One for Love by Emma Wildes

Author:Emma Wildes
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-12-23T23:35:34+00:00

* * * *

Something was very wrong. For one thing, Victoria could see her mother-in-law was pale as death, her fingers wound together in her lap so tightly the knuckles shone white, and her normally refined features cast like a stone mask. Even her eyes looked hollow, as if she’d just seen a ghost, her mouth compressed into a bloodless line. Normally she was vivacious and gracious, still pretty despite a few lines of gray in her dark hair, and Victoria really could not remember hearing her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone.

The uncharacteristic stony silence was disturbing. It was almost as if Lydia was afraid to speak.

“Your mother and I were just reminiscing.” The other woman smiled but it did little to lighten her icy exterior. She was actually very beautiful but it wasn’t the first thing you noticed about her somehow, though Victoria couldn’t say what the quality was that struck her. Maybe it was the aura of self-possession, of complete control. The visitor added in a smooth, amused tone, “We had a very good mutual friend once.”

Lydia made a small inarticulate sound.

Neither she nor David had even sat down and Victoria could hear her husband take in an audible breath. She glanced up and saw his eyes narrowed a fraction as he stared at the visitor.

His eyes.

Good heavens, she realized with shock. Those unusual tawny eyes, the ones she’d looked into so many times, were the exact same color as their mysterious guest’s. Even the color of David’s hair, rich chestnut brown with those attractive scattered golden strands, was identical to the lustrous upsweep framing the woman’s lovely, cold face.

She’d known his father and there wasn’t much doubt David was the spitting image of him in many ways, but not his coloring, and certainly not those telltale eyes.

David didn’t move, but stood there, his expression impassive. “Victoria, could you please take my mother upstairs so she could lie down. She looks a little pale. Perhaps a glass of sherry would help.” He added almost curtly, “Close the door behind you, if you will.”

He was right, Lydia looked downright white, and when Victoria went to take her arm and help her to her feet, she found her mother-in-law was trembling. Lydia faltered, “David, I—”

“I’ll take care of this, no need to worry.”

They went, and Victoria obediently shut the door behind them, her intense curiosity at war with her concern for her mother-in-law. They climbed the stairs in silence and when they reached the suite of rooms the dowager countess now occupied, the older woman collapsed into a chair as if weak-kneed.

“Shall I ring for your maid?” Victoria asked, alarmed.

“No.” Lydia shook her head. “I’ll be quite fine. I’m just a bit off balance. David is right. Maybe a small glass of sherry will help.” One shaking hand went to smooth her hair. “My dear child, what you must be thinking,” she murmured.

Since she had no idea what on earth might be going on, Victoria

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.