Mishap Marriage by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2013-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

London

Shona renewed her passion for London the moment she left the ship. They had arrived at the height of the Season. As the hired carriage drove away from the docks and headed towards Mayfair and Aunt Augusta’s town house, the atmosphere of gaiety was entrancing. On reaching the Strand the streets were so overcrowded that their carriage was forced to slow almost to a halt. Shona stared out of the window. Shopkeepers shouted the excellence of their goods. Pedlars and street vendors praised their wares, vying with each other to attract customers. Not only the noise, but smells invaded the carriage—mouth-watering aromas of freshly baked bread, pies and cakes.

‘Do you intend to stay in London, Thomas?’

‘Only for a short time. I must return to my parish in Berkshire. But don’t worry. My mother will be happy for you to stay with her for the time being—until things are sorted out between you and Captain Fitzgerald. As you are aware, Shona, both my parents led rather unconventional lifestyles. My brothers and I accepted the fact that they were living their lives as they wanted, even though they were frowned on by society in general. You will soon grow accustomed to Mother’s ways.’

Shona was silent for a moment as she considered this statement. Antony had not been so generous and had condemned their aunt for her wayward behaviour after the death of her husband, which was why, considering her unfit company for a respectably reared young woman, he had been unwilling for his sister to come to England and for Aunt Augusta to act as her chaperon.

* * *

They entered the fine house in Upper Brook Street to find Thomas’s mother reclining on a chaise longue. Her abundant deep red hair streaked with grey was confined loosely by a red satin ribbon that matched her velvet robe richly embroidered in gold thread. It was open to the waist to reveal a frilled and ruffled gown. There were the inevitable lines of age on her face and her cheeks owed some of their glow to the rouge pot, but there was no denying that Augusta Franklyn was still a handsome woman.

On seeing her son, she rose to her feet in one sinuous movement to glide across the carpet with her arms outstretched and her garments flowing around her in a diaphanous cloud.

‘My darling boy! Here you are at last— And Shona! What a lovely surprise.’

Before Shona could react, after Augusta embraced her son she clasped Shona in a fond embrace and a cloud of expensive perfume heavy with musk.

‘Aunt Augusta,’ she murmured, at a loss for anything better to say. She liked her aunt and always felt comfortable with her. She could understand how her garish clothes and forceful personality might be forgiven when she gave so generously of the warmth of her personality.

Augusta held her at arm’s length, gazing at her fondly. ‘Why, look at you! How you’ve grown. You’re no longer the skinny schoolgirl who used to come and visit me during your holidays.

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