The Convenient Felstone Marriage (Whitby Weddings 1)

‘At the stables with Joe. Mrs Lughton said it was all right.’

‘Didn’t she tell you to be back by noon?’

‘Yes, sir.’ The boy shuffled his feet with a shame-faced expression. ‘She did.’

‘So?’

‘I forgot, sir.’

‘You forgot that I was getting married?’

The boy curled his small hands into fists. ‘Joe says that women are the root of all evil!’

‘Did he?’ Robert fought the temptation to laugh. That sounded like something his curmudgeonly old groom would say. ‘Though I hope that statement doesn’t extend to my wife.’

‘He says she must have got her claws into you right quick.’

‘Indeed?’ His expression hardened. ‘Did he say that to you?’

‘No, to Nate when he brought the carriage back. Nate said she seemed nice, though.’

‘She is.’ Robert unclenched his jaw. He’d have to deal with Joe later. At the very least, tell him to keep his thoughts to himself when the boy was around. ‘She’s your new governess, too.’

‘I don’t want a governess.’ Matthew scowled ferociously. ‘Why can’t I just come with you to the yard?’

‘Because there’s more to learning than how to build ships.’

‘Not if I’m going to be like you. You never even went to school. Joe told me.’

Robert rolled his eyes, resolving to confront his groom first thing in the morning. ‘You’ll be glad of it one day. You can still spend your afternoons with me, provided that you let her tutor you first. Understand?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Matthew folded his arms sulkily. ‘Do I have to eat in the dining room tonight?’

Robert pondered for a moment. He’d intended to introduce Ianthe to Matthew as soon as possible, if only to get the meeting over with, but after the tense atmosphere that day he was reluctant to do so now. Perhaps it could wait until the morning and he could let the lad eat in the kitchens tonight instead...

He’d just opened his mouth to answer when he heard the rapid tread of footsteps descending the stairs. Damn. It was too late to send the boy away now. They’d have to get the scene—and he’d no doubt it would be a scene—over with tonight after all.

He took a step towards the door, bracing himself as Ianthe came hurtling through it.

‘Oh!’ She almost skidded to a halt when she saw him. ‘I lost track of time.’

‘So I see.’ Judging by the crumpled state of her wedding dress, not to mention the pillow imprint on her cheek, she’d only just woken up. He glanced at the clock. Had she really been asleep since he’d left? That had been four hours ago.

‘There’s no need to rush. I’m happy to wait if you wish to change.’

‘No.’ She shook her head breathlessly, reaching a hand up to smooth her hair out of her face. ‘Unless you want me to?’

‘Not at all. There’s only the two of us, after all. And Matthew here.’ He stepped aside to reveal the boy, half-hidden behind his legs.

‘Oh!’ Her smile of enthusiasm froze instantly. ‘H-hello, Matthew.’

‘How do you do?’ The boy’s voice was sullen.

‘Very well, thank you. I’m so glad to meet you. Your...guardian has told me such nice things.’

Robert grimaced. This was what he’d been afraid of. That momentary hesitation told him everything about what she was thinking. It was the same thing everyone thought when they saw him and Matthew together. Over time, he’d hoped that the resemblance between them might have lessened, but if anything it had only become more pronounced.

To give his wife credit, however, at least she was trying to hide her shock from the boy himself. Most people weren’t so thoughtful. That was the real reason he hadn’t brought Matthew to the wedding. That, and to avoid Kitty. He’d managed to keep him out of her line of sight for five years, ever since he’d first brought him home, not wanting to deal with people’s assumptions then any more than he wanted to deal with them now. Even if the person making the assumption was his wife.