Make-Believe Wife by Anne Herries Page A

ring. Touching the brooch, she smiled because it reminded her of Sofia and she could almost hear her friend applauding.
    â€˜Now we shall see if I really am fit to be a lady,’ she said softly. ‘Wish me luck, dearest Sofia.’
    â€˜You were born to the part, dearest.’
    For a moment it was as if her friend were with her and she felt her courage return. Her part here was not to deceive for advantage, but to bring comfort and joy to an old man’s last days.
    Roxanne’s things had not yet been brought up so she did not have the opportunity to change her gown; deciding that she looked the best she could after her journey, she left the bedroom and retraced her steps to the landing.
    At the bottom of the stairs two footmen were discussing something and she caught the words ‘beauty and better than expected’ , before they became aware of her standing there.
    â€˜You were quick, miss,’ one of them said, a faint colour in his cheeks. ‘Mrs Arlet said to take you to the back parlour when you came down. It is the master’s favourite room these days. He mostly uses it when he is alone, though we’ll be using the drawing room for tea in future.’
    â€˜Shall you?’ Roxanne said, controlling the urge to smile. Clearly the servants here considered themselves part of the family and that was somehow fitting. ‘There is no need to stand on ceremony for my sake. Pleasetake me to the earl—I believe Mrs Arlet said your name was Jarvis?’
    â€˜Yes, Miss Peters,’ he replied, seeming surprised that she should remember. ‘If you would like to come this way.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ she said and inclined her head in her most regal manner.
    Roxanne’s heart was hammering against her ribs as she followed the footman through to the back of the house. He paused before a pair of impressive double doors and then threw them open with a little flourish.
    â€˜Miss Peters, my lord.’
    Jarvis stood to one side so that Roxanne could enter; when she did so, he closed the doors behind her with a snap. Immediately, she saw the elderly man rise to his feet. He was tall, though a little stooped about his shoulders, thinner than she thought healthy, his hair dark pewter and his white brows bushy and slightly raised, intimidating. His eyes, though, were of a similar colour to Luke’s and for some reason that made her smile. She was, she imagined, looking at Lord Clarendon as he would be one day in the distant future. The two gentlemen were very alike despite the years between them.
    â€˜Miss Peters? You are down sooner than that graceless scamp my grandson.’
    â€˜Since I could not change my gown to greet you, I thought it better to come sooner rather than later,’ she replied and moved towards him, her hand outstretched. ‘Luke has told me a little about you, sir—and you are very like him.’
    â€˜You are the first to say so in an age, though his mother often told me that he would be my image one day. Unfortunately, she did not live to see it. I have thought that a good thing, for she would have been disappointed in the young rogue—but now I am not so sure.’
    â€˜I know that Luke has not always behaved in a way that pleased you,’ Roxanne said. ‘But you must not disparage him to me, you know.’
    â€˜You are prepared to defend him if I do?’
    â€˜I should be a poor fiancée if I did not—do you not think so, sir?’
    The earl glared at her for a few seconds, then gave a harsh laugh. ‘I think he has done better than I imagined. I was prepared for you to be one of his doxies—but you ain’t, are you?’
    â€˜Certainly not. I have been no man’s plaything and have no intention of it.’ Her eyes flashed a challenge at him. ‘Do you really think so poorly of him, sir? It would be unkind to bring a lady of that nature into your home. From what I know of Luke, he would not be