Page 161 of Snowbound Surrender

“My mother said she will be returning home shortly,” she said, and while he tried to hide his relief, she saw it cross his face nonetheless. “I thought you’d be pleased,” she added, unable to keep the ire from her tone.

“Your mother is wonderful,” he said, and when she raised an eyebrow, he continued. “Really, she is. It’s just that … she does not seem to be particularly fond of me.”

“My mother worries about me,” Scarlett said with a sigh. “She is concerned that you’ll leave me, as my father left her.”

“I will never do that,” he promised her. “Now?—”

“My lord?” Abbot interrupted him, and at Hunter’s look of consternation, he continued hurriedly. “My apologies, my lord, truly, but?—”

“But I would not wait and therefore your faithful butler felt it best that he hurry on ahead of me to warn you.”

Scarlett gasped at the cold voice at the door, turning to see Hunter’s father enter. He had a similar look to Hunter, but where Hunter was warm and affable, the marquess was cold and calculating. The smile he gave Scarlett made her shiver. She had hardly spent any time in the man’s acquaintance — simply the morning of their wedding. Her father had conducted the other necessary arrangements.

“Lady Oxford,” he said. “How lovely to see you. And the two of you together. When I heard word that my son was spending more than a week outside of London, I knew there was something that must have been keeping him here. Attempting an heir, are you?”

Scarlett gasped at his forwardness, looking at Hunter, who rose and came around his desk, standing in front of her as though he was protecting her against his father. She knew Hunter respected him and had worked hard to live up to his expectations, so she was shocked at the marquess’ rudeness toward her.

“Father. What are you doing here?”

“Wonderful to see you as well, Hunter. Your mother and I decided that we wanted to see our children at Christmastide.”

“You both hate Christmastide.”

“Yes, well.” He shrugged. “Here we are. Lady Oxford, a moment alone with my son, if you please?”

“Would you mind providing us with a moment or two, Father? Scarlett and I were conducting some business, I suppose you could say. I will speak with you directly afterward.”

“Business? With your wife?” He raised an eyebrow at his son. “Very well. I will have to go join the ladies.”

Scarlett shot up immediately, his words bringing her to the sudden realization that her mother was alone with LadyRockingham. From what she knew, Hunter’s parents were not exactly the warmest people. A barb from his mother could completely undo her own mother, who did not have a particularly strong countenance.

“It’s fine,” she said, standing, placing a hand on Hunter’s arm. “I will leave the two of you. I’ll see you at dinner, Hunter.”

She began to walk out of the room but her husband caught her fingers, pulling her back toward him, placing a kiss on her lips before he turned to look at his father, as though he had to prove to the man that their bond was one that was more than one forced upon them by their parents. Lord Rockingham smirked.

Scarlett shivered.

CHAPTER 20

“Doyou think it’s a bit much?”

Scarlett twirled in front of the mirror, the skirts of her gold dress with its silver trimming shimmering in the candlelight as she did so. Marion’s eyes widened as she watched her.

“Not at all,” she breathed. “You are glorious.”

Scarlett laughed. “Oh, don’t be silly. It’s not me — simply the workings of a clever seamstress and expensive, beautiful material. Now, tell me, do you have any plans for this evening?”

She grinned when Marion blushed, beginning to fiddle with the stiff black fabric of her dress.

“We’re to have a dance ourselves, downstairs, nothing too elaborate,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Though Rupert will be there of course, and oh, my lady, I have never met another like him before!”

“I take it all is progressing well, then?”

“I should say so,” Marion said before pausing. “Well, itwas, although yesterday…”

“What happened yesterday?”

“Lord and Lady Rockingham arrived. Lady Rockingham’s maid is a comely one, she is. Rupert’s eyes looked as though they would fall right out of his head when she walked into theservant’s dining hall. And she was fairly high upon herself, I’ll tell you, being the lady’s maid of a marchioness and all.”