The Earl's Mistaken Bride - By Abby Gaines Page 0,54
any way I can,” Constance said. She
rather enjoyed Marcus’s frown of displeasure.
“I knew I could rely on you, my dear.” Helen glanced
up at her son. “You had best accept this plan of mine,
Marcus. It will happen.”
The steel in her voice made Constance smile. So,
Marcus’s pigheadedness wasn’t all from his father’s
side!
“Only if Mr. Young says it won’t be too much for
you,” Marcus said.
“I’m sure he will concur,” Helen said. “Constance, I
can’t wait to watch dear Marcus whirling you around
Karen
e
n K
im
m ♥
ABBY GAINES
214
our ballroom.”
Dear Marcus looked distinctly unenthusiastic.
“I’m sure it’ll be wonderful,” Constance said stoutly.
Was that a snort from her husband? Couldn’t he see that
his mother was so happy at the prospect of this ball, it
could only be good for her?
“Perhaps you and Constance could discuss which of
your friends you’d like to invite,” Helen said.
“Actually, Mama, I’m traveling to Chalmers today,”
Marcus said. “In fact, I’m departing imminently.”
Since when had he planned this? From his carefully
bland expression, Constance knew the answer. He’d
planned it after last night. This was his strategy for
avoiding her. An excellent one, she had to admit.
“Jeffers needs some guidance about the repairs to the
tenants’ homes,” he continued. “Since you’re so much
better, I thought I might take a few days to give my
advice in person.”
“Of course you must,” Helen said. “You’ve neglected
your business too much on my behalf as it is. I wish you
Godspeed, my son.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her cheek as he stood up. He
slipped his hand into the pocket of his coat, and pulled
out three envelopes. “Before I forget, these arrived for
you in this morning’s post—” he handed her two letters
“—and one for you, too, Constance.”
Constance recognized her father’s squarish hand on
the sealed missive.
Marcus was halfway to the door when his mother
said, “Marcus, you outrageous boy! You’ve forgotten to
Karen
e
n K
im
m ♥
215
THE EARL’S MISTAKEN BRIDE
kiss your wife goodbye.”
Constance turned her head quickly before Helen saw
her dismay.
Marcus came back. “How careless of me.”
Constance stood and offered him her cheek. The
brush of his lips felt like a whisper of disappointment.
“Goodbye, Marcus,” she said.
When he left, something went with him—some kind
of motivating force. Without it, Constance felt
irritatingly lethargic.
“My dear, will you sit with me awhile longer?” Helen
asked. “Perhaps we can read our correspondence
together.”
“Of course.” Constance resumed her seat. She prized
open the wax seal on her letter and began to read.
“From your father?” Helen asked.
Constance nodded. “Mama has added a message,
too.”
“What news of your family? If you don’t mind my
asking?”
“Isabel has joined the board of the local orphanage,”
Constance said. “She has a remarkable penchant for
doing
good
works
without
being
the
least
sanctimonious.”
The dowager chuckled.
“Papa says Serena isn’t writing from Leicestershire as
often as she used to, and asks if I have any news of her.
Which I don’t.”
“And what of that pretty little minx, Amanda?” Helen
asked.
Something
must
have
flickered
across
Karen
e
n K
im
m ♥
ABBY GAINES
216
Constance’s face, for Helen said, “Is something wrong?
Is Amanda ill?”
“She’s well, as far as I know,” Constance assured her.
The dowager’s raised eyebrows told her she couldn’t
end there. “She and I had…a disagreement, that’s all.”
“Oh, my dear. It’s not good to allow family
disagreements to lead to estrangement.” Helen’s hand
covered hers.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Constance said formally. She
hurried to read on. “Papa says—oh!” She clapped a
hand to her mouth.
“What is it?” Helen asked.
“Papa has been invited to meet with the archbishop
here in London on the twenty-second of May, to discuss
his views on social equality. I expect the archbishop
plans to scold him—his views are rather unorthodox,”
she explained.
The twenty-second was next week.
“I imagine they are,” Helen said appreciatively.
“Much as I like to hear them, I know I’d be most
uncomfortable if some of Reverend Somerton’s views
became reality.”
Constance read on. “He says Mama will accompany
him if I can assure him I will be in London—my mother
suffers badly from travel sickness.”
Helen clucked in sympathy. “But how wonderful that
you’ll see them. You must miss them.”
“I do.” Constance chewed her lip. A part of her
longed to see her parents…but not here, not now. They
were both far too perceptive. They would see in five
Karen
e
n K
im
m ♥
217
THE EARL’S MISTAKEN BRIDE
minutes that all was not well in her marriage—even
with Marcus away at Chalmers.
Constance would be mortified. That was the nub of
the matter, she realized. Her pride, in this respect at
least, could rival Marcus’s!
But she couldn’t help it. Her mother had questioned
Marcus’s suitability as a husband and Constance had
blinded herself to the truth of her mother’s insight. Her
father had faith in her to build a godly marriage, and
she’d let him down. That he wouldn’t hold her to
account for the failure was irrelevant.
And what if they mentioned to Constance’s sisters, to
Amanda, that things were going badly? It was awful
enough that Marcus had wanted to marry Amanda.
Constance couldn’t bear the