How to Catch an Earl with Ten Lies: A Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Patricia Haverton

  Benjamin set down his cup. “What has happened to force your hand today?”

  “My uncle has found a gentleman who wishes to offer for me. In his eyes, since he knew nothing of our deception, he now has a proper suitor for each of us. Since Uncle Horace is having some financial difficulties, having our futures settled would be a great load off his mind.”

  “Only it is altogether horrid,” said the blonde Miss Chapman. “Because while I was avoiding the servants, and keeping out of the way of my uncle, I met someone. A completely wonderful someone, only he won’t be able to support a wife for at least four years, or maybe longer. But with Uncle’s situation . . .” The fragile little thing dropped her face into her hands and began to cry.

  “So let me see if I comprehend this correctly.” Benjamin gripped the edge of the table. “Someone has offered for your hand, Miss Chapman. . .”

  “But I don’t want him,” Penelope said. “Truly, I have been wishing these last few days that I was Edith. Our picnics and riding…all has been beyond enjoyable. Indeed, they will become one of my most precious memories in life.” She must have seen something terrible on his face, because she stopped talking, and turned white as a sheet. “Oh, dear. James was right. He told me on the first day that the longer the deception went on, the harder it would be to set to rights. I am sorry, Lord Newhorn. My original intent was to protect my sister. I had no idea how events would subsequently play out or that I would come to care so very much.”

  “Did you not?” Benjamin ground out between clenched teeth. He swallowed, unlocked his jaw and went on. “Well here is my part: I am sorry that you care, but I am finished. I do not appreciate being deceived. If you have done this, then what would you do when the housekeeping accounts don’t turn out quite right? Or when some charming gentleman wishes to be your special secret? Ladies, you can sort out your personal problems and your uncle’s finances on your own.”

  “But,” Penelope cried out, “What about the business arrangement with my uncle?”

  “As nearly as I can tell, he had no part in this. Unless he put you up to it?” At mute head shakes from both ladies, he went on, “I will honor the first part of the agreement, which was to pasture my horses on his estates, but I will not extend the second since there will be no marriage. For what it is worth, Miss Penelope Chapman, I too, enjoyed our picnics and teas, but now I understand why we could never meet here under the aegis of your guardian. Now, I bid you good day. I will see myself out.”

  With that he rose, gave a punctiliously correct bow, and stalked out of the room. The silence that was left behind was deafening.

  After a few moments, Edith said, “I guess that went well.”

  Penelope sniffled, tears running down her face. “Yes. About as well as a eulogy at a funeral. Because I have just said good-bye to my only love, the only man I could ever, even think about marrying.”

  “Oh, Penny!” Edith started to rush to her sister, only to be stopped by her outstretched hand.

  “Don’t, Edith. Just don’t. I do not believe I could even begin to bear it. This was as much my idea as yours. Oh, what a mess I have made. I should have known better than to indulge in telling Banbury tales. I think I would like to be alone for a while. Perhaps I will go to Lady Agatha and play with Indigo.”

  Penelope left her sister sitting at the tea table, and hurried up to their chamber. In a great fury, she tore off the tea gown. She rummaged in her wardrobe and pulled out a twill walking suit. She then found a plain, round hat to go with it and her best pair of walking boots.

  In a very few minutes, when she surveyed herself in the mirror, she felt that she presented a very creditable figure. Quietly, she slipped down the backstairs and out the door. I am not going to tamely submit to an arranged marriage to a man that I know is a blackguard and a rounder. If he were not a peer, he would be a veritable thatch gallows. I have met the love of my life, and no other will do. I will die an old maid. I will not accept substitutes.

  Once she was away from the house, Penelope set off down the street at a great pace. In a very short while, she passed the open-air market and then made her way to Mrs. Albright’s School and Agency.

  Cynthia Albright was seated at her big desk when Penelope entered. “Miss Chapman! How can I be of service?”

  Now that Penelope was here, she really had no idea how to go forward. “I…I’m not quite sure, Mrs. Albright. But I know that I need to do something to support myself and my sister if we are not to go to the poor house.”

  “Is it so dreadful as all of that, Miss Chapman?”

  “Actually, I think it might be worse. I think my uncle might be in dreadful trouble, and his only solution is for me to marry the man that I think might be causing part of the problem.”

  “Do you have any proof of this? I can see that you have composed yourself, but are in some distress. Perhaps we should discuss your situation in one of the private rooms?”

  “That . . .would be excellent,” Penelope said. “For I do not wish to air our dirty linen before the entire world.”

  Chapter 38

  Benjamin walked away from the Castlemount townhouse in a towering fury. How dare she! How dare they! Of all the social foolishness possible, he hated being lied to most of all. The beauty of the day was completely lost to him. Sunshine! Who needed it? It should be pouring rain, no, it should be snowing! What a bitter, unfortunate situation.

  He strode back to his own townhouse, anguish stabbing at his gut like a wheel of ten thousand swords. There were no words for his sense of betrayal, of disappointment, of humiliating loss.

