The Accidental Marriage

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by Sally James


  Julia felt a surge of relief. So he did not wish to remain here, looking forward to the renewed visits Angelica had gaily promised when she finally rode away, on a horse which did not, to Julia, look as though it was at all lame. She had slept badly, considering all night what she ought to do. She admitted she loved Sir Carey, but being with him all the time, when he showed her just normal courtesy, was beginning to be a strain. She had contemplated offering to free him. They could obtain an annulment of the marriage, for it had not been consummated. Then he could marry Angelica. When she dropped into an uneasy doze at dawn she had resolved that was the best way to ensure happiness for both of them. She could resume her former life, once more becoming a companion or governess. He could marry the girl he really loved and wanted.

  When Molly brought in her morning chocolate she changed her mind. Angelica was still a child, shallow and interested only in gossip and clothes. She would not make him happy. He would, as any man would, for a time relish the possession of such a lovely girl, but when the initial rapture wore off, could they live happily together? Unless Angelica changed as she grew older, Julia doubted it.

  He seemed content with her. He praised her alterations in the house, and she knew she made his life comfortable. That was not enough for her, but it was all she had a right to expect. She would fight for her position as his wife, and perhaps, she thought wistfully, one day he would decide he needed an heir. Then she might become a wife in every sense of the word.

  ‘I can be ready,’ she said now. ‘I’ll begin packing at once.’

  * * * *

  When they reached London Sir Carey went straight to the Foreign Office to see Lord Castlereagh, while Julia supervised the unpacking and then went to read the correspondence and invitations which had been delivered that morning. She recognized Fanny’s handwriting, and saw that it was unusually uneven. Breaking the wafer she began to read.

  The note was short, telling her only that Frederick was coming home, and begging Julia to visit her as soon as she was back in London.

  Sir Carey had told her to accept those invitations she wanted, so she wrote hurried notes of acceptance to hostesses begging their presence at balls and receptions. The Season was in full swing, and there were parties every night. She would need to buy more gowns. But first she would go and see how Fanny did.

  Elizabeth met her in the hall and beckoned her into the empty dining room.

  ‘She is pinning her hopes on a full reconciliation,’ she told Julia. ‘I’ve tried to convince her he must have finished with that wretched Russian Countess, and I think she believes it now. Having read his letter, though, I’ve been wondering. He doesn’t say so. Nor does he show any hint of remorse, or say a word of apology. I hope you’ll try to keep her hopes and spirits up.’

  ‘Of course I will. Frederick is not the man ever to admit to having made a mistake, or to offer an apology, particularly to a woman, so I don’t see anything strange in that.’

  ‘You know him better than I do. I’m relieved, I admit. I have been worried, and in some ways I hope he does not arrive too soon. The longer she has without any disappointment, the more chance she has of keeping this child.’

  ‘We’ll all encourage her. Elizabeth, I have a favour to ask. I need more clothes. Will you help me choose some?’

  ‘You need to have some made. I’ll send my own dressmaker to you, but I will happily help you to select materials and all the other things you must buy, like fans and shawls and slippers. Shall we do that tomorrow? Another thing. Will you want vouchers for Almack’s?’

  ‘Sir Carey hasn’t said. Will he want to go there? Isn’t it mainly for debutantes and prospective husbands to meet? That’s what it was when I had my own Season. Not that it found me a husband,’ she added, recalling the many young men who had paid attentions to her, and rapidly retreated when they discovered she had no fortune, not even a modest dowry.

  ‘The Marriage Mart? Yes, it still is, and most other people find it amazingly dull. But some of the patronesses were in Vienna, you may enjoy meeting them again. Now you had better go up to Fanny. Come and have a nuncheon with me afterwards.’

  As Julia bent to kiss Fanny, who was reclining on a day bed, she thought her sister looked unhealthily flushed. Her eyes glittered, and she felt too hot for comfort.

  ‘Dear Julia, I’m so glad to see you. I am so bored having to rest all the time, and with so few people bothering to visit me. They come once, but when they hear about Frederick they avoid me. But when he is back it will be different.’

