The Wedding Wager by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-26T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Simon Quinn exited the carriage and looked at Hartwood House with fresh eyes. This was the first time he had been back to the country estate since Timothy’s death.

It was no longer the place owned by his cousin, the late Duke of Witherin. The house, along with the lands that formed the Witherin estate, were now his.

Lady Emmaline, the dowager Duchess of Witherin, carefully alit from the coach. Simon observed her carefully to see if returning to the country seat was unduly upsetting. So far, she seemed to be bearing up well,

The Season in London, which marked the debut of his cousin, Lady Annabelle, followed by a tour of the Continent over summer, had been a welcome distraction. But now a new routine was demanded, and Simon wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it.

First, certainly, would be meetings with the local families, and learning about the business of the parish. Given the attention the Ducal carriage attracted as they went through the village of Storping, he imagined it wouldn’t be too long before callers descended to offer their felicitations.

He smiled to himself and wondered how many requests to visit there would be from the gentlemen who had shown themselves quite smitten with his cousin while in London.

Lady Emmaline took charge of the household servants immediately, and Simon was happy to let her do so. After all, this was her home. He was more than content to allow her to remain mistress of it.

Yet he remained conscious that the sword of Damocles hung over his head as it had done over Timothy. To have lost his cousin in the prime of his life was tragic. But should Simon die before his time would cause the title and the Hartwood estate to leave the family altogether. That was a prospect not to be borne. Therefore, a wife and an heir were to be his most pressing obligations.

He’d managed to side-step the matter by focusing on Annabelle’s season, but he knew it was only a matter of time before his aunt broached the matter of finding a wife again.

His cousin approached.

“Shall we take a walk in the gardens for a little while?” she said.

Simon offered his arm, grateful for the suggestion.

“I found the last part of our journey to be the most tiresome of all,” said Annabelle as they strolled. “I think it has something to do with the anticipation of being so close to home.”

Drawing out of her mother’s sight, Annabelle swung out her arms wide and took long marching strides before letting out an unladylike sigh.

“Do you remember when we’d go down to the stream at the edge of the woods? You, me, and Timothy?”

“They were among some of the happiest summers I can recall,” said Simon.

“Mine too.”

At his sympathetic look, Annabelle tapped his arm.

“Enough of the mopes. We’ve cried our tears over Timothy, and I’m sure I’ll cry more, but it’s time to move forward.”

“Does that mean you’ll accept the hand of Lord Peregrine Morgan, after all?”

His cousin returned an enigmatic smile.

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