Mr. Fairclough's Inherited Bride (Secrets 0f A Victorian Household Book 3) by Georgie Lee

Author:Georgie Lee [Lee, Georgie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Sensual Story Theme, Secrets 0f A Victorian Household Series, Multi-Author Series
Publisher: Harlequin Historical; Original edition
Published: 2020-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Mary’s stared over Mrs Fairclough’s shoulder at Silas in stunned silence as his mother embraced her.

She called me Lady Mary.

Either Mrs Fairclough had been standing at the door listening to their conversation before she’d entered or she already knew Mary by reputation alone. Given her work, it wasn’t impossible to think that she kept abreast of who might need her services no matter what class they were part of. It might have been years since Mary’s fall, but as she’d told Silas, stories as sensational as hers never died. It was told to young girls as a warning of what could happen to them and everyone knew why certain daughters of titled men who’d once been coveted marriage partners suddenly disappeared and were treated as if they’d never existed.

‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs Fairclough,’ Mary replied as eagerly a she could, trying to curry favour with her new mother-in-law and ignore how brief the embrace was and how guarded Mrs Fairclough remained as she stood across from her, taking her measure.

I was right to be afraid. She doesn’t want me in her family.

‘It’s probably the real reason why we haven’t heard from him in so long,’ Lottie teased. ‘He was too busy with his railroad and his bride.’

The maid entered with tea and Jasper took his leave of them and his wife, having business to attend to in the city, but he promised to return for dinner. While they ate, Lottie told them all about her and Jasper’s adventure finding her friend Harriet and everything they’d uncovered during their escapade. Nothing about Lottie’s behaviour as she described roping Jasper into visiting some of the seedier parts of London appeared to surprise Silas or Mrs Fairclough. It stunned Mary, though, as it did Mrs Fairclough listening to her daughter’s story without sneering in disgust at how she’d risked her reputation to help a fallen woman.

Mrs Fairclough caught Mary’s eyes with the same studying expression as before. Mary twisted her teacup in her saucer, wishing she’d stayed in America. She remembered all the times she’d sat with Ruth in church, waiting for people to judge her, afraid they would speak out against her. She’d detested that feeling and by coming back to England she was dealing with it in droves all over again, of having the people who were now her family look askance at her.

She shifted towards Silas on the sofa, wanting to draw comfort and strength from him, but the stiffness of his bearing stopped her from sitting too close. Whatever reservations and regrets Mary had about being here, Silas held some, too, as if he also worried that at any moment this light-hearted gathering could turn to one of accusations and derision. Mary caught his eye and offered him an encouraging smile. He matched it with an answering one of his own, each of them breathing easier because they were not alone.

Lottie, unaware of their awkwardness, finished her story and was about to start another when someone clearing his throat brought their attention to the sitting-room door.

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