Lord Richardson looked at me inquisitively; my request intrigued him.
He turned to his wife. “My dear, can you go on ahead with your sister to the shop you wanted to visit? I will meet you there shortly.”
As Lord Richardson stepped into my carriage, he immediately relaxed. He brushed his blonde curls from his brow as he removed his hat.
“Thank you for saving me from that day of torture. I promised my wife I would accompany her on a shopping trip while her sister visits. Their incessant gossip nearly drives me mad.”
Ignoring the ill talk of his wife, I quickly changed the topic.
“I went to see Lady Charlotte this morning and she was gone. Do you think her family’s financial difficulties have forced them from their home? I have a sinking feeling something terrible has happened. Do you think that she has promised herself to someone else?”
Lord Richardson joked, “It seems you want to gossip as much as my wife and her sister.” His tone then grew serious. “Does it really matter who Lady Charlotte has chosen to marry? If you were so in love with her, as you seem to be, you should have asked for her hand in marriage by now. You do realize her reputation is ruined, and you are the reason. She should consider herself lucky that someone else wants to marry her.”
Hoping that his words were untrue, I ignored his accusatory comments. The idea that I had lost her was one that I just could not shake. What if I had lost her for good?
Lord Richardson looked at me, with a smirk. “You really do not know do you?”
The sinking feeling was back and compounded with his words. I knew that I was not going to like what I was about to hear.
“I have not heard anything. Please tell me what you know.” I tried to hide the desperation in my voice, but there was no use.
A look of sympathy appeared on Lord Richardson’s face. He sat back and frowned a little. Lord Richardson’s hesitance in confiding his knowledge was a sure sign of grave news. It was obvious he took no pleasure in what he was about to tell me.
“You know I told you about Lord Tomline pursing Lady Charlotte?”
I nodded my head and tried to swallow down the lump in my throat.
“It seems as though Lord Tomline has agreed to pay off all of Lady Charlotte’s family’s debts if she marries him. The Marquess of Lissenton, Lady Charlotte’s uncle, has agreed to the match.”
“She would never agree to such a thing.”
He shrugged and didn’t meet my gaze. “It isn’t really up to her. The marriage would secure her brother’s future, as well as take a large burden off her mother. What do you expect her to do?”
I remembered the fear on Lady Charlotte’s face while she was on the balcony alone with Lord Tomline. The thought of the woman whom I loved in the clutches of Lord Tomline nearly brought me to tears. Was Lord Richardson right? Was this my fault? What had I done?
“I am not going to let that happen.”
“Are you going to save her then? I am sure your mother would love that,” said Lord Richardson.
I grimaced and thought of my mother, who had very strong opinions about who I should marry. My mother’s idea of the perfect wife was the exact opposite of what I wanted in a lifelong partner.
“My mother does not know about her.”
“And why is that? It is just another clue that shows you never had any intentions of marrying Lady Charlotte. Another man is taking her off your hands. Consider yourself lucky. Lord Tomline has wealth and connections. Many women are vying after his fortune. Lady Charlotte is lucky that he will have her.” He continued, “Besides, you have not really given her another choice. Have you?”
I stopped his questions and had to ask myself the same thing. I had been going to see her almost every day and it had not occurred to me that I was putting her reputation in jeopardy. I knew that I eventually wanted to marry Lady Charlotte, but I wanted to take time to get to know her. Now I had to wonder if it was too late. Had I waited too long?
“I do not know, Richardson. I am in love with her, and I want to be with her. Marriage is a lifetime commitment though.”
“When you tire of her, there are plenty of women who will keep you company.”
“I could never do that—especially to her. She is so kind and trusting.”
My friend’s tone softened. “She is about to marry another man, Vaccos. You should have worked out your marriage issues sooner.”
He was right of course, but I could not imagine it being too late. It could not be too late. She was supposed to be with me after all. It was something I knew in my heart.
“Well, I have kept you from your wife and her sister long enough, Richardson. Where should I drop you off?”
***
I had planned to spend the day with Charlotte, so I now found myself with a free afternoon. My mother had been requesting a visit for days, so I decided visit her.
“What is this I hear of you and Lady Charlotte Rowan?”
The questions began immediately as I walked into the drawing room where my mother was embroidering a pillow.
“Hello, Mother. Are you well?”
She grimaced and shook her head. “I do not want to hear it, Joseph. No excuses. I need to know what is going on between you and that girl.”
“What is it that you have heard?”
“That you have been meeting with Lady Charlotte, almost daily. I nearly fainted from the news when I heard about your disgraceful behavior.”
“Mother, she is wonderful. My intentions were never dishonorable.”
“So you don’t deny it?”
I shook my head. “No, I do not. She is a respectable woman that comes from a good family. I have been going to see her for some time.”
