Rescuing the Countess: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance (His Majesty's Hounds Book 13) by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2018-06-10T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Maria sat for some time after Charles had gone, her fingers gently touching her lips, her mind reeling with the possibilities which flowed from that kiss. Perhaps her life was not so bleak as she had thought. Perhaps, once her year of mourning was done, there was a chance for happiness. She should not put so much freight of hope upon one kiss, yet she could not stop herself. In the end, she wiped the last traces of tears from her face, and gathering up the box, went to her rooms. It was time that she joined the others again, and got on with life.

Half an hour later, feeling far more hopeful about life in general, she entered the parlour, to find her parents and Nerissa talking.

“I don’t know, these young men, haring off after some idea, with barely a moment’s notice. All too energetic for me!”

Lord Chester sipped a brandy, and shook his head. Maria had to assume that he spoke of Charles, Hunter, and Kevin, for they were absent from the room.

“Where have they gone, Father?”

“I’ve no idea – they didn’t even wait to explain. Rash, too rash, still, age will calm them down eventually.”

Maria simply nodded, and dropped onto the couch beside Nerissa – there really wasn’t much she could say in response. She pulled her embroidery from the basket she had left there earlier, and tried to focus her attention on the quality of her stitches. That proved far more difficult than usual, as the question of where the men had gone nagged at her. When she had almost given up on her needlework, the door opened, without even a knock, and a sharp voice destroyed the last of her concentration.

“How disappointing. I had hoped that all of the unwelcome guests would have departed by now. It seems I must still share my home with the faithless strumpet and her relatives. Mark my words, you will pay for your deeds – do not think, for a moment, that I will ever relent.”

The Dowager stood in the room, glaring at everyone. Maria found herself shaking – with both fear and anger. Lord Chester carefully placed his brandy glass on the side table and stood, drawing himself up to his most imposing.

“Whatever you may believe, my Lady, nothing justifies your rudeness, nor your wholly inappropriate treatment of my daughter. I will thank you to remember that, and keep a civil tongue in your head. I respect your grief, but it is not an excuse for these baseless and vicious accusations.”

“Are you accusing me of lying? How dare you! I will not stay to be spoken to like this.”

She turned, and stormed out of the room. There was stunned silence. After a moment, Nerissa stifled a laugh.

“Oh dear, what an unpleasant woman she is! But… I have formed the impression that no one has ever defied her, or challenged her words and manner, and she does not cope with it well at all. Is that the way of it Maria?”

“Yes, dear sister, I believe you have the right of it.

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