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Chapter Ten
At the next stop, Roseboarded the carriage with the children and rode the rest of the way to Canterbury, taking comfort from them as they chattered and squabbled.No matter what she thought of the coming child’s pedigree, the baby would be one of Ava and Elaina’s siblings.
Tilly was the only servant traveling with them.Rachel would have servants to assist her and Matthew, and the children could run wild on their country estate.
The other day when they were at the Grand Gala Bazaar, the girls had begged Matthew to let them make purchases to give to their Canterbury cousins.They’d already been allowed to buy penny ribbons.This second purchase felt extravagant to them.Matthew made them count their coins to see if they could pay for three hair combs and one ivory boy’s comb.When they did not, the disappointment was evidently too much for brawny, tough Mr.Hardy to bear.He’d made them a loan.Which he expected to be repaid through a lesson in financial responsibility, to occur in two weeks’ time, as if they knew what he was talking about.
It was much easier to think about the Grand Gala Bazaar than what she’d revealed to Matthew.Rose didn’t know how she felt after her confession.Numb.Still embarrassed.Angry with Cyril.Furious.Ill.
Maybe Rose had really wanted Matthew to know the truth.
When she discovered she was with child, she decided that she would do anything to make sure Cyril could not claim paternity and somehow force her into marriage.She didn’t need an imagination to know how she would be treated as his wife.
Did she honestly think she would get through her marriage by hiding such a lie though?Matthew valued his privacy and would never disclose her words to anyone.She could trust him in a way she thought she could trust Edmond, couldn’t she?
The wheels of the carriage slowed as they turned into Sturry Park.
“We’re here, girls.”Excitement stirred in her belly.How she longed to see her sister.
“Oh, Mama!We get to see our cousins again,” Elaina said with joy.Both heads poked out the open windows, waiting to see and be seen.
“I’m sure they’ve grown.You may not recognize them,” Rose said.
“Yes, we will!”
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Palladian-style home, with its perfect symmetry—an equal number of pillars, the same number of windows to each side and an interior with enfilades in the true style of Monsignor Palladio.
“Do they have ponies, Mama?”Ava asked.
“Yes, for girls who don’t suck their thumbs.”
She pulled her thumb from her mouth.“Will Papa ride with me?”
“I am sure he will.”
Rachel stood at the open door, waving.Her husband, Lewis, Viscount Sturry, stood behind her.Rachel’s servants were there to open doors and hand hold as everyone stepped from the carriages.She glanced at Matthew, who was tucking his notebook in his jacket pocket.What schemes had he thought of to make more money?
