Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two)

by Sandy Raven

  Elise nodded, not looking at him, fearful it might call attention to their conversation. She spoke in hushed tones when she said, “I’m sure he does. You don’t have to fear that I will claim you seduced me, because I feel I’m the one having to do all the seducing Michael. I wish...” She lowered her voice as the children grew closer and resumed walking toward the barn. “Sometimes I wish you wanted me as much as I want you.”

  He sighed, then muttered something under his breath. The chatter of the children caught up with them, leaving him unable to respond. They walked the children on their ponies back to the stables and handed over the animals to the grooms. Elise stepped into the skirt of her two-piece riding habit, buttoning the side. As she’d told him that very morning, having done this for so many years, she gave in to necessity and had specially constructed habits made which allowed for ease of attachment and removal of the skirt. Her brother had only one request when he’d discovered she rode astride. She was never to appear outside Haldenwood in such a manner. It would cause gossip and scandal. And heaven knew, Ren dreaded gossip and scandal more than anything.

  Elise and Michael walked to the house with the three girls. They both noticed Sophia walking like the pony was still under her. Smiling, Elise called out to her, “Don’t worry Sophie, you’ll only be sore for a day or two.”

  The older two begged for similar instruction and Elise promised to do so at some point during the week.

  Michael groaned and ask that she please get approval from Christina first.

  Elise had Bridget order a bath prepared for her while she napped. As she changed out of her riding clothes, her maid said, “Was he so totally scandalized by the sight of ye ridin’ around like a lad that he’s changed his mind?”

  “No, Bridget,” she replied, “he hasn’t changed his mind. In fact, he said his esteem for me and my skill grew when he saw I knew what was I was doing.” She slipped her chemise on and lay on the bed. “I’m glad, too. For, although I would hate to live without him, I would if he ordered me not to continue my riding, training and breeding.”

  “Get yer rest, m’lady. I’ve a feelin’ ye’ve got a long evenin’ ahead.”

  When Elise woke from a short nap, she learned her brother and sister-in-law had already arrived and Ren waited downstairs for a meeting with her. She bathed and dressed quickly, leaving the room with her short hair still damp. Finding him alone in the study, she entered and returned his warm smile.

  “So, I take it you are in agreement,” he asked.

  “Of course,” she said through her smile. “I cannot wait until he is out of mourning, so we can make our announcement.”

  “Good,” her brother replied, seeming a bit uncomfortable with what he wanted to say. “He is a fine man, Elise. He will make you a good husband or I would never have approved.

  “He is also my friend,” Ren added, “and I ask that you not play games with him. Do not marry him if you do not think you can care for him—” He cleared his throat before finishing. “—in... that way.”

  “I assure you, Your Grace, I care for him, in that way.”

  Her brother visibly relaxed. “Good. Good.” He nodded. “Then you got your love match after all.”

  “I did,” she said through her smile. “Thank you.”

  “Although I will say, I didn’t think your sentiments lay in that quarter any longer. It seemed to me you were becoming more open to the possibility of finding a match elsewhere. Especially after the verbal daggers you’ve thrown at him lately.”

  “There has never been anyone else for me. I’ve known it since I was a child.”

  “And that’s another reason this is hard for him—he’s seen you grow up. He must get used to seeing you in a different light and that won’t come easily. Take this time he’s giving you to show him the woman I know you to be.”

  “I will.”

  “Does he know about your riding? I’ve never told anyone the depth of your involvement with your horses. I did it to protect your modesty and reputation. You never know how some in Society will react when they learn things of that sort, especially if the young lady is unwed.”

  He was protecting her, just as she’d thought. “I assumed you would have told Michael. Nevertheless, he found me out this morning.” She told him about her ride on the young mare and then later with the children.

  “As a proper guardian, I know I should say something along the lines of ‘I hope he can curb your hoydenish ways,’ but I cannot. For Lia has mentioned that she would like you to teach her to ride as you do.”

  She smiled. “We can start tomorrow morning if she’d like. Woodhenge has an excellent stable, and I’m sure a pair of my breeches will fit her, except for the length of leg.”

  Ren grinned broadly, pride beaming from his entire countenance. “I’m afraid she won’t be able to start lessons for at least seven or eight more months.”

  Elise’s eyes grew wide and she smiled before hugging her brother. “Congratulations, Your Grace. Does anyone else know?”

  He shook his head. “Just you and Grandmother.”

  “Splendid! Another nephew or niece for me to spoil.”

  His Grace, the Duke of Caversham, stared at the slender form of the young woman walking out of the study at Woodhenge. Once the door shut behind her, he whispered, “Father, that’s one down and one to go.” He tossed back the rest of his Scotch and whispered a quick prayer of thanks that he had a few years to prepare for Sarah’s debut.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  That evening, Michael, Christina, Ren, Lia, Elise and her grandmother gathered in the study to await the dinner bell. Christina, being closest to Michael and Ren in age, related some of the childhood pranks of the two. Elise began to see a side of Michael and her brother she never knew.

  “Are you saying the fight was for no reason?” Elise heard Michael ask. “That it was Vance and not Ren?”

