The Earl's Winning Wager: Clean Regency Romance (Lords for the Sisters of Sussex Book 2)

by Jen Geigle Johnson

  “Well, for one, I just told you”—he looked around and lowered his voice—“he’s the greatest cad I know.”

  “And I should base all my opinions of him solely on one individual’s assessment?”

  “Well, it’s a bold accusation, one I do not make lightly.” He stepped nearer, suddenly wanting more than anything to impress upon her mind the silliness of such a choice. “You are being incredibly stubborn. Has he…has your heart been captured?”

  She rose up on her tiptoes to stand taller next to him. He couldn’t help but notice how close her mouth had suddenly come to his own. Her eyes flashed with defiance and he was enticed as much as he was wary. He swayed in place, the very air drawing him closer to her. She opened her mouth to say something. He was entranced, but then she closed it and her shoulders drooped, the very fizzle in the air seemed to fade “My heart is not engaged.” She turned away. “Perhaps it is time for you to go?”

  He felt too much relief at her statement, and foolishness for pressing her the way he had. He’d never behaved in such an irrational manner. But Smallwood? The man’s overly satisfied smirk bothered him. “Perhaps it is. I shan’t trespass on your kindness any longer today. But I will return to take us all to the assembly?”

  “That would be very generous of you. Thank you. And remember we are touring the castle to view the renovations tomorrow. We hope to move in this month.” Her voice sounded flat. She didn’t look at him when she talked.

  “I remember. I shall return for you.”

  “Or we can meet you there. The walk will do us good.”

  He dipped his head and bowed. “Until then, Miss Standish.” He stepped down their drive, waved to his carriage, and hopped inside before she could do more than simply watch, staring down an empty drive long after he had gone.

  Chapter Six

  June and her sisters walked into the castle without Lord Morley. He hadn’t shown up this morning by the time they had scheduled to go, and so they walked without him.

  Grace came and stood beside her, close. “I’m sure he didn’t forget us. He’ll return.”

  “Why should I be worried about what Lord Morley does or doesn’t do?”

  “He would never forget you, June.” Grace squeezed her arm in such an attempt at comfort, June didn’t have the heart to correct her. Let Grace think what she would. June was not wasting away in worry that Lord Morley had not shown up. She wasn’t concerned his sudden interest would end, and she most definitely wasn’t feeling the loss of his attention most keenly. No.

  Perhaps her sudden stubborn streak had scared him away. Why had she been so adamant in favor of Lord Smallwood? He was handsome. He was a lord. And he was incredibly attentive, but there had been an air of insincerity which concerned her. It had been so…pleasant to be doted on. Heady. She would have walked at his side for many hours more.

  They entered through the main front doors of the castle, and the sisters were enchanted. “Ooh, look! They’ve fixed so many things.” Kate pointed to a tapestry hanging on the wall. “Does that look new?”

  “It does. I wonder if they’ve merely washed it.”

  Charity immediately disappeared down a far hallway. The rest of them made their way into the family living and receiving parts of the castle. Carpets covered the floors. The walls had been cleaned. More candles hung, and the place smelled nice, welcoming.

  When they entered their receiving room, June smiled. “Oh, this is lovely.” The furniture had been placed in clustered seating arrangements. After the renovations, more light came in through the windows, which were now planed with glass.

  “Shall we go and see the bedrooms?” Grace skipped forward.

  The sisters climbed a circular, narrow, stone-lined staircase up to the set of family rooms.

  Grace ran to her favorite room. Her squeals could be heard down the hallway. June peeked in at her.

  “The view is tremendous.” Grace stood at the window that overlooked expansive grounds. The women really were gifted a lovely place to live, though unfortunately controlled by careless men who passed the properties around as though they were hotcakes. Hopefully the changing of hands finished with the duke. He seemed determined to care for them, to see them married, and to provide a lovely living situation, if the castle was any indication.

