A Most Unsuitable Earl (Regency Collection Book 3)

by Nordin, Ruth Ann

  As Opal helped her out of her morning dress, she said, “Sometimes a change of dress can raise a lady’s spirit.”

  “It’s going to take more than changing dresses to make me feel better.” Realizing she spoke aloud, she quickly added, “Forgive me. I shouldn’t be complaining. Yesterday, I moped because I had no suitor, and today, I mope because I’m to be married.” She shrugged. “I’m not happy, no matter what happens, am I?”

  “No one can blame you for being upset that you’re marrying someone your father doesn’t approve of.”

  “Lord Edon and I never had a secret engagement. He made that up to avoid being chased by an eager young lady.”

  “I didn’t think there was a secret engagement. I might not know the details on how your betrothal came about, but I know you well enough to understand Lord Edon manipulated the situation to his advantage.”

  Catherine raised her arms while her maid slipped the green dress over her head. “Well, he might have come up with the lie, but it was his mother who forced the issue.”

  “She didn’t!”

  She let out a heavy sigh. “She’s quite excited about the marriage, too. I’m not sure how she managed it, but with her insistence that Lord Edon and I were in love, my father couldn’t say no to a marriage in front of everyone. He was trapped into agreeing to it.”

  “Perhaps your marriage won’t be as bad as you fear,” she replied as she buttoned the back of her dress.

  “Lord Edon’s a rake. Of all the gentlemen I could be marrying, it has to be him? He’s not even a decent rake.”

  Opal giggled. “I wasn’t aware that there was a decent type of rake.”

  “No, I suppose not. But Lord Edon doesn’t even try to hide his indiscretions. I haven’t read the Tittletattle, but I hear he’s in it more than anyone else. Sometimes I wonder if he wants to be featured so he has something to brag about.”

  Opal finished with the dress and motioned to the vanity. Catherine sat in the chair and watched as she styled her hair. Thankfully, she had the comfort of knowing Opal would be with her after she married Lord Edon. Once Opal finished, she handed her a hand mirror so Catherine could inspect the back of her hair.

  “You did a lovely job,” Catherine said. “You always do a lovely job.” Too bad she wasn’t lovely enough to do justice to her hairstyle or dress.

  Pushing aside her thoughts, she left her bedchamber and went down the stairs. Since Lady Roderick hadn’t arrived yet, she traveled the hallway until she found her father in his fencing room. She waited until he turned to her, lowered his smallsword, and took off his mask.

  “What is it, Cathy?”

  She stepped into the room and studied her fingernails. “Lady Roderick is coming by for a visit, and I didn’t know what to do until she arrived so I came to see what you’re doing.”

  “Oh, I’m just thinking of what I’ll say to Lord Edon when I invite him over.”

  “You’re going to invite him here?” She shouldn’t have been surprised since she was going to marry him, but he was the last person she expected her father to willingly talk to.

  “I want to make sure he treats you like the lady you are. Given his reputation, I think some incentive to behave himself when you’re around is only suitable.”

  “I wish he’d found someone else to dance with when he was trying to get rid of Mrs. and Miss Duffy,” she replied. “If he had, then his mother would have found someone else to pawn him off on. His mother must be desperate to find him a wife.”

  “How fortunate for us she found you when she did,” he muttered. “As much as I’d like to change the circumstances, I can’t. Lord Edon doesn’t deserve you.”

  Well, there was no denying that.

  “It makes me sick to see you with him, but short of a duel, there’s nothing else I can do.”

  She gasped. “You won’t challenge him to a duel?”

  “No. Unfortunately, it’s been outlawed, and I’m not the kind of gentleman who breaks the law. Unlike Lord Edon, I believe in behaving honorably.”

  “I suspect that’s what his mother was betting on.”

  His hold tightened on his mask. “I know she was, which is why she gave that grand display in front of everyone.” He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. “Apparently, it was my undoing to leave your side.”

  “You can’t be with me all the time.”

  “While that’s nice of you to say, I failed you.”