“Her mother is in debt to everyone in London. I will not have you associated with that family.”
Of course I knew about the troubles Lady Charlotte was facing, but to me, it did not matter. It was not her fault that her mother mismanaged the money when her father died. The family’s solicitors should have never let the estate go into debt, but again, that was not Charlotte’s fault.
“An apple never falls far from the tree, son. Bad trees make bad fruit.”
My natural reaction was to roll my eyes, and I was grateful my mother seemed preoccupied with her needlepoint work.
“Mother, she comes from a very good family. Her father was the Earl of Granston, and her maternal grandfather was the Marquess of Lissenton; of course, her uncle now holds that title.”
“Well, I cannot deny her advantageous family ties, but it still does not excuse her family’s debts.”
Arguing with my mother was not worth the effort. I knew her harsh words were only because she wanted the best for me. She was a kind woman, but she was nearly sixty-five and set in her ways. Still, I needed to tell her about my intention to marry Lady Charlotte.
Now was not the time.
Chapter 6: Charlotte
December 1845
The snow fell to the earth below as I watched it from the small window in the parlor. Each snowflake possessed its own unique beauty and I felt envious of their freedom to fly so gracefully through the sky. My thoughts drifted to the beautiful Christmases I spent with my family.
Before Papa died, I lived a carefree lifestyle. We had a vast fortune and Papa loved showering us with gifts. On Christmas Eve, we would feast and sing Christmas carols around the fire. Looking back, those blissful days seemed magical. I would give anything to enjoy one more Christmas with Papa.
Now, I had nothing to look forward to. Lord Tomline was soon to be my husband and this would be my last Christmas in my childhood home. The only thought that gave me comfort was knowing that Christopher and my mother would no longer be in debt. Mama insisted I had a choice in the matter, but to me, there was no choice. I had the opportunity to save my family from ruin, so I had to take it. I agreed with Mama that Lord Vaccos had acted dishonorably. He should have asked for my hand in marriage after spending so much time with me.
Lord Vaccos tried to visit on three occasions after Lord Tomline’s visit, but Mama refused to let me answer the door. Eventually, he stopped calling on me. By now Lord Vaccos must have heard about my engagement. He could have requested an audience with my uncle to ask for my hand in marriage, but he did not. He left me to suffer at the hands of Lord Tomline.
My heart was broken. Although words of love were never spoken, I knew that I loved Lord Vaccos with every breath in my body. I had thought that he loved me.
Christopher sensed my melancholy and sat next to me at the window.
He grabbed my hand tenderly. “Dear sister, tell me what troubles you.”
His tenderness brought tears to my eyes. Christopher was so young, yet he had the innate wisdom of a man much older.
“Oh, Christopher, I just do not understand why Lord Vaccos has not asked me to marry him. My heart trembles at the thought of marrying Lord Tomline. I do not love him.”
I was embarrassed to be sharing my feelings with a boy of twelve, but at that point, it did not matter.
“Then you must refuse him. I am still young and I have a lifetime to rebuild our estate and reclaim our family’s good name. You must not suffer for my sake. I will not let you.”
Looking into Christopher’s eyes, I knew that I must go forward with the wedding. His soul was so gentle and goodhearted that I could not bear the thought of Christopher living a life of hardship.
Lord Tomline was right; I did not have many choices and I should have been happy that he was willing to marry me.
I wiped my tears and put on a strong facade for the sake of my brother.
“Christopher, Uncle Roger knows what he is doing. Please do not be concerned. Lord Tomline is a good match and I know that we will find joy in our marriage.”
This seemed to satisfy Christopher, although I could see that he did not believe my words.
“Well, then, I do believe you should prepare for our weekend in London. Mama said the carriage Uncle Roger is sending should be here shortly.”
***
Uncle Roger’s townhome in London was filled with grandeur. The furnishings were exquisite and his art collection was the envy of the most prestigious collectors. The beds were soft and the fine linens felt like clouds. The grounds provided the perfect backdrop for a peaceful walk, even with the chill of the cold December air.
Uncle Roger’s wife, the Marchioness of Lissenton, was gentle in nature and in spirit. Their eldest child, my cousin Elizabeth, was my dearest friend. Elizabeth’s younger brother was only ten years old and his rambunctious behavior brought life into the home, and we all enjoyed his presence.
We were to attend a Christmas ball on Saturday evening, but I was not looking forward to it. The annual Christmas ball had been one of my favorite events of the winter season, but this year, it brought me no joy.
Elizabeth was attending the ball with her fiancé. The duke had proposed only weeks earlier, and the wedding was to take place right after the New Year.
My aunt surprised me with a beautiful, red gown. She said that the gown perfectly complemented the color of my hair. I was grateful for her generosity and thanked her for such a lovely gift.
