A Kiss for Lady Mary Read Online Free PDF Page A

were in order. She stood, arched her back.
    Just as she reached for the bell-pull, a knock came on the door to the office, and Simons entered with a tea tray. “You’ve been cooped up here for so long, my lady, Mrs. Enderson thought you might like some tea.”
    “Indeed I would.” Mary smiled. Since the first day, the servants had treated her as if she’d been their mistress for years. They’d wanted and needed direction, which unfortunately did nothing to ease the guilt she felt in living here. “In fact, I’ve just finished for the day. How is Mr. Stuttart doing?”
    “Much better, my lady. The plaster you had Cook make seemed to do the trick.”
    The poor man had fallen ill with a series of lung complaints lasting all winter. Finally Mary had dug into the books her great-grandmother had kept on household remedies and come up with something that seemed to be working. “Please ask Lady Eunice to join me.”
    Simons bowed and left, closing the door behind him. A few minutes later, Eunice entered the room. “You wanted to see me?”
    “Yes. As soon as Mr. Stuttart is able to work again, we should make plans to leave. The upcoming Season will be all the explanation we need.”
    Eunice sat, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mary. “Are you sure you wish to go to Town this year?”
    Mary sank into a large leather chair. “No, but I think I have been here long enough, and I have a feeling I should move on, before we are found out, or Gawain finds me.”
    Eunice stared out the window for a few moments with her brow furrowed before responding, “I see your point, but the fact remains that you are safe here.”
    Tears threatened to clog Mary’s throat. She couldn’t wait much longer. All her friends were married and having babies. If she didn’t wed soon, the chance to have a family of her own might be lost to her. “Don’t you see, Aunt Eunice? I want to marry. It is as if life is passing me by. If I can find someone to marry, once I am betrothed, the court will have to act. My uncle cannot arbitrarily withhold his consent.”
    “You could allow Mama to make a match for you.”
    “No. I want to fall in love. You had the opportunity to wed the one you loved, as did my mother and brother. I just want the same chance.” Surely there was a man who could love her for herself and not her dowry or her face. Someone kind, who would love and cherish her and their children.
    “Yes. I see your point.” Eunice took a sip of tea. “I shall write to Mama.”
    Mary put her cup down. “I’m going into Rosebury. Would you like to come with me?”
    Her aunt nodded distractedly, as if she had something important on her mind. “Shall we walk?”
    What could Eunice be thinking of? Her late husband? Perhaps, Mary thought, she should not have mentioned him. “Unless you’d rather take the gig?”
    “Not at all.” Eunice rose quickly. “Give me a moment to change my shoes and I’ll meet you in the hall.”
    After Eunice left, Mary called for her hat, cloak, and gloves. A brisk walk would do them both some good.
     
    A half hour later they reached the edge of the market town. Mary waved at one of the ladies strolling on the other side of the street. If it weren’t for her deception, she would have been happy to call Rose Hill and Rosebury home. The town was lovely and the people welcoming. This had also been the first time in two years that she’d been free from her cousin’s harassment. Being able to walk and ride without fear of being abducted by Gawain had been a blessing. Still, she was sure he would eventually find her as he always had before.
    A carriage carrying the squire’s wife, Lady Brownly, her eldest daughter, Diana, and another lady, whom Mary was unable to see clearly, pulled alongside her and Eunice.
    Lady Brownly smiled warmly. “If we had known you were also coming to Rosebury, I would have been happy to fetch you.”
    Mary returned the smile. The lady and her daughter had been the first ones to