Always Believe in Love (Emerson Book 4)

by Maureen Driscoll

  Kate smiled at the woman. “Thank you for the suggestion, Mrs. Archer, but…”

  “That is a splendid idea, Mrs. Archer,” said Nick. “We shall be delighted. I am unfamiliar with the custom, but would you be able to help us with the ceremony? I am not unacquainted with your husband and son, after having spent a day sorting their catch and two evenings in the tap with them.”

  “Aye,” said Mrs. Archer with a grin. “Everyone knows about your time sorting the fish and your time in the tap.” Here, a few of the other ladies laughed. “We can arrange for the ceremony if you and your bride will come to the house this eve, as well as any others who might like to attend.”

  “And I will arrange for another night at the tap for our guests,” said Nick.

  “Don’t drink too much, milord,” said Mrs. Archer. “’Tis your weddin’ night after all.”

  * * *

  Kate watched Nick look around her sitting room. He seemed so….big in there. She hadn’t expected him to ever see it, of course. But after the scene in front of the ostler’s, he had insisted on escorting her home. And after he dressed at the inn for the ceremony, he said he would have his trunk sent over.

  As if they would actually be husband and wife.

  Now he was there in her sitting room, looking like he would break any piece of furniture he sat on.

  “Are you certain you weren’t concussed last night?” she asked, now that they were finally alone.

  “Quite, though my head does still hurt a bit. It might help if you massaged my temples.”

  “If I put my hands on your head, my lord, it will be to box your ears.”

  “You are calling me ‘my lord’ again, Kate. I thought we were past that.”

  “We are most certainly not past that. As I recall, last night we decided to only temporarily forsake the formalities given the severity of our circumstances. Though I must admit the new ones seem no less urgent. Why did you ever allow them to think we would marry?”

  “You would have been ruined, had I not spoken up.”

  “I realize it was a difficult situation and I would thank you for your kindness if you hadn’t been inexplicably foolish moments later.”

  “Kate, has anyone ever told you your ‘thank yous’ could use some work?”

  “My lord, while I do thank you for pretending to offer for me, I had already resolved to leave Weymouth. Being ‘ruined’ – though we did nothing wrong – in this small town hardly would have mattered.”

  “I am afraid you don’t know how quickly scandal spreads.”

  “What are the chances any of these people would know anyone I might find a position with? Which reminds me, could you please ask your sister-in-law if she has any suggestions on how to find a governess position? That way we can put your idiotish handfasting scheme behind us.”

  “When you ask so sweetly, how can I refuse? I like your cottage. I see signs of you in it.”

  “Pray do not change the subject. Had you simply told them we would marry, we could have left Weymouth together, then gone our separate ways. But to consent to this handfasting ceremony and to move in here…what were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking of squelching gossip about you because I am not convinced this tale won’t spread. You were the only person to come looking for me last night. I couldn’t very well leave you to your own devices, could I?”

  Kate knew she should be grateful that he made the offer because he felt indebted to her. But there was still a part of her that wished he had made it because he truly liked her. Even if he didn’t wish to marry her, it was still lowering to think he was only helping out of obligation.

  “But you don’t know how serious people are about handfasting,” she said. “They will consider us wed. No one would have cared what Miss Winston did, but people in London will take notice when they hear the Earl of Layton was handfasted.”

  That did get his attention. Good. Mayhap now he would listen to her.

  “There is another reason I wanted to go through with this,” he said.

  Her stomach fluttered. Did he have feelings for her?

  He continued. “I was already set upon once by ruffians. We still don’t know from whence they came. I would rather not risk becoming more unpopular in the village. This way I’ll have a little more time to pursue my inquiries. And since the ceremony will be at the Archers, it shall be my best chance to see if they can tell us who this mysterious R is.”

  Kate tried to school her features. She knew she had no right to be hurt and it wasn’t like Nick had ever professed any feelings for her. The entire proposal was a sham. But it did hurt to know he thought of her as little more than a means to an end.

  But what could she expect? He was the Earl of Layton. And she was simply Miss Kate Winston.

  * * *

  Nick could not remember the last time he’d lied quite this much. He was an honorable man. He rarely lied and usually only to shield someone else’s feelings. The only problem was in this case, he was only protecting himself.

  Yes, it was true that he didn’t want to leave the village with so many unanswered questions. And, of course, he would like to speak to Old Archer about R. But what he really wanted was a reason to bind himself to Kate.

  He knew he shouldn’t. And he couldn’t in good faith marry her if he lost his title. But he would like the opportunity to call her his own, even if it was only an illusion. But he couldn’t tell her that. He had already been too vulnerable with her. He vaguely remembered speaking of George and Francis and he never did that with anyone. He trusted her with his search. And he had loved waking up with her in his arms. It was selfish of him, but he wanted to do that one more time.

  It would be different if he knew he could keep the title. Mayhap Archer would tell him exactly what he needed to know to clear his father’s name and he could marry Kate outright. The only problem was he had no idea how she felt about him.

