The Bargain of a Baroness

by Sande, Linda Rae

  “If you’re here, I will.”

  Laura stared at him a moment, knowing he spoke a vow. “I believe you,” she whispered.

  He pulled her towards him, his lips capturing hers in a bruising kiss meant to possess her. Meant to seal the deal they had just put voice to and ensure she would be his wife. When he finally allowed her to take a breath, he sighed. “I’ve more to show you,” he whispered.

  “At this rate, we’ll never get into the attic,” she teased.

  Chapter 30

  A Dinner Guest is Missed

  Meanwhile, at Harrington House

  When Graham arrived for dinner at Harrington House at exactly seven o’clock, he was rather surprised to be greeted by Lord Edward Harrington. Before he’d even made it into the great hall, the young man intercepted him with an enthusiastic greeting in the vestibule.

  “I feared you had changed your mind,” Edward said as he motioned for them to head toward the central staircase.

  Graham’s gaze swept the great hall as Edward made the comment, his brows rising. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he replied. “Things here look much the same.”

  Edward blinked. “You’ve been here before?”

  “Edward?” a female voice called out from the front salon.

  The baron gave Graham an apologetic glance and hurried to stand before Temperance Fitzsimmons Harrington, Countess Mayfield. “Good evening, Grandmother. I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

  But Temperance had already directed her gaze on Graham, and a slow smile appeared before she hurried forward. “Oh, my but you’ve matured quite nicely since last I saw you.”

  “Indeed, but you haven’t changed a bit, Aunt Tempy.” He rolled his eyes. “Where are my manners? Lady Mayfield, it’s very good to see you again,” he said before giving her a deep bow.

  “Oh, we’ll have none of that,” she scolded.

  “You know each other?” Edward asked in surprise, as Lady Mayfield embraced Graham and then stood back to regard her distant cousin with a sigh.

  “Of course,” she said as she beamed in delight. “His mother is one my cousins. And you’ve grown so tall,” she remarked.

  Edward quirked a brow. “Did you know this?” he asked of his dinner guest.

  Graham inhaled and was about to respond in the affirmative when Temperance gave her grandson a quelling glance. “I had Graham’s company on many occasions. Usually at garden parties, when your grandfather refused to attend.” She turned her attention on Graham. “You were such a good sport to be the only young man in attendance at most of those soirées.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Graham said with a nod, hoping he sounded more sincere than he felt. His mother had insisted he become acquainted with her father’s side of the family, given George Fitzsimmons had kept her from them when he was alive. The black sheep of the Fitzsimmons—and brother to Matthew Fitzsimmons, Viscount Chamberlain—George insisted he be allowed the liberty of making and selling men’s hats. His vocation resulted in a line of popular top hats and a successful shop where Emma learned her accounting skills.

  “I didn’t refuse to attend those parties,” Stanley, Earl of Mayfield, protested as he emerged from his study. He bussed his wife on the cheek before turning to regard Graham and Edward. “I was merely detained with earldom business.” He angled his head as Graham gave a leg. “I knew I should have recognized you this Friday past. Saw you at Brooks’s.”

  “Good evening, my lord,” Graham replied. “Yes, I was there in search of my father and instead was found by my second cousin,” he added as he indicated Edward.

  “You have since found your father and your mother, I hope,” Temperance said as she hooked an arm into Graham’s and led them toward the stairs.

  “I did, indeed. I’ve spent the past couple of days in their company—and at the company. Much has happened since I left London to start the office in Boston.”

  “Does your return mean that the Boston office is no longer in operation?” Mayfield asked from behind him as they climbed the stairs.

  “Not at all. My presence was required here, so I hired another clerk and turned over the Boston office to my partner, Sinclair. I expect he’ll be adding more staff as the year progresses, given how many exports he’ll have to see to.”

  “Exports?” Mayfield repeated.

  “Tobacco, turpentine, pelts,” Graham said as he paused to allow Temperance to go ahead of him into the parlor. He waited until both Mayfield and Edward were in before he joined them. “It’s become very lucrative for Wellingham Imports.”

