Matthew was distracted enough that he almost forgot the question he’d just asked that she was saying no to.
“I do not think she would be comfortable meeting you when she is… indisposed.”
“I feel the same,” he replied agreeably, somewhat relieved, still focused on his wife’s beautiful breasts.This was the first time she’d been so exposed to him without trying to cover herself, and he was quite enjoying it.“But I also feel as though I have been a bad son-in-law when she is in the house, and I still have not met her.”
“I am hopeful she will be able to meet you soon.”Something in Johanna’s voice had Matthew lifting his gaze to meet hers, but she was already looking away and moving to the edge of the bed.“But we should ready for the day now.I will certainly look in on her today and see how she is doing.”
Picking up her nightrail and peignoir from the floor, Johanna clutched them to her chest as she hurried to the adjoining door and disappeared through it.While Matthew enjoyed the sight of her delectable backside, he did not get to watch it nearly long enough.She was in too much of a hurry.
He wondered if she would always be so modest or if the need for it in front of him would eventually wear off.
Sighing, he rang for Reedy to come and help him get ready to meet the day.While he was waiting for his manservant, he flipped his coin several times to see what he might do with his time today.
Spend some time with Micah—the boy could assist Matthew on estate business and learn from him at the same time.
Matthew was not one of the dukes who would be completing the next part of their investigation.Zachary would be speaking with his uncle, of course, and Christian would be tracking down Conyngham.Drake had said he would approach Hatchett, who was belligerent at the best of times, and all of them were happy to leave the earl to him.Sebastian had volunteered to take on Carmathan.
Which rather left Matthew, Gregory, and Nathanial at loose ends.Because, as married men, they ostensibly had responsibilities toward their wives.But Matthew’s wife did not need him today.
Perhaps he could visit his friends later and see what they had found out.
The coin flipped through the air and landed four separate times.
No to Drake.No to Zachary.No to Christian.Yes to Sebastian.How very interesting.Well, so be it.At least he had a plan for the day now.Micah in the morning, he could seek out Sebastian in the afternoon, and then hopefully be home in time for supper this evening.
Matthew smiled as Reedy knocked, then entered the room.It was good to have a plan.
Johanna
Scurrying into her bedroom, Johanna pressed her hands against her chest, feeling strangely winded even though she had not moved very far.The panic that had sparked when Matthew had asked about meeting her mother…
Hopefully, her mother was in her right mind today.
It felt like there was a huge lump in Johanna’s throat as she closed her eyes, leaning against the wardrobe.The hard wood helped her remain upright.Somehow she’d brazen through.She must.
Everything was going so well; surely, Mother must have recovered by now.Physicallyandmentally.Johanna knew that was not how life worked, yet everything was finally falling into place.Her mother was the last missing piece; then everything would be wonderful.Far better than she’d ever dreamed it could be.
Giving herself a shake, Johanna froze as she realized she’d just run naked from her husband’s room.Of course, it was not as though he had not seen her naked by now.But she had not even given it a thought because she’d been so quick to flee once he’d started asking about her mother.
Leaning against her bedpost, she caught her breath.
She had not been lying when she told Matthew that they needed to get dressed; otherwise, her siblings were likely to come looking for her.So, that was what she did.She rang for Nettie and gathered herself, shaking off the worry that had crept up on her when she’d realized Matthew wanted to meet her mother.
Because of course he did.
Thankfully, her mother being confined to her bedroom was a good reason not to allow it yet.
A knock at the door distracted Johanna from her worries.Nettie came bustling in to get her ready for the day.It seemed to go in a whirlwind, from getting dressed to eating breakfast with the family, exchanging small, secret glances with her husband as they did so.Afterward, Matthew asked Micah if he would like to join him in his study, to which Micah very quickly expressed his interest.
Seeing the two of them together, Matthew smiling at Micah, who beamed up at him in pure hero worship, made Johanna’s heart melt.
Both her husband and his grandmother seemed to relish having her family in the house, which did much to ease any guilt that might have reared its head over the duke being forced to support them.As soon as they were done eating, Bridget and Charlotte were rounded up by Lady Stark, who said they could come and see what she was teaching Johanna and Rose until their new governess arrived.
Unsurprisingly, Bridget was not particularly interested in the kinds and colors of linens that were available to the household, no matter how Lady Stark tried to explain their importance.Especially if Johanna were to ever throw a ball.Thankfully, the girls’ governess, a Miss Marjorie Swift, arrived midmorning, and they went to meet her.Lady Stark’s explanations sped up considerably after Bridget was no longer there with a thousand questions irrelevant to the topic at hand.
They were interrupted by the butler, Holt, as they were going through the different sets of tableware that were available.
“Excuse me, ladies, Your Grace.”He bowed.“Are you at-home this afternoon?Lady Astrid Blackstone and their Graces the Duchesses of Clarence and Hereford have come calling.”