  ‘I think you imagine that, dear. It’s the Season, there is so much going on, people don’t have the time. Do you recall when I came out, and we were going to three or four parties every night, as well as all the rides and drives and morning visits?’

  Fanny sighed. ‘I wish I knew when he would be coming. He didn’t say, in the letter, where he was, so I cannot even make a guess at the time he will take to travel back to England. Here, read it,’ she added, pulling a crumpled sheet of paper from under the cushion she’d been lying against.

  Julia took the letter, and though she was used to Frederick’s terse manner of correspondence, she decided that Elizabeth was right to be concerned. There were no words of affection for Fanny or the girls, and very little information beyond the bare fact he was coming to England. He did not even refer to it as home.

  Fanny was still thinking of the parties she was missing. ‘I wish I could go out and meet people,’ she repeated. ‘I want to discover what is happening, with such excitement about Napoleon’s escape, people wondering whether the wars will start all over again.’

  ‘Don’t you read the newspapers?’

  ‘Yes, but that’s not the same as talking to people who really know, as we could in Vienna.’

  ‘I’ll bring you any news I hear. And you will be fit again before Christmas. There will be next year’s Season to look forward to. You have to think of the baby now. Is everything all right?’

  ‘They say so, and this time I am hopeful. When I lost the others it was always earlier than this. But tell me your news. How is Sir Carey? What is Courtlands like? Do you get on with his sisters?’

  Julia did her best to describe Sir Carey’s home, being careful not to mention the attacks on her, or the visit of the unmarried Angelica. They had not moved in the same circles before, so she hoped none of Fanny’s visitors knew about the girl and her activities.

  ‘You look tired,’ she said after a while. ‘I’ll go now, but I’ll come back whenever I can, and if I hear any interesting news I’ll be sure to tell you.’

  * * * *

  ‘Wellington is in Brussels now, so we shall see some action,’ Sir Carey told Julia that evening. They were dining quietly at home, and he was complimentary about the dinner she had ordered. ‘The armies are preparing, and are expected to meet soon.’

  He was debating with himself whether he ought to go to Brussels, or even rejoin the army which he had left seven ago after his father died, before the war in the Peninsula had begun. Wellington needed all the support he could find, since the actions of the other powers might be in doubt. It was, too, a ragbag army, with many foreigners, since many of the best troops were still in the Americas. Castlereagh had advised him to wait, saying there might be tasks he could perform more usefully in England. Sir Carey hoped these did not involve travel to consult the other powers.

  ‘Will the Congress end now?’ Julia asked.

  ‘Apparently not. Most of the negotiations are finished, just a few smaller matters to be settled. How was your sister? And what entertainments are we promised?’

  ‘I have put the invitations in your study. As for Fanny, she was a little feverish, I thought, but that might be accounted for by the news of Frederick’s return.’

  ‘So the man has admitted he was wrong?’

  ‘Not in so many words.’ Julia explained about the doubts she’d had when reading Frederick’s letter. ‘It has cheered Fanny, though, and if she is happy the child is
less at risk, I’m sure.’

  ‘It seems strange, but I have not yet seen her since we married. Is she well enough for me to call?’

  ‘She would welcome more visitors.’

  ‘Then I suppose I ought to ask formally for your hand,’ he said, grinning.

  ‘She’s not my guardian!’ Julia protested. ‘I’m of age, and she never was my guardian.’

  ‘I’ll make it a courtesy call.’

  ‘She said she was anxious for more news, so I’m sure she would welcome whatever you can tell her. I suppose, if Frederick is travelling back from somewhere in Russia, he won’t become involved with the fighting?’

  ‘He is probably only a few days after his letter. And we don’t know where he went. No, if he’s in Prussia or the Netherlands now he’ll be perfectly safe. People are remaining in Brussels, even. Many of the English went there once Napoleon had abdicated, and seem to be having a good time, so they don’t wish to leave.’

  I hope their faith in Wellington is justified, he thought to himself. ‘The Duke is a very successful commander, but so is Napoleon. They have not yet met face to face. The Allies must be persuaded to send troops.’