  Charity returned. “Everything is much, much better—the kitchens, the stables, even the other rooms--and there’s a ballroom.” Her eyes were lit with a new happiness, and she seemed suspiciously energetic. June wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be a good place for us, then?”

  “I believe it will. And there’s a lovely music room with a desk. Do you think that could be mine? To write my stories?”

  “Absolutely. Is there a schoolroom?”

  “Yes, there is, in this wing. But who wants to write their stories in a schoolroom?” Charity made a face.

  “Which private quarters is yours?” June walked along the corridor, pleased with their situation—beyond pleased. For the first time in a long time, she had hope things might start to improve.

  “I’m down here next to you. I’m assuming you’re keeping the master bedrooms to yourself?”

  “There has to be some perk to being the oldest spinster sister of the family.”

  “I don’t think spinster status will last long for any of us.”

  “Don’t you?” June searched her face. “I didn’t see you and Lord Weatherby making any fast strides in that direction.”

  “Him? No. He was absolutely pompous and in no way suited for me. But who’s to say we have to marry the gentry or even in that class?”

  “No one, I suppose, but it is important we always have a place to live, food on the table, and our children provided for.” She searched Charity’s face. “I believe in love in marriage, but a great deal of unhappiness comes when a family runs out of food.”

  “Yes, sister. I don’t need your lectures. I am merely stating that just because Lord Weatherby and I are not a good match, it doesn’t mean there aren’t a great deal more people to choose from.”

  “I have no doubt you shall win over the lot of them.” She kissed her sister’s face. “Now go see if anything else is needed in your room.”

  June made her way down to her quarters. She could have put Grace in the room adjoining her own, but instead she might turn it into her own private sitting area. She could put in bookshelves and grow her personal library. If she had a fire going and a comfortable place to sit with a lovely view, she might be happy all her days in this small set of rooms.

  She ran her fingers along the tapestries that covered the stone walls. Great attention had been given in all the rooms to make them warmer. Her feet buried in the rugs on the floor. She stepped into the closet that connected the two rooms, and she smiled. Smaller compartments had been added, sections for her clothes, her slippers, and even her jewels, if she had any.

  “Gerald and I thought those little extras might be appreciated.” Lord Morley’s voice startled her so, it initiated a fit of coughing.

  “I’m terribly sorry. Here is my handkerchief.”

  She nodded, took it, and stepped away until her coughing eased. “Oh, my, you startled me. What can you mean, stepping in here without warning?”

  “I called to you when I entered your sitting room. You must not have heard.”

  “No.” She dabbed her mouth and then pocketed the handkerchief. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome. So, what do you think? I’ve been anxious to hear if everything is getting completed to your satisfaction.”

  “Yes, you can tell the duke his work here could not have been gifted to a more grateful family. We are more thankful than he could ever know.”

  Lord Morley nodded, his expression pleased. “I’m happy to hear it.” He led her out of the closet. “Have you searched your rooms? And everything is to your satisfaction?”

  “Everything is lovely.” They walked out into her room, and she sucked in her breath. “Oh.” A larg
e arrangement of flowers had been added to her table, and their lovely mixed-floral scent filled the room. “These are magnificent.”

  “I thought you’d like them.” His voice was quiet.

  She turned to him, her eyebrows lifted. “You were right. I am loathe to leave them when no one is staying in this room.”

  “Well, that’s the surprise news. The renovations are complete enough for you to move in. I’ve arranged for your things to be packed up and moved over today, if you like. You could be sleeping in this room tonight.”

  “That’s wonderful! I—I don’t know what to say.” Her sudden desire to throw herself into Lord Morley’s arms in a hug of gratitude warmed her whole room, and she was suddenly acutely aware of their location, alone together.

  “Come, we must tell the others.” She rushed to the doorway.

  “Wait, Miss Standish.” His voice, its humility, made her turn.

  “Yes?”

  “I wanted to—I thought I should—”

  She stepped closer.

