by Abby Ayles
She pulled back, allowing Louisa to gently wipe the tears from her face and pinch her cheeks to bring color back into them.
“I must look a fright.”
Louisa laughed gently. “As always, you look the picture of loveliness. Now, come along. Your fiancé and future father-in-law await you.”
“I’m sure that my fiancé would rather wish I never showed.”
Louisa got a knowing gleam in her eye. “I think, perhaps, he thinks more highly of you than even he realizes.”
Chapter 22
That had not at all gone the way that John had expected.
He had expected one of two things to happen. Either Miss Natalie would throw a temper tantrum like a child, or she would be all contriteness.
Instead, she had given as good as she had gotten.
She had taken the whole thing admirably well. John had hated to insinuate to her what he knew of Cleary’s past actions. It was not right to speak to a young lady of such things. But how was she to guard herself against them if she did not know what to guard against? Or that there was anything to guard against in the first place?
But aside from accepting his criticisms of her, she had pointed out criticisms of her own.
She was right, John had to admit that. He’d been dismissing her from the beginning. He had been thinking only of himself and how he was to protect his reputation.
A woman was a wife and a mistress of a house. As such her behavior reflected upon both her husband and the household. But was it not the same the other way around?
Was a husband’s behavior not just as bound to his wife and his home? Was he not as owing to Miss Natalie as she was to him?
He had been worrying about her only in regards to himself. He had not been thinking about Miss Natalie for her own sake. It was as selfish of him as he was accusing her of being.
It seemed that they both had made transgressions, and both had much to learn in this endeavor.
He would have to try and do better both for his own sake and for Natalie’s. He would have to pay more attention to her.
Perhaps that was why she was so inclined towards light entertainment and gossip and meddling. Being the middle child in a large family of women she must have had to compete for attention.
It made sense that, as the prettiest one, she would start to notice how she got attention. That people would laugh with her and look at her if she said something witty or knew the latest gossip.
That men would flock to her if she flirted and if she played coy. If she was the fun one in the room.
Was it any wonder that all of it had fed her ego to the point of making her selfish?
He would have to help her to get rid of that. To see that true relationships could only bloom when one person truly listened and cared about the other’s wellbeing.
It seemed he had to remember that as well.
What had he come home for, after all? Not for his father’s illness. Not for his sister who missed him so. Not for his brother who longed to be free of the burden of the estate and to travel.
No, he had come home only for himself. To save his own inheritance. Not for his family.
It was a wickedly selfish way for him to behave. He should have come home long ago. He had made excuses—sowing his wild oats, his father did not want him—but they were just that. Excuses.
He should have returned home to his family. He should have thought of their needs and not his own desires.
Now he was here. He had a chance, thank God, to change all of that. He could do better. Fate had offered him this second chance. A way to redemption in the eyes of himself and his family.
He was going to take it.
And Miss Natalie—perhaps they could help one another. She had shown admirable spirit in pointing out his own flaws. He should have expected it of her with her quick wit. It suggested a high intelligence and a boldness to go with it.
Most women wouldn’t have dared to call him out. He was a man and a powerful one. But Natalie had not hesitated to show him that she might be in the wrong, but so was he.
He would have to find a way to thank her properly for it. And a way for them both to grow together. Become better people.
John quickly walked to the study where his father was staying. Father was always in his study when John was growing up. He was constantly dealing with the business of the household.
Sure enough, Father was in there now, going over papers. He looked up as John entered.
“Ah. Come in, come in. Where is your lovely young lady?”
“She is coming in from the gardens with her sister. I hurried on ahead. I did not wish for them to exert themselves needlessly.”
“No matter, no matter.” Father looked again at his papers. “I suppose the dinner last night was ghastly as usual.”
“Father. There is no need for rudeness.”
The earl snorted. “I am glad that my illness has allowed me a permanent excuse to beg off those things. Cleary is as rakish as ever. Hunsford is all right but dull. And Mrs. Hapson has been a thorn in my side for twenty years.”
“Mr. Hunsford is an admirable man.”
“Emma can do better,” Father said at once.
John sighed inwardly. He wanted to argue for Mr. Hunsford but with the man tied up because of his sister there wasn’t much point. If he had been planning on proposing to Emma it would be different.
As it was, John had no desire to get into another fight with his father. Especially not when Miss Natalie and Miss Louisa might walk in any second.
“What do you propose we do about Emma, then?” he asked, since they were conveniently on the subject. “May I bring her to London in a month for the season?”
Father squinted at him. “Nonsense. She shall do much better here at home.”
“She will never meet any other eligible men here at home. There is no one about. Unless someone miraculously moves here. She must go to London before she loses her chance at marriage.”
“She will lose nothing. I wish to keep her nearby.”
“I know that she reminds you of Mother—”
Father glared at him. “You watch carefully what you are saying, John.”
“I’m saying that keeping Emma here because she reminds you of Mother is selfish. Women do not have the luxury of taking their time with marriage as men do.