  ‘Surely they will. They won’t want to return to what it was like before, endless fighting.’

  ‘We must hope so. I’ll go and see Lady Cunningham tomorrow,’ he said. ‘An excellent dinner, my dear, but I fear I must leave you now as I have people to see.’

  * * * *

  Julia spent the following morning shopping with Elizabeth. They visited warehouses for fabrics, and Julia tried not to be swept away with the choice. In Bond Street they found slippers and shawls and fans and reticules which would match the gowns. The carriage was full of parcels by the time they returned to Upper Brook Street.

  ‘Now you must rest this afternoon,’ Elizabeth said. ‘You are going to the Hawkins’s reception tonight. It’s your first public appearance with Sir Carey, and you must look your best.’

  Julia nodded. She was apprehensive. ‘They’ll all want to see what sort of woman he married.’

  ‘Of course. Now what are you going to wear? The pale green gown you bought when you were first in London would be ideal, and the new dark green slippers.’

  Julia agreed to all Elizabeth’s suggestions, even permitting her to send round her own maid to do Julia’s hair.

  ‘Molly is a reliable maid, but she does not have the skills you need yet, if you are to look as beautiful as you can be.’

  ‘Me? Beautiful?’ Julia asked. ‘I’m just passable.’

  She was not nearly as pretty as Angelica, she thought with a pang. She could not compete with the girl on looks or vivacity. The notion of competition had not previously occurred to her, but as she rested on her bed that afternoon, in obedience to Elizabeth’s orders, she began to wonder if it would be possible. What assets did she have that she might employ to tempt her husband away from his former love? She began ticking them off on her fingers. Perhaps most importantly she had the great advantage of living in the same house. She was older, and, she hoped, wiser. She could keep house, and already Sir Carey was admiring her changes. He was gentleman enough to support her in public, she was sure. The only times Angelica could be sure of meeting him would be at public assemblies, and in other houses, but Julia hoped these occasions would be few. He had said their two families looked in opposite directions for local amusements, and since he had not met her as an adult before she came to London, it was unlikely they would have mutual friends in the neighbourhood who would invite them to the same local parties. She might ride over to Courtlands when they were there, but Sir Carey was often out during the day, on estate business. Would Angelica try to waylay him? Probably, she seemed a shameless girl. Surely he would see through such wiles and if he was the sort of honourable man she thought, he would come to dislike such blatant attention.

  By the time it was necessary to dress for the evening Julia was feeling confident she could manage affairs so that Sir Carey began to appreciate the advantages of being married to her, rather than to a lovely but shallow and much younger girl. When Sir Carey complimented her on her looks and insisted she wear a diamond necklace which had belonged to his mother, she was looking forward to the evening, ready to face Society at his side.

  Her confidence waned slightly when they entered the large room where the reception was taking place. It seemed to be crowded with fashionable people, and though she looked round eagerly she could see none of the acquaintances she had known in Vienna.

  They all stared so! She’d been ignored most of the time at the Viennese balls, just a poor relation of Lady Cunningham, who herself was of little importance compared with all the European royalty and nobility attending. Later, of course, there had been the calumnies of Mrs Webber, which had caused some people to look askance at her, but she had done her best to ignore them. Perhaps it was the story of their marriage, curiosity about it, which so intrigued people. Julia threw her head up high and smiled brilliantly. Then the smile froze on her lips. Stepping from behind a group of older women was Angelica, and she was walking towards them, her hands held out, and a charming smile on her face.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘So you are back.’

  Fanny turned her head away as Frederick bent to kiss her, and the kiss landed on her cheek. She was determined not to make this easy for him. She did not know herself, even, what she wanted. Elizabeth had advised her to be cool and judge by Frederick’s words and actions whether he had truly repented, whether she felt she could ever bear to live with him again. Fanny was determined to follow that advice, for she knew that if she did not, and gave way at once, she would always be treated as negligible.

  ‘You don’t seem very pleased to see me,’ he said petulantly.

