The Earl's Winning Wager

by Jen Geigle Johnson

  “Smallwood? No. It’s Morley, of course.” She looked from Lucy’s face to the others. No one else seemed surprised.

  “I’m sorry. I knew you had feelings for him, and he seems to have them for you, but you are both so studiously entertaining Lord Smallwood and Lady Annabelle I naturally assumed, regardless of your feelings, you were moving forward out of duty or some other motivation.”

  The sisters all stared.

  “It would not be the first time a woman—or a man, for that matter—set aside love to make the sensible choice, and our June and Morley are both nothing if not sensible.” She stopped, as no one responded. Then she shook her head. “But I see I was mistaken. You have my fondest congratulations.”

  “Did he propose?” Charity hadn’t said anything yet, and her face was not readable.

  “Well, no.” June considered their interaction.

  “Did he declare his love?”

  “Um. No.” Was she assuming things?

  “Then why do you think you will marry?”

  June looked away, embarrassed to speak of such things. “Well, because…” She glanced at Grace and then back at Charity. “We kissed. He seemed—I assumed—oh, dear. Do you suppose he is not going to propose?” She pulled off her gloves and placed her cool fingers on her flushed cheeks. “Do you think he is the type of man to kiss a woman, to seem so enamored, and then not propose?”

  “Certainly not.” Kate shook her head. “Not our Morley.”

  “But in truth”—Charity frowned—“we don’t know what type of man he is when it comes to the ways of courtship and marriage.” She huffed. “What if he is the type to kiss many and offer to none?”

  June felt the blood drain from her face, and she fell to the edge of her bed. “Surely not.”

  “Charity, stop. You’re upsetting June.” Grace sat at her side. “I’m sure Morley is sincere in his attentions. You’ll see. He will propose, and we will all be the happiest of sisters.”

  “I can only hope, but you’d best be prepared for the worst.” Charity reached for her hand. “I know I sound unkind, but I speak with the best intentions. I just want to see that he backs up his actions with an offer. Otherwise, why would he be kissing you?”

  “Yes, sweet. I know you do. We haven’t had many evidences of the goodness of fate, have we?”

  “How can you say that?” Kate shook her head. “How can you say that when you look around you?”

  June amended, “Yes. You are right—so very right. Sometimes when I focus on all we have lost, I forget all we have gained.” She smiled through a new mist in her eyes. “And I wouldn’t trade it, not one bit.” She reached out her arms. “Come here, you.”

  They all moved in and hugged June as best they could. She threw her arms around the lot of them, and the fierce love of sisters was almost enough to dull the new ache their worries had caused. No matter. If it turned out Morley was uninterested, or his duty lay elsewhere, or he changed his mind, she would weather the storm as she had all others. She blinked back her tears, squeezed them all one extra-strong squeeze, and then said, “Now, off to bed. If I don’t fall into mine, I shan’t be able to entertain all the men begging for tours of the place.”

  Kate squealed. “Oh! It’s true. She’s right. Let us sleep.” She rushed from the room but paused in the doorway. “I love you, sisters. I shouldn’t like to live this life with anyone else.” She almost left, then poked her head back in. “Up until now. I imagine a husband wouldn’t be so bad in the future.” With a giggle, she ran down the hallway.

  For many hours, June sat at her table near the fire. She ran her fingers along the books in her nearby bookshelf. Aladdin, Faust, The Marquis of O, Pride and Prejudice, The Tales of Shakespeare, a collection from Byron. Like old friends, just the sight of them cheered her. She thought back over her moments with Morley—Chadwick. The smile tugged at her mouth. He cared for her. He must. Perhaps he hadn’t immediately thought of marriage as she had, but he was pursuing her. He had more than just a friendship in mind, surely. And that was good enough for now. June smiled. He’d called her by her first name. She ran her fingers lightly over her mouth, reliving the sensation of his mouth, his murmuring endearments, his soft lips sending tingling all through her. She’d been overwhelmed with emotion. Had he continued, she might have fainted dead away. She laughed. And how would that have looked?

  She readied for bed and fell asleep.