  “I don’t suppose there are any company shares for sale?” Edward half-asked.

  Graham marveled at the young man’s interest. When he had been Edward’s age, he had been more concerned about racing horses in Hyde Park with his cousins and when he might steal a kiss with Hannah.

  Which had him wondering where his future wife might be.

  “We’ll have to discover the answer to that from my mother,” he replied. “And speaking of mothers, is Lady Harrington about?” A footman offered him a cup of coffee, and he took it with a nod, surprised by the number of servants who seemed to appear from thin air bearing various drinks and plates of nuts on salvers.

  “She should be here by now,” Edward replied as he dared a glance towards the parlor door.

  “Oh, Lady Harrington won’t be joining us this evening,” Temperance said as she accepted a glass of wine from a footman who was taller than Graham. “She was invited to Fairmont Park for dinner this evening.”

  Graham nearly choked on his first sip of coffee while Edward did, sputtering and coughing until a footman saw to removing the cup from his hand so he could pound his own chest. Hurrying to join the boy, Graham asked, “Are you all right?”

  Edward aimed an expression of pain in his direction before he said, “But, she said nothing of having dinner with Cousin Tom when I last spoke with her,” he complained.

  Once she was convinced Edward wasn’t about to keel over from his coughing fit, Temperance took a seat in the room’s only settee and said, “I was just as surprised to hear of it as you, darling. She had dinner there only a fortnight ago, which has me believing Lady Grandby has important news to share.” Her eyebrows waggling in delight, she added, “Hannah has assured me she will tell me if she’s allowed.”

  “I was invited there for dinner tonight as well,” Graham murmured, realizing his note to Tom hadn’t been delivered, or at least not in time to put a stop to the dinner arrangements.

  His disappointment must have been apparent, for Temperance sobered. “Oh, dear. You meant to renew your acquaintance with her over dinner this evening,” she said, her eyes nearly rolling in shared dismay.

  “I had hoped to, yes, my lady,” Graham replied. “I haven’t seen Lady Harrington since I departed for the United States. Over seventeen years ago,” he added, realizing he had been about Edward’s age at the time.

  “I feel like a prize idiot,” Edward announced, which had the earl nearly choking on a walnut.

  “Harrington!” Mayfield barked. “I rather doubt you’ve ever been an idiot in your entire seventeen-year history.”

  Ignoring his grandfather’s assessment of him, Edward turned his attention on his grandmother. “Do you suppose if we were to send a footman to Fairmont Park, we could convince Mother to return here? At least in time for the dessert course?”

  Temperance exchanged a quick glance with Mayfield, her brows furrowing until she settled her gaze on Graham. “We could,” she murmured. Then she turned to Edward. “Have Potter see to it, won’t you, darling?”

  Edward was quick to give his grandmother a bow before he left the parlor.

  Even before Temperance patted the seat next to her, intending for Graham to join her, he knew he would being summoned to her side. “My lady, I understand you are the editor of The Tattler.”

  Obviously not expecting the comment, Temperance said, “And if I am?”

  “I have news to share and a reque
st to make of you.”

  Her guarded manner disappearing, she said, “Oh, do tell, and I shall see what I can do for you.”

  Sure he would burn in hell, Graham took the seat next to Temperance and said, “Cousin Tom’s wife is indeed expecting a child. In time for Christmas. He told me of it when I paid a call at his office this Friday past.”

  The countess’ eyes widened in delight. “Well, it’s not unexpected, but it’s so good to hear a confirmation from a reliable source,” she said. “Now, what is it you require of me?”

  Graham had always appreciated his great aunt’s forthright manner. Mayfield might have been the earl, but it was the countess’ head for business and appreciation for how gossip ruled the ton that kept the Mayfield earldom in good stead. “A very clear notice in your newsheet regarding the unavailability of Lady Harrington for matrimony. She is already affianced.”

