Chapter2
Mary Trenton thanked the young footman who helped her into her sister’s carriage.She waited for him to close the door before sinking back into the cushions and closing her eyes.A sigh of relief escaped when the vehicle finally began moving and she willed her unsettled nerves to calm.Everything would be better soon because she was on her way to see her friend Amelia.
To say the past week… no, the past month… had been trying would be a vast understatement.Ever since Amelia had written to let Mary know she and her new husband, the Marquess of Lowenbrock, would be in London for the season and to beg Mary to join them in town.
Spring and early summer had always been Mary’s favorite time of the year.That became truer when circumstances forced her to move in with her sister Edwina after their parents died in a carriage accident.Every spring, when her sister departed for London, Mary could feel the tension with which she lived on a daily basis leaving her body.With her sister away for the season, Mary was free from her constant surveillance and criticism.
That all changed with the arrival of Amelia’s letter.Edwina had been annoyed when Mary asked to accompany her and Lord Fairbanks to London.Mary was no fool, however.She knew Edwina would deny the request and so she’d casually dropped the one piece of information that would change her sister’s mind.The news Mary had held back for just such an occasion.The fact that her friend was now the Marchioness of Lowenbrock.
After learning that Amelia Weston was now a marchioness, her sister’s displeasure had vanished.Mary wasn’t taken in by her sister’s false smiles, knowing it meant her sister planned to ingratiate herself and her husband into Lowenbrock’s circle of friends.That was the only reason Edwina had allowed Mary to accompany them to London.
That hadn’t stopped her sister from dropping her customary snide comments and criticisms into their conversations.Edwina was incapable of holding back altogether and was on her best behavior only when Lord Fairbanks was present.
Today Mary would finally see her friend again, and she was dismayed to be running late.Because of course her sister had taken so long to send the carriage back after taking it out for her own errands.
The trip to Amelia’s residence was a short one, and Mary realized she could have walked the distance.She’d have to get a maid to show her the route for her future visits.
The carriage slowed to a halt, and a footman opened the door to help her down.She barely had time to take in the facade of the imposing town house that was Amelia’s London home when the front door opened and her friend was rushing down the steps.They met in the middle of the short walk that set the house back from the street and embraced.
“I feared you weren’t coming,” Amelia said when she pulled back.
Mary rolled her eyes.“That would be Edwina’s doing.She’s out today, visiting, and assured me she would send the carriage back for me on time.She either forgot or she did it on purpose.”
She could have kicked herself when she saw the way Amelia’s forehead creased in concern.Knowing how her friend worried about her, she shouldn’t have said anything.
Mary laced her arm through Amelia’s and turned them toward the house.“Let’s not worry about her right now.You need to show me your home.”
Amelia smiled up at her.“It’s hard to believe I’m now mistress here.”
Her friend’s words surprised her.“You weren’t before?Your uncle never married, and so I just assumed you were.”
Amelia turned to the butler when they entered the house and asked for tea to be brought to the drawing room.When she looked at Mary again, her smile held a hint of sadness.“I haven’t been back here since Uncle fell ill, and I wasn’t yet of age the last time we were in residence.”
Mary followed Amelia into the drawing room and took a seat next to her on the settee.“But you were in London last summer?”Amelia hadn’t told her the details about what had happened after she’d left her uncle’s manor in Yorkshire and returned to London.She’d assumed her friend had stayed here.
Amelia nodded.“I stayed briefly with John’s sister, Louisa, but I didn’t want to impose.After that I spent some time with a trusted friend of the family.Since John was the new marquess, this house wasn’t mine to do with as I wished.”
Mary wanted to press for details, but one look at her friend’s face told her Amelia didn’t want to discuss the matter further.She’d known that Amelia was sad when they’d left Yorkshire together, but apparently there had been more to her sorrow than just being homesick, which Mary had assumed was the only issue at the time.
“Oh good, the tea is here,” Amelia said.
Mary let out a small sigh as a footman brought in their refreshments and set the tray on the table before the settee.“Fine, I’ll change the subject.But I want to hear all about it soon.It’s clear you’ve been holding out on me.”
Amelia smiled.“There is one bit of news I can share right now.”She leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice.“John and I are expecting.Come the fall, I’ll be a mother!”
Mary let out a small laugh and engulfed her friend in a quick hug.She cast a look at Amelia’s belly.Her friend wore a pale yellow morning gown that had settled close to her body when she sat, but Mary couldn’t detect even a hint of her friend’s pregnancy.“There is no sign yet that you’re increasing?”
Amelia shook her head, the dark curls that framed her face bouncing with the movement.“Not yet, and we haven’t announced it.John’s family knows, but I don’t know if he’s told his friends.And I wanted to tell you in person.”
Mary could only stare at Amelia in wonder, taking in the glow of happiness that seemed to light her from within.“I’m so happy for you, and for Lord Lowenbrock, of course.”
“I thought my time had passed for such things.With no chance of having a season—and let’s face it, I would have been too old in any case—I had little hope of marrying.”
“And to someone who clearly loves you as much as you love him.”
Mary had visited Amelia in Yorkshire again in the fall for their wedding.That time the marquess’s sisters had brought their children, and the house had been filled with the sounds of happiness.It had struck her just how different it was from the cold, quiet emptiness of the house she shared with her sister and brother-in-law.No children had blessed their marriage, but she imagined there was still time for Edwina and Lord Fairbanks.
From the way the marquess had gazed at Amelia, it was obvious to everyone that he cared for her.And once they’d wed, he hadn’t even tried to hide his affection.Mary’s visit hadn’t been long—despite the respite from the tedium of living under her sister’s ever-watchful gaze, she knew her life would only be more unpleasant if she extended the visit.For some reason, Edwina seemed intent on ensuring Mary was as unhappy with her lot in life as she was.