Once Bitten, Twice Shy: An addictive historical Regency romance full of scandal and gossip (Regency Romance Collection Book 2) by Christina Courtenay

Author:Christina Courtenay [Courtenay, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Choc Lit Historical Romance: A Joffe Books Company
Published: 2024-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Wyckeham Hall turned out to be an enormous building made of golden sandstone that shone in the sun as they approached. Ianthe gasped in delight.

‘You didn’t tell me how beautiful your house is, my lord,’ she exclaimed.

Wyckeham smiled. ‘It’s your house too now, my dear, and did I not tell you to call me Jason?’

‘Oh, yes, of course. It’s just that it’s all so new.’ Ianthe still had trouble believing he was her husband and that everything he owned was now at her disposal.

‘We’re nearly there now. Are you ready to meet the staff? No doubt they’re lined up and waiting to greet you. I sent word to say we were coming.’

‘I look forward to meeting them.’

‘There is one person, however, who doesn’t know — Caroline, my stepmother, Robert’s mother.’

‘Oh, how so?’

‘Well, I have to confess I thought it best not to inform her in case she decided to cause a scene at our wedding. She’s rather prone to those, unfortunately, so I didn’t invite her.’

‘But why would she want to do that? I don’t understand. Surely, she ought to be happy for you?’

‘Well you see, she’s been living here ever since she married my father and is used to ruling the roost, but as my wife it will be up to you to run the household now. I rather fear her nose will be put out of joint, especially as she’ll now be The Dowager Marchioness since you have supplanted her, so to speak.’

‘Oh, but I wouldn’t want to tread on anyone’s toes. If she is used to dealing with matters, perhaps it’s best to leave it at that? I don’t mind.’

‘But I do. I want her out of my house and I’d been meaning to ask her to move to the Dower House in any case, I just hadn’t got round to it yet.’

‘I’m sure she’ll understand once you explain. After all, offering her a house of her own is very generous of you.’

He smiled. ‘Somehow, I doubt she’ll see it that way, but I hope you’re right.’

Ianthe soon found she wasn’t, however. Only moments after they set foot inside the enormous hall, a woman came hurrying down the stairs. In a loud voice that echoed round the marble that was everywhere, she began to berate Wyckeham without bothering to greet him first. Ianthe stared at her, amazed by such blatant rudeness.

‘So you’ve finally deigned to come back, have you?’ the woman said. ‘You’ve been away an age and never so much as a tiny letter to let me know how things are progressing. Where is Robert? Have you found him a wife yet? I do hope it’s someone suitable and not some impecunious miss with only her pretty face to recommend her. I—’

‘Caroline,’ Wyckeham interrupted her flow as she came to a halt next to him, ‘may I introduce my wife, Ianthe.’

‘Your what?’ The Dowager Lady Wyckeham’s face went white with shock, then a dusky pink with some emotion that Ianthe could only assume was anger since the woman was scowling mightily.

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