The Marriage Contract

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Since you brought Patricia to me, I’ll help you find a wife.”

  Lewis looked relieved. “You will?”

  “Yes, I will.” He finished his brandy. “But not tonight. Tonight, we need to get some sleep.” And, thanks to the brandy, he felt as if he could finally shut his eyes without seeing Symon coming at him with a sword. He stood up. “I’m going upstairs. You’re welcome to stay down here if you want, but I’m exhausted.”

  Stephen didn’t bother going to his bedchamber. He didn’t feel like seeing that mess tonight. He’d deal with it tomorrow. It was enough the gardener and coachman had boarded up his window. He would worry about the broken glass, armoire, and shattered pitcher tomorrow. Not to mention getting a new mattress for his bed. He almost forgot Symon had put the sword into it as he was trying to whack off his head.

  Stephen shivered at the memory and hurried into Patricia’s bedchamber. All right. Maybe he wasn’t as relaxed as he’d thought. Apparently, it was going to take time before he would be able to walk down a dark hallway without getting spooked.

  He softly closed the door of Patricia’s bedchamber then removed his clothes and mask. The fire was crackling in the fireplace, lighting his way to the bed. He got under the covers and slid over to Patricia.

  “I can’t sleep,” she said, turning to face him.

  “I thought you were sleeping when I went back downstairs to talk to Lewis.”

  “I was. I think I slept for a few minutes. But then I started thinking over everything.” She put her hand over his and sighed. “I don’t know what to think about my mother. I keep thinking if she hadn’t had an affair with the gypsy’s husband, none of this would have happened. But if she hadn’t had the affair, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “Do you remember what you told me after I spent days locked away in my bedchamber? You said I was a good person. You said my past didn’t matter to you. You said you were only concerned about who I am now.” He squeezed her hand. “It doesn’t matter to me what your mother did or why she did it. I’m just glad you’re here. If you hadn’t come here, I never would have gotten a second chance. God knows I didn’t deserve it. But you saw something in me worth loving. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “I love you, Stephen. I won’t ever betray you.”

  “I know you won’t, and I won’t betray you, either.” He closed the distance between them and brought her into his arms. “We have a wonderful future ahead of us. I’d like to concentrate on that.”

  She smiled. “I’d like that, too.”

  He returned her smile then brought his lips to hers, and before long, he was making love to her.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  A month later, Patricia was getting ready for the dinner party she and Stephen were hosting. This would be the first one where Brad, Loretta, and their families would be together. Considering everyone would be bringing their children, there was going to be a lot of activity.

  When she brought Susanna into the drawing room, Stephen was arranging the hot chocolate for the children on a table separate from the table which had the tea.

  “That’s a good idea,” she said. “It’ll make it easier for the children to find their drinks.”

  “I’m doing this for Brad. He likes things to be even. Three couples equal six adults. There are six cups with the teapot. There are five children, but Susanna’s too young for hot chocolate. That means I can get away with four cups.”

  She giggled. “Surely, your brother isn’t that particular about even numbers.”

  “I grew up with him. He won’t say anything if there’s an odd number, but it’ll be bothering him all through the evening. I want things to be pleasant for everyone. Which reminds me… Last time Lewis was here, he brought more toys, so there are gifts for each child. Would you like to hand them out?”

  “I think you should hide them again. Rosamond and Janus seemed to enjoy looking for them more than playing with them.”

  “You’re right. They did. I think I’ll hide them in the den this time. Then they can search out new hiding spots.”

  “But we’ll be in here before dinner.”

  “Having to wait to find the gifts after they eat will be more fun, don’t you think?”

  Amused as he gathered the toys, she said, “I don’t know if the children will enjoy waiting so long for their gifts, but it’s definitely more fun for you.”

  “What’s the point in having nieces and nephews if you can’t watch their excitement when they receive gifts?”