  Even when she woke in the morning, the pleasant happiness, the ready smile, and the warm and tender feelings remained. When just one month past she had resigned herself to only book friends and a warm fire for the rest of her days, she now had a man in her life who had captured her heart and showed such love for her sisters. She didn’t know how she would ever be happier.

  The sisters prepared themselves in such a pretty and happy fashion June wasn’t sure how any man was not to fall immediately in love with each Standish. When she thought of their hearts, their compassion, their intelligence, she could not be more proud of her sisters.

  As soon as it was remotely appropriate to accept callers, Lord Smallwood stood at her door. He was announced in the front room. All the sisters stood, and every face looked at June.

  She smiled. “Lord Smallwood. How good of you to call.”

  “I heard we are having a tour of the castle this morning?” His smile was warm. He seemed in good spirits. June wondered what he would say when she told him she’d made up her mind, and he was not to be courting her.

  “We are having a tour as soon as the others arrive. Would you care to sit down? We have tea and coffee, as well as some cakes.” She indicated with her hand an empty chair.

  “I wonder if first we might have a moment? Perhaps we could take a turn in your side gardens?”

  “Oh, certainly.” She swallowed. She knew this would be the best moment to explain to him she was not planning to consider his courtship. How could she when her own heart was so engaged elsewhere? She could not string him along as a second choice. Some women might consider such a tactic, but marriage as a prize was not even a good enough reward to treat another human so.

  She nodded to her sisters. “Do greet our guests as they arrive. I shall return shortly.”

  In the hallway, she paused in front of a footman. “Would you please see that one of the servants accompanies us outside?”

  “Yes, miss.” The footman nodded and moved away.

  “Thank you for letting me pull you away from your sisters and from the normal calling time.”

  “I hope we will not be too long, as I must assist. You understand.”

  “Of course. We seldom get a moment between us. I had hoped just for that—a moment.”

  Her heart twisted, for what she was about to say to him would not leave her lips easily, nor would he be pleased to hear it. Instead of delaying what must be said, she stopped him in the hall near the entrance. “Lord Smallwood, I have come to an understanding and a decision.”

  “Have you?” His eyes lit, and his face glowed with happiness, his mouth slower than the rest. But before it could grow, she shook her head.

  “I cannot accept your courtship. I cannot.”

  “You’re refusing me before I can even try? Before I can court you properly?”

  “I am.” There was nothing more to say. She tried to soften her words. “I have been honored by your attention. You were the first to show any interest in me, the first to notice, and I have appreciated knowing you. But my affection remains unengaged, and I seek for more than friendship in a marriage.”

  “And can you afford to be so particular? Could our friendship not grow into something more?” His words were pleading, but his eyes had taken a new glint to them, a harder, steely expression.

  “I do feel I can be as particular as I would like. I know our friendship could grow, yes. I do not wish to take that step to find out.” She put a hand on his arm and stepped closer, looking into his eyes, hoping he would understand. “I know you will find happiness, more ha
ppiness, with another.”

  A noise behind them startled her, and she spun around. Morley had entered, and his expression was unreadable. An older woman stood next to him on his arm. Her face was pinched and her chin lifted in disapproval.

  June dipped a quick curtsy to Lord Smallwood and then hurried toward the entry. “Lord Morley. You have come.” She held her hands out to him.

  But he only took one, his other engaged by the woman on his arm. He bowed over hers and then said, “I would like to present my mother, Lady Morley. Mother, this is Miss Standish.”

  June’s heart skipped. “Oh, hello! Hello, Lady Morley, and welcome to our home.” She waved a hand toward the entry. “Do come in. We are expecting many friends today, for we’ve offered a tour of the castle.”

  “Your home? I am pleased at my son’s magnanimity that you can feel so at home here.”

  Ooh. Something about the comment stung, a reminder of how beholden she was to Morley. “Yes. He is all goodness and kindness.”

  Lady Morley’s eyes narrowed as she seemed to take in all of June at once, the tiny tear at her hemline, the scuff marks on her slippers, the tip of her hairstyle.