Chapter 7: Charlotte
The afternoon before the ball, I took a walk with Mama. I longed to tell her that I was terrified of my future, but she seemed so relaxed. Her relaxed demeanor encouraged me to keep my thoughts to myself.
“The dress from your aunt is perfectly lovely. You will look beautiful on the dance floor.”
“Thank you, Mama. The dress was a generous gift.”
My mother kept talking about the Christmas ball, but I kept my answers short, wishing that the topic of conversation would change. When it did not, I told Mama that I needed to rest before getting dressed for the evening.
***
The maid finished pinning up my last curl. Mama, my aunt, and Elizabeth, all joined me in my room. My thoughts were filled with dread, but the women surrounding me smiled and laughed as if they did not have a care in the world. I tried to join in their jovial conversation, but was soon lost in my own thoughts. Nobody seemed to care that I was marrying a man that treated women poorly, and surely would not be a faithful husband to me.
Elizabeth knew about the night Lord Tomline had scared me on the balcony with his forward actions. It was hurtful that she was making such a fuss about my dress and hair when she knew how much this engagement pained me.
I needed some final moments to myself before I faced Lord Tomline. He would any minute, as he was escorting me to the ball. I asked my aunt, mother, and cousin for some privacy, but they refused.
It was time to go. My heart rate sped up as I knew Lord Tomline would be waiting for me downstairs. I drew in a deep breath with every step that I took. My childhood dreams of love and romance were shattered as I was being forced to marry for money. But in the end, it seemed the Lord Tomline had won the chase. However, he would never win my heart.
I refused to make eye contact with any of the faces that were staring at me as I descended the stairs.
“Lady Charlotte.”
The familiar voice made my heart skip a beat. I met his gaze and instantly felt at ease, until I realized he should not be there.
“What are you doing here, Lord Vaccos?”
“I am here to do something that I should have done the very first time that we met, Lady Charlotte. Now I am remiss that it took so long. My heart aches at the pain that you must have endured these past months. Surely you must know that I never meant to jeopardize your reputation, and I certainly did not mean to hurt you in any way.”
Lord Vaccos turned to my Uncle Roger.
“Lord Lissenton, I would like to ask for your permission to speak to Lady Charlotte privately.”
Surprisingly, Uncle Roger agreed.
I accepted Lord Vaccos’s arm as we headed to the study. As I walked in, I saw poinsettias placed throughout the room, along with beautiful wreaths and a lovely Christmas tree trimmed with red and gold decorations. The setting was lovely, but I could not take in the beauty as my nerves had taken over my senses.
Lord Vaccos turned towards me and lowered himself onto one knee.
“Lady Charlotte, meeting you that night at the ball was the most important moment in my life. I knew that I loved you from the moment we started dancing, but spending time with you deepened that love to something I never dreamed possible. Lady Charlotte, will you marry me?”
“Lord Vaccos, I dreamed of this moment from the time of your first visit to my home. However, it seems you are too late, as I am betrothed to Lord Tomline.”
“No, Lady Charlotte. Your uncle has informed Lord Tomline that he no longer approves of the match.”
“I do not understand.”
“When I first heard of your engagement, I rushed to your home to ask for your hand in marriage. I tried and tried to reach you, but it seemed it was impossible to find you. I requested the presence of your uncle, but he refused to see me every time I called on him.”
“Why did he finally agree?”
“It seems you have your dear cousin, Lady Elizabeth, to thank for that. She shared the story of how we met with your uncle. After looking into the reputation of Lord Tomline, your uncle refused the marriage and finally agreed to see me.”
“But, Lord Vaccos, Mama and my brother are depending on me. There is nothing in this world I want more than to spend every day with you for the rest of my life, but you must understand why I must refuse.”
“Lady Charlotte, you need not worry. I am perfectly aware of your family’s debts. Even before your uncle agreed to this marriage, I began to pay of your family’s debts. When your uncle found out, he paid off the rest to save the honor of his family.”
At this point, Lord Vaccos was still on one knee, and still hoping that I would say yes.
“Why was I never informed that any of the events transpired?” I asked.
“Your uncle only agreed this week. Your family wanted to surprise yo
u. If you will accept my proposal, we will be married this evening.”
“This evening? You mean right now?”
“Yes, my dear, if you will have me.”
“Yes, Lord Vaccos, yes. With all of my heart, yes.”
“Please, call me Joseph, my love.”
Joseph rose and moved toward me as he pulled me up to his embrace. It was as if we were dancing, but no music played. The rhythm of our heartbeats in unison was all we needed. He held me close to him, not twirling me around, but looking into my eyes. He leaned down and kissed my lips as a wave of passion took over my being. Joseph was mine, and I was his.
THE END
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Text Copyright © 2016 by Caroline Johnson
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing, 2016
Publisher
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