  ‘Why should I be? You deserted us in Vienna and went off with that trollop, heaven knows where, and never bothered to inform me where you were or even whether you would be returning home.’

  ‘The posts are difficult. And why are you here, imposing on Mr and Mrs Pryce, instead of being at Greystones, looking after things there?’

  ‘You have a perfectly capable steward, and I am here in an attempt to carry this child to term, for you!’ Fanny snapped, patting her stomach. Her condition had been hidden until now by the loose, flowing robe she had carefully draped across her lap. ‘Do you want an heir? Or are you proposing to return to Russia and spend the rest of your life there?’

  Frederick looked startled. ‘You’re breeding?’ he asked. ‘In that case, you must come home. It is mine, I suppose?’

  Fanny stared at him ín disgust. Never before, despite his own infidelities, had he questioned her behaviour. ‘Please go! If you cannot be civil to me, I want no more to do with you!’

  He looked momentarily abashed. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I could hardly blame you, could I? A good many children are fathered by other men than the husbands. It’s the norm in the ton from all we hear. Look at Lady Melbourne. A different father for every child, from what they say.’

  ‘I don’t wish to look at anyone but myself! Are you going back to Russia?’

  He shuddered. ‘It’s a barbarous country, even in the area close to the west. Lord knows what it’s like further eastwards.’

  Fanny frowned. ‘So that’s why you came home? Because you were uncomfortable? That’s not very flattering. I’m prepared to accept you no longer want me, but surely your daughters mean something to you? And if this child is a boy, you’ll have your heir at last.’

  ‘When have I said I no longer want you?’ he replied, attempting to take her hand. Fanny resolutely moved it away.

  ‘Your actions say it.’

  Frederick rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘Fanny, I’m exhausted with travelling. I don’t want arguments. I want you and the girls to come home.’

  ‘That is impossible. I’m forbidden to move about or do much, for fear of losing the baby. And I don’t want to come home with you. I want a formal separation.’

  * * * *


  Julia took a deep breath and smiled brilliantly. ‘Why, Angelica, how lovely to see you again so soon,’ she said, in a clear, carrying voice. ‘You didn’t say you were coming to London the other day at Courtlands.’

  ‘I didn’t know,’ Angelica said. ‘Papa only told me when I got home from seeing you.’

  ‘The day after you stayed with us?’

  She heard Sir Carey, standing slightly behind her, utter a slight choking sound, and smiled.

  ‘Where are your parents?’ Sir Carey broke in. ‘We must pay our respects to them, and I want to introduce Julia to all my friends.’

  Angelica, her smile rather fixed, told them her parents were in one of the other salons, and with a smile and a nod Sir Carey took Julia’s arm and steered her in that direction, leaving Angelica looking after them.

  ‘Best get it over with,’ he murmured in Julia’s ear. ‘I wonder if they were hoping Angelica and I could take up from where we left off?’

  Was he regretting they could not? His manners were so impeccable Julia could not tell. Perhaps meeting Angelica’s parents would give her some clue.

  Julia saw at once where Angelica’s beauty came from. Mrs Philpot was in her mid thirties, but looked younger. She was also blonde and blue eyed, slender enough for the fashionably slim skirt to cling provocatively to her excellent figure. The neckline was daringly low, and her breasts had been pushed up, Julia was convinced, by her stays, though these were so cleverly designed no evidence of them was visible through the silk of her gown.

  Mr Philpot, beside her, was in his late fifties, corpulent and red-faced. He glared at Sir Carey and merely nodded to Julia when she was introduced. Mrs Philpot began to smile, and then shook her head.

  ‘Dear Sir Carey, who would ever have thought that a confirmed bachelor such as yourself would feel Cupid’s dart twice in such a short time? Angelica was devastated when she heard of your marriage.’

  ‘Perhaps Angelica should have had more faith in me,’ he replied evenly.

  ‘Oh, but she is so young! And she felt deserted. You must admit it was hard on a girl only just out of the schoolroom to find what she imagined was true devotion, and then discover that the pleasures of Vienna meant more to you than she did.’

 

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