A Vow for an Heiress

by Helen Dickson

  Giving her a long speculative look, William nodded slowly. It would appear Miss Ingram had hidden depths. ‘I see you have it all worked out.’

  ‘Not really but I do feel rather passionate about it.’

  ‘There is strong opposition to the trade and at this time the Anti-Slavery Movement is too weak to overcome the system. The people who trade in slaves are an influential group because the trade is a legitimate and a highly lucrative business.’

  ‘It will not always be that way. The argument should be carried through the press and any other means to attract public opinion. Then you can work with the activists to change that. I know a politician called William Wilberforce frequently introduces a motion in favour of abolition. Have you heard of him?’ she asked purposefully, watching his reaction to her question, asked in a casual manner, carefully, but, apart from a slight tightening of his jaw, his expression remained unchanged.

  ‘There are few who have not heard of the illustrious Member of Parliament for Yorkshire, Miss Ingram.’

  ‘Total abolition will take time, I know, but the issue will not go away if people like him remain active in persuading members of parliament to back the parliamentary campaign.’

  ‘The trade is a legitimate form of commerce that only an Act of Parliament can put an end to.’

  ‘Then Parliament must be lobbied. Feeling as strongly as you do, Lord Ashurst, I am sure you would find it a worthwhile and—hopefully—rewarding cause.’

  ‘I’m afraid it is not that simple,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘However, I do not intend on debating the moral aspects of it just now—not on so fine a day as this.’ William glanced at her with interest. ‘You are forthright, Miss Ingram.’

  ‘You look surprised that I speak out. Do you find fault with that?’

  ‘Not at all. It is refreshing to find a woman who speaks her mind with such conviction. You speak brave words. Such sentiments are highly commendable and admirable to say the least. Should I become involved in the cause, I see I shall have your full support—should you become my wife.’

  ‘Of course. I would support you as much as I am able to do so.’

  ‘As I will do when you are involved with your charities. I see you are your own woman.’

  ‘I try to be. I like to think of myself as a free thinker. My mind from an early age has been impressed with question and analysis. Unfortunately, it is not always easy for a woman to be free and independent. My father’s view was that women cannot handle the physical rigors—or possess the mental ability that men have—and should be content with home, husband and child. In which case they have to work so much harder to succeed. You’re lucky to be a man. Women don’t get the same opportunities.’

  ‘Perhaps they will one day. Things change.’

  ‘Very slowly. In the meantime men will continue to make the rules for a good many years, just as they have always done. Many men think it unnecessary and impudent for females to be tutored beyond the basics of womanly duties, that anything more intellectual than learning how to run a house efficiently would be too taxing for our poor feeble minds.’

  ‘That doesn’t trouble me. Does it trouble you, Miss Ingram?’

  ‘Not in the slightest, but many men are prejudiced when it comes to women who are opinionated—which is something, I suppose, that husbands would frown on.’

  ‘Surely that depends on the husband,’ William said quietly.

  When Rosa met his gaze she experienced a shock of something between recognition and a kind of thrilling fear. Those eyes, light blue and narrowed by a knowing, intrusive smile, seemed to look right past her face and into herself. For that split second she felt completely exposed and vulnerable—traits unfamiliar to her, traits she did not care for.

  ‘Yes—I suppose it does. So where do we go from here? I realise I should respect a period of mourning for my grandmother but here is an urgency that cannot be ignored. Goodness knows how many times she called me headstrong and too spirited for my own good, but I know she wouldn’t want us to wait.’

  ‘If you are certain marriage to me is what you want, then our solicitors will meet and finalise the agreement. In the meantime we will arrange the ceremony.’

  ‘Given that I am in mourning, I must insist on it being a quiet, private affair. I want as little fuss as possible’

  ‘I understand. I will speak with the rector in Ashurst.’

  ‘There is something I would like to ask you. Does it matter to you that you will be marrying out of your class? When word gets out the gossips will have a field day and the scandal could be enormous.’

