Loving Lady Marcia Read Online Free PDF

it’s so good to see you!”
    Marcia leaped to her feet. “And you, Mama!”
    Like two desert travelers glimpsing an oasis, they walked toward each other across a plush gold Aubusson carpet and met beneath a chandelier dripping with sparkling crystals.
    Her mother took her face in her hands and kissed both cheeks. “I wish you’d told us you were coming. Daddy took the whole family to see a new horse he’d like to buy. I’ve already seen it, of course. But he likes the children’s opinions. It’s the Brady way, he always says. As you know.” Her eyes twinkled.
    Marcia laughed. “I do know Daddy’s insistence on doing things the Brady way.” She gave her mother a long hug, savoring the feel of her, inhaling the strawberry scent of her. “I’ve missed you. And I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I was coming. This visit is very spur of the moment—and short, I’m afraid. I left my driver at an inn nearby. He’ll be here to pick me up in an hour.”
    “What a shame,” said Mama, then brightened. “But Burbank’s ordered tea. We’ll have that and catch up, just we two.”
    She linked her arm through Marcia’s and took her upstairs to a cozy sitting room overlooking the back garden. There they sank onto a plump floral sofa covered with a plethora of chintz pillows. The room was so Mama’s style, soft pink and cream with accents of leaf green.
    Marcia sighed. It felt good to be here, back in the bosom of her family.
    “Lady Ennis sent me a note this morning,” she said. “It seems it was imperative that I come up to London today to look for silk for the choir robes, even though the girls’ next concert isn’t for several months and I have tomorrow’s assembly notes to prepare. We’re expecting several parents to attend.”
    Mama took her hand and squeezed it. “My, you’re busy. Did you see anyone we know while you were out and about?”
    “Yes.” A vague heat spread through Marcia’s chest. “Lord Chadwick. We happened to meet on the street.” She wouldn’t share the extent of the story, the awkwardness—and intensity—of it all.
    “Not everyone approves of him, you know, but I must say I’ve always enjoyed his company the rare times he’s been in Town.” Mama was very fond of people in general and rarely spoke ill of anyone. “I get the impression he’s showing up more often these days. Perhaps we’ll see him sooner rather than later.”
    “Why would anyone disapprove of him?”
    Mama laid a hand over Marcia’s. “He has a son. Born on the wrong side of the blanket.”
    “Really?” Marcia couldn’t help her surprise.
    Mama nodded. “He lives quite openly with the child. I don’t think the earl gives a fig for what society thinks, which is why certain people disapprove of him. You yourself have never seemed keen on him.”
    “No,” said Marcia. “Not particularly.” And she never would be. The news about the son certainly made him more interesting, but she’d give him no credit for his compassion. None at all. She knew it was small of her—she knew . But Lord Chadwick inspired extreme reactions in her, all bad, she was afraid.
    “Finn was the one with all the charm.” It was as if Mama had read her mind. “Remember the wedding in Ireland? You were quite besotted with him.”
    “I do remember,” Marcia said evenly. “But let’s talk about”— what? who? —“Daddy.” Her tone was bright. “How is he?”
    “Oh, he’s doing very well.” Mama chuckled at the thought of him, and Marcia’s heart, hard as it felt toward the earl, couldn’t help but warm. She loved that her parents took such delight in each other. “Although he misses your early morning discussions over breakfast.”
    “At least we have Ballybrook in the summer.” How she missed their Irish estate when she was away from it! “Paradise on earth.”
    “That it is.” Mama’s voice softened. Over the years, she’d begun to speak a bit like Daddy. “But Ballybrook’s across the Irish Sea,