by Sarah Winn
“I’m afraid the courts often take a dim view of women who work where alcoholic beverages are served,” Mr. Matthews added.
The countess huffed. “If the old man had a decent bone in his body, he would be helping support his son’s family, not trying to break it apart.”
“Calm yourselves,” the earl ordered. “We needed to find out what the situation was, and now we need to figure out what can be done about it.”
As Ellen looked up from her handkerchief, Mr. Matthews caught her eye and said, “Do you, by any chance, have relatives in Scotland or Ireland?”
“Are you suggesting she leave the country?” Captain Osborne asked.
“It would be a stalling tactic,” Mr. Matthews replied.
“My only close relatives are my aunt’s family in Birmingham,” Ellen said and lowered her head into the already wet handkerchief.
As if from a great distance, Ellen heard the earl say, “Catherine, perhaps you can help Mrs. Coyler recover herself?” Then she felt the countess’s hands on her shoulders, stood, and let the woman lead her from the room.
* * * *
For the second time that day, Gerald was summoned to the earl’s study. He didn’t know what more could be said on the subject of saving Mrs. Coyler and her child. He, Firthley, and Daniel had thoroughly debated the issue after the women had excused themselves earlier. They could find no sure-fire way to stop that bastard Silas Coyler.
On entering the study, he was surprised to see the countess, sans Mrs. Coyler, with Firthley and Daniel. After Gerald sat down, the earl said, “My wife has come up with a possible course of action that might alleviate the Coyler problem. But I want you to know that I in no way endorse it.”
The countess interrupted him. “Firthley, don’t condemn my idea before I even get a chance to say what it is.” She turned in her chair, so she fully faced Gerald. “Everyone seems to think the issue of Ellen’s morality is what will most likely sway a judge in the grandfather’s favor, even though it’s completely ridiculous to condemn a woman for working to support her child.” She huffed indignantly, and then waved her hand a bit as if clearing her mind. “Be that as it may, it occurs to me that if Ellen no longer had to work outside the home, the question about her morals would become null and void.”
What was she suggesting? “I’m not in the best of financial situations at the momen—”
Catherine shook her head impatiently. “A sudden gift of money might do her reputation more harm than good. What Ellen really needs is to be married to a respectable gentleman.”
“Who will she marry?” Gerald asked even as a possible answer rushed into his consciousness.
“Well,” the countess said, “You are the only unencumbered man here.”
“I can’t marry her!” A woman as comely as Mrs. Coyler would not want a one-armed man.
Jabbing a pointing finger at the countess, the earl said, “You expect too much of Gerald, Catherine. Every man should have the right to select his own wife.”
“He needs a wife,” she replied to her husband, “and he’s made no progress in finding one.” She jerked her head around to again face Gerald. “Unless you have recently formed an attachment. If that’s the case, then of course, my idea is unworkable.”
Gerald give his head a brief shake.
Daniel joined the conversation. “You’ll find someone, old man. And when you least expect it. Look how Angela came into my life.”
“Absolutely,” Firthley nodded his agreement. “It’s a good thing you want to help your old sergeant’s widow, but there’s just so much a man can be expected to do.”
“You don’t understand,” Gerald said. “I’ve just invested rather heavily in my new business venture. If it fails, I’ll be in no position to support a wife and child.”
Daniel frowned at him. “Come now. You’ve got that handsome estate near enough to London to be developed into residential property. Even if the business fails, you can sell the land. That’s far more than I have, and I’m still planning to marry.”
“A duke’s daughter,” Gerald said with a sneer.
Catherine smiled at him blandly and then plunged a verbal dagger into his heart. “I thought you wanted to help her because her husband died saving your life.”
Damn Firthley for telling his wife something Gerald had told him in strictest confidence. His feelings must have shown on his face, because Firthley hurriedly said, “The Russians were responsible for Sergeant Coyler’s death. You need not feel guilty about it.”
But Gerald could no longer deny the truth. Philip Coyler had seen Gerald fall from his horse and turned back to help him. If not for that, Philip might have survived the charge, as others did, and Gerald most surely would have died. Gerald owed the man a huge debt. One he could only repay by helping the man’s widow and child.
He turned toward Daniel. “Do you think my marrying Mrs. Coyler would prevent the courts from taking her child away from her?”
“Well…” Daniel appeared to be thinking the matter over. “You are a land owner and a war hero, and she’d have no need to work outside the home if married to you, so that should remove the greatest strike against her, but I’m a long way from being a barrister. You really should consult someone else before making a decision.”
“Time may be running out,” the countess added. “The grandfather must have people searching for Ellen and Toby.”
“If you truly want to do this,” the earl said, “Daniel is planning to go back to London on the last train this afternoon. He could apply for a special license from the Archbishop’s office.”
Gerald exhaled loudly. “Are you forgetting that my father now works in the Archbishop’s office? There’s no way a license could be issued without him hearing of it, and he’d surely be disturbed that I was planning to marry without telling him about it first.”