  June tried to hold on to her courage. She grasped at every bit of confidence she could muster from deep inside. Morley was not helpful. His face still wore a mask. Gone were the warm, affectionate expressions from the night before.

  “Will you join us? I’d love to introduce you to my sisters, if I may.”

  “There are five of you, are there not?” Lady Morley’s voice managed to be disapproving and polite at the same time.

  “Yes.”

  “And you are the eldest?”

  “I am.”

  She sniffed.

  June had no way of knowing how to interpret what she could mean by it, but she pressed forward anyway. “We are so pleased to have you here. I am certain you will enjoy the recent renovations to the property. It is a splendid addition to the Morley estate.” A part of her heart twisted to say it. She had almost begun to think of the castle as theirs, with the discovery of the jewels and the note. In actuality, June owned nothing—certainly not the castle, her only possessions some gowns and books and their parents’ things she hadn’t sold.

  “Morley has told me much about the renovations. Perhaps he can do me the honors. I suspect you must see to your guests.” Her gaze flicked to where June and Lord Smallwood had been standing.

  June turned to see and was grateful Lord Smallwood no longer stood in the hallway. “The others can take care of our guests. The conversation you interrupted was finished. I was clearing up a misunderstanding.” Her eyes pled with Morley’s for understanding.

  His nod was slight, but it warmed her with a large dose of relief. “Let us go meet the Standish sisters, Mother,” he said. “I enjoy them all—a delightful family I’m happy to know.”

  “Very well.”

  Morley led his mother on ahead of June. Oddly, he didn’t offer his other arm to her. What was going on? Had she disappointed him? Had he kissed her and his interest ceased? Was she a terrible kisser? Such a thing had never occurred to her before. Was his mother opposed to their match?

  That was likely. She seemed a disapproving sort of person. And Lord Smallwood had warned her the woman had her own plans for Morley. June’s hands were unsteady, so she clasped them behind her back.

  The footman opened the double doors. “Lord Morley, Lady Morley.”

  Everyone in the room stood. None of the gentlemen had yet arrived, for which June was grateful. While Morley introduced his mother to each of June’s sisters, she moved to stand beside Charity, whose face was full of questions. June could only shrug.

  Their servants brought in more tea. Bless them. June listened in confused silence while Morley and her sisters maintained an awkward conversation.

  Lady Morley replaced her cup on a saucer. “And who has taught you all? Trained you in matters of deportment?”

  “June did, my lady.” Grace smiled. “She’s taught me to dance, to read, all the arts, literature, the major poets. I can compute, hold a book on my head for twenty paces, play the pianoforte, and sing.” She waved her hand around. “And more things I cannot remember at the moment.”

  “And how does Miss Standish come to know all of this? Were you a governess, then?”

  “Oh, no. I had one. And I retained much of what I learned so I could pass it on to my sisters.”

  Lady Morley looked her over again. “And these gowns—they are lovely and of the finest material. How came you by them?”

  “Mother.” Morley dipped his head.

  “I am simply making her a compliment.”

  “We thank you. This particular gown was given to me by the Duchess of York.”

  Lady Morley’s eyes widened, and her eyebrows rose into her hairline.

  “Am I to understand you receive the Duchess of York?”

  “And the Duchess of Sussex. She said she would visit today, in fact.” Charity’s posture was bold, and she was tapping her toes. June knew it wouldn’t be long before she said something off-putting to Lady Morley, and the more the woman talked, the more June wished she would.

  “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “I must have forgotten. It seems today is the day for visitors.”

  The footman announced. “Her Grace, the Duchess of York.”

  The sisters gasped, and in walked the Duchess of York. “Oh, my lovelies. My dears! I hear the Duchess of Sussex has come to call.” Her shrewd eyes flitted over the group in one quick movement. “But I see you are wearing my gowns. Sensible of you. I do enjoy gifting them and appreciate when the recipients are grateful and make use of the gift.”

  The occupants of the room curtsied—or bowed, as was the case with Morley.

  June stepped forward to greet Her Grace. “You do us a great honor. And you have found us in our new place of residence. What do you think of the castle?”

