An Ill-Made Match (Vawdrey Brothers Book 3)

by Alice Coldbreath

  Oswald made his way unhurriedly to the front of the hall, and Lenora returned to Lady Dorothea who now wore a look of frozen outrage. Lenora did not look even remotely fazed as she sat down beside her.

  When Oswald spoke, his voice was surprisingly full-volumed. “My brother Roland asked me as head of our house, to approach Sir Leofric Montmayne with a view to discussing the proposed marriage approximately two months ago. It was some couple of weeks before our paths crossed, and we were able to discuss terms regarding the proposed joining of our houses. Once we had talked over a few preliminaries, we were able to proceed to the point of arranging a formal betrothal feast at Hallam Hall.”

  “If I might just stop you there, Lord Vawdrey,” the Queen interrupted him, holding up one elegant fore-finger.

  “Of course, your majesty,“ he responded politely.

  “We seem to have raced ahead, Lord Vawdrey” she said reproachfully. “And skipped the most relevant point.”

  “We have?” he frowned and turned to the audience with a small bow. “Do forgive me.”

  They laughed, and the Queen looked annoyed. “Which one of the Montmayne girls,” she asked dramatically sweeping a pale graceful arm in an arc. “Was the prospective bride? That is the question!”

  Oswald Vawdrey looked totally astonished by her query. He looked about him with supposed incredulity. “Why as to that, there was simply never any doubt in my mind. It was entirely apparent who was my brother Roland’s intended, and had been for several months by this point.”

  There was a murmuring in the crowd, and Eden knew they were discussing that infamous midwinter kiss. For the first time, she felt no burning shame about the gossip. That kiss seemed … well, almost innocent now!

  “And to be clear,” said the Queen with a tight smile. “You are referring now, to…?”

  “I refer, of course,” he said with a small bow in her direction. “To the Lady Eden,” he responded gravely. A positive buzz went up after this.

  “If I might appeal to you all for quiet!” trilled the Queen, and the hub-bub died down with seeming reluctance.

  One voice could still be heard protesting though, and Eden turned her head to look at her uncle Leo, who was bleating like a bullfrog.

  “Ah, Sir Leofric,” said the Queen tolerantly. “You would seem the logical person to speak next.”

  **

  “But did Lord Vawdrey actually say the word ‘Lenora’ in his request?” persisted the Queen, some five minutes later. She wore a faintly frustrated air, for Sir Leofric had turned out to give a very poor account of himself. He was defensive, apt to ramble off the point and quick to take offence at any perceived slight.

  “Yes!” burst out Sir Leofric. Then he appeared to waver. “Well, only consider for yourself,” he said indignantly. “He said ‘you have in your charge…’ something along the lines of ‘the power to bestow a flower of womanhood’. Something of that sort. Well obviously, he was talking about Lenora. Everyone knows she is called The Flower of All Karadok.” He looked around with a smug look on his face, but after a moment or two seemed to realize that he had not given the assurances everyone had expected. Indeed, the noise from the crowd was getting quite loud again.

  Earl Vawdrey stood up from his seat in the audience. “Pray forgive me, Sir Leofric,” he said mildly and everyone went immediately silent. “May I first commend you, on your powers of recall and your honesty. You are part right at least. I made no mention of the words ‘daughter’ or ‘Lenora’ in my request, and I did in fact, say the words ‘your charge’.” He let that suggestive phrase sink in as everyone started up their whispering once again. “And that is because,” he said politely. “I was speaking of your ward, your niece the Lady Eden, all along. As for the flower remark, I’m afraid, I did not know that was one of the Lady Lenora’s sobriquet’s. She has so very many.” He bowed low to Lenora, who gave him a dazzling smile.

  Sir Leofric’s eyes were almost bulging out of his head. “Why I - I – I…” he cast about wildly. “Well, that is what I took him to mean!” he protested feebly. “Never even occurred to me he could mean Eden!”

  “It never occurred to you he could mean Eden?” repeated the Queen sharply. “I see…” She turned to the crowd and frowned as they all started clamoring. “Now that is very suggestive, is it not?”

