Page 15 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

“What will you do, my lord?” Jane smiled brilliantly at the earl. “My husband’s family usually gathers to attend church followed by an enormous Christmas dinner.”

“We have spent the last few years in Virginia.” The countess spoke up for the first time. “The celebrations there were much different than here.”

“Much different.” Lord Kersey rejoined the conversation, coming to stand beside the sofa. “We were often invited to attend house parties where there was hunting during the day and dancing and gambling in the evenings.”

“And an excellent table set the entire time.” Lord Wetherby sauntered toward them. “Mr. Morgan at Heart’s Ease in Chesterfield always served suckling pig along with roast goose and a delectable cornbread stuffing to which his cook added oysters from the Chesapeake Bay.” He eyed Maria. “I can almost taste it now.”

Lord Kersey glanced around at the little gathering, his gaze coming to rest on Maria. “This year, in our new home, I propose a similar house party to celebrate the season of goodwill. The invitations will be sent out this week and our guests should arrive around the twentieth of December and remain with us through the New Year.”

“Excellent, Father.” Mr. Garrett nodded vigorously.

“What a splendid plan, my dear.” Lady Kersey’s face lit up. “I shall begin preparations immediately.”

“Of course, we shall wish you to join us as well, Lady Kersey. Both you and your cousin will be most welcome to the gathering.” His lordship’s gaze seemed to burn into Maria’s face, as if daring her to refuse.

“That is most kind of you, my lord.” Almost biting her tongue at the words, Maria smiled back at him. After the way he proposed to treat the poor Tates, the last thing she wanted to do was take part in some extravagant party with Lord Kersey posing as the beneficent host. However, with her own position almost as precarious as Mrs. Tate’s, she could ill afford to risk the enmity of the man who could turn her out as quickly as he did his tenants.

“Yes, very kind indeed, Lord Kersey.” Jane nodded her agreement, beaming at the Kerseys. Maria would have to speak to her as soon as they returned to the dower house. Perhaps some illness might be arranged to befall them just as the house party was beginning.

The door opened, admitting the butler carrying the silver tea service.

“Ah, thank you, Chambers.” Lady Kersey nodded to the small table in front of her and the servant put the tray down before her. “That will be all.” After the man had left, she looked brightly at Maria and Jane. “And how do you take your tea, ladies? There is nothing like a good cup of tea on a chilly day to raise the spirits, don’t you think?”

* * *

Alone in her chamber at last, Margery, the new Countess of Kersey, sat before the mirror perched on her toilette table, dragging her new silver-backed brush through her dark hair, her arms heavy with exhaustion. If these last weeks were any indication of what she must do to take her place as the lady of Kersey Hall, she would need an additional lady’s maid at least to help prepare her for this new role.

The past three months had been a whirlwind that had swept up her family and plunked them down in a strange new world. Her husband, William, had had no idea he’d been in line for the earldom. Their lives had been lived largely in Virginia, in relaxed and gracious if somewhat primitive surroundings. Two years ago they’d returned to England for her father’s funeral, to dispose of a parcel of land she’d been left in his will, and enjoy the delights of the London Season before returning to their home in Dinwiddie. The prospect of returning to that life, however, had been irrevocably thwarted when Mr. Clarke had contacted them regarding her husband’s lineage.

The brush slipped from her fingers and Margery banged it on the table. Her shoulders sagged. She so longed to return to their sprawling, white clapboard house, Garland, along the banks of the James River in Virginia. Kersey Hall was at least three times the size, with three or maybe even four times the servants. Margery shuddered. She disliked intensely to meet new people, even servants. Their arrival here in Suffolk had proved a nightmare for her, although William and their sons had taken to their new roles in the lap of luxury with shocking ease.

Anthony had garnered quite a reputation as a rake since his father’s elevation to the peerage, something she worried about constantly. A young gentleman should sow his wild oats, but Anthony’s behavior of late had become excessive. She’d have William speak to him once more, now they were somewhat settled here. James had always been quieter in his tastes, thank goodness, and that had not changed. William had actually begun to consider allowing both sons to take over the Kersey townhouse in London next Season, while he hired the most fashionable address he could find in the most prestigious neighborhood for him and her. She already dreaded the hectic pace she would have to adhere to, and it was at least six months in the future. Her life in Virginia, once so common and ordinary, she now deemed a paradise.

The door to her chamber opened.

“I am already in my gown, Mason.” The new maid had begun to make it a habit to check one last time before going to bed, to see if Margery required anything. Usually, as now, there was nothing to do. “You may go.”

“I will pass the message along, Lady Kersey, when I see her again.” William chuckled as he closed the door.

Margery whirled around and started up. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be coming to me tonight.” In keeping with an apparent longstanding and awkwardly strict Kersey family tradition, the earl and countess slept in separate chambers unless the lord sought an amorous visit. Usually Margery welcomed such attentions from William. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, true; however, over the past twenty-five years they had developed a fondness for one another. Whenever he’d come to bed, a dark green banyan covering his tall frame and a matching nightcap with the tip swinging jauntily over his shoulder, as now, she’d enjoyed his attention thoroughly. Tonight, however . . . tonight she really must plead a headache. If not, she would be so weary she would likely be performing her duties while sound asleep.

William waved her back in her seat. “After our little tea party I thought it best we were of one mind regarding the Dowager Lady Kersey and Anthony.”

Lowering herself back onto her chair, Margery cocked her head. “The dowager and Anthony? What on earth do you mean?”

“I didn’t think you saw his interest in her this afternoon.” William paced over to the high bed and leaned back against it, arms crossed. “You really must pay more attention to what goes on around you now, my dear. Social interactions are everything. A good hostess is always aware of everything happening at her entertainments.” He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Anthony did not bother to hide his interest in the dowager. And I can see why he would be interested. She’s young, pretty, with a frailty that is becoming in a woman.” Her husband eyed her, and smiled. “I can certainly understand that. But now that he is heir to an earldom, we need to look much higher for his bride. Little Maria is totally unacceptable as a prospective wife for him.”

“But she seems so sweet, William.” Margery had been very taken with the young widow, whose doubly tragic circumstances she’d been apprised of before they’d left London to come to Suffolk. “If she returns his interest I see no reason why they should not marry. She could exert a much needed steadying influence on Anthony.”

Her husband waved that argument away as if shooing a fly. “You really must think more in terms of the overall, my dear. Anthony will someday be the Earl of Kersey. As such, he should choose a bride who will bring in a sizeable dowry to help expand the family coffers. The dowager countess, from everything I learned from Mr. Clarke, is a veritable pauper.”

“She is?” Margery cocked her head from side to side. “But how can that be? She must have had settlements drawn up when she married the last earl.”

“They eloped, my dear.” William’s grin spread across his face as if someone had handed him a present. “No settlements, no jointure. The lady lives in Francis House solely because I allow her to. Until now she’s been drawing money from the estate for her living expenses, but that will have to stop.” Tapping his chin with his forefinger, he wandered toward the blazing fireplace. “Yes, she really must be turned out as soon as possible.”

“But, William, surely that is not necessary?” Alarmed, Margery rose and hurried toward her husband. She’d hoped she might find a much needed friend in Maria. “Her upkeep cannot be more than a pittance given the wealth of the Kersey estate.”

“Oh, her expenses are not the reason she will be turned out.” He looked down at her, eyebrows raised in that supercilious way he had that always made her feel stupid. “Anthony’s interest in her, my dear. We cannot have her forever tempting him.”