  Elise saw Michael’s sister laugh and nod her head. Then Ren burst out laughing. “I told you I didn’t do it, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

  Seated near the window, her grandmother said to Ren, “You had a reputation as a horrible rake. Why would anyone believe you?”

  As Christina continued regaling them with tales of Michael’s youth, and of growing up in London, Elise began to get a portrait of a young Michael from the time before he’d met Ren. He’d been an adventurous child, like her, but where she hadn’t been restricted by title and position, only social mores, Michael had been taught about responsibility and duty from an early age, having lost his father when he was still in short pants. She supposed she’d been fortunate that she’d lived her entire life at Haldenwood. Life in the country seemed so much simpler than that in London.

  At home she’d been free to run and ride through the fields and orchards, climb trees and skip stones on the lake and creek. She’d been allowed to wade barefoot along the shore of their lake in summer, fish, ride, and in general be the little hoyden her brother called her. Raised in London, Michael didn’t have as many opportunities to do some of the things a normal boy should have done before going away to school.

  When the three began to discuss old friends, Elise went to where Lia and Grandmother sat, and privately congratulated her sister-in-law on her new condition.

  “Ren told me earlier, but only because we’d been discussing riding and I told him I would be more than happy to teach you. You do know that my brother could just as easily teach you, because we had the same instructor. I just spent more time playing with my horses than he did. For him, riding was a mode of transportation and a horse a piece of livestock. For me, being alone for so long in that big house, with Ren off at school and Father gone to London for his term each year, my horses were my friends. There were no other companions for me when I was young. Which very much frustrated my nurse and then my governesses. I think Papa was relieved when an appropriate playmate moved to the village. Little did he know that Beverly was in much the same state as I. We became thick as thieves—without th
e thievery.”

  “You have a natural gift with horses, everyone who’s seen you agrees,” her sister-in-law said.

  Her grandmother began to chuckle under her breath. “Just look at him,” she said, “He can’t be in the same room with her without looking as though he might devour her.”

  Elise felt a blush creep up neck as the already warm room suddenly grew hot. A footman entered the room and spoke to Michael. He turned to the group and announced, “Mother is here. Their coaches have just turned onto the lane.”

  Christina’s eyes got wide and she mumbled something about them getting here fast, then hurried from the room saying she would see to adding more places to the table.

  “I’ll bet they left within hours of receiving Christina’s note,” Michael said. “If so they will have been traveling hard all day.” Michael came to Elise’s side. Her fright must have been evident, for he tried to reassure her as best he could. “Don’t worry. Just remember what I said. Mother just wants to see me happy. You’re the woman I chose. She will be happy for us. Now just be yourself and I’m sure she’ll find you as charming as I do.” He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back as she leaned into him, hoping she could win over the woman who would soon become her mother-in-law.

  The sound of wheels crunching on gravel sent everyone to the porch to welcome the new arrivals. Elise stood with her grandmother, Lia and Ren, while Michael stepped down to help the footman with the door and steps. He extended his hand and assisted the first guest.

  His mother hadn’t changed much in appearance, except maybe for more gray in her dark brown hair. She stood nearly as tall as Christina, with a similar build. She kissed her son’s cheek. “I remember coming here from Town was so much quicker. Bath, for all it’s restorative properties, might as well be on the other side of the globe.” She moved up to the porch to greet Ren, kissing his cheek as well.

  Ren introduced Lady Richard to Lia, then she greeted Elise’s grandmother, then her. At that moment Elise wanted more than anything for the limestone steps to open up and swallow her whole.

  “You’re the little hoyden in the tree, are you not?” The older woman gave her a thorough once-over, staring at her down her elegant, delicately sloped nose.

  Elise shrank at the reminder and nodded, while Lady Richard scrutinized her further.

  “Well, at least part of what the gossips say is true,” Michael’s mother said. “You are not unpleasant... to look upon. And this is a vast improvement over our first meeting, is it not.”

  Heat suffused Elise’s entire body and she was certain her face burned red as she remembered falling out of the tree and knocking the woman down. God help her, she wanted to cry, and Elise never cried in public. Ever.

  She didn’t know why Lady Richard’s words hurt as much as they did. True, no one had ever called her beautiful, graceful or ladylike. Well, except for Beverly, but they told each other these things because that’s what best friends did. And Lia, because she was her sister now and that’s what sisters did.

  Michael told her she was beautiful the night of her ball, but Elise was sure it was mandated somewhere in the compendium of perfect etiquette, that all men must, by law, tell the debutant being feted that she was beautiful. It wasn’t as though he meant it in that way as her brother had asked her earlier.

  Just once she wanted to be found worthy. Thus, she wanted approval from the woman who held influence over the man she loved, and it didn’t appear she’d get it. The woman had already found Elise lacking, not good enough for her son.

  Still she managed to speak without humiliating herself. “Thank you, ma’am. But I wouldn’t believe the gossips. I’ve learned that much of what they say is untrue.”

  “I think perhaps in this case they were right.” The older woman pat her hand while her gaze drifted over to her granddaughters, making Elise feel almost as desired as a pet spaniel. “I wouldn’t worry about landing an offer. You’ll have one by the end of the season for your connections alone. I’m sure.”