  It was not long after this that proceedings wound up for the day and a very subdued Eden was escorted back to the Queen’s chambers with Jane Cecil. The Queen had gone to the King’s apartments to take supper with him, so Eden assumed it would just be an awkward dinner with just her and Jane. She wished she could warm up to Jane, but for some reason, they were both very reserved with each other. To her surprise, they had no sooner shut the door behind them, than a knock was heard upon it. The dogs went mad, and Eden was forced to drag them both by their collars into the next room as Jane answered it. Eden scolded Castor who was the instigator until his ears lay flat, then she released them and returned to the outer chamber with both of them close on her heels. To Eden’s astonishment it was her good friend the Lady Fenella, Countess Vawdrey along with Linnet, Duchess of Cadwallader. They were also, both her sisters-in-law. Neither had been present at the day’s official proceedings.

  “There you are!” beamed Fenella, coming toward her at once. Eden immediately ran to her friend and they embraced. “My word, don’t you look pretty!” Fen exclaimed. “Let me get a good look at you. What a pretty gown! How well that sea-green color suits you! You look just like a nereid!”

  “I could say the same for you, you’re positively glowing,” Eden told her in a choked voice. She was touched Fenella had not dwelt on her pallor, or the dark rings under her eyes. Her friend by contrast looked extremely well. “Motherhood is clearly agreeing with you.”

  “Oh yes,” said Fen with a proud smile. “We’re all thriving, all four of us.” Eden’s smile was strained. She hardly knew what to make of Fen’s husband, Oswald Vawdrey these days. “And I have brought Linnet with me, to welcome you to the family.”

  “It’s been an age since I last saw you, Eden. How lovely to see you again!” said Linnet with her sweet smile. Something was definitely different about Linnet, Eden thought distractedly as she kissed the freckled redhead on the cheek. Then she noticed the loose-fitting gown and fuller figure and realized Linnet must be expecting again. “And yours too,” she screwed up her eyes, trying to remember how many children Linnet and the Duke of Cadwallader already had.

  “Oh this,” laughed Linnet. “It’s a pretty fabric to be sure, but cut like an old sack. Still, it will expand with me, so it’s good for comfort.” She placed a hand on her bump.

  “Congratulations,” stammered Eden, unsure if she was supposed to offer them so soon. Perhaps that was why neither had been present? Fenella had only been delivered of her twin boys some two months ago, and Linnet was clearly in the family way.

  “Thank you. Shall we sit?” The three of them moved toward the table where Jane was directing a servant to place the dishes. “This all looks excellent, what a treat,” said Linnet with easy grace, and she and Fenella exchanged pleasantries with Jane, who soon seemed to relax and look less ill-at-ease for intruding on a family party.

  Eden managed to make a better meal than the previous evening when everything had tasted of ashes, and was secretly relieved when Jane rose as the last course was cleared away.

  “If you ladies will pray excuse me, I will retire to the other room. My head aches sadly this evening and I would do all the better for a lie down with a damp cloth across my brow.”

  They all disclaimed at this tactful retreat, but Jane was firm and bowed out of the room only moments later.

  “What a discreet young woman,” said Linnet approvingly. “I predict she will go far at court.”

  “She already has done rather well,” pointed out Eden, and then immediately felt contrite.

  “Oh you must not mind so much, Eden,” said Fenella quickly. “Indeed, now you are a married woman, you wi
ll not have so much time to devote to the Queen’s service.”

  Linnet murmured in agreement. “We are all devoted to the Queen of course,” she said painstakingly, “But there is no denying that she is rather demanding and best served by an unmarried lady I would say.”

  Eden hesitated, not liking to bring up the fact she might very soon be restored to the status of single lady, depending on the outcome of the hearing. “I met your sister-in-law at Sitchmarsh,” she said instead, turning to Fen with a rather forced brightness. “Lady Orla Bernard.”

  “Oh, how lovely!” exclaimed Fen excitedly. “Did you meet my brother Gilbert also? Or visit my old home at Sitchmarsh Hall?”

  “No,” explained Eden regretfully. “Orla kindly called on me, but I did not get the chance to return the visit, although she did most cordially invite me.”

  “Oh no, of course,” tutted Fen sympathetically. “Such a pity and so tiresome for you! This silly misunderstanding!” She pressed Eden’s hand. “Oswald is most put out on your behalf.”

