The Marquis and I

by Ella Quinn

  Feet pounded on the stairs, the door opened, and the children rushed into the room. “Charlotte, you’re home!” The twins and Madeline threw their arms around Charlotte’s waist and she returned their hugs. “We missed you.”

  “I missed you too. Mind your manners and say good evening to Lord Kenilworth.”

  The three girls curtseyed. “Good evening, Lord Kenilworth.”

  He bowed, then rubbed his chin. “I believe that under the circumstances, you should call me Constantine, and I like hugs as well.”

  The girls stared at him for a moment before embracing him. “We like you the best.”

  “You do?” His eyes widened. “Why is that?”

  “We have to call Louisa’s husband Rothwell,” Madeline said. “Because he’s a duke.”

  “And Dotty’s husband, Merton,” Eleanor added. “Because he’s a bit stuffy.”

  “We like Constantine,” Alice said. “When are you and Charlotte getting married?”

  “As soon as I can convince your brother to let me.” He practically growled and she hid a smile.

  Grace and Matt strolled in at that moment. “About that,” Matt said. “I shall meet with you tomorrow morning to discuss the settlement agreements.”

  “I’ll see you at nine if that is not too early.”

  Matt poured glasses of sherry for himself and Grace. “Not at all.”

  A few minutes later, the Mertons arrived with Susan and joined the pandemonium in the drawing room. Con wanted to find out if anyone had been able to contact the girl’s family, but there was no way to have a private word. A few minutes later, the butler announced dinner.

  He placed Charlotte’s hand on his arm. “I promise you, I will make your brother agree to let us marry next week.”

  “I am positive you will succeed.” Her countenance was too serene. Did she not care how soon they wed? Or was she certain he would prevail?

  Dinner was as lively as he thought it would be, and it occurred to him how lonely he had been as the last child. He glanced at Mary and wondered how she would feel when her brothers and sisters were gone. Then he remembered that Grace—she had asked him to call her that before dinner—was expecting a child in late December. Next to him, Charlotte was talking to her brother Walter, and Con marveled at how easily they got along. Of course, he got on well with his sister Annis, but it was nothing like Charlotte’s family.

  The sound of a door opening and closing filtered through the air. A few seconds later, a young man with the Carpenter coloring entered the room. “Is there a place for me?”

  Chairs scraped back, and the children rushed forward en masse.

  “Charlie!” someone called.

  “You’re home!” a few others said.

  “We missed you.” Con recognized Theo’s voice.

  Worthington rose. “You made good time.”

  “Half-term began today. I was eager to be here.” He finished hugging the younger children and was halfway to Charlotte’s chair when she rose. “I hear you are getting married.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, and she smiled at him. “I am.” She took his hand. “Come and meet him.”

  Con pushed his chair back and stood, waiting.

  “Constantine, this is my brother Charlie, Earl of Stanwood. Charlie, the Marquis of Kenilworth.”

  The young man had what Con thought of as the Carpenter look, and it was clear by the way he held himself that he cared deeply about his sisters and brothers, even his new sisters. His throat tightened. Soon he would join this family who loved each other so fiercely. “Stanwood.”

  “Kenilworth.” The younger man clasped his hand. “Welcome to the family.”

  “You can call him Constantine,” Phillip called out.

  “And you can call him Charlie,” Alice said.

  A place was set, and everyone went back to their seats. Charlie glanced around the table and greeted Dotty and Merton. Then his gaze stopped on Miss Susan. “I believe someone forgot to introduce us.”

  “Miss Susan,” Dotty said, casting a sparkling look at Charlotte, “may I introduce, my brother, the Earl of Stanwood? Charlie, this is Miss Susan Merryville. She is visiting me for the nonce.”

  He bowed. “My pleasure, Miss Susan. I hope you are enjoying your visit.”

  The minute Charlie had looked at her, Susan’s eyes had rounded, her lips formed an O, and Con was sure she had forgotten all about Sir Reginald. “I am, my lord. Very much.”

  Charlie sat next to Grace, and for the rest of the meal conducted a low-toned conversation with her. He glanced at Charlotte once or twice and Worthington another time.

  Charlotte leaned closer to Con. “Grace is telling him what has been going on. After dinner or tomorrow, he will spend most of the day with Matt. When the children have finished their lessons, he’ll be with them.”

  “How old did you say he was?”

  “Sixteen. He takes his responsibilities seriously.”

  “I can see that.” Charlie’s attitude, his whole bearing almost made Con feel as if he was lacking. Or had somehow neglected his duties. That was ridiculous, of course. He always took care of his land and dependents. “He will be a force to be reckoned with some day.”

