Page 72 of The Viscount and the Vixen
“According to your letter I expected her to be a toad,” Ashebury said. “Pleasantly surprised to discover she’s not.”
“I didn’t describe her in my letter.”
“Exactly.”
“Don’t speak of her in the third person as though she’s not here,” Minerva said, slapping her husband playfully on the arm, before turning to Portia. “Ashe is a photographer. He spends a great deal of time noticing how things appear and trying to capture the truth about them through the lens of his camera.”
Then Portia was determined to never sit for him, because she didn’t need him uncovering her truth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Graces.”
“Oh, please, let’s not be quite so formal. I’m Minerva. This is Julia.” She indicated the dark-haired woman. “And Grey.”
“I prefer Edward,” Greyling said, taking Portia’s hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
“He’s not yet quite comfortable with the title,” Julia said, moving in and bussing a light kiss over Portia’s cheek. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you. I hope you’ll find the accommodations to your liking, but if there is anything—”
“What are you up to, sweetheart?” Edward asked, and Portia looked over to see him reaching down to a small girl less than three who was holding on to his trouser leg and peering around it. He hefted her up into his arms. “Say hello, Lady Allie.”
She buried her face against his shoulder. “My brother’s daughter is a bit shy among strangers.”
“A hellion, though, once she gets used to you,” Ashe assured Portia.
She received only a quick introduction to the Ashebury and Greyling heirs, held by their nannies, before Locksley was whisking them all to the terrace where the marquess was waiting for them.
The affection that both couples and their children felt for Marsden was obvious and heartwarming. It was also apparent that he adored the children, no doubt part of the reason that he’d taken matters into his own hands to acquire an heir. Tears threatened to well up as she imagined the love he would shower upon her child. All of London might think him mad but she thought when it came to love he could very well prove to be the sanest person she’d ever met.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Locksley asked near her ear, standing slightly behind her.
She shook her head. “I rather like them. Your father is wonderful with the children.” She watched as the marquess took Lady Allie’s hand and began walking with her through the weeds. Portia sighed. “I need to get to work on the garden.”
“Not today,” he groused.
She laughed. “Not today.” But soon. If Marsden didn’t object. Perhaps she’d plant his wife’s favorite flowers. Watching him, watching his wards and their wives, watching the children, all made her long for the warmth of family she’d never had, for the love she knew her husband would never shower upon her.
“So how did you meet her?” Edward asked. “She’s not familiar.”
He, Ashe, and Locke were sitting in chairs near the fireplace in the library, glasses of scotch in hand. Portia had taken the women to the morning room for a spot of tea. His father had claimed to be in need of a nap, although Locke suspected he was playing with the children in the nursery. He would not feel guilty because his father seemed to take such delight in the little ones and Locke had yet to provide him with an heir. “Know every woman in London, do you?”
“Quite a few, yes.”
As a bachelor, Edward had been the most promiscuous among them, but as the second in line to the title, he’d never expected to marry. Then he’d fallen in love with his brother’s widow and that was that.
“So she’s from London?” Ashe asked.
“She traveled from London. Her family lives in Yorkshire.” He gave Edward a pointed look. “Gadstone?”
“Not familiar with the name.”
Locke grimaced. “Actually Gadstone is her married name. I don’t know her family name.”
“Bit odd that,” Ashe mused.
“My father arranged to marry her. Until she arrived for the wedding I’d never met her.”
Ashe and Edward exchanged glances before Ashe said, “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s a long story, but my father took out an advert for a wife. She answered it. Except I didn’t trust her.”
