Secrets: A Regency Romance (Friends and Foes Series Book 2) (Regency ~ Friends and Foes) by Valerie Holmes

Author:Valerie Holmes [Holmes, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“Excuse me, ladies, I shall be but a moment.” Micah winked at Imogen and moved ahead so that he could meet Ruth outside the kitchen where the maid was busy preparing their food.

Ruth bristled and hissed at him. “You have invited them to stay here and eat in my parlour, Micah! Is it not enough that you brought that man into my house and placed him in my guest room? Doctor Speers – you do know he is a Lord, don’t you? Only by default of course, because his elder brother died, but nevertheless the doctor inherited the title and lands, tending a blacksmith in my humble home and all. Whatever will they think of us? Could you not have left the man with the laundress? At least she would be able to see to cleaning the mess after he had slept in her sheets!” Ruth spat out words although they were only audible between the two of them. Her ‘guests’ were to be seated in the parlour at her table. Her best circular walnut inlaid table.

Micah ignored her protestations and instead walked to open the door to the parlour to show the ladies inside.

“Micah… can you help, dear?” Ruth called Micah out of the parlour on the pretence that he was needed to help the young maid carry the large tray. Ruth did not like being ignored.

“That man was filthy!” she whispered with venom.

“Mother, the man works in his forge, what do you expect him to be like?” Micah lowered his voice in response and to avoid insult.

“Oh well why don’t we ask any farmer who needs a rest to drag dirt through my house, or a miner who needs a break from his God-given toil! Perhaps they could use my guest bed at their convenience?” Her eyes glared at her son whose equanimity was unchanged.

Micah did not like this side of his mother’s nature and if her voice became any more audible and travelled to the Underwoods’ ears he would tell her so in front of them. However, he wanted to have a peaceful half hour with these women seated together in the same room. That way, there would be less of a barrier when he and Imogen walked out officially together. Their relationship was something that he had every intention of pursuing, for her presence filled him with a sense of joy he had never experienced before. Micah sensed the effect his presence had on her when he was physically next to Imogen.

“Mother, for God’s sake! And no, I am not using His name in vain. I mean it literally. Wilfred Underwood is a friend of Father’s, and you should be glad that he has survived, his heart did not give out, and God has blessed him with a safe place to recover. Besides, he did not look that dirty to me,” Micah said.

“No, he is not now because between Doctor Speers, a true gentleman, and Betsy they managed to clean him up some. His clothes are another matter; his woman can take them with her and bring fresh ones to him.

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