  She walked over to him and embraced him. “You didn’t fail me.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and sighed. “I just want the best for you, and God knows Lord Edon isn’t it.”

  “I know, but there’s no going back in time and undoing what’s been done.”

  He released her and smiled. “You’re a brave young lady.”

  “Courage has nothing to do with it. I just know that I have no other option.”

  “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Lord Edon treats you with the respect you deserve. I won’t have him making a fool of you.”

  The butler entered the room. “Lady Roderick is here, Lady Catherine.”

  Her father patted her on the arms. “Have a good visit with your friend.”

  “She’s not my friend. I hardly know her,” Catherine replied.

  “Maybe this is the beginning of a friendship. Given your upcoming marriage, you could use a friend or two to help you cope with Lord Edon.”

  “With any luck, I’ll be able to live in my own home like his mother suggested.”

  “That would be best.”

  She turned to the butler and followed him down the hallway until she reached the drawing room where Lady Roderick sat on a settee. “Will you bring us some tea?” Catherine asked the butler.

  He nodded and bowed before he left the room.

  Up to this point, Catherine had been so focused on her impending marriage that she hadn’t given full thought to what Lady Roderick’s visit meant. She couldn’t recall the last time she was paid a social call. Sure, she had ladies visit in order to get into the good graces of her father, but Lady Roderick was here because she wanted to actually spend time with her. And that made Catherine nervous since she’d never talked to anyone who simply wanted to get to know her.

  Offering a tentative smile, she sat across from her. “How are you?”

  “I’m doing well,” Lady Roderick replied.

  “If I recall right, you have a son?”

  “Yes. Perry will be one next month.”

  “That’s wonderful. Your husband must be happy.”

  “He is. We named our son after his childhood friend, Lord Clement. He’s the one I had hoped to introduce you to last night.”

  As the butler came into the room and set the tray of tea and biscuits on the table, Catherine nodded. “I remember, and I was waiting for him when Lord Edon whisked me away to dance with him. He only did it to dissuade Mrs. and Miss Duffy from coming after him, and then he made up a horrible lie that he and I were sharing a secret engagement.” Even thinking about it brought tears to her eyes. She didn’t know if she was angry or depressed over the recent events. “I’m sorry.” She dabbed the tears from her eyes. “I can’t seem to stop crying over the misfortunate events that transpired shortly after I danced with him.”

  Lady Roderick retrieved a handkerchief from her reticule and handed it to her. “I heard. Lord Clement understands the situation.”

  Catherine held onto the handkerchief and shook her head. “I don’t know how it happened. One minute, I was waiting for you, then I’m off dancing, and before I know it, Lord Edon’s mother is telling everyone I’m engaged to her son. It was the most humiliating thing that’s ever happened to me. Of all gentlemen I might entertain a secret engagement with, Lord Edon is the last one I’d pick.”

  “I don’t think anyone believes his mother. She’s desperate to see him married to a reputable lady.”

  She shivered. “I hate to think of all his wicked activities.”

  “Try
not to think about it.” Before Catherine replied, she added, “I know that’s easier said than done.”

  Catherine wiped more tears from her eyes and forced herself to laugh in hopes of lightening the mood. “I’m a terrible hostess.” She placed the handkerchief next to her on the chair and reached for the teapot.

  “You have a lot on your mind.”

  “Even so, I can pour a cup of tea.” Or at least, that was what she thought before she lost her hold on the cup she was filling. The cup fell onto the rug and the tea spilled out of it. “Oh, dear me!” She retrieved a folded up napkin and got on her knees so she could use it to soak up the spill.

  Lady Roderick hurried over to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “The maid can clean it up.”

  She was right. Catherine stood up, clasping her trembling hands so she wouldn’t do anything else to look stupid. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not usually this clumsy.”

  “It’s nerves. You’ve been through a lot in the past day. Why don’t you sit down and I’ll notify the maid?”

