Three Wise Monkeys by Lesley-Anne McLeod

Author:Lesley-Anne McLeod [McLeod, Lesley-Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: England, Historical, Historical Romance, London (England), Regency, Regency Romance
ISBN: 9781601741790
Publisher: Uncial Press
Published: 2014-03-14T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

It was just two days later that letters arrived from the Marchioness of Cheriton, widowed mother of Nicholas, Felicity and the twins. That there were two Dowager Marchionesses Louisa found confusing, but at least until Nicholas married, his mother might nominally retain the title of marchioness, and so Louisa thought of her. She was Lady Cheriton and Grandmama Cheriton was the dowager, in Louisa's mind.

Louisa found Felicity perusing her letter in the morning room of the Valences' rented house in Chapel Street. The baroness, very lovely in a morning gown of her favourite speedwell blue, regarded her with obvious anxiety.

"Mama is arriving next week! Oh good gracious, I must be well by then. She will guess my situation and require me to tell Valence. Louisa! Louisa, you must assure her of my wellness and do not, by any failure, reveal my condition."

"You could confide in her, Felicity. She is your mama, and I think her wonderfully understanding. She would help you." Louisa wore a walking gown of moss-green poplin and dangled her cottage bonnet by its ribands from her fingers. She had had the intention of walking out to purchase a few necessities--ribbons, stockings, gloves--as there were no activities planned for this Monday morning.

"She will demand that I tell Eric," Felicity repeated. "And I cannot...will not--"

"I do think you should trust your husband. He is a fine man, nothing like the Wicked Baron we were used to call him when I was a child at Wheeling Hall." She thought to make her companion smile with mention of the name Lord Valence had gained through his years as a rakish and uncaring landlord.

Felicity did not seem even to hear her words. "I shall tell no one until or unless I must. Promise me that you will say nothing to Mama! Promise!"

Louisa could see no way to avoid the pledge. Felicity had in the past been much prone to hysteria. Though Louisa thought her marriage had improved her mightily, she could hear the edge of extreme agitation in her hostess' voice now. Such emotion would do her no favour in her condition.

"I promise I shall tell no one," she vowed.

Felicity visibly relaxed. "Very well, then. Mama wishes us to undertake preparations for a coming out ball for you and for Susan. She believes she will be with us Thursday week, for all is well now at Shardleigh. She wishes to hold the ball on Friday. She trusts us to make the necessary arrangements by then. Good gracious, how can we arrange the thing so soon? We must visit Grandmama and Susan, and then speak with Nicholas' housekeeper and butler. The ballroom must be opened and cleaned. You are already prepared for an outing; we'll go now. I shall be but a moment."

It took more than a moment for Felicity to ready herself for the brief trip to Brook Street but it was less than an hour until the ladies plied the knocker at number six. They found the Dowager Lady Cheriton, Miss Sawrey, and Susan exclaiming over a letter very similar to Felicity's.

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