Page 27 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

The irritation evident in his wife’s voice was new and a little disturbing. She’d never before said so much as “boo” when spoken to, and now this insolence? What spell was this house casting on his family? First Anthony defying him about marrying little Maria. Then James insisting on returning to Virginia. Now his wife talking back to him and in the bedroom, of all places. “I need to discuss something of monumental importance to the family. Are you quite awake and sober?”

“Of course, I am. You just awakened me. And I am not the one who spent most of the night drinking.” Margery adjusted her clothing tying the neck of her gown and removing the sight of temptation. “Now what is it that you wish to discuss?”

“Maria and James. They sat at dinner together and appeared to be having a spirited conversation at one point. We need to make certain that Anthony is put forward to her as the prospective bridegroom. Not James.”

“But Maria and James would suit so much better together, my dear.”

His wife must have lost her mind. Did she think that such things mattered at all when their livelihood was at stake? “You have not been speaking to Maria about the merits of James, have you, Margery?” He seized her arm in a vicious grasp.

“Aww, William. You’re hurting me.”

He shook himself and released her arm. All women were a dammed nuisance. “What did you say to her after dinner?”

“Nothing of any consequence, it turns out.” Margery rubbed her arm and glared at him. “She and James spoke about Bellevue and his desire to return there. Maria, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with journeying to Virginia. She is perfectly content to reside here, at least for now, and swears she has no interest in marrying again.” Margery shrugged. “I assume that puts an end to our hopes of reuniting the Kersey properties.”

“On the contrary, my dear. It gives me more hope than ever.” Kersey climbed up on the bed and flopped down on the pillows, his head spinning.

“It does?” Margery slid over next to him. “Why? I thought your whole idea was that Maria would agree to marry Anthony.”

“And she will, my dear, she will. If Anthony has one virtue, it is tenacity. Once he sets his sights on something, then he will move heaven and earth to make it happen.” After more explanation than it should have taken, he’d finally convinced his son of the absolute necessity of marriage to the Dowager Lady Kersey. “And one impediment has just been removed.”

“What impediment?”

“James.” Kersey opened his eyes to try to stop the room from spinning.

“How was James an impediment?” His wife’s puzzled voice grated loudly in his already throbbing head.

“As you said, Maria and James suit one another much better than she and Anthony. So James might have easily persuaded her to fall in love with him and whisked her back to Virginia, along with the control of all her properties.” Now the room spun in the opposite direction, making his stomach queasy. “But since she does not wish to travel, and actually wishes to settle down here at Kersey Hall, then James will have the devil’s own time getting her to agree to marry him. Which leaves ample opportunity in the coming weeks for Anthony to seduce her into his bed and get her pregnant. Then we can force her to marry him or risk complete ruin for the entire family.”

“William. That is a horrible scheme.” Margery’s voice sounded as sharp as an ice pick in his head.

“Margery, lower your voice or I shall cast up my accounts all over your bedcovers.” Kersey pressed his hands against his eyes, trying to keep his brains from leaking out his eyeballs.

“I’ll fetch the lavender concoction. My mother swore by it all her life.” She paused in the act of getting out of the bed. “Unless you’d like the vinegar instead?”

The mere mention of vinegar almost ensured that Kersey would lose the battle with his stomach. But a deep breath settled him again. “The lavender water, please, Margery.”

The pattering of her bare feet on the carpet as she retreated to the door to her dressing room where such potions were stored, made him relax onto the mattress. Anthony could take the plan from here and make certain Maria would land in his bed sooner rather than later. Kersey wanted the girl bound to his heir before the Christmas party welcomed its first guest. He had ample faith in Anthony’s reputation with ladies. Now that his son had picked up the gauntlet, so to speak, he’d lay odds little Maria would be warming his bed before the month was out. Sooner, once Lady John took her leave. With no one else to run to or discourage her, Maria would fall easily into Anthony’s arms. It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Eleven

Totaling up the figures on the renovations to the dower house—which had been used approximately two weeks when all was said and done—gave Hugh an unexpected delight. Not that the repairs had been an unnecessary expense, but now the house would likely fall back into disrepair before it could be used by the next Dowager Lady Kersey. The thought of so much time and effort now going to waste should have had him grumbling at everyone he came into contact with this morning. But the effect was actually quite the opposite.

The money had actually been well spent—Francis House was as right as rain now—if only the house would be put to some good use. Of course, Lady Kersey had had the use of it for a couple of weeks, which had given the lady pleasure, and so him. But now his primary job would be to visit it each year and hope to keep the property from becoming run-down again.

He might suggest to his lordship that they rent the house and its park until such time as it was needed for a dower house or as the primary residence of Lord Wetherby, perhaps upon his marriage. Not that that would come to pass for some time to come. Wetherby’s reputation had been whispered about all over London, so that even one who visited the city infrequently had heard of the newly titled lord’s exploits in gambling and whoring. Such a wild buck would not be settling down anytime soon.

Still, Hugh couldn’t help but be delighted by the way things had turned out for the Dowager Lady Kersey. With her return to Kersey Hall, Hugh always walked in the front door with the expectation that at some point during the day, he would get to see the lady. A sight that made the dreariest of days shine like midsummer.

Not that it wasn’t torture to see the woman almost on a daily basis, although he spoke to her much more infrequently than he saw her. He managed to discover when she liked to walk or when she came down for tea in the breakfast room. Then he would station himself somewhere nearby, out of sight, and watch as she walked down the corridor or entered a room. Something told him such conduct was unseemly, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to see her, to talk with her as he’d done that day out by the fountain.

The weather now prevented such meetings outside, but he could perhaps arrange an outing for Lady Kersey and Bella. He’d promised them both an introduction and now seemed as good a time as any. A good one also because it might help distract the lady from the loss of her cousin on Monday.

That settled it. He’d arrange the introduction for tomorrow afternoon, after church. The ladies at the Hall did not attend, but he and Bella went faithfully. After luncheon he would suggest Lady Kersey and Lady John accompany him over to the farmhouse where he and his sister resided, with several servants, for tea.

A knock sounded on the office door.

Hugh turned from his column of figures and barely stopped his jaw from dropping open. There before him stood the Dowager Lady Kersey, splendidly dressed, as always, this time in a deep purple gown with a square neckline that accentuated the curve of her bosom to a sinful degree. He blinked and quickly raised his gaze to her face.