  “I would like to apologize for interfering in your choice of how to spend your time. Even if it would be with someone as loathsome as Lord Smallwood, he would, in fact, be a highly sought after match for most women.” His eyes looked away. “I simply seek something infinitely better for you.” When his gaze returned, she sucked in her breath at the intensity she saw in his eyes. He stepped closer, capturing her.

  Words would not form. Her body hummed in response to his nearness. When he lifted her hand in his own, he brought it to his lips. Her bare skin responded in a cascade of trembles down her arm.

  “You are a diamond among women.”

  His words, his attention, his kindness in helping them move, showered her with a yearning for just such a man in her life, always, and she found herself without words. Nothing would come to mind—nothing except, “You too.”

  Then she looked away. “I mean, thank you. You’re not…a diamond. I mean, you are, but…among men? Is that something men are?” She stepped away and turned her back, wishing to hide at the same time she wished him to stay. “Oh, don’t listen to me. I’m just overcome. This is all so wonderful, so good, I don’t know what to say.” She found his handkerchief and brought it up to her eyes.

  The air between them pulled her closer as he stepped up behind. “I’m happy you approve. You and your family deserve to at last be taken care of in the manner you always should have been.”

  She found the courage to meet his gaze again and was comforted and put at ease. The kindness, the good nature of the man in front of her, made her smile. “I have plans for my sitting room. Books. Music. I shall never have to leave it.”

  The other sisters came in, and Grace ran to Lord Morley’s side. “It’s lovely. Is it true? Are we moving in here today?”

  “If you like. It’s all arranged.”

  Grace tapped her chin. “Do you think we shall miss that cottage?”

  “With its drafts and leaky roof? I think not.” Kate shook her head.

  “Cook is going to be ecstatic when she sees the kitchen. They’ve modernized the whole room. It’s a cavern now, with every good thing.”

  “And the ballroom!” Kate held her hands together. “I’ve heard there’s a ballroom.”

  “Shall we go take a look?” Lucy looked with disapproval from Lord Morley to June and back, which made June smile. “Yes, let’s.”

  The sisters hurried through the hall. Lord Morley offered his arm, which June gratefully took. And soon they were standing in the middle of the ballroom.

  “Teach us the waltz.” Kate spun. “I shall never know how to place my feet. I shall lose my mind with embarrassment to be held so closely.”

  “The waltz? Why, it’s the easiest of them all. And every man will feel the same when standing so close to you.” He bowed to June. “May I?”

  She curtsied and tried to pretend she was unaffected. “Of course.”

  He stepped close, took her hand in his, and placed his other hand on her upper back. “Just so.” His face filled with boyish excitement. “And then the music will play in beats of three.” He counted. “You move forward or back, to the side and then the opposite, every time. Follow your partner’s lead. It’s fun, and if you get really good, you hardly notice you’re moving. You just sort of…fly.”

  “Show us!” Grace stepped closer, her eyes intent.

  “I can, if you like.” He had not released June yet.

  June nodded, her heart noticeable in her chest like never before. “I, too, would like to learn.”

  “So I will count. One, two three. One, two, three.” He stepped forward, and she hurried to follow, stepping back, then to the side, and then together. They repeated the same move again. “And now I shall step back.” After practicing a few times, back and then forward, all to the count of three, he started to lead her around the floor.

  “What! What are you doing?”

  “Don’t think. Just move. You’ve got it.”

  So she let herself go, following wherever Lord Morley led, spinning and swirling and moving in a glorious count of three she barely noticed. His hand was strong on her back, and the hand that cradled hers was soft, almost an embrace. His eyes were full of signs of caring, interest, happiness.

  “Just look at me.” He smiled.

  Everything in the world seemed to stop, go quiet. She stared up into his eyes, seeing deeper into the man who had done so much for them, seeing beyond his handsome broad jaw and beautiful flecks of green in his eyes, past all of that, to a man whose character made him rise in all estimation. Her breath came faster and she knew she was flushed. But standing so close to such a man…she’d never felt this way before. When at last he paused, she noticed her sisters and the room and how very close she stood to Lord Morley.