“You will live for a long time yet. To keep her here for all of that time will only condemn her to spinsterhood.”
“You dare to tell me how I, a father, should care for his own children—”
“Oh, goodness, it is far too dark in here!”
Miss Natalie’s voice rang out loudly. John suspected that it was on purpose.
He and Father both turned. Miss Natalie was standing in the doorway, her sister hovering behind her.
“Come, let us draw these curtains, Louisa. I dare say that all this darkness is not improving any man’s temper. Wouldn’t you say, my lord?” Miss Natalie said, looking at John.
She had definitely overheard the beginnings of their argument then. John felt a rush of gratitude for her interruption.
Miss Natalie opened the curtains with her sister’s help and then approached the earl. “If I may, my lord, I’ll just fluff your pillows. My father’s back always used to ache after so long at a desk with his papers.”
The earl allowed Miss Natalie to fuss over him. She did it with such cheer and a touch of playfulness that it seemed impossible to resist her.
“You were sorely missed at the dinner last night, my lord,” Miss Natalie went on. “Do you play bridge?”
“On occasion, yes,” the earl replied.
“Well, we must play a game tonight. My sister is quite good as is your daughter. I cannot speak as to your sons. But I think I should quite like to play against you. Your eldest son’s wit comes from you, I dare say, and I’m sure you’ll make a fine opponent for me.”
“Do you play well then?”
“Oh, yes, very well. I’ve beaten out everyo
ne in London, nobody will play me anymore.”
John suspected that Emma had been the one to tell Miss Natalie that his father used to love playing bridge and was quite good at it. It was smart of her to appeal to that and to challenge his intelligence. Father enjoyed that kind of challenge.
She had a rather deft hand with him, despite having known him for so short of a time. John appreciated that. He had thought that no matter what woman he brought home his father would intimidate the life right out of her.
Not so with Miss Natalie, it seemed. The flirtations she handled so well in a ballroom were now being used to easily handle the difficult elder gentleman.
As she came around to stand behind him, Miss Natalie looked up at John. She smiled at him conspiratorially.
“My lord,” Miss Natalie said. “I was wondering, as your future daughter-in-law, if I might ask you a great favor.
“My other sister is getting married in a month’s time, and of course your son and I shall be attending the wedding. I dare say they have put the banns up already.
“I was wondering if perhaps I might beg you to allow your daughter to join us as a guest? I should greatly enjoy it if she could meet my family. Your other son will of course be welcome to join us as well, but I expect you must want him to stay home and manage things while your elder son is gone.
“It would be only a week of us being gone. Would it be possible for me to impose such a favor upon you?”
“A month’s time, you say?” the earl pondered the request.
Miss Natalie crouched down in front of him. She looked rather sweet and innocent in such a pose. Like a child, almost. “I would be quite grateful. I fear this particular sister will not be able to come to my wedding to your son. I should love for my new sister to meet my old ones.
“But of course,” Miss Natalie added with a sigh, “I know how dreadfully fond you are of her.” She stood up, looking forlorn. “Your son has often spoken to me of what a favorite of yours she is. I can well understand if you would not wish to part with her. Even for such a short time.”
John almost gaped at her for her boldness. Yet it seemed to be working. The earl was smiling at her indulgently.
“I am glad to know that my Emma finally has a proper friend. There are so few ladies about here in this small area. I am certain that it will be good for her to meet your family. And of course, you may invite your sisters down at some time if you wish.”
John was astounded. Father hated guests.
“Oh, forgive me, I’m thinking only of myself. What was the matter that you wished to speak with us about?” Miss Natalie asked.
“Ah, yes.” Father nodded. “I wished to ask the both of you when you would like to hold the wedding. There is much that I must instruct John on in the matter of the estate. I would prefer that be done before the wedding.
“However, I know how difficult a long engagement can be. If you would like to get married sooner rather than later we can arrange that.”
“Oh, it is no trouble to me at all when we get married,” Miss Natalie said. “My two sisters are getting married as well. I would not wish to impose upon their time. We can get married in a few months if that is what will suit you.”
The earl nodded. “You are a most accommodating young woman.” He looked over at John. “I can congratulate my son in at least one aspect of his life then it seems.”
Miss Natalie gave a small, warm laugh. “I’m certain that you will find many other ways to congratulate him, my lord. He has a commendable character.”
Now, that was an audacious lie. Miss Natalie had just made it clear what she thought of his character. But John could not help but feel warm inside that she was defending him.
“How about in six months’ time?” Miss Natalie suggested. “My two sisters will have been married by then and we shall be quite out of the way of their nuptials. The season will be all but over, so no one should have any other engagements. And the weather will be lovely.”
“A most astute decision,” the earl said. He smiled at her. “I quite agree.”
Miss Natalie smiled and ducked her head down bashfully.
“Do you have any objections?” Father then asked John.