With a thoughtful expression, the earl said, “Maybe you could—”
The countess interrupted her husband. “Let’s not forget the bride. She has to agree to this scheme.”
“You mean you haven’t said anything to her?” the earl asked with a surprised air.
“Well, of course, not.” The countess looked at her husband as if she doubted his sanity. “I couldn’t ask her if she were willing to marry Gerald before finding out if he was willing to marry her.”
Firthley looked at Gerald and shook his head, “Sorry, old man, but it looks like the first thing you have to do is find out if the lady is willing.”
The countess stood. “I can take you to her now.”
After a moment of hesitation, Gerald rose from his chair and followed the countess toward the door. “If you aren’t absolutely sure about this,” Daniel said before they could leave the room, “make it a marriage in name only, and once the grandfather has backed off, you can get it annulled.”
Gerald was still staring at Daniel, when Catherine pushed him through the doorway and shut the door after them. “Don’t listen to him, Gerald. You need a wife and Ellen needs a husband. You two could make a good marriage.”
“Do you think she’ll really agree to this?” he asked.
“If you word the proposal right,” Catherine said. “I don’t see how she can refuse.”
“Me? Aren’t you going to present the idea to her?”
“Really, Gerald! No matter what the reasons for it, this is a proposal of marriage, you can’t expect someone to do it for you.”
They had reached the hallway that connected the two wings of the building. Gerald paused and shook his head. “I’m not good at talking with women.”
“Firthley has told me you used to be quite glib with the ladies.”
“That was before—before the war.”
“Well, here’s my advice. First present the practical reason that being married to you will keep her from losing her son. But you can’t depend only on that. Ellen already feels guilty about taking you away from your business, if she thinks you are offering to marry out of pity alone, she’ll
find it hard to agree, no matter how desperate she is to save her son. You have to give her other reasons for the two of you to marry.”
Gerald felt his nose wrinkle as he stared at the Countess. “Such as?”
“Such as the truth.” Catherine easily slipped into the manner of a lecturing governess. “You need a wife for all the reasons a man needs one; to add ease and comfort to your home; to be your sounding board about the problems that come up from day-to-day; but most importantly, to give you the physical closeness that will make you feel you’re not alone in the world. Make Ellen think she will be doing you a favor by marrying you.”
Gerald stood quietly, mulling over the things she had said. The countess evidently grew exasperated with him. “Could you really stand by and see that poor women lose her child?”
That settled the matter. If he refused to meet the debt he owed Philip Coyler, he would feel guilty about it for the rest of his life, and he already had plenty of regrets to live with. “I…I don’t know how to do this proposal business.”
Catherine’s expression softened. “You have to convince Ellen that you truly want to marry her. Since you cannot declare undying affection on such a short acquaintance, you need to state other reasons: some of the things I just mentioned.”
“Should I tell her how indebted I am to her husband?”
Catherine shook her head vigorously. “That will sound like you have to marry her—that you have no choice.” She reached over and lightly patted his shoulder. “If you present this to Ellen as a joint venture you will both benefit from, she will be grateful without feeling she is taking advantage of you and be far more likely to say yes.”
A maid came down the hallway carrying an armload of folded linens. The countess called out to her, “Dulcie, do you know where Mrs. Coyler is?”
“Yes, my lady. She’s up in the nursery with the children.”
Catherine turned back to Gerald. “You go over to the east parlor and plan what you’re going to say. I’ll send Ellen to you.”
* * * *
Ellen had decided to stay in the nursery with the children, because she knew she would become a weepy mess if she were alone in her room. She had thought herself so lucky when the opportunity to play with Fuller Jones’s Dance Band had presented itself. Now it had turned into a curse—like everything else in her life.
“Look, mama,” Toby called as he held up the drawing of a swaybacked horse.
She forced a smile to her lips. “Very good, dear.”
“It’s not as good as mine,” Molly called out and held up her drawing of a far more heroic-looking steed.
“Now, Molly,” Miss Nesbit said. “Remember that Toby is younger than you.”
Molly looked at her governess with exasperation. “I’m only trying to help him do better.”
Toby looked at Molly and smiled in adoration.
He was such a sweet, loving boy. Tears stung Ellen’s eyes. What would she do if they took him away from her?
The countess appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on in here?”
“I’m helping Toby learn to draw better,” Molly promptly replied.
“That’s nice of you,” the countess said as she moved over to the table and lightly laid her hand on Ellen’s shoulder. “I’ll take your place here, Ellen. Captain Osborne would like to speak with you over in the east parlor.”
Ellen looked up in alarm. “Captain Osborne? Has something else happened?”
“No, no. He just has an idea he wants to discuss with you.”
Ellen hurriedly stood and started toward the doorway.
The countess called after her. “Give what he has to say careful consideration.”
Had the captain thought of some way to save Toby from Silas Coyler? Ellen prayed that was the case as she hurried down the stairs and across to the east wing. She was out of breath when she arrived at the parlor. Captain Osborne stood on the far side of the room, staring out a window.