  Her face heated, and she stepped away. “Thank you. That was…magnificent.”

  “I wish to have a go.” Kate spun. “Teach me.”

  He bowed to her and took longer on the beginning rudimentary steps. Then he took her in a chaste circle around them.

  “Her dance is nothing like yours,” Charity whispered in June’s ear. “Something tells me you, sister, might be the first to marry.”

  “What? Hush, now. He’s just being kind. He’s helping the duke. They’re best friends, you know.” But she didn’t believe the words as they left her lips. Those flowers, his extra attention, their waltz—surely she wasn’t the only one feeling something overwhelming between them.

  Once they all had a turn practicing the waltz with the patient and willing Lord Morley, he called them to the dining room. “I’ve asked the kitchen staff if they would prepare a luncheon for us.”

  “Oh, how lovely. Have we a kitchen staff?” Kate stood closer.

  Charity nodded. “We do. Cook is going to love it.”

  Lord Morley led them to a large room with a grand table in the center.

  “What! Where did we get such a lovely table?” Lucy’s smile grew the longer they continued.

  “We actually discovered it here in the castle.” Morley stood taller. “It needed a little care, but I think you will be pleased with the results.”

  June rushed forward and ran her hand along the soft wood. “It’s beautiful. And it will fit us all.” She moved to sit.

  “No, June. You need to sit at the end.”

  “What? No, surely.” She waved to Lord Morley. “You sit at the end.”

  “Only if you’re at my left.”

  Her gaze whipped up to his. What did he mean by all this? “Certainly.” She dipped her head.

  “This is your family, and you are their head. I’m simply here to support you and see you get the care you deserve.”

  They all took their seats, and a line of servants brought them a delicious simple fare. But they were served, and their cups were filled, and for the first time since her parents died, June felt a measure of ease.

  Chapter Seven

  Lord Morley eyed his cravat with a far more particular eye
than usual. “Excellent work, Henry.”

  “Thank you, my lord. Will there be anything else?”

  “No. Or perhaps, yes.” He stepped back from the mirror and turned to his valet. “How do I look?”

  “Excellent. You never step out of this room less than excellent.”

  “I know, and for that, I’m grateful. But what I want to know now is, how will I look to the ladies?”

  Henry lifted his chin and eyed him. “If we are to be about impressing the ladies, might I suggest the green jacket?”

  “Oh, do you think it preferable to the black?”

  “I think it better to add color. Green is just a slight deviation from your usual black and will suit your purposes nicely.”

  “Good thoughts, Henry. Let’s go with the green.”

  “Very good, my lord.” Henry helped him out of the black jacket and slipped on the green. After brushing it down and adjusting things only Henry understood, Morley eyed himself again, pleased.

  “Yes, I like this. It does something for my eyes.” He turned his head one way, then the other. “Perhaps I should be measured for more jackets of color.”

  “I quite agree. Shall I schedule an appointment with the tailor here in Brighton?”

  “Yes, please do.” He dipped his head and then walked out of the room.

  He would be attending the assembly with the Standish sisters. Tonight he would inform them of their own visits to the modiste. They must all have new gowns—at least one gown a piece. Gerald had given him the money necessary to take care of all these details. And Lord Morley was left in the awkward position of being their new guardian of sorts, in reality paid for by the duke, and not wanting any of them—particularly June—to feel beholden. At some point, he would need to explain the situation. But there had not yet been a moment where such a conversation would come easily.

  Also, he was realizing more and more how much he would welcome a woman to help him pair off the sisters. He needed one of those intrusive mamas of the ton, grappling for a lord’s attention and keeping the undesirables away. Or even a friend, someone younger. Perhaps Amelia could be persuaded to come, even if Gerald had already declined assistance.