“You look lovely. You’re such a beautiful bride. I’m so proud of you,” whispered Molly, her ragged voice making the words come out in bursts as she hugged her beloved former charge. “The earl is lucky to have you as his countess. You will be fine.”
Beth’s mother floated in just then. “Are you ready, Beth dear?”
“As ready as I will ever be, Mama,” she said with a tight smile, not bothering to protest any further.
“Molly, please see to having Elizabeth’s trunks loaded on his lordship’s carriage,” requested Lady Claire, terminating the warm moment between her daughter and the aged servant.
“Mama, I want Molly with us in the parlour for the ceremony,” Beth said with sudden urgency.
“You know your father will never stand for that,” came her mother’s reply.
“Please, Mama, it’s important to me. Besides,” added Beth flippantly, “I am leaving, and he won’t be able to do anything to me. And I don’t think he will care enough to take it out on you. I truly want Molly to be there.”
“All right, dear, you are no doubt correct. He may not mind too terribly,” she caved, never able to be firm about anything. “But what will Lord Fulton think?” she asked. She was unable to resist Beth’s request but feared the gentleman’s reaction.
“I don’t care. He will have to get used to me. He will soon be stuck with me forever,” giggled Beth with a toss of her shiny curls and a return of her usual spirit.
An hour later they were on their way with Beth stoically trying to control her tears. Lord Fulton had decided they would ride their own mounts for the first leg of the journey and the carriage with the luggage would meet them at the inn where Justin had decided they should spend the night. There was an awkward moment when Beth was confronted with the huge mount that had almost landed on her the previous afternoon. She was nervous of regular horses under normal circumstances; this huge beast made her want to pass out, but she desperately did not want Lord Fulton to find out what a silly widgeon she was. So, she bravely set her teeth and plastered a tight smile onto her pale face as she nervously swung up on her mother’s hack.
“Are you sure I should take your horse, Mama? Maybe I should just tell him I don’t have one or that I am too tired to ride,” Beth had whispered franticly before exiting the house.
“No, Beth, my sweet, I rarely ride anymore anyway, and you can always send her back with a messenger. I won’t miss her for a couple days. Your father would be ashamed to admit you haven’t a mount of your own. It shall be soon enough to tell your husband once you are far away.”
As they rode through the village, children ran out to wish her well. “Good-bye, Princess! We’ll miss you!”
“Children,” Beth laughed awkwardly trying to cover over how touched she was. Her father had never wanted her to make friends with “the peasant children,” but Beth loved them just the same. She worried, though, that her new husband would think she was too common and become angered with her.
“Why did the children call you Princess?” the earl asked his pale young bride.
“Oh, I guess, because my riding habit is so beautiful. They must never get a chance to own such lovely things,” Beth prevaricated as she ran her hand over the skirts of the hastily altered outfit borrowed from her mother along with the horse. It was far from lovely, but it was the best they had been able to muster on short notice.
The earl raised a questioning eyebrow at this statement but allowed that comment to pass. “Were they friends of yours? They said they would miss you,” Justin continued to probe, trying to get to know his new wife, hoping there was an as yet unseen depth to her.
“You think I would be friends with the peasant children?” Beth questioned disbelievingly in cool, haughty tones. “No, they were no doubt just being polite.” Beth didn’t know what else to say. Justin raised his eyebrow further in doubt at this statement.
Beth’s stomach was beginning to ache from the tensions of the day, and it was still barely noon. She was tired and stressed and losing her ability to remain cheerful and continue to play the role of the highborn miss. Her father had always had such strange expectations of how a lady should act, and she felt certain her husband would expect the same. It was a familiar act, but her fear was causing a strain. She was uncertain if she would be able to maintain it throughout what she knew would be a difficult day.
“When are we likely to stop for the evening, my lord?” Beth asked momentarily to turn the subject, not wanting him to dwell too long on the incident.
“Are you tired already? I was hoping we would make at least another ten miles.”
“Oh, I am sure I can manage. Are we going to make it to your home this evening?” Beth questioned, not intending to reveal her ignorance.
“Nay, milady, did you not know we are to stay at an inn on the way to Town? And then we shall be staying in London for a time. Did you not know you were to move to London with me?” he demanded with a start of surprise.
“Well, yes, my lord, I just have no idea how far London is from my parents’ home,” she replied with a slight blush at her ignorance, wishing she had not brought up the subject.
“Have you never been to London? It’s really not all that far from your parents’ home,” Lord Fulton questioned her in disbelief. “Have you not had a Season?”
“Would we not have met before, if I had had a Season, my lord?” Beth countered. “I am sure you will think me a veritable bumpkin, so I hesitate to admit that I have never been anywhere outside of my own village. Mama felt I was still a bit young to have my Season. No doubt the expense would have been unbearable anyway. Besides, Papa said I was too good for the likes of all the riff raff who populate the City and I should be content to stay at home and feel superior,” she mocked. She forgot for a moment that she was supposed to be acting superior and let down her guard. “Please tell me all about my new home. Shall I like it, do you suppose? What duties will I have?” She forgot her uneasiness for a while and delighted in anticipating the fun to be had in London. “Max says it is wonderful in the City and there are all sorts of things to keep a person occupied.”