  Michael had finished assisting his sister and nieces by this time and came to introduce her to his sister, Sabrina, Lady Knebworth, who appeared much older than Christina. “Now I know why I haven’t been here since my wedding,” Lady Knebworth stretched and adjusted her shawl. “It’s truly the middle of nowhere. Why, we haven’t seen a residence for miles.” The woman looked at Elise and gave her a knowing little grin, as though they were in on a surprise. She wondered then what Michael had told his sisters about their relationship.

  Michael grew straighter and his chest swelled with pride. “Uncle loved this place, and I’m starting to understand why.” He practically radiated joy when he looked at Elise and said, “It’s a serene and relaxing place to come when Town gets too hot or hectic.”

  Sabrina greeted Ren, met Lia, then turned to Elise. She took Elise’s hands in hers and smiled, then leaning forward, she pressed her cheek to Elise’s and whispered into her ear. “Pay no attention to mother. In her opinion, not even Princess Charlotte was good enough for my brother. On the other hand, Christina and I think you are just what he needs.”

  Elise felt another blush creeping up, and she could only nod as words failed her.

  After introductions to Michael’s nieces, both of whom appeared to be in that awkward stage of adolescence, everyone moved into the house. Christina appeared alongside the butler, who announced dinner.

  Throughout the entire meal the families caught up with each others lives and chatted about the current social climate and events, both in Town and in Bath. Elise listened and responded when called upon, usually when asked something about the other young ladies in Town, current fashions, and if there were any gossip as yet regarding betrothals.

  “The mid-season speculation is that Miss Georgianna Emmerson is secretly betrothed to Mr. Edmund Parnell of Derbyshire,” said Elise, when asked by Michael’s sisters about Town gossip. “Her father, Mr. George Emmerson, has said he will not entertain Parnell’s suit because he is up to his ears in vowels. Meanwhile, Miss Georgianna is acting as though that is not enough of a deterrent for her. She’s told her father and several of her closest friends that Mr. Parnell’s uncle, Viscount Whitsell-Dumfries, is leaving him twenty-five thousand upon the Viscount’s death, though it is his older brother that inherits the title.”

  “Mr. Emmerson has every right to question that man’s interest in his daughter.” Her brother spoke as an authority on the matter. “No one wants to marry their children off to ne’er-do-wells. If the buck is living on borrowed funds now, do you imagine his habits would change once he has the Emmerson girl’s dowry and later both of their inheritances?”

  “Likely not,” Michael replied.

  “Men like that never change,” Lady Richard said. “A young lady would do well to heed the advice of her elders in such matters.”

  She disagreed of course, but held her tongue. Michael’s mother remembered her in an unflattering way. Elise wanted to prove to the woman who would soon be her mother-in-law, that she was not the same girl she was before—an incorrigible hoyden with no care for rules nor fear of repercussion. And she only had a few days in which to accomplish it.

  The days leading up to Lady Richard’s birthday celebration flew by. Elise spent the mornings riding, one day all the way into the village with Christina, Michael and Ren to shop. In the evenings they played games with the children in the garden or on the terrace. Lady Richard relished the time she could spend with Christina’s little girls, whom she did not see often. On Friday, Christina’s husband, Baron Vance, who’d been away on as assignment joined them, giving Michael and Ren another male cohort in the house.

  Lady Knebworth’s daughters, Phillipa and Cornelia, who’d impressed her at first as extremely shy young girls, soon relaxed in her presence and were delightful as well as very intelligent. Elise invited the girls to ride with her the following morning, but learned that neither girl rode—an astonishing revelation to Elise who couldn’t imagine never being on a hor
se. In probing further, she found out that each girl had been frightened away from the animals as young children, and their mother had never encouraged them to return to the barn to confront their fears. Elise offered, that when the day came they wanted to attempt conquering their fear, she would gladly help them.

  On Saturday afternoon, the day of Lady Richard’s birthday party, she gathered Christina’s three little misses and gently reminded them that after dinner she must give the kittens they’d come to love to their grandmother. All three took the reminder well, with little Sophia saying that their mother and father had agreed to let them have kittens once they returned home.

  Elise bathed and prepared herself for the evening ahead. She had Bridget ready her favorite evening dress of white muslin striped with gold satin, with a hand-made Belgium lace hem. She placed two tiny carved, delicate mother of pearl combs on the sides just above her ears, to hold the hair off her face.

  Her hands trembled as she pulled her gloves on. She’d never been so nervous in her entire life. Even though she felt Lady Richard might be indifferent toward her, she sincerely hoped the woman liked her gift of the two kittens. If her choice of gifts didn’t go over well, it might have deeper repercussions than merely the kittens coming back to Haldenwood with her.

  This was the mother of the man she was going to marry. She would be grandmother to the children she bore her son. It was more than just important that his mother welcome her into her family. To Elise, it was critical. Her future mother-in-law could make her life pleasant if she accepted her, or miserable if she did not. If Lady Richard objected, as much as it would hurt, Elise would not marry Michael.