Free Miss Grantham's One True Sin (The Regency Matchmaker Series Book 2) by Melynda Beth Andrews Page B

parents wanted the best for her, and a viscount wasn’t as lofty as an earl or duke, after all.
    But Marianna had no illusions about her allure to earls and dukes. She didn’t even hold appeal for clerks and merchants!
    Her poor parents had worked so hard to see her happily settled with a man of distinction.
    She looked down, closed her eyes, and swallowed, coming to a hard, fast decision.
    If she could not hasten her parents back aboard a ship bound for the West Indies, if they stayed in London to console her—or to see that she chose her next fiance more wisely ... Marianna knew her duty. Her parents had sacrificed for her and deserved to be happy. If they stayed on in London, she would marry before the next snowfall whether she found love or not.
    And that was that.
    She sighed and opened her eyes just as Ophelia appeared next to her, a welcome diversion from such unpleasant thoughts. The older woman motioned to the three daisy wreaths Marianna had fashioned. "You'll have to make one larger than that to fit over my turban.” She chuckled.
    Marianna's morose thoughts scattered, but her mood was not so easily broken. She tried to smile, but she was not terribly successful, and Ophelia said, "Come now, dispel those blue devils. Tell me what troubles you."
    Marianna didn't even try to offer a denial of her mood. Ophelia was astute enough to know when Marianna skirted a direct question. Besides, she was Marianna's friend, and as such she was owed a confidence.
    The old woman settled herself upon one of the chairs. "Well?" she prompted.
    Marianna shook her head and stared at her hands. "It just seems incomprehensible that somewhere there is a man to whom I shall soon be wed. A man I do not know. A man I have never even glimpsed."
    Ophelia shook her head. "That is not what troubles you."
    Marianna threw her a questioning look. "Oh?"
    "No. You, Marianna, in spite of your otherwise sensible mind, believe in foolish fairy-stories. You were brought up knowing what is most important in a husband: wealth and title. But you have always harbored a secret belief in all that one-true-love rubbish, and now you fear not finding your own true love. Even worse, you are beginning to doubt any such man exists."
    Marianna lowered her gaze to her lap.
    Ophelia reached out to tip Marianna's chin back up, and she pinned her with a piercing gaze. "You are wrong, Marianna." Her blue eyes softened, and she said kindly, "He does exist, and you will discover him right here at Trowbridge. Very soon."
    Marianna knew she referred to the army of bachelors who would soon be descending upon Trowbridge Manor along with the rest of the house party guests. They were hand-chosen by Ophelia, an exemplary group of men to be sure. Yet Marianna held no confidence that she would fall in love with one of them—and even less confidence that one of them would fall in love with her! She wanted to ask what made Ophelia so certain it would happen with one of the gentlemen coming to Trowbridge, but she did not wish to spoil her old friend's pleasant fantasy. A wistful smile had claimed the lady's lined face. If Ophelia could find a few days' pleasure believing that she could bring Marianna together with her own true love, why spoil it for her?
    Marianna said nothing and began weaving a much larger, turban-sized wreath.
    TRUE SET THE girls upon a hunt for a four-leafed clover, and then he wandered back over toward the picnic quilts. As he approached, Mrs. Robertson rose from her chair and went in search of her husband, who was with the coachman and footmen—talking horses, no doubt. The man loved horses, and he was uncannily good with them. After only three days with Mr. Robertson present, True's stables were already in much better shape. He had expected to wait an hour or more for the barouche to be brought 'round this morning, but it had taken less than a quarter hour. He was certain Mr. Robertson—John, as the man insisted True call him—was responsible for