  He hurried out of the room with the armful of toys, and she shook her head. In some ways, he seemed to be a child at heart. He didn’t only give the children gifts. He also liked to talk to them and play games with them. Most gentlemen probably preferred children to stay out of sight during dinner parties, but Stephen wanted them to be a part of the evening.

  And that was sweet. She liked that he was good with children. Even if he didn’t have a part in Susanna’s conception, he had stepped in to be a father to her. He wanted to be involved in her life, just as he wanted to be involved in their niece and nephews’ lives.

  Smiling, she sat down and placed Susanna on her lap. She held Susanna so that the girl could sit up and get a good look at her surroundings. Susanna was more alert and active these days. Patricia had a feeling Susanna was going to want to take in all of the things going on around her once the others showed up. If there was one thing Patricia had learned by being around Loretta’s and Brad’s children, it was how active children were once they learned to walk.

  The butler came into the room, and Rosamond ran right past him and headed directly for Patricia. “Oh no,” she said as she looked at Susanna. “She’s not little anymore.”

  Loretta went over to them and offered Patricia an apologetic smile. “I tried to tell her Susanna isn’t going to be as tiny as she was when she was born, but she didn’t believe me. Though,” she patted Rosamond’s shoulder, “you should remember how quickly Edmund’s been growing. He’s already sitting on his own, which means you can play with him more.”

  “But he’s a boy. I like girls better,” Rosamond replied.

  “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Tad said as he sat in a nearby chair. He set Edmund on the floor in front of him. “He doesn’t sit very patiently anymore if he’s on someone’s lap.”

  “That’s because he wants to move all over the place like his sister and brother do,” Loretta told him.

  Loretta gasped and ran after Janus, who almost knocked over one of the cups filled with hot chocolate. She quickly picked up the tray with the cups on it and moved it to the desk. A maid, who had just entered the room, hurried to put the tray holding tea on the desk, too.

  “Dink,” Janus said, pointing to the cups.

  Loretta took one of the cups of hot chocolate and led him to a chair where she sat with him and helped him sip the drink. She glanced over at Patricia. “Why are there four cups of hot chocolate? Edmund and Susanna are too young to drink it, and Brad only has one child. There should be three.”

  “He said Brad would like the even number of cups,” Patricia explained. “And he did plan for Edmund to drink some.”

  “He could drink some,” Tad began, “but if he does it from a cup, it’ll get messy. We should use a feeding bottle.”

  “I’ll get it at once,” the maid spoke up before she left the room.

  Rosamond turned back to Patricia. “How old is she?”

  Realizing Rosamond was asking about Susanna, Patricia said, “Three and a half months.”

  “When can she play with me?” Rosamond asked.

  “Well, she can hold your hands and smile at you,” Patricia replied. “But she won’t be ready to share toys with you for a couple more years.”

  Just as Rosamond started to frown, Susanna let out a laugh and held her hands out to her. Rosamond’s mood brightened and she made a funny face at Susanna, who, in turn, laughed again. Encouraged, Rosamond did it again.

>   “I think she likes you,” Patricia told Rosamond.

  Rosamond seemed pleased and continued doing her part to entertain Susanna.

  “Poor Rosamond has wanted a sister or female cousin for the longest time,” Loretta said. “She’s surrounded by boys.”

  “That’s why we keep trying for a girl,” Tad added.

  The maid returned with a feeding bottle and filled it with the hot chocolate.

  Stephen came into the room. “I didn’t hear anyone come.”

  Rosamond forgot all about Susanna and ran over to him, calling out his name.

  He picked her up and gave her a big hug. “Did you miss your favorite uncle?”

  Loretta groaned. “Stephen, you can’t do that, especially not when Brad’s going to be here.”

  Stephen looked around the room. “He’s not here right now.”

  “But he will be soon, and I don’t want him thinking you’re trying to get the children to pick favorites,” Loretta replied.

  “I’m not trying to do anything,” Stephen said. Then with a sly grin, he added, “I’m just verifying that I already am their favorite uncle.”

