The Debutante Bride by Wendy May Andrews

Author:Wendy May Andrews [Andrews, Wendy May]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781621355298
Publisher: Clean Reads

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Back on Governor’s Road, in the Earl of Westfield’s lovely townhouse, Beth and Sally were just finishing up the countess’ preparations for the afternoon’s excursion with the earl. Beth was still unsure if they were going visiting or sightseeing, so they had agreed on a simple frock that could pass for somewhere in the middle of both those social events. It was a bit of a stretch with her limited choices, but Beth felt they had done all they could. At least her hair appeared to be acceptably fashionable. Hopefully they wouldn’t run into anyone of too judgmental an attitude.

Beth shuddered delicately at the thought of running into her sister-in-law, hoping that event could be postponed far into the indefinite future. She pushed the melancholy thought to the back of her mind, and bounced to her feet before remembering to be more decorous. She imagined a countess needed to be even more serene than Miss Dunseith from Wiltshire.

Beth drifted down the stairs just as the clock was striking two. “Punctual as always, my dear. I am impressed,” commented Justin as he took in the lovely vision his wife presented. He bent gallantly over her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before they stepped out the door and climbed into his phaeton.

“We are in luck, my dear. My friends that I wanted you to meet are able to see us this afternoon. They will be expecting us shortly. You shall like them, I’m sure. Gary, that is Garfield, Lord Cumberland, and I went to school together. We have been friends since we were young lads and we sit in the House of Lords together. We often even agree,” he concluded with a dry chuckle.

Beth was listening with wide eyes. She was delighted that the earl wanted to introduce her to his friends, but she was obviously intimidated to meet them. The introduction to his ‘dear’ sister had not gone well the day before despite the earl’s expectations to the contrary. How will he react if his friends take me in dislike? she fretted.

Justin’s ever watchful eyes took in the spectacle of his wife valiantly trying to hide her fears. He was beginning to perceive a pattern in her reactions. She would plaster a polite, agreeable, rather emotionless smile upon her face, but her hands gave her away. In this case they were grasping each other so tightly in her lap that the knuckles had turned white. The earl knew that any onlookers would just see the serene smile and assume all was well with the young woman, but he saw beyond what she wanted him to, straight to the problem – she was nervous to meet his friends. He was unsure how to comfort her so he merely reached over and patted her tightly clenched hands. Justin was very surprised when her hand twitched, relaxed, and then softly clasped his own. He smiled down into her now upturned face. Not wanting to startle her, he refrained from any further move, but he did want to say one thing.

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