The Pursuit Of Marriage by Victoria Alexander

sister. His own quarters were in the opposite wing, another concession to the separate nature of their respective lives.
    The door to his mother’s suite was closed. He knocked softly and waited. Nothing.
    “Try again.” Lucy frowned. “She may be asleep.”
    Reggie paused, his fist poised to knock again. “Then perhaps we shouldn’t—”
    “Of course we should,” Lucy huffed. “If she’s dying, we haven’t much time left.” She pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Mother?”
    Reggie and Higgins traded glances, then followed Lucy.
    The drapes were drawn against the early afternoon sun. The room was dim, shadowed, and a chill shivered through Reggie. His mother had a passion for light and always insisted the windows be open to the sunshine. That she did not do so now was a very bad sign.
    “Mother?” He stepped toward the bed.
    “My boy, is that you?” Lady Berkley’s weak voice sounded from the bed.
    “What is this, Mother?” He reached the bed and stared down at her. She lay propped up upon a virtual hill of pillows, which only served to dwarf her small frame. He had never thought of his mother as especially diminutive; no doubt the liveliness of her personality enhanced her stature in his eyes. But gazing down at her now, he realized how very petite she really was. “How are you?”
    “I’m fine, dear heart, nothing to worry about.” Lady Berkley sighed and raised her hand slowly to take his, as though the effort was entirely too much for her. “Nothing at all.” Her voice was so low that he could barely hear it.
    Her very denial sent fear through his heart. He sat gently on the bed and stared with concern. The light was too poor to see clearly, yet her color did indeed seem pale. He forced a confident note to his voice.
    “The doctor says he can find nothing wrong.”
    “And we must trust the doctor.” She cast him a brave smile. “I’m sure he knows far more than I.”
    “Of course. And you shall be fine.” Still…Reggie pulled his brows together. Doctors had been wrong before. “Is there anything you need?”
    “No, nothing.” She brought her free hand to her mouth and coughed delicately. “Not a thing.”
    A sense of complete helplessness washed through him. “Surely there is something I can do to make you feel better?”
    “You are a dear, dear boy for asking, but there is nothing I need. Well…perhaps…” She sighed. “No, I couldn’t…no.”
    “What is it, Mother?”
    She turned her head away. “No, it is too much to ask.”
    Reggie glanced at Higgins, who nodded his encouragement. “Ask anything, anything at all.”
    “If you insist. I should never presume otherwise.” Her gaze met his. “Before I go—”
    “Mother, you’re not going anywhere.” Lucy’s voice rose in dismay.
    “Of course not, dear.” She smiled at her daughter, then turned her gaze back to her son. “First, you must promise to look after your sister.”
    “Of course, Mother.” The promise caught in his throat, and he swallowed hard.
    “And second, before I go—”
    “Mother,” Lucy wailed.
    Marian raised a hand to quiet her daughter with a surprising show of strength. “I should like to see you settled.”
    “Settled?” Reggie’s brows drew together. “You mean wed?”
    “It is my heartfelt wish. My…” She pulled her gaze from his and stared off into the distance, her voice barely audible. “My last wish, as it were.”
    “Certainly, Mother, I can see that, but—”
    “A good match. From a good family. But more, someone you could care for.” Her voice had a musing quality, as if her mind were wandering. “Is there anyone…”
    Luminous blue eyes flashed in his mind, and he pushed the thought away. “No, not at the moment.”
    “Pity.” She fell silent for so long that he wondered if she’d drifted off. “Before I go, then, I should at least like you to be prepared.”
    “I needn’t prepare for your death as you are not going to die,” he said with far