  Loretta shook her head, and Tad chuckled. “Brad and Ava took Rosamond and Janus in a hot air balloon ride. I think the children enjoy both of their uncles equally,” Tad said.

  “Brad did that?” Stephen asked. “He actually got inside a hot air balloon and went for a ride in it with them?”

  “He did,” Loretta replied. “I don’t know if he’ll ever do it again. His face was as white as a ghost when he dropped Rosamond and Janus off. I think Ava had a good time, though.”

  “Hmm…” Stephen began. “I’m going to have to do something the children will enjoy so Brad doesn’t usurp my place. I didn’t think he’d stoop to doing actual fun things with them.”

  “Stoop?” Patricia asked in surprise. “You hid gifts in the den for the children. I don’t see how showering them with presents is much different from a hot air balloon ride.”

  “Can we find the gifts?” Rosamond asked Stephen.

  “After dinner,” Stephen said as he put her back down.

  Rosamond sighed. “That long?”

  “It won’t be long,” Stephen assured her. “It’s almost six o’clock. Your less favorite uncle and his family will be here soon.” Loretta groaned again, but Stephen ignored her and told Rosamond, “We’ll be eating soon after they arrive.”

  Patricia hid her laughter with a cough. She suspected he was only alluding to being the favorite uncle because of the way Loretta was reacting. She was getting a glimpse into the imp he’d been years ago, though she knew these days he was using that quirk in good humor rather than trying to mock others.

  “Rosamond,” Loretta began, “have some hot chocolate. Time will go faster if you’re doing something.”

  The maid gave her the cup while Stephen poured tea into everyone else’s cups.

  “I hope Brad won’t be disturbed when he sees only one cup of hot chocolate on the desk,” Stephen said.

  “Brad will be fine,” Loretta replied. Then, after a moment, she continued, “Maybe you should give me my tea now. Then there will be an even number of cups total on that desk.”

  Patricia shot Tad a questioning glance. “Is Brad really that insistent things be equal?”

  “Unless we’re dealing with people, he does have a little trouble when things aren’t even,” Tad said. “He won’t say anything, but his gaze will keep going over to the odd numbered items. He focuses better when things are even. He likes balance.”

  “He was that way ever since we were children,” Loretta explained.

  Stephen gave Loretta a cup of tea then sat next to Patricia. “And you thought I was exaggerating.”

  The butler returned to the room and introduced Brad, Ava, and their son, Jeffrey.

  Stephen let out a sigh. “We got the cups figured out just in time,” he whispered to Patricia.

  Patricia was sure Stephen was exaggerating. No one could be that unsettled by odd numbers.

  “Have a seat anywhere you want,” Stephen told Brad and Ava as he stood up. He helped the maid hand out the rest of the cups.

  “There’s nowhere else to sit but here,” Brad said, gesturing to the only chairs left in the room.

  “You can always take the chair and sit by the window,” Stephen said.

  “Why would I do that?” Brad asked.

  Stephen shrugged as he gave him a cup of tea. “That’s what I used to do when I was bored. I don’t know how fascinated you’ll be in listening to the ladies talk about children.”

  Brad sat next to Ava, and Jeffrey sat on her lap. “I happen to enjoy children,” Brad said.

  “Yes, but do you really want to know when they’ll finally stop spitting up or techniques on getting them to use the chamber pot? That’s what Patricia and Loretta were discussing the last time they were together.”

  Though Patricia was sure Brad was trying to hide it, she caught the slight wince that crossed his face.

  “I have a child,” Brad said. “The topic of children is fine with me.”

  “After we have dinner, we’ll separate from the ladies,” Tad told him. “Then we can discuss other topics.”

  “I’m appreciative of the advice Loretta gives me,” Ava spoke up as she helped Jeffrey hold his cup while he drank his hot chocolate. “I wouldn’t have gotten Jeffrey to use the chamber pot as soon as I did if it hadn’t been for her tips.”

