Page 5 of The Mister I Married

Tess pursed her lips and gave her head a regretful shake. “I’m afraid I was too stunned to say much of anything. Fortunately, Lady Emmaline overheard our conversation and swooped in to defend me.” A smile tugged at her lips. “She was marvelous.”

“She’s a good girl, that Lady Emmaline,” Aunt Lawrence said, her approving nod bobbing the dark curls piled high on her head. “She is outspoken and does not beat about the hedge, but I rather like that about her.”

A vague image of his sister’s savior filtered through Alex’s mind: Full figure, dark hair, round cheeks. Round eyes, he recalled with a mix of amusement and chagrin as he remembered the surprise that had flashed across her face when he’d demanded to know what she’d done to his sister. Not his finest moment, but Tess had been upset, and he’d reacted without thinking.

“I like her, too,” Tess said with a sigh. “She’s kind, and kindness seems to be in short supply here.”

“She would be an excellent friend and ally for you, my dear,” Aunt Lawrence said. “For the both of you, really.” She turned to Alex with raised brows, which Alex mirrored.

“Who precisely is this Lady Emmaline?” he asked, mildly exasperated.

Tess rolled her eyes. “She is Lord Keswick’s sister, of course.”

Alex was silent, as he had nothing to say to that.

“You know Lord Keswick,” she pressed. “The marquess?”

He shrugged and Tess rolled her eyes again.

He had no idea who this Lord Keswick was nor why he ought to. After all, he’d spent all of his life in Berkshire and, apart from Aunt Lawrence, had no ties to London or any of its inhabitants.

“Really, Alexander,” Aunt Lawrence said with a cluck of her tongue. “You must pay better attention if you and your sister are going to find spouses while you’re here. The Marquess of Keswick is a powerful man and his sister Emmaline, while still unmarried, is quite well-liked, despite her outspokenness. Her mother is a lovely woman, too.” She turned to Tess. “I think we ought to pay a call on them tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes! May we, Aunt?” Tess clasped Aunt Lawrence’s hands in hers in a rare display of affection, bringing a smile to Alex’s lips.

Aunt Lawrence was an open-hearted, exuberant woman, where Tess was quieter, more reserved, yet the pair got along famously and seemed to complement each other in their differences. Aunt Lawrence, who had no children of her own, clearly relished her role as chaperone and companion and Tess seemed to love their aunt’s mothering ways. Probably because she’d never had a mother. At least, not one she remembered.

“I should like to thank Lady Emmaline again,” Tess went on, “and I am certain Alex would like to apologize for his poor behavior.” She flicked him a reproving glance. “Wouldn’t you, Alex?”

Alex tugged on his cravat and sighed.

Yes, he supposed he would.