  Although he expected a violent reaction from his great aunt, he was surprised when she merely arched a brow.

  “Are you to be her husband?”

  “I am,” he acknowledged.

  Her eyes followed Edward as he reappeared in the parlor and was about to join them at the settee. “Yet the two of you have exchanged no correspondence since your departure from these shores,” she argued.

  Graham felt the heat of embarrassment color his throat and cheeks. “I did send a letter when I first arrived in Boston, but after that, I felt it would be... inappropriate given her marriage to Cousin Charlie.” Although he had nearly used Charles Harrington’s title when speaking of him, Graham decided to remind the countess he was family.

  “So you are the turtle.”

  Graham blinked and then turned an accusing eye on Edward.

  “I didn’t tell her,” Edward claimed.

  “Hannah did,” Temperance whispered. “A few months into her widowhood. When she was lamenting your lack of writing skills,” she added pointedly.

  Dipping his head, Graham said, “Guilty as charged. But she made a bargain with me, and I intend to collect.”

  He was about to say more, but Temperance wasn’t paying any attention to him. Her gaze was on Edward, and for a moment Graham thought she might cry. “I’m so sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to offend the memory of your son,” he said, thinking that might be why she looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

  When Temperance returned her attention to him, she said in a quiet voice, “You will attend me in my salon before you leave this house tonight.”

  Graham gave a start. “My lady?”

  “We have important matters to discuss. Matters that are not intended for publication in The Tattler.”

  Feeling as if he was be summoned to a trial, Graham nodded. “Yes, my lady.” He would have said more, but the dinner bell sounded, and Lord Mayfield appeared to take his wife’s arm. Following behind, Edward and Graham dared glances at one another.

  “If it’s any consolation, a footman has been dispatched to Fairmont Park,” Edward whispered.

  “I thank you for your quick thinking,” Graham replied.

  Edward allowed a shrug. “I am ever so sorry I did not secure my mother’s promise that she would be here this evening. I assure you, her absence was entirely unexpected.”

  “As Mayfield has already said, you are not an idiot,” Graham insisted.

  Finally nodding, Edward said, “That means much coming from you, Cousin.”

  Furrowing a brow, Graham considered how to respond and finally grinned. “We’re family,” he replied, now wondering if they were closer than merely cousins.

  Chapter 31

  Confessions and Convictions

  Meanwhile, at 9 King Street

  Laura continued her perusal of the townhouse’s kitchens when she heard another woman’s voice come from somewhere on the ground floor. That’s when she realized Henry was no longer at her side.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Simpson,” an elderly woman called out as she hurried into the great hall. “I apologize. I didn’t hear you knock.”

  “I didn’t, Mrs. Harkins. Truth be told, I expected you would still be upstairs, reviewing the rooms,” Henry said as Laura joined him in the great hall. “Have you decided if you’ll accept the position? I realize it’s not as grand a house as Lord Chamberlain’s, but I value your experience as his head housekeeper.”

  As he expected, Bonnie Harkins’ attention was no longer on him, but on the young woman who once again clung to his arm.

  Laura’s eyes were wide with recognition as well. “Grandmother?” she said before she let go of Henry’s arm to embrace the older woman.

  “Oh, now Laura, we mustn’t in front of Mr. Simpson,” the housekeeper said as she patted the back of Laura’s shoulder with a gnarled hand and pushed away from her granddaughter. “Whatever are you doing here?” she asked before her face brightened again. “Oh, a painting, perhaps?”

  “I expect she’ll do many here,” Henry said, just as Laura turned to him, her face displaying her confusion. “I’ve proposed marriage, you see, and I wished to show her the house before I pay a call on her father.”

  “You’re hiring my grandmother to be your housekeeper?” Laura asked in dismay.

  “I thought to, yes. Actually, it was my sister’s idea. Rather novel, don’t you think? Since you’ll be out of the house most days with your painting appointments, I expect you’ll require a housekeeper who can manage the house without you,” he reasoned. “Someone with a good deal of experience. Someone we can trust.”