  Brad rubbed her back. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re the mother and I’m the father.”

  Stephen chuckled and returned to Patricia, handing her a cup. “I should warn you, Brad. I have hidden four gifts in the den. After dinner, Rosamond, Janus, and Jeffrey will go looking for them.”

  Brad’s eyebrows furrowed. “Four gifts for three children?”

  “Rosamond or Jeffrey can look for Edmund’s gift,” Stephen said. “Don’t worry. Everything is even.”

  Patricia couldn’t be sure, but she thought Brad relaxed.

  “Get used to the gifts whenever you bring Jeffrey here,” Loretta told Brad. “Stephen loves to spoil his niece and nephews.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” Stephen asked. “I want them to look forward to coming here.”

  “They already do,” Loretta said. “I keep telling you that.”

  “And I enjoy it when they come over,” Stephen replied. “It’s why I celebrate by giving them gifts.” He glanced at Brad. “You don’t mind if I do that with Jeffrey, do you?”

  “Not as long as the gifts aren’t expensive,” Brad said. “I want him to know the value of money.”

  “I don’t spend a lot on the gifts,” Stephen assured him. “They’re just my way of saying I’m glad they’re in the family.”

  Ava smiled. “That’s nice.”

  “See?” Stephen gestured to Ava but looked at Loretta. “She understands what I’m doing.”

  Loretta shot him a pointed look. “Yes, Stephen. The children will be groomed into thinking you’re their favorite uncle.”

  Brad straightened up. “What’s this about a favorite uncle?”

  “Don’t worry,” Tad began. “Stephen was distressed to find out you took Rosamond and Janus for a hot air balloon ride. The children will look at you both favorably.”

  “In other words, things are even,” Stephen added.

  This time, Patricia laughed, as did Tad and Loretta.

  Brad’s eyebrows furrowed, and he glanced at Ava. “What’s so funny?”

  As Ava shrugged, the butler came into the room and announced that dinner was ready.

  The group stood up, and Patricia handed Susanna to the maid. Since Susanna and Edmund were too young to eat, Stephen had arranged for the maid to take care of them during the dinner.

  Stephen offered Patricia his arm, and she accepted it.

  Before they left the room, Stephen turned to Loretta, Tad, Brad, and Ava. “Thank you for coming here this evening. It means a lot to me that you were
willing to give me a second chance.”

  The four smiled at him, but it was Loretta who said, “It’s like when we were children.” She glanced between Tad, Ava, and Patricia. “It might be hard to believe, but we got along well when we were children.”

  “Now we have children of our own who will grow up together,” Brad added.

  “And hopefully, they’ll end up as close as we all are,” Loretta said.

  Brad nodded. “That would be nice.”

  From there, they proceeded to the dining room, and Patricia squeezed Stephen’s arm in a way to indicate how happy she was for him. He had gotten a fresh new start on life. Thankfully, she did, too. And together, they would make the most of their future.

  Coming Next in this Series:

  One Enchanted Evening (Book 2)

  Lewis Cotter, the Earl of Pruett, has just inherited his title, and his first order of business is to find a wife. He never thought he would need to get married, but after the death of his older brother, it’s up to him to secure the estate.

  While he has to marry for money, he doesn’t want to marry just anyone. He wants a love match. But he doesn’t even know where to begin in finding the perfect bride. And worse, he has a terrible time being romantic. He doesn’t know the first thing about being a suitor.

  His friend offers the perfect solution to his problem. He’ll host a masquerade ball and invite all of the available wealthy ladies in London to attend. Then, Lewis can meet them, and the masks will help Lewis overcome his shyness.

  Miss Marcy Shoemark hadn’t originally planned to go to the ball. She’s a lady’s maid. She has no money to offer a prospective husband. But when she finds out the purpose of the masquerade ball is for Lewis to find a wife, she decides to attend it. She’s been secretly in love with him, and this is the one chance she has to get him to know her as a lady, not as a servant who’s out of his reach.