Loving a Lady_A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Book by Abby Ayles

Author:Abby Ayles [Ayles, Abby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 42747889
Published: 2018-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Despite her reservations, Noelle woke the next morning and watched as the servants at her family’s Thornwood mansion packed up her things for the visit at Stone Hill Manor. She, Catherine, and her mother were going to stay there for two nights. She hoped that they would come away from the house feeling as if they were on better footing with the marquess.

She was so sad when she realized that Mr. Edwards had left the party without saying goodbye. She hoped that he didn’t assume, because she was dancing with Lord Drake, that she’d lost all interest in him.

As soon as Edith had helped her into her traveling dress, Noelle went down the stairs and met her sister and her mother in the drawing room. “It was so strange to stay the night without everyone else, wasn’t it?” Catherine asked her, but she was smiling in such an excited way that Noelle doubted very much that she minded it.

“This house really is much too grand to be living in without the others,” their mother agreed. “But then, that is why it’s meant to be a family home.” She eyed Noelle a bit when she said that, as if she was trying to make some point.

Noelle avoided rolling her eyes at her mother. “Shall we go?” she asked instead, ready to get this visit over with. She didn’t anticipate that staying at the home of the Marquess of Fairfax and his father, the Duke of Cumberland, was going to be quite as pleasant as her and Catherine’s time at Wildhill.

The marquess had surprised her a little at Lydia’s wedding party, however, when he actually paid attention to her. She had not expected him to ask to dance with her even once. He still spoke to Catherine far more, though, which led her to believe that his feelings hadn’t really changed about her.

She wondered why he’d had a sudden change in manners, though. Instead of completely leaving her out of things, he was making more of an effort to include her and make her feel that her company was desired.

The ladies walked out of their house and got into the coach that would take them to Stone Hill Manor. The ride was going to be about three hours, and Noelle had every intention of trying to nap through most of it, just in case she found it difficult to sleep in the new and strange lodgings.

I wonder a little what the Duke of Cumberland is really like. Everything that I’ve heard from his son would indicate that he is not altogether a pleasant man, but he is awfully inviting to allow us to stay in his home for a few nights. Granted, that is far more likely Lord Drake’s doing than his.

She hoped that they would not be taking the poor old man off guard by their arrival. Lord Drake had assured them that he would ride on ahead and inform his father of their visit, but she did not have the most confidence in that gentleman.

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