Page 67 of Rescued from Betrayal
Her uncle smiled. “I knew you would. Now”—he slapped his hands down on his knees—“to address the topic I wished to speak to you both about. I know I suggested this removal to the country, but I have found that gossip has died down far faster than I anticipated, at least concerning your nuptials.”
Nathaniel frowned. Melior had been through a lot today and he hoped the duke would not brooch the topic of Mr. Fairchild.
“I would like to invite you both to attend my wedding Wednesday next.”
Melior sucked in her breath. “Do you mean it?”
“Absolutely,” His Grace said.
The hope in her eyes brought conviction to Nathaniel’s heart. He would make sure they were at the duke’s wedding, rumors or not, but what if whoever forced Melior into this marriage decided it was not enough? What if the slander continued?
Chapter 23
Melior made quick work of speaking to her lady’s maid, letting the woman know that she could regain her position on the stipulation she bring any concerns to her rather than gossip about it below stairs. Baylor had sat hard upon her bed, a stunned expression on her face. It had taken several moments for her to answer, but when she did, it was followed by a flood of apologies.
Melior thought back on the maid’s happy smile as she’d left her. It was too early to tell if things would work between them, but the appreciation on Baylor’s face had been a good start.
Thompson helped her into her red pelisse as Nathaniel and Eddie slipped on their gloves. Once dressed for the cold, they made their way to the carriages, Eddie teasing Nathaniel about his choice of tan breeches.
“All I can say is that if you happen to take a spill in the mud you are bound to look as if you did not make it to the outhouse in time.”
“I hardly think this an appropriate conversation in front of your sister.” Nathaniel helped Melior into the carriage, then climbed up beside her.
Eddie laughed. “She’s heard worse from me.”
Melior gratefully accepted the lap robe he handed her. “Yes, but that is when you were seven and ten, not five and twenty.”
“Those were the days,” Eddie said wistfully.
Her uncle sat on the seat beside her brother. “How, might I ask, is Sir Nathaniel to get mud on his breeches, Eddie? Are you planning to trip him?”
“I would not put it past him,” Nathaniel said and tapped on the roof.
The rest of the drive consisted of much the same banter, bringing a constant smile to Melior’s face. It was the loveliest drive she’d had in a long time.
When they reached the paper mill where they planned to start their shopping, Lord Newhurst and Mr. Roberts were already waiting, a bevy of females surrounding them. How many of Mr. Roberts’s sisters had attended him?
Lord Newhurst appeared terrified as he glanced from one pretty woman to another. Mr. Roberts, on the other hand, was in deep conversation with one of them.
When the woman turned, Melior’s eyes widened as she recognized Miss Harris.
By the time the coach rolled to a complete stop, all the women had stopped talking, their eyes glued to the door of the conveyance. Nathaniel handed Melior down and Miss Harris greeted her with a quick embrace. It was not until Eddie descended that the gaggle of women burst into commotion again, each trying to gain his attention.
Miss Harris pulled her away from the five other women and began to walk. “Do not mind the others. It seems when mysisters and Algenon’s get together there is not one whit of sense between them when men are present.”
“Which ones belong to your family and which ones to Mr. Roberts?”
“If they have varying shades of toffee-colored hair they are mine. Any other color and they are Algenon’s. And I must advise you that they sport almost every color I have ever seen in hair.”
Melior chuckled. “I have heard there are quite a few of them.”
“An underestimation, to be sure. My sisters would be considered quite a few, there are four you know. But Al has a plethora.”
“Plethora is a fantastic word,” Lord Newhurst said, coming up beside them and rubbing his hands nervously on his trousers. “It means a large or excessive amount and was first used as a medical term to describe bodily fluids or blood.”
Several of the girls blanched and the two walking nearest him stopped entirely.
Miss Harris gave his arm a pat. “Yes, thank you, John. That was very educational.”