“Slow down, I cannot answer all your questions at once, my dear,” the earl laughed. He couldn’t believe this animated delight was the same wan, pale creature he had married early that morning and had been riding beside in silence for the past two hours. What a contrast! Maybe she was only nervous, he thought; mayhap this won’t be so bad after all.
“I hope you will like your new home. I had thought we shall live in my London townhouse for the Season. It’s not too large, so you shan’t have too many duties. You can just work along with the housekeeper. I am sure you will know what to do. I enjoy the city for a while, but I soon tire of it and always enjoy returning to my country estate. I find it hard to believe you have never been away from home. Are you excited about your first trip away?”
“I am actually terrified,” she admitted. “I shall not know a soul and have no idea how to go on.”
“You know me.”
“No, I don’t, not truly,” she contradicted with a tremulous glance beneath her lashes.
“Well, do not worry, time will soon remedy that, won’t it? My sister will help you know how to go on. She will introduce you to all you need to know, I am sure. You shall be perfectly fine.” Lord Fulton was starting to look to the future with more confidence, and it was clearly reflected in the new firmness of his tone.
Beth suddenly remembered she was supposed to be confident and haughty. With a blink the animated girl disappeared. “Of course, my lord,” she said, her cold tone putting an end to the pleasantness. They continued the rest of the ride to the inn in silence with Beth fighting nausea all the way. Justin’s momentary confidence began to wane.
Chapter Three
“Good evening, milord,” whined the innkeeper as he bowed and scraped. “Our humble establishment is honoured by your presence.” Lord Fulton rolled his eyes at Beth, but she was feeling too miserable to notice.
Her stomach had been rolling the last couple of miles and she was beginning to feel desperate for some privacy. She was finally shown to a room with the promise to meet her husband in half an hour.
After the maid who accompanied her to her room finished fussing over her, Beth was finally able to empty her stomach of the little contents she was able to force into it that day and felt much relieved. After the many and varied events of the day, Beth was quite exhausted so she lay down on the bed to shut her eyes for “just a moment.”
Justin came along an hour later, concerned about her as she had agreed to meet him in half that time. He found his pale wife deeply asleep and smiled over her relaxed countenance, so peaceful in slumber. Justin shook his head in wonder as he gazed down at his exhausted young wife.
I have a wife, he thought in a daze. He shook his head again as he thought about the events that led up to his entanglement with Sir Dunseith and his acquisition of a wife.
∞∞∞
It had been an unmitigated disaster from the beginning. His first glimpse of the establishment should have warned him that nothing but trouble awaited him inside. The unsavoury characters milling around outside the front door and in the entryway caused a shiver to crawl down the usually steady nerved earl’s spine. He should have known not to accompany his rakehell cousin, Francis, anywhere he said would be “dashing.”
He had just been so disconcertingly curious, and that was always his downfall. That and his sense of chivalry were always plunging him into scrapes. But this one certainly took the prize for the worst situation he had ever gotten himself into. And there was no one to blame but himself.
What else could he have done, though? When that wretched Lord Petersen and his chum, Fred, got up and offered a bit of sport? Who would have thought any Christian father would actually sell off his own daughter? Of course, that’s really what every father does if there’s no dowry, when you really think about it, Justin thought with a touch of sadness. But to actually propose an auction, and in that crowd!
Justin shuddered anew when he remembered the drunken frenzy of bidding while Fred and his friends described his Elizabeth. They hadn’t even come close in their description, despite their seeming exaggerations, contemplated the earl pensively as he gazed anew at his beautifully delicate-looking wife.
He returned to his reminiscing — it had been such a farce. Justin had almost left the vulgar proceedings, had actually stood up to take his leave. He would never have participated except the blasted Earl of Brantford was bidding highest. Everyone knows he has the morals of a goat, and he certainly would not have married the chit. Evil rumours swirl around him regarding his activities. One just had to look at how he treats his animals to know that at least some of them are true; the man certainly had a mean, violent streak.
How Sir Dunseith had thought he could convince anyone to marry the girl after they had bought her, Justin would never know. No doubt, the ridiculous man had some sort of stratagem worked out in his gin-soaked mind. But many of the men had been sharing sly grins as the bidding escalated and Fred had propounded on what a wonderful wife his daughter would make. They were all thinking of what they could take from her, but with that sort of introduction, the most they would have offered her was a position as mistress. And there would have been nothing Dunseith could have done about it. That had been when Justin’s chivalry took over and he heard himself offering the staggering sum that stunned everyone into silence and had Fred rubbing his hands together in glee. It would nicely settle his accumulation of debts with plenty to cultivate his propensity for gambling. Too bad he wasn’t any good at it.
Justin had seriously considered just taking the girl to London and setting her free. But she was of noble birth regardless of what a scoundrel her father was, and she would have been ruined. With no employable skills, no life experience, and looking like an angel, she would not stand a chance on her own in London. And since her extended family had disowned the Dunseiths years ago, they wouldn’t be of any help to her.
