling, noticed how marked his attentions are. Then Colton told us Mr Mansfell rode with you to inspect the Dower House, subjecting his elegant apparel to the hazards of paint and plaster. Now if that doesn’t show the seriousness of his intentions, I shall eat my lace fichu!’

‘He’s interested in renovation,’ Meredyth protested. ‘He’s soon to commence similar work at the Grange.’

‘Perhaps,’ Faith allowed. ‘But he’s also very interested in you! Which only shows how clever he is, for he could never find a more excellent a lady than my darling Merry! Only promise you will not wed before the end of the Season, for I’ve quite counted on having your support.’

‘Of course I shall stay to support you!’ Meredyth replied, trying to decide how little she could get away with revealing to her sister. ‘I’ll admit Allen Mansfell has paid me some attention—but only, I expect, to pass the time. You make far too much of it.’

Faith shook her head. ‘Not at all! Do you not know what happened last Season?’

Another pang of foreboding resonating within her, Meredyth said, ‘Perhaps you’d better enlighten me?’

‘Colton says Thomas told him his brother went to London last spring to look for a suitable wife. Clare and Sinjin were in town then, and Clare says soon after Mr Mansfell arrived he fell headlong in love with Miss Susanna Davies—a great beauty who had many suitors vying for her favour. Though she showed a great partiality for Mr Mansfell, she never entirely discouraged her other admirers, driving poor Mr Mansfell quite distracted with jealousy! Just after she finally accepted his proposal Lord Wildemere came to town, and was immediately smitten with Miss Davies. Wildemere, you may recall, is connected to the Howards, and a number of the old families of rank and position.

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