Bedeviling Lord Coxford, page 9
Penelope opened the gift and her eyes instantly widened. “Oh, Honoria, are you sure?”
“I am.” She reached out and squeezed her cousin’s hand gently. “You deserve them.”
Another guest diverted Pen’s attention, so Honoria lingered near the edge of the parlor, finding that she preferred the solitude to being the center of attention these days.
“It was a lovely ceremony. I rather wish you would have had the same.”
Honoria turned to face her mother. While she had never been as intimidating as the duke, the duchess could be fearsome when she chose. “At least my reputation is saved from ruin.”
“Indeed,” her mother said evenly. “And from what I hear of Lord Coxford, while he’s not a marquess, he is a good match.” She paused, and then said the one thing Honoria had never heard from her before. “I love you, Honoria. I daresay I was upset when I was told I could have no more children after you were born, but you have been a blessing to me, even though I may not have always shown it. Mainly because your father forbids any show of weakness, and that’s how he views love.”
“But it’s the furthest thing from weakness,” Honoria returned. “It takes a lot of courage to lay your heart open to someone.”
Her mother eyed her steadily. “I can see that you were fortunate enough to make a love match. I married your father for his title and he became my husband for my dowry.” Her mouth turned down at the corners. “While your father wasn’t always so… cold and unforgiving, he never was very affectionate. Looking back, I wish I wouldn’t have sacrificed my happiness to become a duchess, but we all make our own choices in this life. Even if we are faced with the impossible, we still have the power to change it. You did it, and I’m proud of you, even if it may take your father a lifetime to see it.” With a kiss on either side of her daughter’s cheek, the duchess said, “Good luck, my dear. Write to me often.”
Honoria’s eyes grew moist as she watched her mother walk away.
***
“Are you ready to see your new home, Lady Coxford?”
Royce had thought it was a good idea to blindfold his wife as they drew closer to his estate, so that she could have the full effect when they arrived, but to also ease some of his trepidation as well. He still wasn’t sure how she would receive her new residence, when she was used to London and all its diversions, whereas the country could get rather staid at times.
“We’re already here?” she asked.
“Indeed. I never said it was a great distance from the city, only that I had no desire to remain in the heart of London.”
As he removed the blindfold, she blinked against the glare of light that assailed her vision. “Where exactly are we?”
“It’s a town called Horley. It consists of three hamlets, but my estate, Coxford Hall is at the common center of them all.”
Royce could tell that his new bride was rather surprised that he wasn’t taking her off to the wilds of Cornwall somewhere, but then, the single time he’d offered any information on his lands, she had scoffed at the description, thus he’d revealed nothing else.
He could tell she’d been taken aback when his driver had arrived with the coach, one very similar in design to the Duke of Ollington’s. But whereas her father liked to showcase his wealth among society, Royce had no such compunctions. He preferred to celebrate his achievements in other ways, rather than boasting about the material things he’d accrued over his time as a baron.
As they came to a halt on the gravel drive of Coxford Hall, a stately three-story, red brick manor home with crawling green ivy along the sides, he tried to picture it for the first time, through Honoria’s eyes. But since he’d always had an emotional tie to his ancestral home, he had to wait and see what her reaction would be.
As he’d requested, the servants were all lined up outside to greet their new mistress, while most of the villagers had turned out on this celebratory day as well.
She stepped down from the coach and her blue eyes widened perceptibly. “This is Coxford Hall?”
“It is.” He couldn’t help the slight twitch of his lips. “Were you expecting a leaky roof and people in rags running amok?”
“Not… exactly,” she murmured, but her slight hesitation gave her away.
He offered his arm to her with a chuckle. “How about I give you an official tour?”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
***
It didn’t take long for Honoria to realize that she’d made a dreadful error in judgment. All this time she thought she was going to be taken to some deserted moorland
in the wilds of England, her husband little more than a pauper who worked the land with his tenants, but it was becoming quite clear that Lord Coxford was nothing of the sort.
While the house itself was breathtaking, the lands surrounding them were just as elegant, the manicured grounds seeming to go on forever. Her father’s estate had always felt like a museum, elegant and designed for show, but the moment she walked inside Coxford Hall, she could feel its warmth. It was inviting, beckoning her to remain awhile.
The servants wore wide smiles and it was apparent they were devoted to their master. The few tenants Royce introduced her to appeared equally as loyal.
It wasn’t until they passed the stables with several magnificent breeds in the stalls that Honoria turned to her escort. “You have all of this—” She waved her hand to encompass their surroundings. “And yet, you choose to hide it from society.”
Royce leaned against the side of the stables, drawing her into the circle of his arms. “I’ve told you before that the ton’s approval means little to me. I’m content with things exactly as they are.” He threaded his hand through hers. “My hope is that you will be happy here too.”
Honoria shook her head, marveling at this humble, modest man that she’d been lucky enough to marry. “The only thing I truly want anymore — is you. This house is beautiful, but it’s your presence, your love for this place that makes me adore it.” She didn’t want to sour the moment, but she couldn’t help adding, “After a lifetime filled with regrets and things that didn’t truly matter, I’m ready to fill this house — our home — with love and laughter.”
For a reply, he bent down and nuzzled her neck. “So you love me, do you?”
She sighed. “With all my heart.”
“That’s good to hear, since I love you too.”
She wound her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. It didn’t take long before she felt the stirrings of his answering desire pressing urgently against her midsection. Allowing a glimpse of the old Honoria to return, she asked impishly, “Do you happen to have any mangoes on hand, Lord Coxford?”
Royce leaned his head back and groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“No,” she corrected with a smirk. “I merely plan to bedevil you for all of our days.”
He rolled his eyes toward the sky. “Heaven help me.”
And then he kissed her.
Author’s Note
I’m sure many of you caught Honoria’s speech to herself, claiming that life was about the journey and not the destination. This quote has long been credited to the American essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was born in 1803. But since it suited my heroine’s ideals, I had to use it.
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About the Author
Tabetha Waite began her writing journey at a young age. At nine years old, she was crafting stories of all kinds on an old Underwood typewriter. She started reading romance in high school and immediately fell in love with the genre. She gained her first publishing contract with Etopia Press and released her debut novel in July of 2016 - “Why the Earl is After the Girl,” the first book in her Ways of Love Series. Since then, she has become a hybrid author, transitioning into indie publishing. She has won several awards for her books.
She is a small town, Missouri girl who continues to make her home in the Midwest with her husband and two wonderful daughters. When she’s not writing novels filled with adventure and heart, she is either reading, or searching the local antique mall or flea market for the latest interesting find. You can find her on most any social media site, and she encourages fans of her work to join her mailing list for updates.
www.authortabethawaite.wix.com/romance
Tabetha Waite, Bedeviling Lord Coxford
