***
The ride to Ridgecrest Manor took the better part of a day. By the time the coach had pulled up in front of the imposing stone dwelling, the sun was already beginning to set and the air had become noticeably colder. It didn’t take long to find his mother, she was curled up on her favorite chair in the library, a book lay open on her lap. She looked up as he entered the room, welcoming him with a warm, motherly smile. Though he hadn’t had time to send word ahead informing her of his visit she seemed not at all surprised by his sudden appearance. He went to where she was sitting and bent to plant a gentle kiss on her cheek.
She reached up and cupped his cheek with her palm, “My darling boy, to what do I owe this great honor? I thought you had all but forgotten about your lonely mother.”
A twinge of guilt clutched at him as she reminded him of his neglect. He hadn’t spent near enough time with her since his father had died, preferring to stay at his townhouse in London where the memories of the late Duke of Kerrington weren’t as prominent. It pained him immensely to be in the house his parents had shared together and more especially to see his mother without her other half. The two of them had always seemed like one entity, completely complementing and fulfilling the other so when his father had passed away the sight of his mother all by herself was too sad and lonely for him to bear.
Pierce bided his time by taking the seat opposite of his mother and making himself comfortable before speaking, “I came to tell you that I am to be wed; following the announcement of our engagement and the reading of the banns of course.”
His mother clapped her hands together excitedly, completely ignoring the book in her lap that had fallen to the ground, hitting the carpet with a dull thud. “What a pleasant announcement. You know I’ve been waiting for ages for you to come to your senses and decide to settle down. Now tell me, who’s the lucky lady.”
Pierce tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in his stomach at her excitement, “Her name is Noelle Parrish, she’s the daughter of the Earl of Brattondale.”
“And?” she gestured with her hand for him to continue.
“And what? What more would you like to know?”
“Oh I want to know everything—how’d you meet? What is she like? Is she beautiful? Of course she is, that should be a given, you have impeccable taste just like your father.” She smiled and gave him a wink.
The uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach increased, “Actually, I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?” she asked, confused.
“Well I haven’t exactly met her.”
The look of confusion on her lovely face only deepened, “You haven’t met her?”
Feeling his patience wearing thin he snapped, “Quit repeating everything I say. No I do not know her; I won her hand in a card game against her father.”
The Duchess sucked in a shocked breath, one hand going quickly to clasp the gold locket hanging from her slim neck, “Please tell me I didn’t just hear you right.”
“Oh you heard me clearly, mother.” He snarled. He knew he was being short with her but he couldn’t seem to help it. He knew she wouldn’t react well to the news but had desperately wished that just for this once she would’ve simply sat back and listened and told him it was his life to do with as he pleased, but he knew it would never be that easy with his meddling mother.
“Don’t snarl at me boy, it’s very unbecoming.” She retorted.
“I didn’t snarl,” he shot back perturbed.
“You most certainly did snarl and speaking of unbecoming, this news, although greatly anticipated is preposterous! You can’t marry a lady who you don’t even know. What about love, surely you haven’t given up the possibility of falling in love have you? There are so many fine ladies out there with whom you could quite easily come to love.”
“But there’s not. If there had been even one I could’ve fallen in love with I’m sure I would’ve found her by now. Heaven knows it’s not from lack of trying. I’ve grown wearisome of the marriage mart so I figured at this point any girl would do.”
“You sound so callous about the whole thing, it’s marriage you’re deciding on not the main course of your next dinner.”
“Well what’s done is done. I can’t honorably back out now so I fully plan on going forward with it. Not everyone can have the relationship you shared with father you know.”
“Well I expect you to at least try. There’s nothing you can do about your selection of a wife now but you can at least try to fall in love with the girl.”
“Don’t get your hopes up mother.” He knew he certainly wouldn’t.