Chapter Fourteen
Max held thereins steady as he guided the horses to make the turn onto Belhaven land. It wasn’t as though he didn’t love his family, but having them unexpectedly arrive en massewould be its own trial. His grandmother, mother, and younger sisters could show up at any moment. The letter had been postmarked two days ago, and it was only a day’s travel from London to Marbury. He’d hoped to have some time to get his feet under him with his new role before he invited his family to come visit. And with Olivia and Mr. Galey living at the house, it made the situation all the more complicated.
He glanced over at Olivia. She stared straight ahead with a furrowed brow. Then, as though she sensed his gaze, her eyes flicked to meet his. He gave her a tight smile. “They were excited to learn of my new position. I think my mother always wished the title for my father. Although she got along well enough with Lady Rivenhall, there was always a bit of jealousy on my mother’s part.”
“And your sisters, how old are they now?” Olivia asked.
“Genevieve is nineteen, and Louisa is fifteen.” Max couldn’t believe how his sisters had grown into young ladies. In his mind, they would always be in pinafores, climbing into his lap and peppering him with questions about his travels. When his father died four years ago, he knew it had been hard for all the women in his family. His father had been an exuberant force of nature. He had approached everything in life with good humor. He was also a man that created his own opportunities and he had provided well for his family. Max regretted not being around more often the past few years, but the burden of supporting his family had fallen to him, and he’d had to hustle to keep paying the bills.
“I’ll be happy to meet them all finally. In all the times you came to Belhaven, your family was always overseas.” She nodded her head as though she was convincing herself. “We will tell Mrs. Peabody of their imminent arrival and get everything ready.”
Up ahead, he could see two large carriages in the circular drive. He and Olivia exchanged a startled glance. “I hope you meant that because your opportunity is at hand. It looks like they beat us here.”
Olivia grimaced. He pulled the curricle to a stop behind the second carriage. Climbing down, he held out a hand to help Olivia disembark before turning to the chaos in the drive. His mother was speaking heatedly to Mr. Daniels. Ginny was instructing two footmen to unload the trunks from the second carriage. Grand-mère Lucinda was just exiting the carriage with the help of another servant. Her wig and oversized hat bumped against the top of the door opening knocking the whole thing askew.
“Grand-mère, let me help.” Ginny rushed over to help straighten it.
“Thank you, dear.”
His other sister, Louisa, leaned against the carriage wheel not five feet away, her nose buried in a book. He strode closer. “Hello! What have we here, a traveling circus?”
Everyone paused and looked over at him. A chorus of “Max!” rang out. Louisa was the first to fling herself into his embrace. He wrapped one arm around the petite girl. Ginny was next. She kissed him on each cheek and then again on the first. “Brother, are you surprised? We’ve come to spend Christmas with you!”
“I am, as I only received Mother’s letter today. I haven’t even had time to warn the staff.” He walked over to his grandmother and kissed her paper-thin cheeks. “Grand-mère, how was your trip?”
“Terrifying, English roads are the worst in all of Christendom.” She laid a hand on his cheek. “I told Marguerite we would be intruding. But she is determined to see for herself what you have inherited.”
Mr. Daniels spotted Olivia, and the relief on his face was comical. “Lady Rivenhall, I’m so glad you’re here. You have unexpected guests.”
“Yes, Mr. Daniels, this is Lord Rivenhall’s family.” Olivia turned to his mother with a warm smile. “Welcome to Belhaven Hall, Mrs. Drake.”
“Thank you…Lady Rivenhall.” His mother replied with an arched eyebrow.
Max hurried over. “Mother, it is lovely to see you. If somewhat unexpected.” He bussed her cheeks.
“I wrote you,” she said.
“Yes, we just received the letter today. In fact, about an hour ago. How did you travel here so fast?”
“Yes, well, you only stayed in Paris for such a short time. And the day you left, we all agreed how much we missed you already. So I decided we should return to England and visit you for Christmas!” She raised her hands and kissed him again. “We left just a few days after you.”
Olivia spoke quietly to Mr. Daniels. “We will have them stay in the Rose, Violet, and Gardenia rooms. Have the fires started and the trunks unpacked. Tea in the blue drawing room.”
Mr. Daniels bowed and hurried inside.
“Allow me to make proper introductions. Mother, this is Henry’s wife, Olivia. Lady Rivenhall, my mother, Marguerite Drake.” His grandmother and sister joined them. “My grandmother, Lucinda Stanley. My sisters, Genevieve and Louisa Drake.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Olivia nodded her head. “Now, I think we should all get in out of the cold.” She gave Max a pointed look.
“Yes, of course. This way.” Max offered his grandmother his arm. They all trooped inside. Capes and muffs were collected, and Olivia led the way into a drawing room he had not been in yet. The well-appointed room was decorated in soft blue and gold. A young maid was on her knees, stoking the fire into a blaze. She turned around as they entered, her eyes round as a startled doe. Max recognized her as the maid who had thought he was a ghost the first night he arrived. He sent her a friendly smile.
“Thank you, Enid. That will be all,” Olivia said.
The girl popped up, made a short curtsy, and scurried out of the room. Olivia gestured to the seating area near the fire. “Please, come sit down where it’s warm.”
He helped his grandmother get settled on the settee. She patted the spot next to her. “Sit next to me dear. I didn’t see enough of you in Paris.”
His mother took a seat next to Ginny on another settee while Louisa wandered around the room, her book tucked under one arm. She wasn’t one for polite conversation, so he was surprised when she was the first one to speak.