  Figuring how nervous she was, Catherine decided that was the best thing to do. She sat in her chair and picked up the handkerchief, which she twirled around her fingers. As Lady Roderick left the drawing room, Catherine stared at the spill on the rug and wondered what was wrong with her. No wonder she didn’t have any friends. She lacked sufficient social graces. If her father hadn’t been a duke, no one would bother talking to her.

  Lady Roderick returned with one of the maids and smiled at Catherine. “Please don’t worry about the spill. We all drop things every now and then.”

  Though she was still embarrassed, she smiled. “That’s very kind of you to say.”

  “There’s nothing kind about it,” she replied as the maid placed a new cup on the tray before she cleaned up the mess. “Do you mind if I pour the tea?”

  “No. Please do.” Glancing at the maid, she said, “Thank you.”

  “Think nothing of it, my lady,” the maid told her then left the room, carrying the discarded cup and cleaning bowl with her.

  “I once spilled wine all over Lady Montgomery’s dress at a dinner party.”

  Catherine wasn’t sure if she was telling her the truth, but even if she wasn’t, her intent was sweet. Relaxing, she accepted the cup Lady Roderick handed her.

  “I came because I wanted to apologize for not bringing Lord Clement to meet you sooner. If I had, you wouldn’t be engaged to Lord Edon. My sister wanted to speak to me, so I was delayed in talking to him. By the time, I did find him, Lord Edon’s mother was making a fuss about the engagement.”

  “You couldn’t have known she was going to do that.”

  “I know, but I had horrible timing.”

  “It’s all right, Lady Roderick. I appreciate the fact that you wanted to introduce me to your friend.”

  She finished drinking some tea and said, “I hope you’ll call me Claire. I enjoy talking to you and hope we can be friends.”

  Pleased, she smiled. “I’d like that. And you can call me Catherine.”

  “I was planning on visiting the linen-draper to select material for a new dress. Would you like to join me?”

  Catherine couldn’t recall the last time a lady invited her to go shopping with her, and despite her apprehension that she might say or do something to embarrass herself, she agreed. She suspected Claire would accept her, faults and all. And it would be nice to have a friend to go shopping with. Once they were done with the tea and biscuits, they headed out for a day of shopping.

  Chapter Five

  “And to think no one thought you could be conquered,” Mr. Christopher Robinson teased.

  Ethan lifted his head from the table in the corner of the room at White’s. Coming here was probably a bad idea, but he didn’t know where else to go. His mother wouldn’t leave him alone at the townhouse, and he didn’t want to risk running into Catherine or her father. Fortunately, her father wasn’t a member of White’s, so this was the safest place he could be.

  With a sigh, he directed his attention to his friend. “Enjoying my misery?”

  Christopher shrugged and sat across from him. “Marriage isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.”

  “The Duke of Rumsey’s going to be my father-in-law.”

  He chuckled. “You have my sympathies. I thought Lord Roderick was unbearable, but I admit His Grace is worse.”

  “Cleaning out Lord Roderick’s stalls is nothing compared to marrying the duke’s daughter. At least Lord Roderick showed some mercy.”

  “Mercy? He made me empty and clean chamber pots!”

  Despite himself, he chuckled. “He didn’t.”

  “He did. It was the most humiliating summer of my life.”

  “Whatever did you do to deserve such a thing?”

  “I tried to help his poor wife escape the prison he trapped her in, but he found out and made me a chamber maid. As it turned out, his wife ended up wanting to be with him. Who knew?”

  Despite his bad mood, Ethan found himself chuckling. “Those two are happy together.” Anyone could tell that just by watching them.

  “It wasn’t always so.”

  “Well, Lord Roderick doesn’t have a meddling mother and irate father-in-law to deal with. I got an invite to the Duke of Rumsey’s townhouse. I hope he remembers that dueling isn’t legal anymore. Though I admit, a duel is better than cleaning chamber pots.”

  “You’d think so until you had to clean them.”

  Ethan rolled his eyes, sure he was exaggerating.

  Christopher pulled up a chair and sat next to him. “So why are you moping over here instead of robbing gentlemen at the gambling table out of spite?”

