Page 45 of The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride

‘Our ponies miss us! Can we go tomorrow, please?’ Arabella pleaded.

‘Do your reading tonight, and I’ll go with you in the morning,’ Claire said.

Nurse frowned. ‘I don’t mean to be impertinent, but is that wise, Your Grace?’

Claire made a dismissive gesture. ‘I’ll be fine. Hartley, will you set up blocks for your sister again?’

While the older children went back to their books, Claire turned to Emma. ‘I’m increasing again, which is what prompted Nurse’s concern,’ she confided.

‘I wonder then that you attempt a London Season!’ Emma said. ‘My sister’s schedule is overfull and she has only two young children to supervise.’

‘I’ve always been blessed with easy pregnancies. I spent most of the early months when I was carrying Alex, following my husband’s unit, the Fourteenth Light Dragoons. I sometimes feel guilty about that ease. My sister suffered dreadfully with each of hers, miscarrying several babes, with only Bella surviving. She was so ill after the last that, widowed by then, I went to Steynling Cross to help her—and met Hart.’

‘I see you are still caring for your niece; does the Dowager Duchess remain an invalid?’

Claire laughed. ‘Strange to hear my baby sister referred to as a “dowager”! But she is one no more. She recovered enough to come to London and assist with introducing Hart to Society. There she met an admirer from her debut Season, a now-widowed baron, Lord Telford. Though she had no notion of wedding again, Telford is rich and already blessed with several sons and daughters. Persuaded by his devotion and his promise to require nothing of her save to grace his house, she accepted him.’

Emma shook her head, a bit confused. ‘She didn’t take her young daughter with her?’

‘Lilliana was the favoured daughter, pampered and cared for all her life—by me, as much as our parents! Who could resent such gentle sweetness? But she…has no gift for management. As Bella had been under my care for as long as the child could remember and is very close to Alex, we decided it best if she remained with us after her mother remarried.’

And once again, you carry her burden for her, as you did in managing the duke’s estate, Emma thought, her admiration for the duchess increasing.

‘Tell me more! How exciting—but terrifying, too—it must have been to follow the army on campaign. So much to manage and how quickly you had to adapt to changing circumstances! The experience must have been invaluable when you took over for your sister at Steynling Cross.’

‘It was. Though prepared initially to resent Hart for displacing my sister, having that background as a soldier’s wife helped me understanding him better—and soon had me eager to assist in his transition to his new role.’

‘I know Charles is hoping Hart will help him transition into his new role.’

‘Their circumstances are very similar. But you must tell me more about yourself! When Charles told us he wanted us to meet you, I knew that you must be important to him. All the time I’ve known him, he’s played the dashing courtier, an outrageous flirt who charmed all ladies but never focused attention on any particular one.’

The idea that she was important to Charles was both reassuring and alarming. Feeling herself colour, Emma protested, ‘He likes me because we became friends before he knew about his inheritance. He’s leery of others who’ve sought his acquaintance after his elevation. He knows I value him for himself.’

Claire gave her a sceptical glance. ‘Perhaps. Still, there’s a difference in him I can’t attribute only to the change in his circumstances. It could not have been anything but a dismaying shock to discover his heritage, and he must still be assimilating the implications. I can tell you are helping in that.’

‘I hope so. It’s always valuable to have a friend who understands and appreciates you for who you are.’

‘Mama, help!’ young Hartley’s plaintive voice cried. ‘Sissy won’t let me build up blocks.’

Chuckling, Emma watched as Claire seated herself on the floor in a froth of skirts and soothed her son. After she came over to assist, they remained a short while longer, setting up several arrangements of blocks for the youngsters to tumble and reading a few pages with the older ones before taking their leave.

As they walked out, Claire said, ‘How kind of you to help entertain the children.’

‘No thanks needed, your children are delightful! Since leaving my siblings at Wellingford, I spend all my time among adults. It’s refreshing to be around the artless and honest, to have no need to be circumspect about what one says, not to have to listen to sly innuendo or endure the petty intrigues Society constantly engages in.’

‘Indeed!’ Claire gave her an impulsive squeeze of the hand. ‘I’m so glad to know another sensible, plain-spoken lady who can be a true friend, navigating the hostile shoals of Society!’

‘I’d be honoured to be considered your friend.’

A lady who could sit on the floor playing blocks, read primers with her children—stir soup over a campfire by some Portuguese river…this was a friend with whom Emma could feel comfortable, despite her being a duchess.

She seemed able to combine a warm family life with the duties required by her husband’s position. Might life as the wife of a highly ranking peer not be as restricting as she’d thought?

Further reassured by the presence of Colonel Wexford and his wife, who were friends of long standing, amused by the lively conversation among the gentlemen, several of them former lieutenants who also served with Hart and Charles, Emma had only to sit back, relax and enjoy the excellent dinner.

After the ladies withdrew to allow the gentlemen their brandy and cigars, Claire drew her apart to murmur, ‘I gave Tomkins orders to light the garden flambeaux; you’ll have that walk soon.’ She grinned. ‘Be warned, though—the house does overlook the garden, so you’d be advised not to do anything…too improper.’

Emma felt her face flush. ‘Of course not!’