Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) by Jane Charles

hoped it wouldn’t be this way
with every gentleman she met or she would never make it through the
next months with her sanity.

Chapter 9

    “Mother,” Marius began. His voice broke, as
if he were a lad of twelve again. This would not be easy and he
felt no different than when he stood before her as a child, ready
to confess, or admit something he knew would disappoint her.
    She looked up, a sweet smile on her lovely
face, soft lines crinkled around her eyes, and Marius almost
changed his mind. “Yes, dear?” She was straightening the greenery
along the mantel in preparation for Christmas Eve. His older
brother, sister-in-law, their children, along with aunts, uncles
and various cousins had descended on the household just yesterday
for the holiday festivities. Marius tried to enjoy their company
but his mind was on Sabrina.
    He swallowed and clenched his fists. “You
see, I, well … you see …”
    Her eyes sparkled with humor. “Well, what
has you in such a dither, dear?
    “Well…” Marius stopped, cleared his
throat and straightened. He was a man after all. “You see …
there is a lady.”
    His mother straightened. “Go on, dear.”
    “You see, I would, well, I want to return to
London, tonight, to see her on Christmas Eve.” He closed his eyes
and waited. This was his mothers’ favorite holiday, and she always
insisted everyone in the family be present. He knew that in a
moment after she absorbed the enormity of what he just announced
she would make clear her disappointment. There would be a tisk, a
sad shake of her head, and she would tell him to do what he thought
best, though her tone would be low, depressed. His shirt was damp
with the waiting but all he received was complete and utter silence
from his mother. He dared to open his eyes. She had sat in a chair
next to the fire, the gentle smile back on her lips and an eyebrow
lifted with intrigue.
    “You would rather miss Cook’s Christmas
pudding for this lady?”
    Marius resisted the urge to tug at his
cravat even though he was sure to suffocate shortly for the tight
bind around his throat. “Yes, Mother.”
    “And the billiards?”
    He stood back, unaware she knew.
    She rolled her eyes and dismissed him with a
wave of her hand. “Did you think I didn’t know you and your
brother, and adult male cousins tend to get deep in your cups,
making ridiculous bets around the billiard table after we have
retired?”
    His face heated. Marius believed her
ignorant of their annual gathering, fearful she would not approve.
“Yes.”
    “Yes, you think I didn’t know or yes, you
are willing to miss your billiard game?”
    Marius cleared his throat. “Yes, to
both.”
    “And the name of this lady?” Both eyebrows
rose with question but his mother didn’t exhibit even the slightest
sign she was angry or upset.
    “Lady Sabrina Chester.”
    His mother pursed her lips in contemplation.
“Is she related to your friend, Lord Chester?”
    “His cousin,” Marius dutifully answered.
    “And why haven’t I heard of her before?
Surely she isn’t so young she hasn’t had a Season.”
    Marius almost choked on the idea. He barely
tolerated the debutants that were old enough. “She is
twenty, mother. And, she did not have the opportunity to travel to
London.” It was best to spare his mother the details at the
moment.
    “And you wish to see this lady, tonight,
knowing how important Christmas Eve is to me?”
    Here it came, as soon as he uttered yes, her
disappointment in him as a son would be evident, and he would feel
like a heel. Not that he would remain home. His evening would just
be dampened. “Yes, Mother.”
    A smile broke on her face, which completely
confused Marius. “Please, go, with my blessing.”
    “But, I thought, well …,” he
stammered.
    She approached Marius and placed a hand
against his cheek. “Do you know how long I have waited for you to
find someone you were taken with this much? I can only hope it
leads to matrimony. You aren’t