  Under the table, Charlotte slipped her hand in his. “As you are now.”

  As he would damn well make sure he was. “Have you noticed how Miss Susan looks at him?”

  She grinned and nodded. “An infatuation with a younger man might be just what she needs. And Charlie is safe. He will be kind, but treat her as he would one of us.”

  “Do you know if Worthington was able to contact her parents?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “No one has said anything. I do hope they come soon.”

  An hour later, Grace rose from her chair. “Let us leave the gentlemen.”

  The gentlemen and footmen assisted the other ladies. Charlotte squeezed Con’s hand. “I’ll see you soon.”

  The door closed behind his beloved, and the males all moved to the head of the table. Footmen brought lemonade, brandy, and port. The younger boys and Charlie had lemonade, Con and Worthington selected brandy, Merton chose port. The talk turned to sports and, at an elementary level, politics. Yet all Con wanted to do was join the ladies and spend time with Charlotte.

  The clock struck eight, and Worthington stood. “Gentlemen, shall we join the ladies? Walter and Phillip, it’s time for bed.”

  Con was surprised at how quickly the boys left the room. Yet once the door closed behind them, Charlie said, “I heard you rescued Char not once but twice. I owe you my thanks.”

  “I can assure you, it was my pleasure. To be completely honest, she had rescued herself the first time. All I did was provide the carriage. The second time, I can take some credit for.”

  Charlie grinned. “I hope you decide to have the ceremony before I go back to school.”

  Con glanced at Worthington. “That will be discussed in the morning. Shall we join the ladies?”

  * * *

  A half hour later, the butler entered the drawing room and spoke in a low tone to Worthington. He motioned to Con and Charlotte.

  “I think the Merryvilles might be here.”

  “I hope that’s what it means. I cannot think of anything else.” She placed her hand on his arm. “We shall find out soon.”

  Merton caught Con’s eye as they followed Worthington out of the room. Con shrugged and the other man nodded.

  They crossed the square to Worthington House. “How did your family come to be living in two houses?” Con asked Charlotte.

  “As you know, Stanwood House belongs to Charlie. Before Matt and Grace married, he, his step-mother, and his sisters lived with him in Worthington House. When he and Grace married she suggested they live at Stanwood House as well, but Matt would not even consider taking Charlie’s bedchambers and none of the other beds fit him. But Worthington House was too small for all of us, and Dotty came to us for the Season.” By God! Con could not imagine having eleven children
, one’s step-mother, and an extra young lady in a town house. “There was a great deal of discussion, but in the end, Matt and Grace decided that they would sleep at Worthington House, and everyone else, including his step-mother would live at Stanwood House. It gives them more privacy than they would have with all the children about.” Con had no doubt that was Worthington’s idea. “They are renovating Worthington House, and next Season, Charlie will lease this house to Matt’s step-mother and her new husband. That was part of the arrangement when they wed.”

  “Who did Lady Worthington marry?”

  “Viscount Wolverton. They were childhood sweethearts. I don’t know why they didn’t wed when she came out.”

  Con found he’d had to listen carefully to keep all the parts of what Charlotte had said from getting muddled. “You have a complicated family.”

  “I have a large family with many different needs.” She slid him a look as they walked up the steps to Worthington House. “Will that be a problem for you?”

  Con tugged her closer to him. “Absolutely not. I am coming to care deeply for your family, and I hope our children will be close to their aunts, uncles, and cousins.”

  Charlotte relaxed against him. “I’m glad.”

  Charlotte entered a parlor on the right side of the hall first, followed by Matt and her betrothed. Her brows rose. “I didn’t even know this room was completed.”

  The parlor held two sofas. A low table stood between them. Two wide cane-backed chairs were positioned at the end of the long table between the sofas. The walls were lined with yellow silk printed with small violet flowers and green leaves, and botanical paintings hung on the walls. The effect was bright but soothing, and a brightly colored carpet covered most of the floor.

  It was a comfortable room, but impersonal. One where people who were not friends or family would be shown.

  A man and a woman, who could only be the Merryvilles, stood when they entered. They were well dressed in the current mode. The man was tall and loose-limbed. His hair a dark blond. The woman was an older version of Susan. Currently, their faces were lined with worry.

  Charlotte stepped forward. “Mr. and Mrs. Merryville?” The man inclined his head. “I am Lady Charlotte Carpenter.” She motioned toward Worthington. “This is my brother, Lord Worthington, and my betrothed, the Marquis of Kenilworth. Lord Kenilworth was with me when we rescued Susan.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Mr. Merryville bowed, and his wife curtseyed. Charlotte took a seat on the opposite sofa, Con sat next to her, and her brother sat on a chair.

