Death Comes to Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd Read Free Book Online

children until we return. They already love him and have promised to take him for walks and to play with him.”
    â€œThat is very kind of them. They also seem more than willing to accept you as their mother.”
    Sophia sighed. “I know. Isn’t it wonderful ? I cannot wait until we are all under one roof and can begin our family life together.” She stepped back to stare into Lucy’s eyes. “And if Mrs. Chingford becomes unbearable, you know that my home is always open to you. I have already told Andrew this, and he quite agrees.”
    Lucy smiled at her best friend. It must be pleasant to have men falling over themselves to do one’s bidding. It was a trick that she had never mastered but that Sophia and Anna excelled at. Sophia put on her pelisse, and Lucy handed her the new bonnet that went with it.
    â€œThank you.” Sophia looked around. “Now, where did I put my wedding posy? I wanted to deliver it right into your hands.”
    â€œYou cannot do that, Sophia. Think of all the disappointment! Perhaps you should aim it squarely at Mrs. Chingford’s head.”
    Sophia shuddered. “That horrible woman. She upset Melissa Stanford again today. She was quite incandescent with rage. Not content with suggesting that Andrew was somehow responsible for his wife’s death, she insinuated that Melissa’s betrothed was a well-known cheat at cards. Surely your father will see the error of his ways and will not go through with such a ridiculous marriage.”
    â€œI can only hope so, but he is remarkably stubborn when he makes his mind up about something,” Lucy said gloomily and then re-collected herself. She would not spoil Sophia’s wedding day. “Have you seen Miss Chingford or her sister? I don’t think they are any happier at the news than I am.”
    â€œI haven’t seen them since we finished our meal. I do hope they are all right. Dorothea seemed very upset about the news. One would’ve thought that their mother would have mentioned the matter to them before the announcement.”
    â€œMaybe Mrs. Chingford wasn’t aware that my father intended to propose so publicly.”
    There was a knock on the door, and Foley, the major’s butler, came in and bowed.
    â€œMrs. Stanford? Mr. Stanford was asking after you, ma’am.” Foley lowered his voice. “In fact, he’s fretting himself to the bone and pacing the hall below just like a lovesick bridegroom ought to be doing.”
    Sophia laughed and tied the ribbons on her bonnet. “Then we should certainly go down and put him out of his misery.”
    Lucy followed her out onto the landing, and a cheer went up from the assembled wedding party below. When Mr. Stanford caught sight of his bride, his whole face lit up and he held out his hand and bowed.
    Sophia went gracefully down the stairs to a roar of approval. She paused on the bottom step to throw her bouquet, and there was delighted applause when Anna caught it. From her vantage point at the top of the stairs, Lucy noticed that Nicholas Jenkins was right behind Anna and that he was smiling down at her. It seemed he still hadn’t given up his hopes of marrying her sister, despite Anna’s popularity in London.
    Lucy also noticed Miss Chingford and Dorothea in an intense conversation with their mother that did not look very cordial. But Mrs. Chingford was amicable only to men and those who she thought could aid her. Everyone else, even poor widowed Mrs. Fairfax, was fair game.
    Major Kurland was smiling at his friend and then looked up, caught her eye, and winked. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him being so relaxed and charming before. She almost preferred it when he scowled. Andrew’s children, a boy and a girl, stood close to the major. The boy now held Hunter’s leash in a firm grip as the dog whined and panted after its mistress.
    Within moments, the happy couple had gone in a flurry