Chapter 40

"My cousin preferred to spend his time in London, so the townhouse there is in much better shape. I also own a smaller estate on the Lincolnshire coast - one that came to me through my maternal grandparents. My mother makes that her primary residence, when she's not in London." So had he until very recently.
"She's here, now, though?" Augusta asked, chewing on her lower lip in the way he'd learned meant she was worried.
"She is. She'd come with me to help sort things out after I inherited and was staying on to keep things moving while I traveled to Scotland to meet my wards."
"She won't mind having our horde descend upon her - or having a daughter-in-law to deal with?"
"According to the letter that arrived with the coaches, she's utterly delighted. She's looking forward to having children to spoil again." Colin nudged Jupiter right up against Lady Jane's flank so he could reach out and touch Augusta's shoulder. "Also, since she's never been the Countess of Bruxton, she has no attachment to Fordyce and will be able turn over the reins of the household without a qualm."
Augusta rolled her eyes and grimaced. "We'll see. I'll try hard to keep quiet, but I've been on my own for quite some time. I'm afraid I'm inclined to be a bit...bossy."
Yes, she was, but never out of selfishness or laziness - she'd simply taken control to ensure that her family survived and Colin couldn't fault her for that. Instead, he grinned. "Yes, well, countesses are allowed to be on the imperious side. Now let's go, darling. Our dinner might still be waiting."
They spurred their horses forward. Colin was unsurprised to hear a shout ring out as soon as they approached the front drive, but he was a little amused to see his mother come running out the front door just moments later. Her blue-gray, eyes - a softer color than his own vivid blue - sparked brightly as she waved and smiled.
They rode up to the steps, stopping as a groom hurried out to take their horses. Colin dismounted and hurried over to Augusta's side to help her down. His arm firmly about her waist, he led her up the steps and stood in front of his mother.
"Mother, I'd like you to meet the new Countess of Bruxton - my bride, Augusta."
Augusta swallowed hard as she looked up into the smiling face of her mother-in-law. Helena Fordyce was a true beauty, still tall and slender in her fifties. Her hair was as golden as Colin's and if there was a streak or two of silver mixed in, she hid it well. Dressed in what Augusta assumed was the height of fashion, she could easily have been intimidating, but the welcome mixed with curiosity in her expression immediately put the younger woman at ease.
"Welcome, my dear." Helena reached out and took both of Augusta's hands in hers before leaning down a bit to kiss her cheek. "Dare told me a little about you - I've been so looking forward to meeting you face to face."
They all turned to watch as the coach rumbled to a halt. Arthur jumped out the moment the door was opened, then Colin stepped over to hand the girls down one by one. Augusta tensed as she watched her mother-in-law's reaction, but Helena's smile only grew even wider.
"Oh, how delightful. I always wanted a whole houseful of children, but was only blessed with two. You're sure you don't mind sharing them with my, my dear?" She squeezed hard on Augusta's hand.
Augusta felt some of the strain of the past three years roll off her in waves. She loved her siblings, but being the only one looking out for them had been exhausting. A wry chuckle escaped her throat. "Believe me, they're enough to keep both of us more than occupied."
As Colin herded the children up one by one to meet his mother, she greeted each of them warmly and had clearly already memorized names and ages. As soon as everyone had been introduced, Colin gestured toward the door. "I assume the servants are all lined up and waiting to meet their new mistress?"
"Of course," Helena replied. "I hope you don't mind, but I did pension off the former earl's valet and a few others who were either positively doddering, or simply not inclined to accept a change in the order of things."
Augusta raised one eyebrow at Colin and he shrugged.
"A few of the staff were...cronies of your previous guardian. In other words, complicit with his less than ethical behavior. I'd already replaced the steward and I sent a letter with Dare, informing the solicitor that his services were no longer needed. We'll have some work to do here, helping the old place recover from their poor management. Do you mind?"
She shook her head. "Not a bit. As long as I can get a bath, a meal and a bed - preferably in that order - I'm game for anything."
Much later, she remembered those words as she waited for Colin in the dark, gloomy master bedroom. The former earl had been a widower for many years, so the connecting countess suite had been converted to a study. She didn't mind at all the idea of sharing with Colin, but a woman's chamber might have been a bit less foreboding. The massive, ebony four-poster bed with black and maroon brocade curtains felt more like the den of some creature than a restful place of slumber.
She'd had her bath right after being introduced to a veritable army of servants. Several maids had whisked off the children to their own quarters and Colin had disappeared with his valet while Betsy, a friendly maid with a cheery Saxon face, had helped Augusta out of her traveling clothes and into a large iron tub, full of blissfully hot water laced with rosewater and almond oil. She'd been scrubbed head to toe with matching rose-scented soap, then dried off with thick towels that had been warmed by the fire. Meanwhile, another servant had apparently unpacked her clothing and pressed her best evening dress, a simple green silk that was at least four years out of date. Still, with her damp hair braided and coiled in a coronet, she'd felt at least clean and respectable as she'd gone down to dinner on Colin's arm.
Even the children were subdued, tired from several days travel and none of them had complained when Augusta decreed it was time for bed. She followed them upstairs, settling Bertie and Arthur in the nursery suite, with Toni and Lexie in adjoining rooms nearby. As each had been promised by Colin that they could redo their rooms however they liked, the fact that the quarters were a bit shabby didn't bother them a bit. Augusta had kissed them each, then returned to the earl's chamber, where Betsy again helped her undress. Now, she waited restlessly for Colin. While they traveled, they'd shared their room with Arthur, so it had been several days since they'd made love. Tired as she was, her whole body tingled, longing to feel his touch upon her skin again.