  She had risked her life to find him. But he had a feeling she was the sort who would do that for anyone in need. He would be willing to wager she’d enjoyed their kiss as much as he had. And he’d enjoyed it a great deal.

  But she had been quite adamant about finding her own way in the world. She had also expressed a horror about being a countess, which was the first time a lady had ever said that to him. And while he could understand the reticence a lady might have about assuming the myriad responsibilities when she was used to a wholly different life, he had an unsettling feeling that part of her objection was personal in nature.

  She had assumed he’d only announced their betrothal as a way of saving her reputation. In truth, at that moment, he had been wholly serious. It was only when he saw her look of shock and something that appeared to be dismay, that he realized she might not be as enthusiastic as he about the endeavor.

  And now he was standing in her cottage, imagining her reading by the window on a sunny day, warming herself by the fire in the evening and lying in bed at night. He could feel her everywhere, yet she looked as if she’d like him to leave.

  So he had told her he wanted to go ahead with the handfasting for all the reasons that didn’t matter.

  “What exactly is a handfasting?” he asked. “I know it’s a sort of marriage ceremony, but why is it still practiced here?”

  “It isn’t really. There were a few cases of it when Oscar was alive, though Mr. Bramwell made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any others. Originally, it was a pre-marriage of sorts. The couple was wed in the eyes of society and able to enter into all the responsibilities and, uh, duties of being wed.”

  “And by ‘duties,’ you mean…”

  She continued on as if she hadn’t heard him, although her blush indicated she had. “The couple usually formalized their wedding later in the church. But it wasn’t considered necessary.”

  “So, basically it was a way of skipping ahead to the good parts of marriage?”

  Her blush deepened. “In some cases, the couple had anticipated their vows earlier and needed t
o marry more expeditiously than the church would allow.”

  “They wanted to ensure their child wasn’t born on the other side of the blanket.”

  “Must you fill in all the details?”

  “Yes. I must.”

  “In other cases, clergymen demanded payment that the couples didn’t have. In times of war, couples might handfast because the man was being called into service. There are many legitimate reasons, other than wanting to….how did you put it?”

  “Skipping ahead to the good part.”

  “Yes. That was your phrase to describe marital duty.”

  “There’s that word ‘duty’ again.”

  “If I wed for real, I know that I shall be expected to do my duty. I would do so even once a week, if required.”

  “Once a week? If required?”

  “I know that seems like a lot.”

  “A lot for whom? A monk? Mrs. Johnson? I daresay poor Mr. Johnson absolved her of her duty long ago. No wife of mine would ever consider the act of love a duty. I would make it pleasant for her. Very pleasant.”

  “From what I have heard, I’m not sure ‘pleasant’ is the right word for it. It sounds…”

  “Exciting?”

  “Messy.”

  Nick had to laugh. He was pleased to see Kate was valiantly trying to keep a straight face. He breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped this talk of duty was just to bait him. “I suppose it can be messy. But it is also exciting, pleasurable, and the stuff that dreams are made of. Though I cannot imagine marrying and only lying with my wife once a week.”

  “Twice a week? That seems excessive.”

  “I believe twice a day wouldn’t be enough.”

  “Twice a day!” Now she looked truly shocked.

  “Only if my wife wanted to ‘do her duty’ as you so romantically described it.”

  “I cannot imagine a woman choosing to do so.”

  “You enjoyed our kiss, didn’t you?”

  There was that blush again.

  “Imagine kissing me twice a day,” he said.

  She slowly nodded. “I suppose I could do that.”

  “I am all aflutter over your unchecked enthusiasm. Then imagine me kissing you twice a day, all over.”

  Her eyes widened. “All over?”

  He almost took pity on her, but had to continue. “All over, up and down. Around and once again. It is too bad the handfasting ceremony is only temporary. Who knows how many weeks we could have had together?”

  “But that’s my point, my lord. The handfasting ceremony isn’t temporary. As far as the people of Weymouth are concerned, tonight we shall marry and be forever wed. Now would you like to come to your senses and call this off?”

  “No, Miss Winston, I would not.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Kate looked around her home. Nick had gone back to the inn to dress and pack his trunk. She was still trying to get used to the fact that he would move in there, even if it was for only a night or two. Soon she would have to leave the cottage which had been her refuge since Oscar’s death. But there was no use in getting maudlin about a cottage, even if it had been her very first home of her own. She had too many other things to think about. She knew this wasn’t truly her wedding day for she had no doubt Lord Layton didn’t mean to make the arrangement permanent. And she certainly had no desire to be married to an earl who wasn’t in love with her. She had no desire to wed any type of earl.

  But she still felt that only her best gown would do. In this case, it was light blue, made of imported cotton from India. Oscar had given her the fabric three years earlier, then insisted she have the gown made, though funds had been tight. The design was simple, but she felt like a princess in it and, more importantly, it made her feel Oscar’s presence. She wondered what he would think about today. One of the last things he had said to her was that he’d prayed for the right man to come along so she wouldn’t be alone. She had shared his hope, but doubted it would come to pass.

