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“I doubt any man would be able to handle such a feat, Mamma,” Tessa commented before taking another sip of her wine. “I am always foolish in believing love might be possible for me when we all know it is not.”
“Besides,” Louisa added, “there is no need now that she is a wealthy widow.”
“And that is the perfect reason to find a man now,” the duke said before taking a bite of potatoes. “She needs to catch a man who will look after her money properly.”
Tessa’s fork dropped to her plate with a clank. “I am perfectly capable of managing my money. I have already buried three husbands, and I refuse to let another man suffer because of my curse.”
“Just think about it, Tessa,” the duke said gently. “I am quite certain I know of a perfect man for you.”
Tessa gave Louisa a look that pleaded for help.
“How is your son and new daughter-in-law, Your Grace?” Louisa asked. “I had hoped they would join us tonight so she could tell us about India.”
“Yes, they were supposed to be here at seven,” he replied before sipping his wine. “I suppose it takes longer to get dressed in one of those saris that she insists on wearing.”
“Perhaps they shall make it for the last course,” Louisa said optimistically.
“We can only hope,” the duke added in an acerbic tone.
Finally, her mother changed the topic of conversation to politics, which meant listening to them both while she and Louisa were not allowed a word of dissent on their views. After fifteen minutes, Emma leaned closed and whispered, “Will we be done here soon?”
“It depends on if they start speaking of the Regent. That will take another hour to cover all his foibles.”
“Oh my,” she said with a sigh.
The sound of the front door opening made Tessa pray it was Langport and his wife finally arriving. Hearing a low male voice relaxed the tension in her muscles. Langport and his wife walked into the room with a smile.
“Did we miss dinner?” he said with a slight laugh. “We were unavoidably detained. Sabita was not feeling well.”
Sabita’s cheeks turned bright red. “Darling, I told you the message said seven, not eight.”
“Sit down,” the duke said. “Reese, get them some warm food.” He pushed back his chair and moved to the sideboard. “I shall pour your wine.”
Tessa wondered why the duke himself would pour them wine when there were two other footmen standing at the ready. Very odd, she thought.
“Lady Langport, please tell me all about India,” Emma said. “I should love to hear about such an exotic land.”
“It is a very different country than England. It is very hot and I wonder if I shall ever get used to the cold and rain here.” Sabita sipped her wine with a smile toward her husband. “But I must endure for my husband.”
Everyone sat and drank wine as Langport and Sabita ate. Sabita gave her husband looks of love, but Langport seemed not to notice as he ate. It was apparent that Sabita loved her husband and that was what Tessa wanted, too. But she doubted she would ever have it, even with Jack. She might be falling for him, but there was no indication that he was in love with her. What was marriage without love? Nothing but two people consenting to sexual congress. Not much different than what she had with Jack.
“Are you all right, Tessa?” Sabita asked with a frown. “You look a little forlorn tonight. Did your lover not please you last night?”
“Sabita,” Langport hissed.
Her brown eyes widened. “Did I say the wrong thing? I must apologize. I thought it was common knowledge since you left with him last night.”
Oh, heaven help her now. “I believe you are mistaken, my lady. Mr. Raynerson was only helping me to my carriage as I was not feeling well.”
“Tessa,” her mother warned her. “I believe we should take our leave now.”
“There is no need for that, Mrs. Drake. I am certain that my wife was mistaken,” Langport said with a plastered-on smile.
“No, my mother is right. Besides I am still not feeling well.” Tessa scraped back her chair. “Thank you for dinner, Your Grace.”
Her mother, Louisa and Emma did the same. But their silence only lasted until the carriage started to roll down the street.
“Theresa Marie, you know better than to be so indiscreet. And a man who isn’t even titled! What can he do for you?”
