Free Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens Page B

"
Detresse
."
    "I believe he has a number of matters on his
mind."
    The Dowager's fine brows rose. "His mind?"
Then she smiled, eyes twinkling as they rested once more on Honoria's face.
"But now, my dear, as my
so-detresse
son has decreed, we will get
acquainted. And as you are to be my daughter-in-law, I will call you
Honoria." Again, her brows rose. "Is that not right?"
    Her name became " 'Onoria"—the Dowager
couldn't manage the "H." Honoria returned her smile, and sidestepped
the leading question. "If you wish it, ma'am."
    The Dowager's smile grew radiant. "My dear, I
wish it with all my heart."
    ----

Chapter 5
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    After an hour of subtle interrogation, Honoria escaped
the Dowager, pleased that, while she'd parted with her life history, she'd
successfully avoided all mention of Tolly's death. Shown to an elegant suite, she
washed and changed; her self-confidence renewed, she descended—into mayhem.
    The magistrate had arrived; while Devil dealt with
him, Vane had broken the news to the Dowager. When Honoria entered the drawing
room, the Dowager was in full histrionic spate. While grief was certainly
present, it had been overtaken by indignant fury.
    Instantly, the Dowager appealed to her for details.
"You need not apologize for not telling me before. I know just how it
was—that oh-so-male son of mine sought to keep the matter from me, Cynster that
he is."
    Waved to a chair, Honoria dutifully complied. She'd
barely finished her tale when the scrunch of wheels on gravel heralded Devil's
reappearance.
    "What's the verdict?" Vane asked.
    Devil met his gaze levelly. "Death through shooting
by some person unknown. Possibly a highwayman."
    "A highwayman?" Honoria stared at him.
    Devil shrugged. "Either that or a poacher."
He turned to the Dowager. "I've sent for Arthur and Louise."
    Lord Arthur Cynster and his wife Louise proved to be
Tolly's parents.
    There followed a detailed discussion of who to notify,
the appropriate arrangements, and how to accommodate the expected crowd, which
encompassed a goodly proportion of the
ton
. While Devil undertook the
first two aspects, organizing rooms and sustenance fell to the Dowager.
    Despite her firm intention to remain aloof from
Devil's family, Honoria simply could not stand by and allow such a weight to
descend on the Dowager's fragile shoulders. Especially not when she was more
than well qualified to lighten the load. As, however reluctantly, an
Anstruther-Wetherby who had been present when Tolly had died, she would be
expected to attend the funeral; she would need to remain at the Place at least
until after that. That being so, there was no reason not to offer her aid.
Besides which, to sit idly in her room while about her the household ran
frantic, would be entirely beyond her.
    Within minutes, she was immersed in lists—initial
lists, then derived lists and eventually lists for cross-checking. The afternoon
and evening passed in intense activity; Webster and the housekeeper, a matronly
woman known as Mrs. Hull, coordinated the execution of the Dowager's
directives. An army of maids and footmen labored to open up rooms. Helpers from
the nearby farms tramped in to assist in the kitchens and stables. Yet all the
bustle was subdued, somber; not a laugh was heard nor a smile seen.
    Night fell, restless, disturbed; Honoria awoke to a
dull day. A funereal pall had settled over the Place—it deepened with the arrival
of the first carriage.
    The Dowager met it, taking her grieving sister-in-law
under her wing. Honoria slipped away, intending to seek refuge in the
summerhouse by the side of the front lawn. She was halfway across the lawn when
she caught sight of Devil, heading her way through the trees. He had gone with
the chaplain, Mr. Menyweather, and a party of men to mark out the grave. Devil
had seen her; Honoria halted.
    He came striding out of the shade, long legs encased
in buckskin breeches and shiny top boots. His fine white shirt with