  “I’m not gambling anymore.”

  “What?”

  “I can’t lose. I’m like poor King Midas. Everything I touch turns to gold.”

  Christopher chuckled. “Oh, to have such a problem as that!”

  “It’s dreadful. I’ve amassed a great fortune, and it’s that fortune that got me in trouble. If I wasn’t as wealthy as I am, mothers wouldn’t have been hounding me to marry their daughters. They were no better than a bunch of vultures circling a dying prey.” He shuddered.

  “Now you’re rambling on like a lunatic.”

  “It’s not fair. All I want to do is spend my time alone in a secluded manor and read books. I was hoping my mother would come to her senses at some point, but she trapped me into a marriage. I’ll never have peace and quiet again. My life is about to be filled with countless trips to balls, the theatre, stores, and lots of other social endeavors.”

  He smirked. “Yes, your life is about to become very distressing.”

  “I can’t help but notice you’re enjoying my agony.”

  Christopher burst out laughing. “Is it really that bad? You do all those things now. Except you’ll have a wife. Wives don’t get in the way. You can live your life; she can live hers. Not every wife has to live with her husband. My mother didn’t live with my father. Then he died, and she went shortly afterwards. After that, I was my cousin’s ward.”

  “You don’t understand. My mother is going to befriend my wife, and the two will conspire against me. My life won’t be my own.”

  “Is it your own now?”

  Ethan wanted to chastise Christopher for making the disheartening observation, but he couldn’t deny it. His mother kept pestering him, nudging him not-too-gently to balls to meet suitable young ladies. Her ploy worked. Next, he’d undoubtedly be victim to his mother’s plans to make a love match between him and Catherine.

  She wanted more than for him to get a wife so he could have an heir. What she most wanted was for him to be as happily married as she’d been with his father. Theirs hadn’t been a love match in the beginning, but over time, they realized they loved each other. He’d once thought she was exaggerating the depth of their love for each other, but when his father died, he understood how wrong he’d been.

  And now she was goi
ng to make it her life’s work to secure the same fate for him. He couldn’t begrudge her for her desire. She meant well, but the lady needed to understand that a love match was rare and with someone as boring as Catherine, he didn’t see how it was possible.

  Christopher motioned to a room where gentlemen were playing cards. “Come with me. I want to win a few hands.”

  “I told you I’m not gambling anymore,” Ethan protested.

  “Who said anything about you gambling? I want you to come along and teach me your tricks.”

  “I don’t have any tricks.”

  “Then sit with me for good luck. Maybe some of your fortune will rub off on me.”

  With a heavy sigh, Ethan figured it was better to be distracted by the games than mope over things he couldn’t change. He rose to his feet and walked with Christopher to the other room.

  ***

  “You want me to fence?” Ethan slowly asked, not sure he heard right.

  When Catherine’s father told him he wanted to speak with him, he assumed they’d go to his library where he’d give him a lecture on how to treat his daughter. He didn’t expect him to engage in a sport.

  “Are you familiar with fencing?”

  “I’ve done it a few times.” He didn’t enjoy it, but he knew better than to say no to the Duke of Rumsey.

  “There’s a room where you may change into the appropriate clothing. My valet will tend to anything you require.” He motioned to the small room.

  Ethan glanced around the large fencing room and wondered if His Grace did this often or once in a while. Deciding it would be better if he didn’t ask, he settled for going to the small room where, sure enough, the valet was waiting. To say changing clothes was awkward would be an understatement. The whole thing was unbelievably nerve-wracking. In some ways, it was worse than if His Grace had went on a screaming rampage. Just what was he supposed to talk about while he was fencing with him?

  When Ethan was in the fencing clothes, he returned to Catherine’s father who was wiping down the smallswords. Since her father’s back was turned to him, Ethan cleared his throat so he’d know he was ready. For a moment, her father gave no indication that he heard him. He just kept on cleaning the blades, a process that was beginning to worry Ethan. Was it his imagination or was her father enjoying those blades a little too much?