Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Who has died?” her mother cried. “You, my darling. You and Marlow. We received word from London two days ago that the Providence was lost at sea.”
“It did sink, yes. But we survived. We wrote you a letter explaining everything.”
“We didn’t receive it.” Her father was at her elbow now, embracing her. “What a time for a letter to go lost.”
She turned to Marlow, who stood apart from the group. “We sent it weeks ago from…what was that place?”
“Lecce.”
Her parents turned to him. There were no quick recriminations, perhaps because they’d recently imagined them deceased. A noticeably pregnant Felicity appeared with Carlo and two of her older children, rushing into the parlor and exclaiming to find them there. They were in black, all of them.
“They’re here?” said Felicity, breathless. “They did not perish?”
“They are here,” said her father. “With Lord Augustine, somehow.”
“We encountered one another in Rome,” said August. “And they’ve a very long story to tell.”
“Bring tea and coffee,” Felicity said to the butler. “And refreshments for our travelers. Take down the mourning crepe at once. Sit down, everyone, and make yourselves comfortable while I take the children back to the nursery.”
The children complained to not be allowed to stay, but the conversation they were about to have would not be ideal for children.
As comfortable as Felicity tried to make them, it would not be easy at all.
Chapter Thirteen
Guilt and Anxiety
Rosalind sat upon the central divan next to Marlow, with all the eyes of the room upon them. She picked at the luxurious cake and sweetmeats that Felicity’s staff provided but could not stomach much.
As for her mother, it took an entire cup of tea for her to stop crying, and another cup to regain the ability to speak.
“I am sorry,” Rosalind began, before Marlow could say anything or assume blame that wasn’t his. “I’m so sorry for the worry and trouble I’ve caused all of you. It was my idea to run away on the Providence, my planning and subterfuge that got me onto the ship. I posed as a widow. The widow Li—”
“Lintel,” her father finished in clear displeasure. “We worked that much out when we demanded to see the Providence’s ticket register. You misled all of us. Your mother, me, and the servants. Your maid was beside herself.”
“I’m sorry. Even Marlow didn’t know of my plans to steal onboard. I hid from him for some time so he would not be able to send me back. It was terribly dishonest, all of it. I have no excuse except that I was in love.”
Her father’s stern gaze turned upon her husband. “What did you do, Lord Marlow, when you discovered she was aboard?”
“Panicked,” he said frankly. “Scolded her.”
Spanked me, Rosalind thought inwardly, feeling a blush steal across her already heated face.
“He did scold me,” she said aloud. “I shouldn’t have done such a reckless, disobedient thing. I can’t imagine how I found the courage to do it, except that I—”
“Loved him. Yes, you’ve said so already.” Her father’s words were heavy with displeasure.
“You said we would not be a good match.” She turned to her mother, hoping for more sympathy. “But we have been a good match. We’ve gotten along fabulously together.”
“Darling, fabulously? You have not even been in England. You’ve been at sea, in a ship that sank.” She blinked rapidly.
“You could have died,” her father said. “This entire ordeal has taken years off my life.”
“She has apologized for her actions.” Marlow came to her defense, but it only turned her parents’ disapproving attention onto him.
“None of this would have happened if you hadn’t encouraged our daughter’s affections,” her father said. “She’s ten years younger than you, a mere child.”
“Not a child, father. I was set to make my debut!”
“Don’t speak to your father so,” her mother chided. “Remember your manners.”
“Yes, my manners, Mama. That I must be mute and docile, and marry whatever tiresome, titled gentleman you picked out. If you must know, it was not Marlow who encouraged me. I fell in love with him on my own because I admired his humor and free spirit and—” She looked over at him, at his strong body beside hers, and his achingly handsome features. “And other things about him which I found very pleasing.”
“Mama,” said Felicity, quietly entering the conversation. “Rosalind has always been such a good girl. She is the baby of our family. Why not let her marry for love?”
“We haven’t any choice now,” her father said.
“You speak as if Marlow is some disaster.” Rosalind stood, letting go of his hand only to shake a finger at her parents. “You have no notion how respectfully he’s conducted himself through all of this, no notion of his honor and strength. He’s treated me with such kindness, even though I surprised him. He was perfectly willing to marry me at once and intended to bring me back to do it properly, except that our ship broke apart in a storm. And then—”