Page 43 of The Earl and His Lady

The older woman drew herself up. “And before you became countess, you were a baroness?”

“Yes, my lady. I thought his lordship, my husband, wrote to you of the matter.” At least she thought he must’ve. Virginia couldn’t recall Lucas ever saying whether or not he informed the family of the details of their marriage. She had thought it odd that she hadn’t received any letters of congratulations from her new kin. But surely, he must’ve told them? It would be cruel not to.

“I only received his letter four days past. I was not in London when it arrived.”

“She had come to visit us,” Marcus Calvert put in from where he sat. Virginia turned to look to him, noticing he was still smiling but in a commiserating manner. “It took a little time to get it turned in the right direction. And if Lucas wrote to me, I never saw the letter.”

“Oh, dear.” Virginia closed her eyes momentarily and shook her head. “I am terribly sorry for such a mishap.”

“It’s hardly your fault,” Marcus said.

“The British post is entirely to blame and I intend to write the Postmaster about it,” her mother-in-law snapped, though she seemed less agitated than when she entered the room. “But that is neither here nor there. The same hour I finished the letter, I prepared to come here and meet you. Lucas did not share many details, and your marriage has taken us all by surprise.”

Virginia looked again to the quiet couple on the sofa, this time meeting the eyes of Mrs. Calvert, who had yet to say a word. The woman’s expression was calm, but her light brown eyes glittered with some amusement. Her lips turned upward briefly when they made eye contact and she lifted her shoulders a tiny amount, as if to say, she isn’t so bad once you know her.

Facing the dowager countess again, Virginia resisted the urge to smooth her skirts or grip the arms of her chair. She presented the most unaffected countenance she could manage. She didn’t know this woman on a personal level. Virginia didn’t know if Lucas’s mother would be predisposed to like or dislike her. The well-bred manners of society were all she could count upon.

“I am happy to answer any questions you may have, my lady. I am terribly sorry for the shock his lordship’s message has caused.”

Lady Pamela Calvert lifted her chin and straightened her already impeccable posture. “Good. My son informed me that he had married the widow of a baron and that you had two sons by your former husband.”

“Yes, my lady. I was married to the Baron of Heatherton. My son, Phillip, now holds the title. He is six years old. My younger son, Edward, is four years of age.”

“Grandchildren at last,” Marcus said brightly. “You’ve been going on about how you wanted grandchildren, Mother.”

Virginia saw the first glimpse of humor in the woman when she gave her son a glance at his comment. “Marcus, if you cannot sit quietly and wait your turn, perhaps you ought to go change out of your travelling clothes.”

He pressed his lips shut but maintained a smile.

Virginia started to relax. If Lucas’s brother could be amused in this situation, it mustn’t be dire.

The inquisition continued. “How long has your late husband been gone?” the woman asked, her tone gentling.

“Three months and a little, my lady.”

“Dear me.” The dowager put her hand over her heart and her eyes widened. “My dear lady, please accept my condolences. Lucas did not say how recent—” She stopped speaking, but in an instant her whole countenance had changed. She no longer appeared indignant, but sympathetic. “I beg your pardon, Lady Calvert.”

“As you said, you were not aware.” Virginia looked down at her lap, the gray fabric easily reminding her of how recent her husband had passed. But where there had been pain, she found more strength. “My husband died of consumption. My sons and I came to stay with my cousin, Mrs. Christine Devon. That is how your son and I came to meet.”

“But—”

The woman’s next question was immediately cut off by the door bursting open. Virginia rose to her feet, uncertain as to who would make such an entrance. It was Lucas, striding inside the room and directly to his mother’s chair.

“Mother, what a pleasant surprise.” He spoke with exuberance, a wide smile on his face. He bent to kiss his mother on the cheek, then whirled to face his brother and sister-in-law, still speaking. “Marcus, Ellen, it’s wonderful to see you both. I’m surprised your apple trees could spare you at this time of year.”

It was an odd comment, until Virginia’s mind caught up with her and she remembered Lucas’s brother owned a sizable orchard.

Marcus had stood to shake his brother’s hand and Ellen to curtsy. Strangely, Mrs. Ellen Calvert was the first to find her voice, and it was a low, gentle alto.

“It’s good to see you, brother. I hope we are not intruding.”

“We most certainly are intruding,” Lady Pamela Calvert said abruptly. “But it’s only necessary because you are incapable of writing sensible letters and the postmaster is equally incapable of delivering them correctly.”

Lucas had made his way to Virginia’s side by the time his mother finished speaking. He bent, as though to kiss her cheek. Surely, that’s what it looked like to everyone in the room.

Virginia’s heart seized up inside her and blood rushed into her cheeks. He’d never come close to such a display of affection, pretend or otherwise!

“Are you all right?” he whispered, his lips near her ear. No one else would’ve heard him. She barely heard him over the roaring sound in her ears.