  ‘Personally I don’t give a damn what people say. What does concern me is if the scandal hurts you.’

  Rosa laughed. ‘Please don’t concern yourself. I am strong and will weather the storm.’

  ‘And you will become the Countess of Ashurst. You get the title—I get the money.’ Rosa winced a little at his words, even as he pressed on. ‘There will be difficulties at first, but I will try to make the situation as comfortable as possible—for both our sakes.’

  They walked on a little way in silence.

  William looked at his companion, the sun shining on her bright head. Her hair rippled and lifted in the gentle breeze and he found himself imagining how it would feel to run his fingers through the silken strands. Sensing his eyes on her, she turned, met his gaze and smiled, her teeth gleaming white between her softly parted lips, before averting her eyes once more.

  William was a man not unaccustomed to the attractions of a beautiful woman, having admired and loved many in a casual way, and because of his looks and his rank in the Company he had never had to work very hard at getting them to part with their favours, for those assets alone made him desirable to them. But he had never been impressed with emotions of the heart. Until he had met and fallen in love with Lydia, romantic love was something he was unaccustomed to, and she had betrayed him without a care.

  He had never met a woman who had impressed him with her intellect, wit and dignity, a woman who possessed an agility of mind enough to make him want to spend the rest of his life with her. But that was before he had met Rosa Ingram. For the first time in his life he found himself responding to a woman’s intelligent individuality, making him both captivated and intrigued. He wondered how long it would be before he succumbed to her irresistible beauty which he had secretly come to love.

  He studied her profile, noting that her cheeks were tinted pink, her expression one of melting softness as she took pleasure in seeing the garden. The longer he looked at her he reluctantly faced the fact that Miss Ingram was a far cry from being an ordinary woman. In reality she was intelligent, spontaneous, courageous and naturally sensual.

  At length, William said, ‘Have you ever been in love, Miss Ingram?’

  The question took Rosa by surprise. She stopped and turned to him. ‘Why do you ask? What has that to do with anything?’

  ‘A great deal, I would say. You see, young ladies of my acquaintance dream of love and marriage.’

  ‘I am not like other women, Lord Ashurst.’

  ‘No, I’m beginning to see that.’

  ‘I’m too outspoken—too independent. My father was always telling me. He also said I needed someone to tame me.’

  ‘I would not do that.’

  ‘I would despise you if you did.’

  William laughed. ‘So? Have you?’

  ‘Have I what?’

  ‘Been in love.’

  Flustered, Rosa averted her eyes and walked slowly on. ‘Why—I—yes,’ she confessed quietly.

  ‘He lived on Antigua?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And was he handsome?’

  ‘Yes—at least, I thought he was. He had the warmest laugh and bright blue eyes. To my romantic, seventeen-year-old imagination he was Lancelot and Apollo all rolled into one. No legendary hero cou
ld compare.’

  William was surprised to find himself resenting and thinking jealously of the young man she had known before. ‘He sounds like the answer to every maiden’s prayer.’ He glanced sideways at her downcast face. ‘What happened to this prince among men?’

  ‘I—I really don’t think—’

  ‘If you want to be my wife, Miss Ingram, there must be honesty between us. I don’t like secrets.’

  The question seemed to discomfit her. As if stalling for time she looked straight ahead, fighting a sudden mistiness in her eyes. She waited a moment before answering, and when she did her voice was low, almost a whisper. ‘He—he died.’ Her eyes welled up with tears.

  ‘I see. And you have leftover feelings.’

  ‘Something like that.’ Rosa didn’t want to enter into any discussion about Simon and turned her head away.

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘Our feelings for each other grew out of years of friendly proximity. I—I was in love with him. He made me feel extraordinary—special. We were both young with our future spread out before us.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘He drowned on a fishing trip when the boat he was in capsized in a sudden storm. Two of his friends died with him. I was devastated.’

