Then his surprising wife turned and left him staring after her.
“It was a lovely ceremony, Mother,” Amanda said, helping her mother count the silver.
“I’m afraid it was a very hole-and-corner affair, my dear. Given the circumstances, it was as well done as it could have been.” She straightened, slapped her hands together as if to rid herself of the problem of her niece, and smiled at her oldest daughter.
“You can rest assured, my dear, that when your wedding comes along, it shall be a grand and illustrious event.”
Amanda smiled. “Veronica will be pleased to live in Scotland again,” she said.
Her mother shivered. “Such a barbaric country. I find it difficult to believe that our poor dear Queen has loved it all these years.”
“I think we should plan to visit them.”
Her mother looked at her with some surprise. “You have never expressed an interest in travel before now, Amanda.”
“She is family, Mother.”
Her mother nodded, as if giving the idea of travel to Scotland some serious thought. “If it’s good enough for the Queen,” she said, “then it’s good enough for us.” She smiled. “I shall speak with your father about it. We should, if nothing else, ensure that Veronica is living well in Scotland. After all, we’re the only family she has left.”
“Except for her new husband,” Amanda said. “A very interesting man.”
“A Lord, for all that it’s a Scottish title,” the countess said.
“Even so, Montgomery is a handsome man,” Amanda said. “How very like our sly little Veronica to have escaped scandal with such a catch.”
“Had it not been for you, Amanda, we should never have known.”
The fondness of her mother’s smile was indication enough she’d pleased her parents.
Yet in telling her parents about Veronica’s shocking actions, Amanda had cut off a potential source of funds. She could become quite cross about the entire situation. Veronica had married and left the household. However, her dear cousin had married a wealthy man.
There must be some way to make that work to her advantage.
Chapter 8
Veronica was served her wedding dinner in a small dining room, the meal punctuated by a solicitous Mrs. Gardiner, who insisted upon coming back into the room every few minutes.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Lady Fairfax?” she asked again.
Since it was the third time Mrs. Gardiner asked, Veronica realized the housekeeper was not as intent on being of assistance as she was offering her sympathy.
“Everything is wonderful,” she said, forcing a smile to her face. “Thank you for your kindness,” she added, finding it odd to be an object of pity on her wedding night.
Mrs. Gardiner nodded, leaving the room after several backward glances. No doubt the poor woman wanted to make some explanation for Montgomery’s absence but was constrained by loyalty.
Her new husband was nowhere in sight. Nor had he sent word to her as to his whereabouts or intentions.
After the endless meal, she retreated to the room she’d been given, to be greeted by Mrs. Gardiner and a young girl pulled from kitchen duties to act as a lady’s maid.
“I truly don’t need any assistance,” she told the housekeeper. “I’ve never had my own maid, you see.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship, but you’re married, now.”
She didn’t know what part of that comment was more disturbing, the fact she had just noticed that Mrs. Gardiner had been calling her by her new title or that the housekeeper believed her life had changed.
True, marriage had altered her status from poor relation to rich wife. She was Lady Fairfax, whereas she’d been simply Miss MacLeod a day ago. Montgomery, however, didn’t believe in her Gift, which was not an appreciable change in her life. No one had except her parents.
She was as lonely as she’d been for two years.
