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Chapter Twenty-Six
“And how have you enjoyed being the Marchioness of Hurrow?” Blaire asked, smiling as she returned her teacup to its saucer. “I imagine it’s quite a change.”
“It is,” Marcella agreed. “Sometimes, I can still scarcely believe this estate is really Reginald’s and mine.”
Marcella gazed fondly around the familiar drawing room with its soft, welcoming blues and soothing silvers. It was difficult to believe that when she’d first come to the estate, she’d found it unimpressive. Now, it felt like the most beautiful place she’d ever seen in her life. Like home.
“I see you’ve not changed much in this room,” Blaire said.
Marcella smiled. In truth, she’d seen no need to change the rooms, and she was content to let most of them—save her beloved library—stay as she’d found them. There were simply so many other, much more pleasant tasks. And busy tasks, too. Marcella wasn’t entirely sure that she made an adequate mistress for the household, although she tried her best to be.
“Well,” Marcella said, “I suppose the taste of the last lady to decorate this room was so exquisite that I simply couldn’t change it.”
Blaire smiled warmly, seemingly pleased with the compliment.
“Quite nice taste,” Adeline agreed. “I’ll confess to having admired a good deal in the estate.”
“There is much to admire,” Blaire said.
Yes, including the very handsome Marquess.
As she sipped her tea, Marcella felt her face warm. She imagined Reginald’s hands tracing over her body. It was a pity that Reginald’s relations had arrived just when she’d been thinking about an evening alone with her husband. Who knew how they might’ve spent it?
“How are you getting along with your husband?” Blaire asked, turning Marcella’s thoughts back to the conversation.
“Reginald is quite lovely,” Marcella said. “He’s the most thoughtful man and quite wonderful. Indulgent, too. He treats me like a princess.”
“I’m glad,” Blaire replied. “I was a little worried about the two of you. I know that Reginald, my dear nephew, isn’t like most gentlemen.”
“But Marcella isn’t like most women,” Adeline said, with a bright smile. “I think that she and Reginald are quite well-suited to one another. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a couple so deeply in love, in fact.”
Marcella wasn’t sure that she had either, but she had seldom seen love around her. Although her mother was a warm and loving creature, her father had been cold. He was still cold, in fact.
“Indeed?” Blaire asked. “That’s quite high praise.”
Marcella thought of someotheraspects of Reginald, which she could praise quite highly, but she also suspected that those things ought not to be mentioned in front of others, most certainly one’s own relations. And Reginald had only ever spoken highly of his aunt, which made Marcella all the more eager to impress her.
“I should thank you,” Marcella said. “Reginald has spoken about how much you’ve helped him since he returned, and you have my gratitude for that. I know that some of thetonthought of him as a curiosity when he returned, and they still do.”
“Oh, yes,” Blaire said. “I’d forgotten. You haven’t left the countryside since exchanging your vows, have you? Do you intend to join us in London for the Season? It’s only a few weeks away, after all.”
Adeline sat up a little straighter. “She said that she was undecided,” Marcella’s friend said conspiratorially. “That was when we spoke last, of course. I’ve not heard a word of the matter since then, but you might be able to persuade her otherwise.”
Marcella laughed. “Adeline! Surely, you don’t wish to thrust such a monumental task upon my poor, new aunt!”
“Is it so monumental?” Blaire asked. “Surely, you’re not ashamed of this husband who you profess to love so much, are you?”
“Not at all,” Marcella replied. “It’s only that I wish to spend some more time with him. We’ve not been married that long, after all, and I should like for us to live as a couple for just a few more months. Besides, I’ve expressed a disinterest in balls, something which Reginald shares with me.”
“It would be more appropriate for you to attend,” Blaire said. “I can understand both your discomfort and his, but you must also consider your social obligations. You first appearance as husband and wife is important, and I know that you are very socially minded.”
“Well…” Marcella trailed off.
It was true that she cared for social causes, but she’d never heard anyone speak of her interest as if it was something worth being praised.
“I can ask Reginald for his thoughts,” Marcella said. “After all, I know that he is equally invested in social causes. He cares very deeply for the poor and less fortunate, and I’ve heard him often speak of how much he wishes to help those in London’s poorer areas, particularly Southwark.”
“Well, he was one of the less fortunate himself not so long ago,” Blaire said. “I can understand why he’d have sympathy for them.”