  “It is not the most propitious start to your wedded days,” agreed Linnet. “But after all, Mason and I suffered something not dissimilar, and our marriage made a full recovery from the experience.”

  An awkward silence drifted over them as they reflected on the fact Roland had also been involved in that appeal for an annulment, but that time as a petitioner.

  “He was not there today,” burst out Eden, unable to hold it in any longer. Her chest rose and fell. “Roland. He did not attend the hearing.” Her words sounded devastated, but she was too shattered to be embarrassed about that right now.

  Eden and Fenella exchanged glances. “My dear,” said Fen kindly. “Did you not hear?”

  “Hear what?” asked Eden hoarsely. But she already knew. He had gone home. Without her.

  “Roland was summoned to the King today and stripped of his position as King’s Champion.”

  Eden dropped her napkin through nerveless fingers. “What? No! I - I heard no such thing!” She stood up and then sat back down again in agitation. “I can scarcely believe… I mean, why did no-one tell me? I thought… That is, I quite imagined…” She gulped, stared at the table top a moment and then, to her embarrassment, burst into tears.

  “I daresay no-one wanted to distress you unduly,” said Linnet kindly, as the storm abated. She passed her a handkerchief as Fenella patted her shoulder. “You are going through quite enough as it is, without anything else to worry about.”

  “Is he very upset?” Eden sniffed, looking up at Fen and Linnet’s concerned faces. “Have you seen him today?”

  They both nodded. “He’s not terribly upset,” Linnet said quickly. “About the title I mean. In truth, I do not think he cares two rushes for an honorary title.”

  “Once I heard him complain that all it did was distort the odds so that it was not worth wagering on him any longer,” said Fen with a small laugh.

  But Eden found she could not even muster the smallest of smiles at this. He hadn’t left her. He had been stripped of his title. Because of her.

  “Eden…”

  Eden waved her hand awkwardly. “Speak of something else,” she said hoarsely. “I beg of you.”

  “This seems like a funny thing to say,” sighed Fen. “But being involved in an annulment case is something all three of us have in common. Indeed, I think it must truly be a Vawdrey thing.”

  Linnet gasped, lowering her goblet. “That is true!” she said, with a stunned look at Fen. “I forgot that Oswald had your first marriage annulled.”

  Fen nodded sagely. “I was thinking it this morning, but I didn’t like to say so to Oswald. He’s so sensitive about the subject. You know how they can be.” She pulled a face.

  Linnet laughed. “Only too well.” They both turned to Eden.

  “Roland and I have not even been married yet a month,” she reminded them, when they seemed to be waiting for her agreement.

  “Oh but I am sure you have his measure by now,” said Fen. “And I am so pleased, for it seems long overdue to me that Roland was settled.”

  “Er, yes,” said Eden feebly. “I think we are – um – we were doing our best, although, it is rather an adjustment to make, don’t you think? To being a married person?” she confided in a rush. “And yet, strangely I thought at times that Roland seemed to make it almost without conscious effort!” She looked helplessly from Fenella to Linnet. “Whereas I-“ she broke off, looking down at her hands.

  “I think,” said Linnet thoughtfully, after a pause. “That Mason found it more difficult to adjust than I did. But he took to it beautifully, once we were over the initial stages.” She turned expectantly to Fenella.

  “Oswald definitely took it all in his stride,” said Fenella cheerfully. “Even though I had been married before, I was the one flailing around like a panicked hen.”

  Eden huffed out a breath, and Linnet surprised her by reaching across and patting her hand. “Perhaps,” she suggested tentatively, “Roland took to married life easier because he was ready for it.”

  Eden sat back in her chair. “You mean because he had decided to offer for my cousin?” she asked flatly. It seemed pointless to keep up the subterfuge. She was sure both Fenella and Linnet must be fully in their husband’s confidences.

  “Oh but…” Fenella looked up quickly. “That’s not right. It was you that Roland wanted. Right from the outset.”

  Eden shook her head with reluctance. “I expect Lord Vawdrey wanted to spare you the details, in case you would worry about it, as my friend. You had not long been delivered of your twins at the time.”

