Page 41 of The Marriage Game

The next day, Caroline, Jane and Alice spent two hours deciding what Caroline should wear to have tea with her future mother-in-law. It was a very nervous, white-faced Caroline, beautifully but simply dressed, who was handed into the opulent Matlock carriage by her future husband.

Matlock House was as grand as Caroline had imagined, and her hand trembled on the Colonel’s arm as they walked up the steps to the front door.

“Caroline, there is no need to be nervous,” Richard said, for the hundredth time. “I tell you, my parents are delighted. Come now, this is the time for you to develop some real confidence, not that fake superior look you used to wear.”

Before she could respond – also for the hundredth time – the front door opened, and they were ushered into an enormous drawing room. Caroline was too nervous to do more than form an impression of the room – high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, marble fireplace – and the formidable Countess of Matlock was then before her, wearing as wide a smile as Caroline had ever seen.

“My dear Caroline – I may call you Caroline, I hope?”

Caroline could only nod.

“Thank you. For now, please call me Eleanor, though in the future, I hope you will call me Mother.”

“I – I thank you, my lady – Eleanor.” Falteringly, Caroline added, “I should like to have a mother.”

“Ah, I know you have not had one for a very long time; but now you shall.”

Tears formed in Caroline’s eyes, and it took all her strength to blink them back.

“Come now, dear, and sit with me. The Earl will join us shortly, but just now I should like to become better acquainted with you.” The Countess gestured for Caroline to sit beside her.

A tea tray appeared as if by magic, and soon the two ladies were speaking easily to one another, with Richard grinning like a besotted swain watching them. The Earl soon joined them, and was kind enough to Caroline, though not as warm as the Countess.

Eventually, Richard said, “Caroline, I shall have to leave you for a time.”

“To resign your commission?”

“I shall do that as soon as may be, but I have one last mission to complete.”

Caroline’s brow creased. “Shall you be in danger? Oh, no, surely this is not necessary!”

“No danger at all. I go to be of service to my young cousin.”

“Oh! To fix whatever it is that keeps her from the man she loves?!”

“Exactly.”

“How long will you be away?”

“As long as it takes to get to Newcastle and back, with the fastest horse that Elmstree can provide.”

The Earl said, “So we should not expect to see you for about three weeks.”

Richard nodded. “I very much dislike leaving you at this time, Caroline, but –“

“No, no,” she protested. “If your endeavor aids Georgiana, then I support it with my whole heart.”

The Countess added, “And we have a good deal of wedding planning to do in any case, Richard, and you would only be in the way.”