cherish her for the rest of my life. I give you my word.”
“And I’ll hold you to it.”
Just as Sebastian issued his warning, Marisa, accompanied by Beatrice and a weepy-looking Helen, joined them at the door.
Maitland held out his arm and Marisa didn’t hesitate, slipping her hand through, linking them as they were now linked in marriage.
Her family broke society rules and waved goodbye from the top step as his carriage drove off. Maitland saw Beatrice consoling Helen.
“Your sister will miss you,” he said quietly. “She is welcome in our home whenever she likes.”
“Thank you. We have never been apart before. What of your sisters? Will they be at Kenwood House? I must confess surprise that I have never met them.”
He shook his head. “No, little one. ’Tis no surprise. They have never been to London and you have never visited my estate. They are too young. Their mother, my stepmother, Priscilla, prefers to stay at my estate in Hampshire. There is Antonia, who is the eldest at almost twelve years of age, she is my stepsister, and Penelope, my half sister, has just turned ten.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “So, for the foreseeable future, we have the house to ourselves.”
He noted that the idea of being alone with him saw Marisa’s smile waver between anxiety and pleasure.
As the chaise drew to a halt outside his large townhouse, Marisa looked out of the window and he felt her stiffen next to him.
“My goodness, it never really occurred to me, I’m a duchess. I’ll have to run your households.”
He nodded and shifted his gaze to the house. “You will find my various houses, there are five in total, are run well, and will not be a difficult task. They know what I expect. The staff knows how I wish my houses to function. Everything is orderly and I have precise requirements. When in residence, I always breakfast at nine, luncheon is over by two, and dinner is promptly at eight.”
She didn’t appear to have heard him. “It’s much bigger than Sebastian’s house. Houses? How big is your estate?” Her hand splayed on the carriage window, as if trying to block the house from her view.
“I forget that you have not been to The Vyne in Hampshire. My estate is rather immense, actually. The family seat was built in the sixteenth century, and you could get lost for days in the various wings. It has a Tudor chapel, a rather large summerhouse, and a lake too. It’s beautiful. I look forward to showing it to you.”
He was about to open the door when Marisa pulled at his arm. “But we stay in London until we have caught this woman? Arend mentioned you’re needed. I want her caught sooner rather than later. I don’t want her doing anything to Helen. I would hate my sister to have to face my fate.”
This time it was he who stiffened. She immediately apologized. “That did not come out properly.” Her hand tightened on his arm. “I’m sorry, I just mean I want her to have choices.”
At her apology, a bad humor descended upon him, and he didn’t understand why. Marisa was right. This marriage was not of her choosing. “We’re both tired. Let us retire for the night and we can discuss our way forward once we are both refreshed in the morning.”
Brunton, Maitland’s longtime butler, was the first to greet them, bowing respectfully as Maitland escorted his wife through the front door.
“Your Grace, welcome to Kenwood House. I hope you will find all at Kenwood to your satisfaction.”
She gave Brunton one of her dazzling smiles, and Maitland saw Brunton immediately fall under Marisa’s spell. “I’m quite certain the house will be immaculate and the staff all consideration.”
“As the evening is late and I knew you would be tired”—Brunton stole an anxious look at Maitland—“I suggested Her Grace might like to wait to meet the staff until the morning.”
“Thank you, Brunton, an excellent idea.”
As Marisa removed her bonnet, he watched her admiring
“And I’ll hold you to it.”
Just as Sebastian issued his warning, Marisa, accompanied by Beatrice and a weepy-looking Helen, joined them at the door.
Maitland held out his arm and Marisa didn’t hesitate, slipping her hand through, linking them as they were now linked in marriage.
Her family broke society rules and waved goodbye from the top step as his carriage drove off. Maitland saw Beatrice consoling Helen.
“Your sister will miss you,” he said quietly. “She is welcome in our home whenever she likes.”
“Thank you. We have never been apart before. What of your sisters? Will they be at Kenwood House? I must confess surprise that I have never met them.”
He shook his head. “No, little one. ’Tis no surprise. They have never been to London and you have never visited my estate. They are too young. Their mother, my stepmother, Priscilla, prefers to stay at my estate in Hampshire. There is Antonia, who is the eldest at almost twelve years of age, she is my stepsister, and Penelope, my half sister, has just turned ten.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “So, for the foreseeable future, we have the house to ourselves.”
He noted that the idea of being alone with him saw Marisa’s smile waver between anxiety and pleasure.
As the chaise drew to a halt outside his large townhouse, Marisa looked out of the window and he felt her stiffen next to him.
“My goodness, it never really occurred to me, I’m a duchess. I’ll have to run your households.”
He nodded and shifted his gaze to the house. “You will find my various houses, there are five in total, are run well, and will not be a difficult task. They know what I expect. The staff knows how I wish my houses to function. Everything is orderly and I have precise requirements. When in residence, I always breakfast at nine, luncheon is over by two, and dinner is promptly at eight.”
She didn’t appear to have heard him. “It’s much bigger than Sebastian’s house. Houses? How big is your estate?” Her hand splayed on the carriage window, as if trying to block the house from her view.
“I forget that you have not been to The Vyne in Hampshire. My estate is rather immense, actually. The family seat was built in the sixteenth century, and you could get lost for days in the various wings. It has a Tudor chapel, a rather large summerhouse, and a lake too. It’s beautiful. I look forward to showing it to you.”
He was about to open the door when Marisa pulled at his arm. “But we stay in London until we have caught this woman? Arend mentioned you’re needed. I want her caught sooner rather than later. I don’t want her doing anything to Helen. I would hate my sister to have to face my fate.”
This time it was he who stiffened. She immediately apologized. “That did not come out properly.” Her hand tightened on his arm. “I’m sorry, I just mean I want her to have choices.”
At her apology, a bad humor descended upon him, and he didn’t understand why. Marisa was right. This marriage was not of her choosing. “We’re both tired. Let us retire for the night and we can discuss our way forward once we are both refreshed in the morning.”
Brunton, Maitland’s longtime butler, was the first to greet them, bowing respectfully as Maitland escorted his wife through the front door.
“Your Grace, welcome to Kenwood House. I hope you will find all at Kenwood to your satisfaction.”
She gave Brunton one of her dazzling smiles, and Maitland saw Brunton immediately fall under Marisa’s spell. “I’m quite certain the house will be immaculate and the staff all consideration.”
“As the evening is late and I knew you would be tired”—Brunton stole an anxious look at Maitland—“I suggested Her Grace might like to wait to meet the staff until the morning.”
“Thank you, Brunton, an excellent idea.”
As Marisa removed her bonnet, he watched her admiring
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