Free The Suitable Bride (The Emberton Brothers Series Book 2) by Karen Aminadra

Colemans too, were all his beloved family.
    “Edward, how wonderful it is to see you!” Grace was the first to rise, and that small gesture helped reality to dawn in Edward’s mind. Grace was now the mistress of the house, not his mother. He would have to petition his sister-in-law if he wished to arrive unannounced.
    He bowed in response to Grace’s curtsey. “It is so good to be —” he wanted to say home but instead he chose “— here.”
    Edwina, his mother, then rose and greeted him with a warm embrace. “It seems so abnormal to not have you here with us.”
    As Edward seated himself, he returned her sentiments. “I know what you mean, Mama. The first night in Sandon Place was so peculiar. If I could but explain and describe the sensation I felt when the doors were closed and the world shut out, or should I say, I was shut in…but it is so good to be here.” He reached across from his position in the armchair by the fire to take Grace’s hand and boldly asked, “Is it strictly necessary for me to be announced each time I arrive?”
    Grace smiled so kindly at him, he knew at that moment why Richard adored her so. “Edward, this was your home long before it was ever mine. Of course you must come and go as you please, if that is acceptable to everyone else.” She glanced up at Edwina and Richard, who both nodded their eager acquiescence.
    Edward breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into the armchair. “You have no idea how hard it was to restrain myself behind Henry. I just wanted to burst in on you all!”
    Richard laughed heartily. “I couldn’t believe you were being so formal in this house, to be honest. It is nonsense. We are all family here, and we have all agreed you shall come and go as you please.”
    There, it was confirmed twice. Edward was free to come to Emberton Hall as he pleased. And it did indeed please him to know that. He did not know how long the place would still feel like home to him, but while it did, it felt like a sanctuary. Sandon Place still felt cold and empty to him, almost lifeless. One day, he knew, he would feel more at home there. But for now, he was glad that he was so freely welcomed back to his childhood home.
    Edward thoroughly enjoyed dinner that evening. He tried to engage Martha in conversation, but she was so quiet and unwilling to speak to him that he wondered if she was well. Curiously, she spoke openly to Grace and his mother; to Richard and himself, she barely spoke two words together.
    He decided to invite Doctor Coleman and Martha over to dinner at Sandon Place the following Sunday. “Doctor Coleman, I wonder if you and Martha would care to join the family for dinner at Sandon Place next Sunday?”
    Doctor Coleman seemed elated by the invitation. Martha, Edward observed, looked even more reserved than she had been.
    “We would be most delighted to visit your beautiful new home again.”
    “But, Papa, we have plans for next Sunday, do we not?”
    The expression on Martha’s face was not lost on Edward. He wondered what he had done to offend the girl.
    “I know of no previous engagement, my dear.” The doctor looked perplexed.
    Martha huffed, “Yes, you know…our friends from the village are coming. Remember?” There was a note of desperation in that final word.
    Again, the doctor looked nonplussed. “I’m afraid, Martha, if we have made arrangements, I have entirely forgotten about them.” He turned to Edward, red in the face. “I do sincerely apologise. It seems, as my daughter has just reminded me, we have a previous engagement, and therefore we must decline.”
    He looked at Martha, disgruntled. Edward watched as a thought seemed to occur to the man as his eyes lit up. “However, I will check with our guests and see if we can’t rearrange their visit, for I, for one, would much rather visit Sandon Place.” He patted Martha’s hands, which were folded in her lap, without looking at her. “And I’m sure my daughter wholeheartedly