“Please put those with the green ribbons inside here,” Gemma instructed.
Gemma found that she felt hungry and could not wait to get home in time for lunch; she was glad that the carriage took only two hours to get them back home. Gemma looked at the parcels she had instructed to be put inside the carriage. Inside were delicate pastries and cakes that she first offered to Ashley.
“Oh no, my lady, you must choose first,” Ashley said.
“I insist there is more than enough here,” Gemma said as she raised her chin in exaggerated defiance. Ashley took one and took a grateful bite. “Are they good?”
“Yes, thank you, My Lady,” Ashley said, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Do you know anything about the Duke of Exeter?” Gemma heard herself ask.
“Not much, My Lady. I believe he grew up here like I did. Perhaps other locals would know more,” Ashley replied.
Gemma nodded and went back to her selection of eats. The rest of the journey was spent in pleasant conversation, and soon Gemma looked out the carriage window to see the large iron gate, with their coat of arms on it, open to welcome them home.
Lunch was family time. Gemma sat next to her parents, and her grandparents sat seated opposite. This was a time when they would catch up on each other’s day.
“How did town go today?” her father, Andrew Castwell, asked.
“Very well, thank you, father,” Gemma replied.
“You should be careful, child. There are thieves at every corner,” Gemma’s grandmother added.
“Now mother, no need to scare Gemma. I am sure she is careful,” her mother, Margaret, said.
“I am careful, grandmama,” Gemma replied gently. She loved the older woman as much as she did her mother. Her grandmother had always shown Gemma that she adored her granddaughter in equal measure.
“I met a rather nice gentleman at the stationers,” Gemma announced and closed her eyes tightly. She instantly regretted making mention of meeting Lothar today.
Why did I do that? Now they will want to know each detail. I am not even interested in being with someone.Gemma thought knowing the floodgates would open and questions would come at her from all her family at the same time.
But her family all turned to her and simply stared at her in surprise.
Chapter 2
What an intriguing lady,Lothar thought as he got into his carriage. He had a few more places he would have liked to have seen that day. Unfortunately, his mother had other plans.
“A matchmaker?” He asked his valet.
“Yes, Your Grace. I was asked to bring you home immediately,” the valet replied.
“Well, then it would be better for the both of us if we were to leave as quickly as possible,” Lothar said with a grin as he wrestled his frame into the carriage. “Why can they not make these things bigger?” He mumbled when he bumped his head against the roof of the carriage.
Lothar looked at the roof as if it had come down and struck him while he put his hand to his throbbing head. The carriage jolted about while the horses settled down from the excitement. They loved to run. The moment the valet took hold of the reins, they knew they would be free to run soon.
Once they took off, they were on their way at a swift pace. The trees just outside town went past the carriage window in a blur. Dust from the country road entered the carriage and made Lothar cough.
They were soon home, and Lothar felt a mix of relief and trepidation as he walked into the estate, hoping to first find a whiskey before his mother found him.
“Your Grace?” A footman asked.
“Yes?” Lothar replied though he did consider pretending not to have heard him.
“Your Grace, your presence is requested in the library the moment you are available,” the footman said, with a nod.
“Thank you,” he replied, and the footman left.
Probably to go tell mother that I have been found. I best go see her,Lothar thought as he sighed and went in the direction of the library. When Lothar arrived in the library to speak to his mother, she was having tea with another lady.
