Falling for Mr. Townsbridge - Sophie Barnes
Chapter One
Even though the London air was soaked with fine droplets of rain, it was still good to be home. Stepping down from the carriage, William Townsbridge paused to study the red brick townhouse with its white window casings. Beads of water gathered like dew drops upon his coat. A wry smile touched his lips. The delight he felt right now would most likely fade the moment he stepped through the front door and met his mother, Margaret, Viscountess Roxley.
As much as he loved her, he had no desire to be her marital project, which was part of the reason he kept on leaving. The last time he’d been home she’d kept on reminding him that his brothers had both married when they’d been six and twenty.
William had been one year younger than that at the time, but his mother had clearly believed it was time to prepare – for him to begin considering potential matches so he’d be ready to strike as soon as his next birthday came. It had passed with little fuss since he’d deliberately been away, working as the aide to the British ambassador in Lisbon. Before that, his father, Lord Roxley, had helped him travel to America with the excuse of exploring new investment opportunities.
Prepared for what was to come, William helped the coachman unload his luggage, paid the man, and went to knock on the door. He’d already made plans to go away again in a month to visit a friend’s holiday home in Florence. Until then, he’d simply grit his teeth and nod whenever some young lady’s name was mentioned, while savoring the bone deep knowledge that his mother meant well. She loved him and simply wanted him to find the kind of happiness she enjoyed with his father and which his brothers had also been lucky to find with their wives.
Grabbing the knocker, William gave the door three loud raps and grinned when his youngest sister, Athena, came to greet him instead of Simmons, the butler.
Athena’s eyes widened. A laugh escaped her. And then her arms were around his neck in a fierce hug. “You’re back. Oh thank heavens. Sarah and I have missed you dreadfully, William. She more than I, I’m sure. My goodness, she’ll be thrilled to have you home. You’ve no idea. No idea at all.”
An odd sense of foreboding crept under William’s skin. “What do you mean?”
Athena grabbed his arm and pulled him more fully into the foyer so they could shut the door. An exaggerated sigh of despair escaped her. And then she rolled her eyes. Although she was old enough now at the age of twenty for him to consider her a fully grown woman, her boisterous energy still made him think of her as a child.
“Mama is being impossible.”
The whispered piece of information was barely spoken before the door to the parlor opened and the lady herself appeared. She was followed by her husband and William’s other sister, Sarah. He met Sarah’s gaze and barely managed to give her a quick smile before he was swept into his mother’s arms.
“We’ve missed you,” she said.
“I’ve missed you too,” William told her loyally.
They broke apart just as Simmons made his appearance. “My apologies for not arriving sooner. It’s good to see you again, Mr. Townsbridge. Please, allow me to take your bags.”
“Thank you.” William handed over his things, greeted his father with a solid handshake and Sarah with another embrace.
“Come,” his mother said. “We’ll call for some tea and a snack to tide you over until dinner.”
“You’re in for a treat,” Athena said, traipsing behind as the family left the foyer. “Mama has hired a new cook. Mrs. Lamont is her name and everything she makes is utterly divine.”
William glanced at his father. Neither had ever cared much for food one way or the other. Eating was just a necessity – an inconvenience that got in the way of whatever else they’d rather be doing. And dinners always lasted ten times longer than William believed necessary.
“She’s not wrong,” Roxley said, much to William’s surprise. “I actually look forward to meals now, if you can believe it.”
Incredulous, William stared at his father for a moment. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to decide for myself.”
“But before you do, I’d like to hear your opinion on Sarah’s potential suitors,” William’s mother said. Everyone groaned, including Roxley, but she was determined. “There’s Viscount Belmont, Mr. Hastings, the Earl of Penwood, the Earl of Endry, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Dunnings, Mr—”
William stared at his