Lord Fenton's Folly by Josi Kilpack

Author:Josi Kilpack [Kilpack, Josi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781629720951
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2015-10-07T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Barker was tying Fenton’s cravat in preparation for an evening at a friend’s house when there was a knock at the door that connected Fenton’s bedchamber with Alice’s. In the past—all of his life until now, in fact—the wardrobes in both rooms had hid the connecting door. Fenton did not even know the door existed until they returned to London from their wedding trip nearly a month ago and found the furniture changed to reveal the connection. Of course, the door had not been used in the weeks since their return and to hear a knock upon it was so surprising that Fenton shooed his man from the room before hurrying to the door. He paused a moment to gather his composure before pulling it open. It would not do to appear too eager about this unexpected change.

Alice stood on her side of the doorway, dressed in an aubergine gown he had not seen on her before. It was one of the gowns he had chosen for her at the dressmaker’s appointment before the wedding and was as fine as he had expected it to be. The square neck lined with black Italian lace and puffed sleeve with an wide cuff served her complexion and frame well, and when he waved her into his room—as though not shocked to see her there—he quite admired the movement of the fabric and the slight train to the skirt that elongated her waist. Yes, he did know a thing or two about fashion.

“I daresay I was right about this dress, Alice,” he said with the whimsical tone she despised so much and which he therefore used often. “The purple plays upon the gold of your eyes to perfection and pairs well with your complexion. Yes, it is very well on you indeed.”

She faced him with a surprised expression, which caused him to repeat what he’d said in his mind in order to determine what had caused such a reaction. It was only after the review that he realized he’d paid her a compliment that did not include any kind of jab. He hurried to remedy it. “Of course it does not compensate for your sour expression, but there is no gown capable of that, I’m sure.”

She narrowed her eyes, souring that expression even more and looked away from him, which caused him a slight pang of regret that he could not pay his own wife a compliment. Of course, she held equal blame for the state of things because she chose to be contrary so he did not feel overburdened by his regret.

“I have come to talk with you about your mother,” she said. “And I did not want to use any other room in the house for such a delicate conference.”

Fenton’s mind snapped to attention. “What of my mother demands delicacy?”

Alice clasped her hands together in a display of agitation, though it did not seem directed at him for once. Praise the heavens. “I have spent a great deal of time with her these past weeks, and you know I regard her quite highly.

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