Page 48 of Denying a Rakish Duke
“So kind of your sister to invite us out to her home for a fortnight while things die down with your uncle. Some time to smooth the ruffle out of his feathers can only be a good thing for everybody involved.”
Petunia was nervous. She had been nervous for the last hour of the carriage ride. She would not confess the reason for her discomfort to the other occupants of the carriage with her, but as it was a tight fit for the five of them to ride for such a distance— every person in the space now shared her anxiety. At the very least, she had chattered on about anything and everything that she could in order to fill the otherwise peaceful silence that they all shared.
Joseph had taken to pretending to be asleep. His arms were folded across his chest and his head lain against the padded side of the carriage wall, but his act was fooling nobody. Amanda and Thomas had been carefully sidestepping the topic of Thomas’ father as they rode, but it seemed that Petunia was waiting for something to happen. She seemed to be convinced that retribution was about to rain down on all of their heads because she had been so bold as to stand up for herself.
Which left Vanessa with the unfortunate obligation of whispering placations into her mother’s ear every few minutes in an attempt to change the topics of conversation. She was failing miserably. “So you have said at least three times already, Mama. I am certain that the only reason for hergenerosityis because once word of the excitement she missed reached her, and she needed to find a way to become involved somehow. She had never been our patron’s biggest fan to begin with— she would have been delighted to see his downfall.”
Thomas’ thin lips pressed together. He started to pinch his fingers along the brim of his hat. He turned it around and around in his hands with the effort not to say anything. Amanda sweetly placed her hand on top of his in a modest fashion to show her support. Just a bare touch of her gloved fingers over his to stop the movements and a look of adoration lifted to him was all that he needed to feel calm once more. “My father has made a great many mistakes— I will never attempt to claim that he is not at fault in deceiving all of us, but I just cannot bring myself to— bring myself too— ” he stammered. He could not seem to locate the word.
“Cannot seem to condemn your own father? I should think not,” Petunia offered. “I should not think it of you— I should watch my tongue. It is just so fresh in my mind, and I long to get out of this carriage and stretch my legs for a while. Had Serafina and the Duke not been staying in their country home, we should have been reunited with them already, and I need my entire family around me right now.”
Thomas’ expression shifted to show that he was quite happy to be included in the family group that Petunia needed around her at this moment. The silence fell over the collection of people once more.
“Next time perhaps I shall ride in my very own carriage— then I could speak my mind in peace and not bore all of you. Honestly, how that man is pretending to be asleep as if the rattling of the wheels over the dirt does not set his mind to a throbbing pound, I shall never know,” Petunia continued with a huff.
In his ‘sleep’, Joseph smiled.
Vanessa was sorely tempted to pinch him.
Eventually the carriage pulled to a slow stop as the scenery outside of the windows shifted. The rich curtains were pulled open as the floral scent of immaculately maintained, expansive gardens became more and more alluring the further up the path they went. Not even Joseph could pretend to be asleep any longer— none could stop their admiration of the most intricately landscaped property that they had ever seen. It was far different from the last time that Petunia had seen the place— Serafina’s natural green thumb had wholly transformed the space into something out of a painting— and it should be immortalized. Every color of flower was planted in stunning patterns and naturally sculpted bouquets in the distances, all backed by the nearly emerald green of the lawns and the perfect trail of trees leading up their way until the plants cleared enough to present the massive country home as a centerpiece.
Joseph was out of the carriage the moment that it pulled to a stop. He extended his hand out to every person that needed assistance. Unwittingly, he even assisted Thomas out of the carriage as they turned to get the full impressive view of the Mansion.
“I knew that she had been busy here … but I had never imagined that it was quite this lovely,” Petunia whispered reverently.
“Mama, I should think that you should expect nothing less than beauty and loveliness from anything that I do,” Serafina said from the wide-open front doors. She was flanked by her husband, the Duke, and the servants already moving down the steps to unburden the carriages of their luggage and attend to the horses.
“Everything except for the indelicate way that you tend to allow your thoughts and words to run away from you!” Petunia teased as she kissed each of Serafina’s cheeks in greeting.
“I can now say with some confidence that I have learned such a detestable skill from my very own mother if the tales of recent events are to be believed!” Serafina teased. Petunia actually blushed.
“Well, if that is truth you can hardly expect me to own up to it.”
“And you two! Sneaking off into the country to elope! You could have at least done the smart thing and come here!” Serafina playfully chided her youngest sister as another carriage came to a stop behind the first. Bridgette and her husband, Isaac, exited and came to stand with the others.
“It is the most impulsive thing that I think Amanda has ever done in her life … Thomas as well, for that matter,” Bridgette answered as she shifted in a subtle attempt to stretch her weary limbs without any of the others noticing.
“I shall not pretend to be bashful about the fact that I am far better suited indoors with my studies than out swashbuckling or fighting,” Thomas answered. He had always been slightly intimidated by Bridgette and was still adjusting to her ways.
“Well, let me say first and foremost,” Serafina started. She glanced over her shoulder to Christian who gave her an assuring nod. “We are blissfully happy that all of you have decided to come and stay the fortnight with us. I have longed to be all together as family under the same roof, and we should have more than enough space for all of us to exist happily! Please come in, come in— I want to know every little detail of what has happened.”
Before Amanda and Thomas could begin to explain the ways that they were tricked into believing Tobias Farbridge’s dull silver tongue, Vanessa spoke. “Perhaps I shall start the reunion off with a bit of happy news before we hear any unpleasantness?” Vanessa attempted to contain herself. She took Joseph’s elbow and held to him for stability as her other hand pressed into her stomach. “Mama already knows— but I wanted to tell all of my beloved sisters the happy news.”
Serafina’s eyes widened, and she looked as if she could not believe what Vanessa implied without her saying the words out loud.
“Joseph and I are to have a baby— I am with child!”
* * *
The days passed in happiness. Vanessa could hardly remember a time that she had been happier. All of her nieces and nephews in one place. The sounds of laughter and rich conversation filled the many halls of Seraphina’s home. It was so refreshing that Vanessa could not help but wish for their time together to last longer— to hold onto this brief moment in time that they could share together. With all of their respective duties and obligations, she knew that they were enjoying a rare, blissful occurrence.
So many changes had occurred in such a short time. The latest surprise that her husband had given her was the addition of a lovely horse stable to their country property just beyond the gardens where Joseph’s childhood friend and horse trainer could work. Though they had some differing opinions on some equestrian topics, Vanessa could not deny how dearly she loved the new lodgings for Apple after Joseph had purchased her from the Earl of Evans on her behalf.
Dodger and his wife had been a lovely addition to their staff — in so many ways she did not know how to express.
Vanessa stood at a large window overlooking the grounds where Serafina and Amanda worked on a flower arrangement with Serafina’s housekeeper. Of course, her sister would wish to do that particular task herself— she loved all things about botany. Vanessa could not wait to see what her own child became. Each had their own goals and particular accomplishments that they exceeded at. She wondered, boy or girl, what her child might take too— what sort of wonders they would be capable of producing.
Would they share Serafina’s love of flowers and gardening? Her own love of horses? Bridgette’s painting? Perhaps Isaac would teach her son to duel and fence— or Christian would bring books from all of his travels to share in expanding her children’s minds.