John shook his head. He was much more concerned with running the estate than with when his wedding would be.
Father’s illness meant that John needed to learn all that he could as soon as possible. He wished to take the burden of running things off of his father and brother. To do that he had to throw himself into the task.
A wedding was secondary to that. There were plenty of couples who were engaged for a year or more. There was no rush.
“I have no objections,” he said.
“You are made of stronger stuff than I am,” Father said jovially. He then smiled at Miss Natalie. “If I were you and engaged to this delightful creature I shouldn’t wait a moment longer than I had to.”
John smiled, trying to get into the spirit of things.
If nothing else, he was grateful that Miss Natalie seemed to cheer Father up so well. It seemed that all that John could do was irritate him.
“Excellent,” the earl said. “That is all then. I shall expect to see you all at dinner. Miss Natalie, I think I shall impose that bridge game upon you.”
“I play the pianoforte quite well,” Miss Natalie added. “If you would like to take a break from your work at any time I am happy to play for you.”
“Most kind, most kind.”
“I’ll see them out,” John said. “Then we can get down to business.”
“Yes, thank you,” the earl said, already turning back to his papers.
John escorted the two ladies out of the room, where he drew Miss Natalie aside.
“How on earth did you manage that?” he asked. “All I ever seem to be able to do is cause fights with him.”
Miss Natalie smiled gently. He wished that she would smile like that more often. It was a genuine smile and made her look soft and welcoming.
“My father can be much the same way. After our mother’s death he shut himself off. He would only see our eldest sister for the running of the house.
“I got quite good at charming him out of the room now and again. And I’ve found that older men like to be flirted with as much as younger men. Even though they know nothing will come of it. It makes them feel like someone is paying attention to them, as people did when they were younger. It flatters them.”
“You’ve succeeded where I’ve failed,” John acknowledged. “You did not have to ask him if you could bring Emma. That was very kind of you.”
“You are right, in what you were saying,” Miss Natalie said. “And please forgive me, we did not mean to eavesdrop.”
“I can imagine it wasn’t hard. We argue easily and our voices carry.”
“It’s unfair to Miss Ridgecleff if he keeps her here. I wish to be a true friend to her. I don’t intend to matchmake her to anyone in London. I’ll let her guide herself in that matter. But she will not find anyone new here. She must go to London for the season.
“Even Regina found someone while in London and she spent most of her life being overlooked by everybody back home. I mean that not as an insult. I fear I have treated her wrongly. But it is fact.”
“Still, you were risking my father’s wrath in asking him if you could take Emma away.”
“It is not for the full season. Only for Elizabeth’s wedding. But hopefully once she is there we can persuade him to let her stay for a bit. Even in the span of a week one can meet a man.”
“You certainly are clever,” John admitted.
Miss Natalie curtsied, teasingly. “I try my best, my lord.”
He laughed. Then grew serious again. “I fear my behavior—as you so adeptly pointed out—has been as selfish as yours. And not merely in regards to yourself.
“I fled to the Continent where I allowed myself to think nothing of my family or my duty to Mountbank. I flirted and danced and made a general fool of myself, I’m sure
.
“When I came home it was not because I thought of my family. It was because my father had threatened to cut me off if I did not find a wife and come home. As you well know.
“That was wrong of me. I should have come home much sooner. My father is ill. My sister needs guidance in the matter of marriage. My brother longs for freedom and to travel.
“I could have made it all better if I had only been here. It was selfish and awful of me to stay away for so long.
“And so if it seems that I am rather focused on the running of the house—it is not that I wish to neglect you. It is that you have helped me to realize my own failings.
“I wish for us to try and spend more time together. To become properly acquainted. But I must also try and undo the wrongs that I have done.
“I must learn how to run Mountbank so that the burden is off my father’s shoulders. He can rest. And my brother can be free to travel and enjoy life before he settles down. It is time I thought of my family before myself.
“Can you understand? I fear I will be a dreadfully absentminded fiancé to you this next month.”
“Do what you must,” Miss Natalie told him. “It is clear that far too much attention and of the wrong sort has been paid to me over the years. I should learn how to handle being left alone.”
John chuckled. “Still. I am your intended. I will do what I can to treat you as you should be treated.”
“Why, my lord, are you going to woo me properly?” Miss Natalie asked. That teasing note that he was quickly growing to enjoy was back in her voice.
John smiled. “Perhaps. You will have to develop some patience and see.”
“I look forward to it then.”
John was surprised to find that he was rather looking forward to it as well.
Chapter 23
The first order of flowers arrived the next week.
“They’re beautiful!” Miss Ridgecleff exclaimed. “Oh, the card—it says they’re for you, Miss Natalie.”
Natalie took up the card. Sure enough, the flowers were for her. From Lord Ridgecleff.
“Truly?” she asked, waving the card at him as he sat at his desk. “You are in the same house as I am. You don’t have to send me flowers.”