Amelia watched the man carefully for a moment, her thoughts beginning to whirl as she imagined how perfect it would be if Mary were to form an attachment to one of John’s friends.
There would be time for such speculation later. For now, she threaded her hand through Mary’s arm and led her from the room. She wouldn’t push the two of them together, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on the situation.
Chapter 29
John woke that morningwith a sense of anticipation. Today his sisters would arrive.
He’d been disappointed to learn they weren’t bringing his nieces and nephews, but he understood their reasons. It didn’t make sense to subject them to such a long carriage ride for a short visit. Maybe next summer, after he and Amelia were wed, they’d be in a position to invite his family for a much longer stay.
He smiled as he imagined the scene while his valet set out the clothing he would be wearing that day. Perhaps Amelia would be round with child then. They’d taken care to ensure she wouldn’t fall pregnant before marrying, but one could never be completely certain it wouldn’t happen anyway. The sooner he married her, the better.
He’d left London on good terms with his sisters and their husbands, but a part of him had wanted to escape their constant hovering. Now, only three months later, he couldn’t wait to see them again.
He’d fallen into the pattern of his new life with surprising ease. So much so that hosting his two friends at Brock Manor set him off-balance at first. And today he would be welcoming his sisters and their spouses. Another landmark in that life.
His friends were already awake when he reached the main floor, having fallen in with his daily habit of going for a ride first thing in the morning.
Together, they ventured farther than he normally did when he was alone, but with the ball only two days away, he knew Amelia wouldn’t be waiting to have breakfast with him. Since his friends’ arrival, she’d taken to having breakfast sent to her room. Afterward, she spent the rest of the morning occupied with whatever it was women did when a social event they were about to host was fast approaching.
His friends took every opportunity to remark on his good fortune at being so far from his family. Their own relations—who’d been happy to send them off to war—now seemed intent on seeing them settled and producing children.
It felt decadent to spend days with his friends. Riding, taking their meals together, engaging in a rousing game of billiards. The days were worlds apart from how they’d spent the past few years together. Jeffers was handling the day-to-day running of the estate, but John couldn’t quell the itch under his skin that seemed to prod him to do more. He’d never been a man of leisure, and it seemed he was now too old to start.
It didn’t help that he rarely caught a glimpse of Amelia throughout the day. Seeing her only when they all gathered for dinner wasn’t enough for him.
It was fast approaching the dinner hour when a footman interrupted their billiard game to inform him that his family’s carriages were approaching. He’d played so often over the past two days that he’d gone from being the worst player to coming close to Ashford’s considerable skill.
Ashford put away his cue and began to retrieve the billiard balls, setting them up for their next game. “Saved from the ignominy of defeat at the hands of a novice.”
Cranston chuckled. “He’s fast outstripped my meager skill. I can’t wait to see the look on your face when he defeats you.”
“Perhaps, but that day has yet to arrive.”
John clapped them on the back and took his leave without another word. He’d always been amused by the rivalry that existed between his two friends, but in that moment he wanted only to see his family again.
His friends caught up and flanked him as he made his way to the front hall.
“You never did tell us who your sisters married.”
It was a question Cranston had asked several times, but John had always sidestepped the issue. Until his return to England, it was because he felt lacking in comparison. But that was no longer true.
“My eldest sister is married to the Marquess of Overlea and the other to the Earl of Kerrick.”
Ashford whistled. “That’s pretty lofty company, but then again I can now count a marquess as one of my good friends.”
John grunted a noncommittal response, then nodded to the butler as he passed before striding outside. Two carriages had just drawn to a halt several feet away. His friends stood back and watched the scene unfold in silence.
John watched, anticipation curling within, as his brothers-in-law stepped down from their separate carriages and turned to help their wives. Catherine emerged first and turned toward him. The smile that spread across her face seemed to reach right inside him and squeeze his heart.
When he turned to look for his eldest sister, he saw the way she smiled at her husband as he helped her down. Overlea gazed down at his wife with a fondness that caused a small pang of remorse to go through him. They’d already made amends, yet he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive himself for the way he’d treated this man in the past.
He met his sisters halfway as they threw themselves into his arms.
Catherine stepped back first, but Louisa gripped him for several seconds longer before doing the same.
“It is so good to see you again,” his elder sister said.
He gave a small huff of amusement at her tendency toward exaggeration. “It’s only been three months.”