  “Oh no,” said Fenella vigorously. “You’re quite wrong there. Oswald keeps me fully up to date when it comes to family matters. I was confined to my bed for the last few months of my pregnancy and he came and joined me every evening for cozy chats. We liked it so much that we still do it now,” said Fenella complacently. “He reads his paperwork in bed beside me.” Eden tried and failed to imagine the immaculate and precise Lord Vawdrey, retiring early to bed to sit beneath the covers with his wife, chatting over his day. She looked uncertainly at Fenella, but her friend was looking entirely sincere. “He told me from the very first, when Roland asked him to approach Sir Leofric for your hand, and then updated me every step along the way of negotiations.”

  Eden’s jaw dropped. “Forgive me, Fenella, but that just isn’t right. You must have misunderstood…”

  “There was never any question that it was Lenora,” Fenella insisted quietly. She looked to Linnet for support.

  Linnet fiddled with the pear she was slicing with a small fruit knife. Looking up, she cleared her throat. “Well, Mason did seem to be under the impression that the intended bride was to be Lenora initially,” she admitted awkwardly. “But after the business at Hallam Hall, he told me that Oswald seemed vastly pleased with the outcome, and he did say he wouldn’t be surprised if it was the one he had intended from the very offset.”

  “Of course it was,” frowned Fenella. “After all, Oswald saw Eden and Roland embrace at the Midwinter feast. He knew they were destined to be together. And, so did you, Linnet,” she prompted her sister-in-law when she looked blank. “Remember? What Baron Vawdrey said to you on his death-bed?”

  Linnet’s confusion fell away. “Oh that,” she said enthusiastically. “Yes, Father was very insistent that Roland was to marry a girl of sense and not some feather-brain.”

  “You see,” said Fenella, turning to her triumphantly.

  Eden bristled. “Lenora is not a feather-brain.”

  Fenella and Linnet exchanged glances.

  “She’s not!” insisted Eden. “People just don’t understand her, that is all.”

  “Well, in any event,” said Fen glibly. “You were the one that Oswald intended for Roland all along. I know that much.”

  There did not seem to be much point dwelling on the whys and wherefores of it all. Eden felt tired after the day she’d had. Instead she sat back and listened as her two si
ster-in-laws gleefully shared with her tales of the early days of their own marriages.

  “Mason told me that I should mix with our neighboring families,” said Linnet with a droll look. “As apparently, he did not have time to sit with a wife of an evening. Then when I went ahead and made plans to visit the Jauncey family, he suddenly forbade me from setting foot on their estate!”

  Eden frowned. “Did he explain why he changed his mind?”

  “Never,” snorted Linnet. “In fact, he told me I could see who I pleased as it made no odds to him. Then slammed a lot of doors, gave me an armed guard and told me he shouldn’t have to come looking for me when he returned home of an evening.”

  Eden stared at her friends as they both dissolved into laughter. She couldn’t see what was funny about a male acting so unreasonably.

  “Oswald told me as his wife, I could return to Sitchmarsh and pick back up with my day-to-day life in the country with very little material change,” said Fenella with a breathless laugh. “Then, a few days later, he turned around and said he’d changed his mind, expected me to become a courtier and declared, quite coolly that he expected me to ingratiate myself with the Queen and become one of her ladies-in-waiting!”

  Eden blinked. “He changed his mind?” she repeated incredulously.

  Fen nodded. “That’s husbands for you!” she shrugged, her eyes alight with mirth.

  Linnet wiped her eyes. “They’re so funny sometimes!”

  Eden watched them both and wondered if she was mad, or they were. Compared to how his older brothers had behaved, Roland seemed almost reasonable as a husband. She shifted in her seat as Linnet and Fenella exchanged more fond stories of their spouses acting inconsistently. Was this really just a part and parcel of married life? She bit her thumbnail now, and wished she had been more conciliatory with him, and not told him she did not want his kisses! Why had she done that? Fenella was telling the tale of how Oswald had gone ahead and had her previous marriage declared null and void simply because he did not like the idea of her being another man’s wife. Linnet followed this up with some story about Mason unblushingly upping the number of children she had promised him whenever it suited him. Eden sank further and further down into her seat. Roland’s brothers sounded like nightmare husbands in comparison to him!