Mission at Midnight: A Sweet Regency Suspense Family Saga Historical Romance (Chronicles of the Westbrook Brides Book 2) by Collette Cameron

Author:Collette Cameron [Cameron, Collette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Chronicles of the Westbrook Brides, Book 2
Publisher: Blue Rose Romance
Published: 2023-04-30T18:30:00+00:00

Hefferwickshire House foyer

Half an hour later

Standing on the polished black and white Italian marble floor inside the grand house’s entrance, Clodovea put an ungloved hand to her stomach. It tumbled over and over and over, despite Lucius’s assurance that his family would welcome her.

What had he told them about her?

Yes, that he’d rescued her from dangerous people—a contorted, convenient version of the truth—but what else?

Though not a criminal, at this moment, she rather felt like a felon.

Drawing a deep, calming breath into her lungs, she examined the lavish foyer. A floral and gold Spode porcelain urn stood at attention atop the marble-topped rosewood half table in the mansion’s entrance. Footmen attired in pristine crimson and gold livery filed past, carrying her and Lucius’s meager luggage.

She had no idea where he’d procured the shoes and hideous, ill-fitting chemise and mourning gown she wore beneath a simple ebony woolen cloak or the nightdress and day gown in the satchel a tall footman with a friendly smile presently toted up the stairs.

Nevertheless, she was grateful to have been spared the humiliation of arriving at the ducal residence wearing a man’s trousers and shirt, and that god-awful, smelly cape.

Last night at the inn, Clodovea had bathed and washed her hair, then took extra care to pin her tresses into a presentable chignon this morning. Though she might look a fright in the sack of a gown, the Duke and Duchess of Latham would find no fault with her manners.

Beside her, Lucius chatted with the amiable butler whose name Clodovea had already forgotten.

“Lucius.” A tall, slender woman with stunning auburn hair and draped in a breathtaking sea-green gown sailed across the tile, her arms stretched wide.

A striking man with graying hair followed in her wake, an indulgent smile arching his mouth. His royal blue coat nearly matched his indigo eyes—Lucius’s eyes—alive with warmth and welcome.

The Duke and Duchess of Latham.

Even during Clodovea’s short stint in London, these powerful peers’ names had been on numerous le beau monde members’ tongues.

Her stomach flipped again.

“Welcome home, darling.” The duchess swooped in to hug her son.

Lucius enfolded his mother in his arms and kissed her smooth cheek before embracing his father.

“I was home at Christmastide, Mama. It’s only been two months, and with eight offspring, I’d think you’d have plenty of company to entertain you.”

“Yes, well, two months is still too long.” The smile playing around her grace’s mouth belied any real rebuke. “Mothers miss their children.”

Lucius glanced at Clodovea and held up four fingers.

“I’m number four. Layton, Fletcher—mother’s sons from her first marriage—Adolphus—the ducal heir—me, Leonidas, the twins, Darius and Cassius, and our baby sister, Althelia.”

“I’m quite confident that at two and twenty, your sister would not appreciate you calling her a baby, son.” Drollness weighted the duke’s chuckle as merriment sparkled in his eyes.

Clodovea relaxed a trifle.

Lucius’s family was friendly and not anything like those cold, unkind women in London.

“Where is Althelia, by the way?” With a hand on one hip, Lucius glanced around.

“She and your cousin Eva are visiting a neighbor but should be home soon.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.