  ‘You must miss him.’

  Memories of Simon knotted somewhere deep in her chest and she had a feeling of not being far from tears. But, as she always did, she swallowed her emotions and nodded. Having never discussed her feelings, it was incongruous that she was opening up to a total stranger.

  ‘So you have told yourself you will never love again and thought you had nothing to lose when you decided to change places with Clarissa and asked me to marry you instead. Loving your sister like you do, you do not want her to experience the same kind of loss as yourself.’

  Wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, Rosa stared at him. ‘You are very perceptive.’

  He smiled. ‘Oh, I understand perfectly. You will always have feelings for the young man who stole your heart. That is natural. But you must move on with your life.’

  ‘That is what I am doing and why I am here now.’

  ‘Thank you for being honest with me.’

  ‘And you, Lord Ashurst? You say there must be honesty between us so tell me about yourself. I suspect I am not the first woman you have considered marrying—you mentioned marrying someone when we spoke after Dhanu fell into the lake,’ she explained when he gave her a sharp look. ‘Who was she?’ His eyes became guarded and he turned from her. ‘Please,’ she murmured. ‘I have just opened my heart for you. Will you not do the same?’

  William was still for a moment, clearly affected by her question. Then he turned to face her, a resigned look on his face. ‘Her name was Lydia Mannering. We met in India.’

  ‘I realise how difficult it must be for you but please tell me. Was she connected to the army?’ Rose prompted gently.

  ‘No. Her father was an Englishman living in Bombay. He went out to India to make his fortune. He succeeded.’

  ‘What was she like?’

  ‘Popular, beautiful... She dazzled everyone she came into contact with.’

  ‘And—you loved her?’

  He nodded. ‘At the time I worshipped her. Whatever it was that bound me to her was so powerful that I was in danger of losing my mind. We spoke of marriage. She gave meaning to my life and I thought she felt the same, but beneath her skin she was deceitful and treacherous as sin.’

  Rosa stared at him. ‘What did she do to you? Tell me, so that I can understand.’

  ‘It ended badly. She was ambitious, you see. She wanted more than I—as a common soldier—could possibly give her. While I was away on a long tour of duty she met someone else—a man higher up the social scale. She could no longer countenance marriage to a common soldier. I chided myself for ever having been tempted by her, for having believed she felt as I felt.’

  Rosa had a sharp, painful vision of how he must have suffered and her heart went out to him. He must have been devastated. He was a man of pride and she realised how much his pride must have suffered by what Miss Mannering had done to him. When she had come to Ashurst Park to propose marriage he had told her he didn’t want to marry anyone. Now she could understand why.

  A lump in her throat, she struggled to find words which were neither foolish nor hurtful, for she sensed in him a raw and quivering sensitivity. Drawing a shaky breath, she smiled. ‘Thank you for telling me. Perhaps if she had not been so hasty to wed while you were absent, with your new status as the Earl of Ashurst, she might well be your countess.’

  ‘Maybe—but perhaps she did me a favour. Whatever I felt for her, had I married her might well have been destroyed when I got to know the true nature of her.’ What Rosa said was true, but when William had left India Lydia was already dead to him. It had taken a concentrated effort to eradicate her from his heart and mind, but he had done it. But it had left scars and hardened his heart against forming any kind of loving relationship with a woman.

  ‘I can understand your reluctance to marry after what happened. You are very brave to consider taking me on.’

  He laughed, his tension easing. ‘I still cannot believe that you could come here to confront a perfect stranger and propose that I marry you instead of your sister. I do believe it to be the most outrageous proposal of marriage I have ever heard of. You really are the most unprincipled young woman, Rosa Ingram,’ he said with a wayward smile.

  ‘Which you obviously find amusing.’

  ‘You have to admit it is a little unusual.’

