Page 90 of How to Wed a Courtesan

Poor Andrews flushed red under his collar.

‘I’m sure it will look perfect when it’s complete.’ Evander patted Andrews on the shoulder.

The old butler straightened stiffly. ‘Indeed, my lord.’

‘We could go to the village for a spell,’ Lottie suggested.

Evander nodded and put his arm around her. ‘It’s been ages since we’ve visited.’

‘Wonderful,’ Sarah said, in an exaggeratedly bright voice.

A maid ran down the stairs and stopped short when she saw Sarah, then looked to Evander and Lottie. She gave a little squeak of surprise and darted in the opposite direction.

Andrews tugged at his collar and indicated the door. ‘It is a lovely day for a jaunt to the village.’

Lottie and Evander allowed themselves to be ushered out of their own home.

‘Well,’ Lottie said on an exhale. ‘It appears we will have an excursion to Binsey.’

‘There is no one I’d rather while away the day with than you, my love.’ Evander put his arm around her. ‘This is why we’re here. To simply enjoy our time together without obligation. This is the first day of our wedding trip and I mean for us to enjoy it.’

He led her to the carriage and together they climbed in. Lottie’s heart racing in anticipation of seeing the place that had been her home for so many years.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It had been six years since Evander had last been in Binsey. The village was larger than he recalled, no doubt having grown over the years. Despite the addition of shops along its main streets and alleys, it still appeared charmingly quaint.

Although it was not as familiar to him as it was to Lottie, it became so with each of her exclamations on what had changed or what new building had been erected. The eagerness with which she explored the village while on his arm made their early arrival entirely worthwhile. Especially when compared to how she had appeared the prior evening, after Kentworth’s damn prattling.

The image of the servants running about like mad, however, was another boon. A chuckle tickled up his throat at the memory.

‘What is it?’ Lottie asked.

‘I’m thinking of the servants at Huntly Manor.’

He laughed again, and this time Lottie joined him.

‘Oh, we did give them a surprise, did we not? Sarah, I know, didn’t mind, but I confess I did feel rather horrid for poor Andrews. Perhaps...’

Evander lifted a brow at his wife as she considered something. ‘What is it?’

‘Perhaps we should purchase them some cakes. In appreciation for their hard work.’ She gave a playful grimace. ‘And for descending upon them with such little notice.’

‘A bribe?’

‘Not a bribe. A thank-you.’ Lottie tilted her head with a grudging look. ‘Well, perhaps a bit of a bribe for their forgiveness.’

‘Of course we can bring them some cakes.’ He rubbed the back of her hand where it rested in the crook of his elbow. ‘Your consideration is most admirable.’

She flushed in that way he loved, showing that genuinely humble nature of hers.

It was perhaps that humility that kept Lottie from noticing how people stared at her as they walked to the confectioner’s shop on the main street.

All at once, she drew up short with a soft gasp. ‘Mrs Williams?’

A woman with her grey hair in a simple chignon turned around. ‘Lottie? Is that you, child?’ Her gaze went down Lottie’s gown and back up before settling on Evander. ‘Goodness, but you’ve grown into such a fine lady. Your father would be enormously proud of you, God rest his soul.’

Lottie slipped from Evander’s hold and embraced the other woman. ‘Thank you, Mrs Williams. Allow me to introduce my husband Evander Murray, the Earl of Westix.’