The Pursuit Of Marriage by Victoria Alexander Page B

wish.”
    “Now, now, Lucy.” Lady Berkley smiled in the resigned way of a martyr on the road to the coliseum and collapsed back against the pillows like a sail bereft of wind. “If Reggie thinks it’s too much—”
    “No, not at all,” Reggie said quickly. “If this is what you want—”
    “Excellent. I have instructed Higgins to send a request for her to call later this afternoon. I leave it all in her hands.” She cast him a frail smile. “And yours.”
    “Of course.” Reggie forced a pleasant smile to his face and struggled to keep a note of reluctance from his voice.
    The last thing he wanted to do was waste his time listening to an eccentric lady’s musings about sofas and fabrics. Still, if it helped improve his mother’s health, he could endure an afternoon with some woman who was no doubt past her prime and filling her empty hours by refurbishing other people’s houses. He would approve whatever plans she had, but beyond that, he would keep as much distance as possible between himself and this eccentric.
    “Now then, children, you may run along.” Lady Berkley sighed, as if their conversation had quite sapped her strength. “I have a few items I need to discuss with Higgins.”
    Reggie frowned. “Is that wise? Surely any instructions for Higgins can wait until you have rested?”
    “It will take but a moment and will ease my mind. I find it difficult to rest easily knowing the household is not in order.” She waved weakly toward the door. “Go on now, and do close the door behind you.”
    “Very well.” Reggie caught Higgins’s gaze. “See to it she does not overtax herself.”
    “I would never permit that, my lord,” Higgins said staunchly. Reggie stepped to the door, paused to allow his sister to exit before him, then pulled the door closed behind him.
    “Reggie.” Lucy gazed up at him, her gray eyes wide with concern. “What do you think?”
    “About Mother’s illness?”
    Lucy nodded.
    “I don’t know what to think.” Reggie shook his head. “She is not the type of woman to take to her bed without due cause. I cannot recall her ever being indisposed or ever claiming to be. I fear she may well at least believe she is indeed on her deathbed.”
    “Perhaps she simply wants the house refurbished and is reluctant to spend the necessary funds?” A hopeful note sounded in Lucy’s voice.
    “Perhaps.” Reggie considered the idea aloud. “Although I have never noticed Mother to so much as hesitate when it comes to expenditures. Indeed, she has always rather relished spending money, and the more immense the sums the greater her enjoyment. In addition, she has never used anything as serious as the state of her health to get what she wants. That alone gives her illness a certain level of veracity.”
    Tears welled up in Lucy’s eyes. “Then she’s really—”
    “Don’t be absurd,” he said sharply and put a comforting arm around his sister’s shoulder. “I am confident Mother will be with us for many years to come. We simply have to weather this situation and follow the doctor’s advice in regards to humoring her requests. I am sure she’ll be completely back to normal in no time.”
    Lucy sniffed. “Do you think so?”
    “Most certainly.” Reggie’s voice held a conviction he did not entirely feel. “Besides, Mother’s main purpose in life in recent years has been to see me married.” He cast Lucy an encouraging grin. “She would never permit herself to die until she has seen me safely wed.”
    “I see.” Lucy pulled out of his embrace and studied him for a moment. “Thank you, Reggie. I must say you have made me feel much better.”
    “Have I indeed?” He raised a brow. “Why?”
    “Why? Because given your astounding success thus far in finding a wife,” Lucy smirked, “Mother may well live forever.”
    Cassie perched on the edge of a settee in the grand drawing room at Berkley House and cast an assessing eye around the chamber and its decor. The