His Michaelmas Mistress by Marly Mathews Page A

quite certain they would love to see you.”
    “Rose goes around in her housecoat and no one bats an eye. I do it, and everyone acts as if the world is ending,” she lamented.
    “Rose was recuperating from a severe fever when she was doing that. She was still quite weakened. That could be expected, and well, her father walks around in his banyan day after day, so really, who could blame her?”
    Julia sighed. “Is Thomas Somersby still there?”
    “I think so,” Beatrice said, sipping on her coffee, and reaching for a slice of toast.
    “Then, I might just steer clear of there,” Julia said sighing.
    Thomas Somersby always rubbed Julia the wrong way. His vociferous attitude quite undid her. Many probably wondered why she could tolerate Freddie’s boisterous ways. What they didn’t know was that Freddie usually showed a different, gentler side to her, and she loved that part of him.
    Thomas Somersby on the other hand, always had the uncanny knack to single her out, and when he did, she never knew what to say. He flustered her to no end, and she didn’t like feeling that way.
    “Oh, Thomas really isn’t that bad. Why, if I were inclined to marry again, he would be a good suitor. He hasn’t a title, but he has scads of money,” Beatrice said softly.
    She and Richard choked at their mother’s admission. Finally, Julia caught her breath.
    “Mama,” Richard gasped. “He is old enough to be our grandfather!”
    “Oh, dear, when you make those noises, you sound quite unladylike,” Beatrice rebuked.
    “I shall remember that the next time I choke on my tea, Mama. I hope…I hope you’re not going to be inclined to marry again,” she said, a little too desperately.
    Beatrice shrugged her shoulders. “I might. And aye, he is old enough to be your grandfather, but he is one of the handsomest men, even at his age. If I don’t get any grandchildren soon, what else shall occupy my time?”
    No one had the courage to remind her that when they were children, Beatrice left most of their care to the nursemaids. She didn’t take an interest in them the way that their Aunt Alice did with her children.
    Fanny, one of her mother’s pugs, walked under the table, and sat on Julia’s foot. She smiled. There was nothing quite like a little heartbeat at one’s feet.
    “However, I would be less inclined to marry, if you were to find your happiness with Lord Axbridge. I would be able to look forward to grandchildren that way.”
    Richard sat at the head of the table, and his eyes flickered between Beatrice and Julia as they sat opposite each other. For being normally so reserved and disinterested in everything, he seemed awfully enthralled right now.
    Julia kicked her brother in his shin, and smiled serenely at her mother.
    “Damnation, that bloody well smarted,” he muttered.
    “Richard, language, please. I can’t deal with those kinds of words this early in the morning,” Beatrice lamented.
    “I do apologize, Mama. I daresay I have quite forgotten the time. I should away.”
    “Oh, don’t go rushing off now, Richard. Why…Mama, we really should think about finding a suitable young lady for him. It is high time he was married, don’t you think?”
    His eyes widened, and he looked as if he was about to ring a fine peal over her. She wished him luck with their mother around. Beatrice’s eyes brightened. “Oh, aye, Richard, you should settle down. You are older than your sister, and you haven’t really made an effort to catch any young lady’s eye. It is time I should become the Dowager Countess of Tisbury. You should try to find someone at the Michaelmas Ball.”
    Julia groaned. “I quite forgot about that one. I don’t think I want to attend this year, Mama. I really don’t feel up to it.”
    “If you do not go, you will disappoint your aunt and your uncle. They rarely ask anything of us, and they always attend the balls of ours that matter, so you shall do the same. And I want you home in time to dress for