The Earl’s Marriage Dilemma by Sarah Mallory

Author:Sarah Mallory
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-14T11:43:42+00:00

Rosina knocked on the cottage door and it was opened by a plump, homely woman dressed neatly in a grey gown and snowy apron.

‘Mrs Jones, good day to you.’

‘Miss Brackwood! Well, bless me! Come in, ma’am, come in!’

She stood back, holding the door wide, and Rosina heard the carriage drive off as she stepped over the threshold.

‘Good heavens, Jem will be that pleased to see you!’

At the sound of their voices, a querulous voice called, ‘Martha, who is it, who’s there?’

‘It is I, Mr Paxby. Rosina Brackwood.’ She moved further into the room and crossed to the fireplace, where her father’s aged valet was sitting in an armchair, a patchwork blanket wrapped around his knees. ‘No, no, sir, don’t get up.’

She placed a hand on his shoulder before turning back to accept the offer of tea from his sister, then she pulled a chair closer to the old man’s and sat down.

‘I thought you had left us,’ he exclaimed, his rheumy eyes fixed on her face. ‘They said you was gone off to America.’

‘I decided to stay in England, after all.’

‘But not with Sir Edgar.’

‘No. Not with him.’

‘Can’t say I’m surprised,’ said Martha, bustling up with the tea tray. ‘But it was a sad day when you left us, Miss. You know your brother’s married now?’

‘Yes, I had heard.’

‘It is rumoured the lady’s family had no choice,’ she added, placing the tray down on a nearby table. ‘It being what you would call a hasty wedding.’

‘You mean...?’

‘I do, Miss.’ Martha rested her hands on her stomach and gave Rosina a darkling look.

‘Seen her at church a couple of times,’ muttered Mr Paxby. ‘Poor little dab of a woman. Didn’t look to be happy, but that’s no wonder. Everyone knows he married her for her dowry.’

‘Now then, Jem. We’ve no reason to think she’s unhappy.’

Martha chided the old man as she handed him a cup of tea, but the look he gave Rosina was eloquent. He knew Edgar’s temper as well as she did, although the valet had always been too loyal to Papa to speak ill of his son.

Rosina sipped her tea and encouraged the valet to talk about the old days. She was content to listen to his stories of Brackwood Court when she was a child and he and Sir Thomas had both been hale and hearty. She was conscious of the time, and did not wish to tire the old man. At length, she finished her tea and took her leave, promising to call again.

‘Thank you, ma’am. Your visit’s done Jem the world of good,’ Martha told her as she escorted Rosina to the door. ‘He misses life at Brackwood Court something fierce and although he don’t speak of it, I know he frets over what the new master is doing. Or rather,’ she added, her homely face adopting an uncharacteristic frown, ‘what he is not doing. It’s been a tonic for him to see you, though, and to know you are well.’

Rosina heard the faint doubtful

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