  Laura blinked, her gaze falling on Bonnie Harkins’ proud face. “I understand now,” she said as she nodded. “And have you decided if you will? Accept the position, that is?”

  Mrs. Harkins pretended to think on it a moment before she said, “But of course I will. I’ve been at Fitzsimmons Manor since before I was twenty, but I have a few years left in me. With a good staff, including Parker, of course, I’ll manage just fine.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “This house is far finer than Lord Chamberlain’s.”

  Despite the compliment coming from a servant, Henry couldn’t help but smile. “You’ll oversee the hiring of the rest of the household maids?” he asked.

  “If you’ll allow it,” she replied. “And the butler, too, but I rather imagine you’ll want to do that.”

  Henry hadn’t thought that far ahead, and at the moment, he only wanted to think about Laura and her reaction to the house. He was about to respond to the comment about the butler when he heard the sound of a coach pulling up. “Ah, that will be your ride back to Fitzsimmons Manor,” he said to Mrs. Harkins.

  “Vera good, sir. I’ll turn in my notice to Lady Chamberlain and start here in a fortnight, if that’s acceptable?”

  Henry looked to Laura. “Will that be soon enough?” he asked quietly.

  Laura shrugged. “I’ve no idea,” she whispered.

  Dipping his head, Henry offered an arm to Mrs. Harkins and led her out to the coach. Once it was on its way, he returned to Laura’s side and took one of her hands in his. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he encouraged.

  Blinking tears from her eyes, Laura said, “It’s terribly kind of you to offer her the position,” she whispered. “She must be... sixty if she’s a day.”

  “But she’s well regarded in the Fitzsimmons household,” Henry argued as he pulled her into his arms. “I didn’t think you would cry over it,” he murmured.

  She sniffled. “Not over that, exactly,” she whispered. She lifted her face and gave him a wan grin. “Thank you.”

  Henry regarded her a moment before he kissed her. When he pulled away, he said, “Now you’re probably wishing I hadn’t sent her away so quickly.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  He sucked in a breath. “Laura, I want you so badly,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I have wanted you so badly these past few weeks,” he added more loudly.

  Laura gave a start at hearing the vehemence in his voice. “You mentioned that before,” she said in awe. “How is i
t you could want me when we hadn’t even met until... until today?” she asked with some surprise.

  Henry lowered his forehead to hers. “I’ve been watching you. When you arrived on Monday mornings and departed on Saturday afternoons.”

  “From your bedchamber window,” Laura murmured.

  “Yes,” he admitted. “Given your schedule, I thought you were a housemaid.”

  She furrowed a brow. “And yet, you still wanted me?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I even confessed it to my sister, who seemed to find it quite amusing, and now I know why,” he said with a huff. “She must have known why you were staying at the Wellingham’s.”

  “Well, your mother did.”

  Henry stared at her. “My mother?”

  “She invited me for tea, or... or she would join me for tea over there,” she explained. “Before she hired me to do your family’s portrait.”

  For a moment, Henry merely stared at Laura, a myriad of thoughts chasing their tails in his head. “She spoke of me?”

  Laura nodded. “And your sister, of course. She’s quite proud of you both.”

  “She told you the whole sordid tale, didn’t she?”

  Her eyes widening, Laura shook her head. “Sordid?” she repeated.

  “About her and my father.”

  Laura blinked. “If you’re referring to a duke’s daughter running away to marry a butler, I hardly think that’s sordid,” she argued. “It’s like a... a fairy tale.”

  Henry stared at her a moment as he held his breath. “It was scandalous.”

  “No one knew, at least not for several years,” she argued. “And by then, they were landlords with a street of beautiful townhouses.” She furrowed a brow. “Why does it bother you so?”

  Shaking his head, Henry struggled to put into words the frustration he had felt ever since learning he was born of two worlds. How his uncle was a duke but his father had been a servant.

  “Your father was not a butler when you were born,” Laura reminded him. “Nor was my mother still a lady’s maid when I was born.”