  ‘At the very least,’ she agreed. She looked at him steadily. ‘I suppose it does take some understanding. But suppress your pride, Lord Ashurst, and see it for what it is. Your debts are insurmountable unless you acquire money to sort them out. I am not ignorant of the fact that everything a woman possesses at the time of her marriage belongs to her husband as a matter of common law. I know you will use it wisely. As for me—well—it would seem I am in need of stability.’

  ‘You could always live with your Aunt Clara in London until something—or someone—turns up.’

  ‘It already has, Lord Ashurst. You.’ she opened her arms wide to embrace the garden, ‘here I could by happy.’ Letting her arms fall she thought about what marriage to him would be like. Her face became sombre, her eyes wistful.

  ‘I am under no illusions as to what to expect. I accept the fact that I am nothing more than a commodity to you and, in all fairness, that is what I have made myself. With so many differences between us our marriage will not be like other wedded couples.’

  Reading panic overlying her inner feelings, William’s expression softened. ‘Few couples know each other really well before they marry. You will have to take me on trust.’

  Rosa raised her chin a notch, looking directly into his eyes. ‘As you will me, Lord Ashurst.’

  Taking a step back he gave her a hard look, his jaw tightening as he stared into her bewitching eyes. She might look fragile, but he was beginning to suspect she was as strong as steel inside. When he next spoke his expression was resolute and inscrutable.

  ‘You know nothing about me, Miss Ingram, nothing about my character. I think I should enlighten you before we finalise our plans. You must have no illusions about me. I am arrogant—which I am sure you have accused me of being. I am also a battle-hardened soldier given to moods, temperamental and difficult to live with. I am telling you this because when we are married I never want you to look back with any kind of regret.’

  Rosa tilted her head and held his gaze. ‘Are you trying to discourage me, Lord Ashurst?’

  ‘I am merely pointing out the flaws in my character and trying to establish some ground rules of my own. As long as we are totally honest with each other in advance and make sure we have no false illusions or unrealistic expectations, it should not be a problem. My
name is William, by the way—Lord Ashurst is far too formal in the circumstances.’

  ‘Very well, William. My name is Rosa.’

  ‘We neither of us know what the future holds, but if we are to have any kind of life together we must strive for an amicable partnership. Initially you will accept that marriage between us is considered a business arrangement. Our marriage will not be that extraordinary. Many marriages are transacted purely for their monetary benefits—to join lands and money, irrespective of the feelings of those involved. I need money and you need a home and respectability.’

  ‘It will be a complicated matter of working out a strategy that will benefit us both.’

  ‘I realise it will not be a romantic matter—more an affair of convenience—a marriage in name only for the time being.’

  ‘I see,’ Rosa replied, feeling more humiliated and degraded than she cared to admit. ‘You appear to have thought of everything.’

  ‘I ask you to be patient. I am determined that this time I will get it right—that there will be no repetition of what I went through with Lydia. Had things been different I would have sought your grandmother’s permission and there would have been acceptance followed by a long betrothal and finally marriage, but because of the circumstances there was no time for that, which is why I want to take things slowly at first. Do you understand?’

  Rosa nodded, too disappointed to reply. William Barrington was marked with a proud arrogance and an indomitable will. Lydia Mannering must have hurt him desperately. She felt that it was not a subject he talked about, and that since that time he had held virtually every woman he had come into contact with with contempt, regarding them as being irrelevant—both dispensable and replaceable.

  ‘I will be blunt. The arrangement will not be permanent. You don’t love me and I do not love you. We have not known each other long enough for that. In truth, I don’t need you—I don’t need any woman—but I do need what you will bring to our marriage—your money and in time a son.’

  ‘A son? And if the child is a girl?’

  ‘I shall love our child irrespective of its gender. In fact, I would love to have a daughter.’ Aware of her unease, he smiled. ‘Don’t look so worried. I am sure the arrangement is one that you can live with. I want an heir to continue after me, to carry on the Barrington name, so I have no intention of living the life of a monk.’