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beneath her white cap. However, her blue eyes shone with earnestness, making Jocelyn want to give her a chance.
    “That sounds most satisfactory.” Jocelyn approved of Mrs. Green’s efficiency.
    Susan burst into action, lighting several candles. The flicker of flames dispelled the gloom creeping into the corners now that the large trees around the manor hid the sun. The light brought a plaster angel into focus, one bearing a sly smirk. A vision of Arabella intruded, and Jocelyn scowled. Bother the woman.
    “Which gown would you like to wear tonight?” A note of nervousness bled from Susan’s voice, betraying her desperate desire to please.
    “The green, I think.” Jocelyn unbuttoned her gloves and peeled them off before starting to unfasten her current gown. Susan disappeared to retrieve the requested dress. It was one of Jocelyn’s favorites and never failed to boost her confidence. She and Mr. Sherbourne would dine in private tonight, and her stomach churned with both disquiet and hope. But now she clenched her jaw, determination heaping on top of nerves. She’d made a commitment and wanted to do a good job in all ways. She mightn’t be a virgin, but tonight, the bedding part of marriage brought more trepidation than her first time.
    Jocelyn freshened up with water Susan poured from an urn into a china bowl. A tremor slipped down her spine. The cold water had nothing to do with her burst of unease. It was the dread of losing her new husband to a beautiful mistress. No! She couldn’t afford to let Arabella distract her from the important things—the chance of a new, reputable life.
    Her mind in turmoil, Jocelyn reached for her scarlet stockings. She rolling them up her calves and securing them with garters just above her knees.
    Once Jocelyn donned a clean chemise, Susan helped her with her stays, petticoats and gown. Her maid pulled the fabric up her arms and secured several buttons and tapes. She fussed with the skirts and twitched them into submission. With one final flick of her wrist, she nodded approval.
    “How would you like your hair, Mrs. Sherbourne?”
    “Something simple please. I think tidying my current style will suffice.”
    Susan bustled around the room, her initial tremors subsiding into quiet competence.
    “Thank you, Susan. I won’t need you again tonight, but tell Mrs. Green I’d like you to continue as my maid.”
    Susan’s cheeks pinked with pleasure. “Will you require refreshments in the morning?”
    “A dish of tea please.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Sherbourne.” Susan dropped a brief curtsey and left her alone.
    A knock sounded on the connecting door of her chamber, and seconds later, Mr. Sherbourne stepped inside.
    “Are you ready to go down?”
    “I’m afraid I’m running a little late. My mother and I explored the gardens this afternoon, and when I came upstairs, I was pondering how to change this room to something more my taste. Time ran away with me.” She stood and slipped her feet into shoes. Why hadn’t she mentioned meeting Arabella?
    “I have something for you—a wedding gift.” Mr. Sherbourne pulled a sparkling necklace from his pocket. Emeralds and diamonds caught the flickering light from the candles.
    “You didn’t need to get me a gift, but thank you,” Jocelyn said with pleasure. “I adore emeralds. Could you fasten it for me? I’ll wear it tonight.”
    “This necklace belonged to my mother.” Her husband closed the distance between them and placed the necklace around her neck. “She brought it with her from Spain.”
    “Your mother came from Spain?”
    “Yes, my father met her during his travels on the continent and brought her home as his bride.”
    “Oh. I met Arabella earlier. Is she from Spain too?”
    Mr. Sherbourne shrugged. “A distant cousin.”
    How distant? The stones chilled her skin. Had his first wife worn this necklace? And did Arabella have designs on the necklace and her husband too? A frisson of alarm set her mind awhirl, but