Make Me a Marchioness by Blackwood Gemma

Author:Blackwood, Gemma
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2018-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

February, 1821

Although Westbourne Hall was her father's ancestral home, Julia had never had the chance to see it. The grey February morning when she finally arrived did little to lift the forbidding aura which hung about the ancient grey stones. Julia was hurried inside under the cover of a cloak held up by the coachman and her footman before she had the chance to take in the vastness of the building.

She was very glad, on entering the echoing hallway, to see her old friend Alice Sharp taking off her coat. Of course, she was Alice Sharp no longer – she had married in the summer. It was Mrs Kirby now, wife of a man of wild reputation and, if Julia was any judge, still wilder affection for his bride.

Julia allowed herself only the faintest pang of jealousy for Alice's good fortune in finding a loving husband of her own station.

"Julia!" cried Alice, racing forward to embrace her. "It is so good to see you! Are you well? How was the journey from Chiltern? I am so excited to meet my nephew, little George! I hardly know what to do with myself!"

Behind her, Captain Kirby approached Julia with an outstretched hand and a gentle smile. He was dressed in his militia red, as though he had only just left his regiment. "Miss Mallory," he said, kissing her hand. "I am very glad you made it. Westbourne will be pleased as well."

"Is that my darling Mrs Kirby?" exclaimed a voice they all recognised. An inner door was flung open, and the Dowager Duchess of Westbourne appeared.

"Not only me," grinned Alice. "Look who has arrived only seconds after Kirby and I came through the door!"

The Duchess fluttered her hands in the air in delight, not knowing who to embrace first. "Oh, Alice! Oh, Julia! Oh, and if it isn't the dashing Captain Kirby, too! Come and kiss me, my dears. I am quite overcome to see you all."

A man Julia recognised as Harry's valet appeared at the top of the stairs. "The Duke wishes me to announce that his son and heir is ready to meet his Aunt Alice and Uncle Kirby," he announced.

Alice gave Julia a wink. "I shall tell them you're here," she promised. "You'll be summoned up before too long, I expect."

She took Kirby's hands and practically ran up the stairs. The Duchess sighed after them fondly.

"Such a lovely young couple," she said. "I rather fancy you and I had a hand in their betrothal, Julia, for, as I'm sure you recall, it was after that nasty business with your brother – whose name we shall not mention here – that they were engaged. I do hope it won't be too long before they have a child of their own."

Julia forced a smile onto her face. She had not anticipated how difficult it would be to hear about the marital happiness and new babies of her dear friends. She and Charles had the most wonderful understanding between them, but it went without saying that having children was completely impossible.

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