  Benjamin did not bother going into the house. He should change clothes, he knew, but he kept a pair of riding boots in the stable. They were old, worn and scuffed. They did not in any way go with his elegant trousers or perfectly fitted coat. As he entered the stable, he slammed doors, yanked Ranger’s gear off the wall where it hung. He dropped the saddle carelessly on the floor, and sat on it to wrestle his beautifully polished boots from his feet.

  It was here that Tucker found him. “My Lord! What is it? Has there been an accident? Is someone dead?”

  “No. No one dead. No one even hurt, only my foolish pride.” To his shame, Benjamin realized that tears were running down his cheeks.

  “The very worst sort of hurt, Master Benjamin,” the old groom said, reverting to the childhood title, and handing him a large, stained but clean, handkerchief. “Would it have to do with a lady?”

  Benjamin burst out with nearly hysterical laughter. “Oh, yes, Tucker. You could definitely say that. I took her for a diamond of the first water. But it turns out, she was bamming me the whole time.”

  “Do you want to talk about it, My Lord?”

  Benjamin sighed. “What would your impression of Miss Chapman be, Tucker?”

  “A Prime ‘un, steady in the traces, My Lord. Did it turn out to not be so?”

  “Well, Tucker, I was supposed to be courting Edith Chapman, the younger sister. Lord Castlemount shared with me that the older sister, Penelope Chapman had turned down nearly every eligible bachelor who would consider a dowerless bride. Her uncle was tired of it, and offered the younger sister who is more biddable — or so he thought.”

  “The uncle was mistaken?”

  “Seems the younger one has fixed her interests on someone else. But the older sister, Penelope, didn’t know that. So, hearing about the duel I fought ten years ago, she set herself to learn more about me. So, here I am, Tucker, fair blue-deviled for I could have sworn that she had feelings for me, as I was beginning to find for her.”

  “So today she told you of the deception. Let me help you with those boots, My Lord, if you’ve a-mind to go riding. You’ll ruin them if you take the boot jack to them.”

  “I am such a poor creature that I cannot even manage my own boots,” Benjamin sighed, “Let alone my love life. Yet, here I am, and I still need a wife.”

  “No doubt Lord Castlemount still needs a husband for at least one of his nieces
, My Lord. You might think on that, Lord Benjamin.”

  “After she so neatly deceived me, Tucker? How could I ever trust her? She introduced herself as Edith. Clearly, she will stop at nothing to protect her younger sister.”

  “Family loyalty is not a bad trait. And she did not wait to let you find it out on your own.” Tucker wrestled off first one boot, then the other. He then helped Benjamin to slip into the worn, old riding boots. “How did she seem when she told you?”

  “Sad,” Benjamin admitted. “Regretful. And, something else that I cannot put my finger on. Castlemount is in a bad way financially, I think. There were two ships that were last seen off the coast of Spain, but not since. He applied to me for backing in a scheme. I’ll honor it, even though the niece proved deceitful. But I’ll not go the further step I had planned, which was to invite him as a partner in my diamond mines.”

  “You think on that, My Lord. The ladies, they don’t have the same recourse that a gentleman does for making their way in life. Your sister . . .”

  “Egad, Tucker. Let’s not talk about my sister. If only I’d been a little faster that day, if I’d not pursued her, if I’d been a little more aware…if I only knew what it was that set her off.”

  “Done is done, Master Benjamin. I’ve known you since you were a little ‘un. And I knew her. She chaffed against her lot somethin’ fierce. If I’d been the stableman that day, I’d a’ found some excuse not to put her up on that horse. It was but green-broke, and as unstable as a weather vane. But I was away, tendin’ my mother. I’m going to say that from what I heard, nothin’ you could ha’ done would’ve stopped her, for she had one o’ her mad fits on. Lord knows what really set her off. And it was happenchance that the horse threw her.”

  “I know, Tucker. I know all that. But it doesn’t stop me wishing.”

  “No, it don’t. But you’ve got a chance to make this thing right, My Lord. Maybe this lady is the right one, maybe she isn’t. But you’ve got a chance to see to what is goin’ on.”

  “What is going on, Tucker?”

  “I cain’t rightly say, My Lord. But they’s rumors ‘bout goods turnin’ up on the market as shouldn’t. Lord Castlemount ain’t the only peer to have a ship or two not come in. If you’ve invested in the fellow, you might look to it. An’ if you care for the lady at all, you might think on her reasons for wantin’ ta pertect her sister.”

  “Thank you, Tucker. You always were a good fellow to come talk to.”

  “Will you still be ridin’, My Lord?”

  “I will. I need some time to clear my head. But you’ve given me some things to think on, and I daresay Ranger will thank you for not allowing me to go out on him in the state I was in.”

  The old groom nodded. “Always glad to be of service, My Lord. You are nigh on to like a son to me. I’d be sad and sorry for aught else untoward to come to you. You be careful now, and mind what Ranger has to say to you.”

  “I will, Tucker. And, thank you.”

