Chapter 33
Miss Berystede’s household was overwhelmed with the revelation that Jemima was to marry the Earl of Southwell. The news eclipsed any possible scandal over Jemima having left the house, unchaperoned, in the dead of night, and returning in the Earl of Southwell’s carriage. She had at least been accompanied by his London housekeeper on her return, the poor woman woken up from her bed to fulfil this duty.
Jemima had not wished for this, but her guardian - now her fiancé - had insisted.
“I will not have my future bride travelling across the town unaccompanied, in the early hours of the morning,” he told her.
Jemima had an idea that this would not be the first or last order he issued to her. She would need to develop her own strategy for dealing with her future husband if he becam