  “It is lovely. Do you suffer from the cold here? Unless you have the finest materials, castles can be terribly drafty.”

  “Thank you for your kindness. We are doing what we can right now to try to alleviate some of that.”

  “I shall have more tapestries sent over. They’re the best thing, really. Coming from the north, I know what to do for the cold and the drafts.”

  “We would be most grateful, Your Grace.” June turned. “Have you yet met Lady Morley or the Earl of Morley, her son?”

  Her Grace nodded, eyeing them, then held out her hand to Morley. “Yes, we have met. I’m pleased to see you again, Lord Morley, and your mother.”

  June almost laughed when she merely nodded in Lady Morley’s direction before moving to sit next to June.

  “Tell me, Miss Standish. How is the social situation? Any improvement since I last visited?”

  “Oh, much has greatly improved, Your Grace. And I do wish to pass on just how many of the people we see compliment us on our gowns.”

  She nodded, an expression of great satisfaction crossing her face.

  The footman again stood in the doorway. “Lords Kenworthy, Tolleson, and Foxwood here to see you.”

  The sisters stood.

  The lords who walked in full of pomp and overconfidence faltered a moment at the sight of Lady Morley and the duchess. Then they promptly stiffened and bowed low. “Your Grace. Lady Morley, Miss Standish.” Lord Kenworthy rose from his bow, and the others followed suit.

  “Callers! How lovely.” The duchess leaned over conspiratorially to June. “How pleasant to have callers. I do believe it’s the new gowns. They look so fine on all of you.”

  “Most assuredly.” Charity leaned forward and spoke around June, which Her Grace did not seem to mind.

  “Miss Charity, how is the book you are writing?”

  “I have hit a place where I don’t know what comes next.”

  “That’s very nice, my dear.”

  June wondered if she’d heard anything Charity said at all.

  “So, has the Du
chess of Sussex been by? I heard she has.”

  “She has.” Charity nodded, her eyes sparkling.

  “And did she leave more things?”

  “She did. We were ever so grateful. So many lovely things.”

  Her Grace shifted in her chair. “I hope you will enjoy what I have sent as well.” Once the sisters all nodded and exclaimed about how much they would appreciate her generosity, she turned her gaze about the room. “And you gentlemen.”

  The lords sat forward, and one, Lord Kenworthy, laughed, “Yes, Your Grace?”

  “What are your intentions here with these women?”

  Kate sucked in her breath.

  But before anyone could answer, the footman entered and said, “The Duchess of Sussex here to see you, misses.”

  Everyone in the room stood.

  She swept in, her skirts swirling about her, and a footman followed with several more boxes of things. She waved for them to be placed back against the wall. The room grew smaller by the second.

  “Hello to all. I see Minerva is here.” She air kissed the Duchess of York and then did the same with June. The duchess nodded, but only briefly, to Lady Morley.

  June forced herself not to smile, but it was with great satisfaction she watched Lady Morley be soundly snubbed by the royal duchesses. Perhaps Lady Morley treated everyone in an off-putting manner.

  Morley hadn’t looked in her direction many times. And June realized no matter what the duchesses thought of Lady Morley, if her son respected her wishes, June would never be with her son unless the woman approved.

  The Duchess of Sussex made herself comfortable on the other side of Morley, and June moved to pour her some tea.

  The duchess patted her hand. “You are such a dear. You always make it just as I like it.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace. You honor us by your presence and your gifts.”

  The Duchess of Sussex smiled, her eyes full of shine and happiness. Then she looked in the Duchess of York’s direction. “Did you bring gifts as well?”

  “I did indeed.”

  They both seemed to size each other up.

  The footman announced yet another group of arrivals, and June remained standing as more men from their kite-flying outing stepped into a room which could no longer hold them all. June clapped her hands. “Perhaps now is the perfect time to begin our tour. We’ve asked our new housekeeper, Mrs. Holling, if she would lead us, and, of course, the sisters will accompany. Your Grace, and Your Grace, would you like a tour of the castle?”