  And today she was getting handfasted. It was a sham of a marriage. But she would make the best of it, no matter how brief it would be.

  There was a knock on the door. Kate opened it to find Nick looking as handsome as ever. He was wearing a dark blue superfine jacket which surely cost more than her entire inheritance. It put her gown to shame and she hated to think he might be embarrassed to be seen with her.

  “You are beautiful,” he said, as he slowly looked her up and down.

  She was pleased by the compliment, though she knew the two of them were grossly mismatched. “You are quite handsome and well turned out. Very earl-like.”

  “It is never a good sign when you make that observation.”

  She had to laugh. “In this case, it is.” Even if it made the differences between them all the more obvious. “Have you changed your mind about staying? I do not see your trunk.” And though she’d just been nervous about it, she was now oddly disappointed to think he might not stay the night.

  “I haven’t changed my mind about anything. My coachman will deliver the trunk momentarily. But I wanted some privacy when I gazed upon my bride for the first time.”

  “I’m not really your bride,” she said, trying not to sound as breathless as she was. “In fact, if you want to change your mind, you can….”

  “Hush,” he said, as he placed a finger on her lips. “I am not going to change my mind. And just in case you were about to change yours, I vow that I will do what is best for you – always. And right now, the best course is to proceed with the handfasting.”

  “So you can get information about your father.”

  “No. I mean, yes, I would like to get answers, but there are other ways to do that. Today is about safeguarding your future. And…more.”

  He leaned into her and for a moment, she had the fanciful notion that he was about to kiss her. But they were interrupted by the arrival of Nick’s coachman with the trunk. She ushered Nick, the servant and the trunk into her cottage.

  “Where would you like this, my lord?” the driver asked Nick.

  Nick looked at Kate questioningly.

  “I am not certain it will fit in the bedchamber,” said Kate, blushing furiously at the mere mention of where they would sleep.

  “Perhaps, we should leave it here and I can get whatever I need,” said Nick, motioning to his servant.

  His servant. Kate was reminded once again that they came from two very different worlds. When the coachman bowed himself out, Nick crossed to her, perhaps intent on picking up where they’d left off. But Kate deftly turned, then grabbed Oscar’s coat.

  “Shall we leave?” she asked, not quite meeting his eyes.

  After a moment, he replied. “Yes. Let our future lives begin.”

  * * *

  Nick had spent his life in the ton. He had been to balls where the ladies wore the latest Parisian gowns which had cost small fortunes and not-so-small fortunes. None of them would ever wear the simply-cut gown that Kate was in. And none of them would ever be as beautiful.

  The color suited her perfectly. And the cut highlighted her excellent figure. His future bride was radiant. He knew he shouldn’t be thinking of her in such terms, but ever since his impromptu announcement earlier in the day, he’d been thinking of her not just as a bride, but as his wife. And despite his unknown future, he had found peace for the first time in ages.

  He had been looking forward to returning to the cottage to share a few laughs with her about his afternoon at the inn when Mrs. Johnson had tried yet again to convince him not to marry Kate. But when he opened the door, all he could think about was how beautiful she looked. He had been on the verge of kissing her when they’d been interrupted. He looked forward to being alone with her later because he had to kiss her.

  He simply had to.

  It was early evening and the breeze off the ocean was brisk as they set out for the Archers. “You’re shivering,” he said. He started to take off his greatcoat.

  “I am fine, I assure you,” she s
aid, as she put her hand on his arm to stop him.

  He felt the touch to his very soul.

  “I would hate to think of you chilled two days in a row,” she said. “You must keep up your strength.”

  He looked at her in surprise. “Why, Miss Winston, do you have designs on my strength?”

  “Certainly not!” she said, too quickly by half. “But you forget that I’ve spent most of my life on the coast. I am used to the breeze.”

  “And you believe me to be some sort of hothouse flower when it comes to the weather?”

  She laughed. “I said nothing of the kind.”

  “Yet, you aren’t negating it.”

  “What is the weather like at your home?”

  “An artful evasion if I ever heard one. Yet, I will answer, anyway. The winters in Somerset can be cold. The summer heat is mitigated by a lovely lake on the property which offers excellent respite. I look forward to tossing you in when your minx-like qualities rise to the fore.”

  She looked at him in surprise. “Why would I see your estate?”

  Damnation. He needed to remember this was all for show. But it was so much harder to do that when they were walking arm-in-arm.

  Mercifully, they reached the Archers’ residence before anything else could be said on the subject.

  Kate stopped, and he heard her indrawn breath. “Oh my. It is beautiful.”

  With little notice, Mrs. Archer had done her best to make her small stone house festive. There were ribbons on the gate blowing in the breeze. Candles in glass jars lined the walk and they could hear fiddle music from inside the house.

  Even Nick was in awe. He couldn’t believe a mere acquaintance would go to this much effort for him. Well, it was actually for Kate. And in some ways it was actually for Linus, since this meant Lily would turn her sights back to young Archer. But it was a nice gesture, regardless of whom it was for.