  “Think nothin’ of it, My Lord. But, just for the thinkin’, take you a couple those clean handkerchiefs from the stack there on the shelf. I’ll just go saddle up Ranger now.”

  Benjamin gave a rueful laugh, reached over and took two of the rough cloths from the stack on the shelf in the tack room. “You are a treasure, Tucker. What would I do without you?”

  But the old man had walked out into the stables and was busy saddling Ranger.

  As he rode out past the open-air market and up the wooded trail where he had ridden with Miss Chapman the day before, he remembered her responses as he told her about Florence. There had been something about enjoying the day, as if it might be the last. Could it be that she truly regretted having deceived him? James had been in on that, he was certain. There had been times when the old jockey turned footman had given Miss Chapman a reproving look.

  He remembered the way she sat on Dapple, her gentle sympathy for him as he told her about Florence. What had he told her about Florence? It seemed kind of a blur now. She had deftly turned the conversation away from sad things toward more enjoyable conversation.

  When he came to the clearing where they had unpacked the panniers from the pony, he slid off Ranger’s back, leaned against his shoulder, and looked around. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine her right here. He could see her animated face as she discussed the themes of books, her fiery struggle against the restraints of femininity. In retrospect, it made much better sense that she was Penelope, the independent young woman described by her uncle as outspoken and a little rebellious.

  But it did not look as if the actual Edith was quite as much of a mouse as her uncle thought.

  “If I were given the choice of defending my sister, protecting her from a potentially disastrous marriage, what would I have done? In truth, Ranger, what did I do? Too little, too late. How can I, who failed to protect Florence from whatever it was that aroused her ire, criticize Miss Chapman for wanting to learn all she could about the man who was to ask for her sister’s hand?”

  Ranger shifted beneath his weight, turned his head and whuffled at him. “Right you are, old man. I should have brought carrots. But we can walk on up here just a bit and get you a drink.”

  The stream had been diverted into a stone-lined basin so that animals could drink without roiling the water. Benjamin allowed Ranger a few swallows, then walked him up and down, before giving him another drink.

  “Good thing Tucker caught up with me before I rode out,” he told the horse. “I was in no fit mood to care for you as I should. You are far too fine an old man to be abused.”

  Ranger lifted his dripping muzzle and bumped it against Benjamin’s chest, dribbling water down his front. “Well, that’s put the end to this shirt and coat. Simmons is going to be appalled. I shall simply have to get another. I’m not sure I could bear to wear this costume again anyway.”

  Benjamin swung up into the saddle and pointed Ranger back down the hill. The peace of his surroundings began to seep into him. Combined with the steady rocking-horse gait of Ranger’s long-legged walk, it slowly lulled him into a better mood.

  I’ll go see Lady Agatha, I think. She was a dear friend of my mother’s and I’ve not called on her since I’ve come back. She was always a good person to talk to about affairs of the heart. If only Florence had not ridden at that fence, perhaps she could have talked sense into her.

  Perhaps if I apologized to Miss Chapman — my Miss Chapman — we could salvage something from this. Much could be forgiven if it is done from love, even sisterly love.

  Benjamin rode on down to the stables, thinking about what he should ask Lady Agatha, not realizing that the gentle lady was already acquainted with the sisters. Nor did he realize that someone other than Tucker and Ranger had heard his anguished raging and sorrowful mourning.

  Steelfrost, who sometimes also rode these trails, drew his lips back from his teeth in a ferocious grin. So it begins. In the end, I shall have it all, and he will have nothing. Just as I was left with nothing.

  Chapter 39

  Alfred was just passing Robert Bastion’s office on his way up to his own sunny little niche. Robert was two years senior to him, and had managed to finagle his father and uncle into offering him his own office.

  “Hey, Fat Freddy,” Robert called out.

  Alfred kept walking.

  “Freddy!” Robert grabbed his arm as he passed the open door. “I’m talking to you!”

  “The name,” Alfred gritted out between his teeth, “Is Harrington, Alfred Harrington. What do you want, Bobby?

  “That is Mr. Bastion to you, Fat Freddy. You are junior to me, and you will listen when I speak to you.”

  Alfred glowered at the other young gentleman. He could continue the altercation, but to do so would probably result in fisticuffs. His father was expecting some important papers to be copied, and he did not have time to change his clothes. Nor, exposed as his niche was to passers-by, could he afford to appear disheveled.

  “What is it
you want, Mr. Bastion?” Alfred could not keep the bite of anger out of his voice. His father would take him to task for that. An accomplished barrister did not allow himself to appear rattled under any circumstance.

  Robert Bastion smirked. “That’s better. I have some copying for you to do, Mr. Alfred Harrington. And I need you to keep it under your hat after, do you hear? No going to the senior partners. This is just between you and me.”

  Copying. Well, I do enough of that. It shouldn’t be too bad. “Very well, Mr. Bastion. I hope you are not in too great a hurry for it, because Mr. Harrington, Senior, has a large stack of copying for me to do, as well.”