They would have to be wed and make the best of it. Seeing how her family lived, he’d have thought the girl would actually be grateful to escape, but she hadn’t shown a shred of any emotion after they met in the house, save for those few moments while they discussed London as they rode. Still, it was a glimmer of hope to hold onto. He just prayed the chit never found out what her father had done. Then again, maybe she was in on it; she hadn’t seemed to object to wedding a complete stranger. Well, only time would tell where things would progress from here.
Clearing his head of such thoughts, Lord Fulton shook his head in self mockery over his “wedding night” and gently tucked his young wife more securely into the covers before quietly letting himself out of the room in search of somewhere for himself to rest for the night. He, too, was exhausted after all that had happened, and he wondered what the future had in store for himself and his strange new bride.
∞∞∞
As she came to wakefulness, Beth held herself very still, momentarily surprised to find herself in a strange bed, but then it all rushed back to her consciousness. She was a married lady. A countess at that. And she had only met her husband thirty-six hours before.
The thrill of freedom flowed through her as she reminded herself once more that she would never again have to return to the house she grew up in unless she so chose. Of course, she would want to see her mother again, but she allowed herself to bask in the contentment she was experiencing. She wiggled her toes and stretched her arms, revelling in the new sensation.
The unknown factor of her new husband was obviously of concern, but so far, he had been remarkably even tempered. She would even go so far as to describe him as kind, at least what she had seen of him in their short acquaintance. Beth could not decide how she felt about how handsome he was. He was deliciously attractive, but she was unsure if that could be trusted. No doubt other women would find it to be a point in his favour.
Feeling surprisingly rested from the long day of travel but reluctant to climb from the warm, comfortable bed, Beth allowed her mind to drift as she thought of the varied events she had experienced over the last day and a half. It had all started when she had spotted her father’s carriage bowling down the road, and it had felt like she was in a runaway carriage ever since.
She pondered her new circumstances and allowed her mind to drift. After several moments of quiet reflection, Beth felt very much awake and remarkably cheerful. She blinked languidly against the sunshine that was streaming into her room. The sound of chirping birds filled the air, causing her to smile slightly. It was rare for her to awaken to such peace, so for a moment, she simply lay there in wonder at the feeling of lightness she felt. Then she remembered that she was free of her father forever, and although she had always been told the devil you know is better than the one you don’t, her naturally optimistic outlook allowed her to have some hope for her future.
She worried fleetingly that her husband might be angry that she had fallen asleep last night, but he probably would have confronted her immediately for the offense if it bothered him. Besides, in her experience, men don’t really care for women’s company over supper anyway. And with that thought buoying her spirits, she set off for her first full day of married life with a bounce in her step and a smile on her face.
“Good morning, sir,” Beth greeted the landlord cheerfully when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“And a good morning to you, too, milady. You’re a mite more cheery today than you were last night, if you’ll pardon my saying so,” he exclaimed as he bowed and scraped for the young countess.
“How could I be anything but cheery on such a beautiful, sunny day in your fine establishment?” Beth replied cheekily. “I don’t suppose you have a repast prepared for me? I would sorely love to break my fast.”
“Well, and that I do. The fine gent did be saying you would be wanting your vittles this morn, what with missing your supper last night.” With that he swept her somewhat graciously into
the private parlour Justin had arranged for their use. He lifted off the covers as he rattled on about the weather and the choices Beth could have to break her fast.
Beth was so ravenous and entirely fascinated by the friendly country bumpkin that she didn’t notice the earl standing by the window watching her closely as she spoke animatedly, her cheeks blooming rosily and her eyes sparkling with life.
“Oh, everything smells and looks scrumptious! Please, give my compliments to your good wife. I just cannot wait another minute. I must eat before I become faint,” Beth enthused as she dug in to the simple but wholesome meal.
“I will be off, then, and many thanks for your kind words, milady.” And he bowed himself out of the room as Beth tucked into her meal with gusto.
“Good morning, my dear. You look well rested. Did you sleep well?” asked Justin.
Beth let out a little squeal and spilled a bit of her chocolate as she started in surprise. “Oh, good heavens! I did not notice you there. You fairly scared the life out of me, my lord!”
“I do apologize, Elizabeth. I had suspected you didn’t notice me here. You were so enthusiastically attacking your meal.” He smiled at her as he gently teased her.
Beth wasn’t too sure how to react, never being around subtlety before, so she just smiled back a bit uncertainly as she mopped up her little puddle of chocolate.
Justin could see her nerves returning and regretted interrupting her repast. In an attempt to put her at ease with some easy conversation, he repeated his earlier question. “Did you sleep well, my dear?”
“Oh, yes, thank you, my lord. I slept quite well,” she replied, her tone polite but distant as she picked nervously at her plate.
He racked his brain in search of an idea of how to return her to the ease she had obviously felt with the servant. What had they been talking about? The weather? “It looks like we shall have a beautiful day for riding. I am so glad you arose early. We should be able to make it to London by nightfall.” He realized this was somehow the wrong thing to say as Beth paled even further before his eyes.
The Debutante Bride: A Sweet Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair) Page 3