“Lady Regina,” Mark intoned, bowing. “And Lady Harriet.” He offered a similar bow to his aunt.
Regina smiled warmly at Mark. “I must say I never thought I’d see you set foot back at Colchester Manor.”
“Believe me, neither did I,” Mark replied, his hands still firmly crossed behind his back. “You’re looking lovely as ever.”
“Thank you,” Regina replied. “I hear you’re in the running for the Home Secretary position.”
Mark narrowed his eyes on the petite woman. He glanced at Nicole, who shrugged and held up her palms.
“How did you hear that?” he asked, returning his attention to his cousin.
“I hear many things,” Regina replied, her blue eyes twinkling.
“It’s not in the papers, is it?” Nicole asked.
“Not yet,” Regina replied.
“The Home Secretary?” Lady Harriet craned her neck to stare up at Mark. “Why in heaven’s name would you want that awful responsibility?”
Mark bit his lip to hide his smile. “It’s a position I’ve aspired to for some time now, my lady.”
“You young people and your ambition. Makes no sense to me.” Lady Harriet fanned herself with her handkerchief, then pointed toward the house. “Let’s all go inside and have some refreshments. You are the first to arrive.”
Exactly how Mark had planned it, of course.
The ladies ushered Nicole and Mark inside, across the vast marble-floored foyer, and into a light blue drawing room that was the most magnificent space Nicole had ever seen. It was at least twice as big as the drawing room at her family’s estate and was filled with priceless antiques, heavy rich carpets, and luxurious tapestries.
“Please sit.” Lady Harriet took a seat on a delicate rosewood chair in the center of the room. She plucked at her dark skirts, her black-slippered feet barely grazing the rug-covered floor. Her turban sat haphazardly atop her head as if it might topple at any moment.
Regina chose a Chippendale chair near her grandmother, which left Nicole and Mark to sit next to each other on the dark green settee across from the ladies. They left a conspicuous gap between their bodies when they sat.
Regina and her grandmother shared a glance.
“You must tell us all about how you two finally made it back together,” Lady Harriet said, the black handkerchief taking to the air again, like a bird to flight.
Nicole cleared her throat. “I decided to return. I’ve missed England and… well, it was time.” She and Mark had talked about the potential pitfalls of this conversation during the long coach ride. They’d agreed that the less specific they were, the better.
“I, for one, couldn’t be happier for you both,” Regina said. “I’m merely surprised. You never mentioned anything about it in your letters, Nicole.”
Nicole glanced down at her slippers. “It was… rather a sudden decision.” She looked back up at Regina. “And you know how awful I am at keeping up with my correspondence.” Both things were true. Why did she feel so guilty for saying them?
Regina smiled at Nicole. “I don’t blame you. It’s not my favorite pastime either.”
“Yes, well, it’s high time you two reunited,” Lady Harriet interjected. “And none too soon.” She punctuated each word with a flap of her handkerchief. “You must get about the duty of making babies. Immediately.”
“Grandmama!” Regina plunked her hand on her hip and eyed the old woman warily.
“Don’t you Grandmama me, miss.” Lady Harriet crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her granddaughter. “It’s bad enough you’ve refused to marry and provide me with great-grandchildren. At least I can hope for a grandniece or- nephew from these two.” She waved the handkerchief in Nicole and Mark’s direction.
“You’ve refused to marry, Regina?” Mark asked, cocking his head to the side. Nicole had to admire howsmoothly he avoided more questions about his own life and lack of heirs.
Regina smoothed her dark hair with one hand. “It’s not so much that I’ve refused, really. It’s more that I have yet to find anyone I particularlywantto marry. Not to mention, I have the ludicrous notion that you should only marry if you fall in love and actuallywantto spend the rest of your life with the person you’re marrying.” She rolled her eyes. “Call me mad.”
Nicole reached over and squeezed Regina’s hand. “I don’t think you’re mad at all.”
“You sound like my mother,” Mark said to Regina.
“Yes, I think I take after Aunt Mary quite a bit. Grandmama even says I look like she did at my age.”