After taking a quick breath, Ellen said, “Lady Firthley said you wish to see me.”
He turned to face her with a serious expression. “Yes, thank you for coming so quickly.”
“What is it?”
He gestured toward a sofa. “Perhaps we should sit down.”
His seriousness made her even more anxious. “Is something else wrong?” She hurried to the sofa he had indicated.
He sat beside her, turned to face her, but seemed to be searching for words. “Ah…it has been suggested that if you…ah…marry someone who can supply you and Toby with a secure home that would nullify Coyler’s claims against you.”
Had she heard him correctly? “But how could I—I don’t know anyone—what are you saying?”
A rueful smile twisted his lips. “I am very clumsily offering to marry you. I’m not a wealthy man, but I inherited a valuable piece of land, so even if my horse business does not succeed, I will be able to provide for you.”
Ellen had trouble making her jaw work, but she finally managed to say, “But why would you do such a thing? We barely know each other.”
“Since opening my riding academy, I’ve come to realize how much I need a wife. It’s even occurred to me that the academy failed because parents did not feel comfortable sending their sons to a home not presided over by a woman. You saw the house. It’s dark and gloomy. The servants expect me to tell them what to do, and I don’t know how to do that.”
Ellen raised her hand in a silent objection, but he caught it and encased it with his much larger hand. “You need a husband quickly, and I need a wife. Why can’t we solve each other’s problems?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Surely, you must know a woman you would prefer—someone you have feelings for.”
“Since returning from the war, I’ve spent all of my time recuperating from my injuries and starting the academy. I’ve had very little time to socialize.” He let go of her hand and looked away from her face. “And when I do, women are not attracted to a one-armed man.”
“Oh!” She could see how this statement embarrassed him and wanted to reassure him, to tell him he was a fine man, and many women would be honored to be his wife; but how could she do that and still refuse his proposal? “I…huh…I must tell you that Philip Coyler was the great love of my life, and I don’t think I can ever love anyone else as I loved him.”
His head turned back toward her, his expression unreadable. “That’s all right,” he said. “In fact, it might be for the best. Ours could be a marriage in name only, and then, if it didn’t work out, we would have the option of having it annulled.”
“Good heavens! I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Sometimes couples court for years before they marry. We would just be making it legal for us to live together during the courtship.”
“But would you be satisfied with such an arrangement?”
“Mrs. Coyler—Ellen, many of the marriages in this world are not based on love. People marry for financial benefit or to obtain heirs or just to have someone sitting across the breakfast table from them. I am a lonely man, and you desperately need a man to protect you and your child. If you don’t marry me, what will you do?”
She stared into his blue eyes for a long moment pondering his question. One thing was sure to her. She would do anything to keep her child. If this gallant, big-hearted man was willing to help her do it, how could she say no?
She nodded several times. He replied with what seemed to be an honest smile. She vowed to herself that she would find ways to make this up to him. She would make his home a warm and welcoming place.
“Now we must decide how to marry,” Gerald said. “I think it should take place as quickly as possible, since you have already disobeyed a magistrate’s order to appear in his office. The only way to avoid having to post banns and wait for a month is to get a special license from the archbishop’s office in London.”
“Could Mr. Matthews apply for that?” she asked.
Gerald grimaced. “There might be
a problem with that. My father is an assistant to the archbishop. He would surely be informed of an application in my name, and he might be so alarmed over me marrying without saying anything to him first, that he would delay the license.”
“Is your father a clergyman?”
“Yes, a bishop.”
Ellen stared at Gerald with her mouth agape.
A small frown creased his brow. “You are a member of the Anglican church, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “But my father was a musician. He did play in symphony orchestras, but my family was very ordinary. Your father will never approve of me.”
“I’m sure he’ll approve once he’s met you, so you must come to London with me. We can be married more quickly that way.”
“But what if Silas Coyler has people looking for Toby and me? They may be watching the railway stations.”
“If there are people looking for you, they’ll be looking for a woman with a small boy. They’ll pay no attention to a man and woman traveling together.”
“Where will Toby be?”
“He can stay here.”
She physically recoiled at that suggestion. “We can’t leave him here. I’ve imposed too much on the earl and countess already.”
“Toby seems to be enjoying himself here, and I’m sure the countess will be glad to have him a little longer.”
Her voice drifted into a near whine as she said, “But I’ve never been away from him overnight.”
“It will only be for three days—four at the most. We’ll get the license, get married, and hurry back here to get Toby.”
Everything was happening too fast. She didn’t know what to do. “I—I don’t know.”
“Ellen, the longer you evade the magistrate’s order, the worse things will look for you. We need to get to London and hire a solicitor to represent your side of the matter.”
“Can they put me in jail for not obeying the order to bring Toby?”
“I don’t think they’ll do anything like that, but we’ll play it safe and follow that old saying about possession being nine tenths of the law. If we leave Toby here, no matter what the magistrate says, Silas Coyler won’t be able to get his hands on the boy, and we’ll have time to find other legal ways to shield him.”