"Expectations" (Book 2), by Gratiana Lovelace (2018-2019), (Completed)

Ch. 20: Courting Couples, Part I

"Expectations" (Book 2)--Ch. 20: Courting Couples, Part I,
May 12, 2019 by Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1235; and on Wattpad)

(an original Regency romance copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace, 2018 - 2019; all rights reserved); [(1) story cover art, above]

[As is my custom, from time to time I will illustrate my story with my ideal cast consisting of (in order of appearance/mention in this chapter): Lord Christian Blount, the Earl of Sussex, and his young bride and Countess Lady Madeline Sinclair Blount; Vicar Frederick Whitby (aka Lord Alfred Lindsay the Marquess of Malten) portrayed by David Oakes; Lady Constance Knightsbridge Lindsay the Marchioness of Malten portrayed by Margaret Clunie; Miss Tamsin Knightsbridge Lindsay, daughter of Lady Constance and Lord Alfred is portrayed by Francesca Capaldi; and Lord Duncan the Viscount Lindsay (portrayed by Rupert Penry-Jones) who is smitten with Lady Elizabeth Blount (portrayed by Jessica Brown Findlay) who is sister to Lord Christian]

Author's story content and serializing scheduling notes: For the most part, my ratings for the chapters will be PG-13—for romantic interludes and dramatic moments. If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with these ratings, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer. And I always put the previous chapter's brief recap at the top of the next chapter. Also, I hope to post new chapters weekly on Sundays. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

"Expectations" (Book 2), Ch. 20—Courting Couples, Part I

Before they are to have a light dinner with Grandmother Lady Catherine Dowager Countess of Sussex, Lady Madeline's husband Lord Christian Earl of Sussex, and his sister Lady Elizabeth Blount, Lady Madeline Sinclair Blount Countess of Sussex sits plumped up upon her bed pillows—with her ankles raised on yet more pillows, to stem their slight swelling due to her pregnancy with their first child. She is writing in her journal about what transpired this afternoon, with Vicar Whitby revealed to all as the long lost Lord Alfred Lindsay Marquess of Malten. It is rather a long journal entry so far, as her husband Lord Christian [(2) above] paces the floor in their sitting room area.

Lady Madeline: "Christian, Dearest, you will wear out the lovely rug with your pacing. Please sit down, preferably next to me." She smiles with sparkling eyes and pats his side of their bed. She then returns her journal and pencil to her nightstand to give her husband her full attention. With her long flowing auburn tresses falling about her shoulders, Lady Madeline [(3) above] is a vision of womanly beauty.

Lord Christian: "Would that I could be relieved of my concerns."

Lady Madeline: "And what concerns might those be?" Yet she knows very well what his concerns are—as any wife should.

Lord Christian: He moves to doff his boots, jacket, and waistcoat before coming to sit next to his wife atop their soft satin bed coverlet. "You know very well that Lord Duncan kissed my sister Elizabeth on the hidden part of the garden terrace." He states irritatedly. Their sitting room bay window to the back garden has a clear view of that portion of the terrace, on the other side of the thickly overgrown hedge.

Lady Madeline: "Yes Dear. People in love usually do kiss." Lady Madeline pats his muscular shoulder leaning over her. She is far too sanguine for her husband's tastes. "We did." She raises a saucy eyebrow in his direction, and he pouts.

Lord Christian: "Yes, but we were already engaged at that point." He counters. "Lizzie and Duncan are not yet engaged."

Lady Madeline: "Yet they could become engaged, if you would simply let Lord Duncan know that you encourage his suit of your sister, Lady Elizabeth—and she is also now my sister through our marriage."