  “May we ask how our daughter is doing?” Mrs. Merryville asked. She clutched the handkerchief with which she had dabbed her red-rimmed eyes.

  “Let me assure you that Susan is safe and unharmed.” Charlotte gave the woman a reassuring smile. “She was quite forthcoming regarding her behavior.”

  Mrs. Merryville let out a breath. “I am afraid she is a bit of a chatterbox.” She twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “I—we had no idea she would do anything like this.”

  “It is beyond the pale,” Merryville said. Of the two he was clearly the angrier.

  “It will probably not make you feel better,” Con said, focusing on the girl’s father, “but Sir Reginald is an accomplished rake. I do not believe any young girl would have the experience to counter him.”

  “It did not help matters that her grandmother accepted him at first, then rejected him without giving Susan a reason,” Charlotte added. “She is at that age, after all.”

  “He can be very charming,” Con said. “However, he is deeply in debt, as you most likely already know, and not received by Polite Society.”

  Charlotte watched the girl’s father as his lips thinned and his countenance hardened. That did not bode well for poor Susan. “You cannot blame her. While in Bath, she was given freedom to go off on errands for her grandmother, alone or with only a young maid. Although the town is not London, it is still not safe for a young girl to walk around alone. It would not surprise me at all if Sir Reginald saw her and made inquiries about her. I understand he is quite desperate.”

  “He’d have to be if he went to Bath,” Constantine said under his breath. Charlotte resisted the urge to cast her eyes to the ceiling.

  “We only sent her there because my mother begged for one of her granddaughters to visit,” Mr. Merryville said. “I had no idea she’d be so lax. Then again, we keep more of a watch over our children than was kept over us.”

  “It is unfortunate that she did not take better care of Susan.” Charlotte sympathized with the couple.

  “She is not even fifteen!” Mrs. Merryville cried and broke in to tears. Her husband put his arm around her shoulders. “How could he do what he did?”

  For a moment Charlotte was distracted by the woman saying Susan was not yet fifteen, then she understood what actually concerned Mrs. Merryville. “Excuse me, ma’am, but when I said she was well, I meant that she had not been touched.”

  The woman lowered her handkerchief from her eyes. Mr. Merryville stared at Charlotte. “Are you certain, my lady?”

  “I am quite certain. She also understands what a horrible mistake she made in trusting him.” She softened her tone. “I think you will find that she very much wishes to be forgiven.”

  “If I may make a suggestion,” Matt said. “I do not allow my sisters out of the house without at least one experienced, older footman with them.”

  “I have found them more useful than my maid,” Charlotte added. “Particularly, when I am shopping.”

  “Have you received any correspondence from Sir Reginald?” Constantine asked.

  “Nothing at all.” Mrs. Merryville frowned. “We had no idea where she might be or who would have taken her until we received the note from his lordship.”

  Her husband’s jaw had developed a tick. “You are not surprised by that.”

  Constantine’s gaze focused on the other man. “How great of an heiress is Susan?”

  “My father started the business. I have built upon it and we are well off. However, I have four daughters. The eldest will come out next year. Not, of course, in Polite Society, but the expenses are significant. Their dowries are sufficient. And, although I do not aim to marry any of them into the aristocracy, I wish them to marry well.” Mr. Merryville stood. “Thank you for your assistance. I know where the fault lies, and it will not happen again.” He looked at Matt. “I will take your advice regarding the footmen. We would like to take our daughter home.”

  “Naturally.” Charlotte rose. “She is across the street at Stanwood House.”

  The Merryvilles decided to remain in the hall while Susan was sent for. She glanced at her parents and began to weep. Her parents immediately hugged her and spoke in reassuring tones.

  Constantine slid Charlotte an amused look. “That is probably the best thing she could have done.”

  “It appears so.”

  She took his hand and they were about to slip away when Mr. Merryville approached them. “I cannot thank you enough for finding and protecting Susan. If there is anything I can do to repay you, please let me know.”

  “Her safety was our main concern,” Charlotte said. “We are glad she is back with you.”

  He bowed and ushered his wife and daughter out the door. When it shut, Matt turned a horrified look at Grace, who had entered the hall. “Have I told you how much I appreciate the fact that you do not enact me Cheltenham tragedies? The weeping would drive me to distraction.”

  “As opposed to merely fainting,” his wife replied. Before they had married, Grace would faint whenever she was surprised. Fortunately, that did not include the times Charlotte and her brothers and sisters acquired frequent cuts, scrapes, and broken bones.

  “Swooning is much better. Once I learned it is not unusual.” He slid an arm around Grace’s waist. “Have you noticed that you have not fainted once since we wed?”

  She appeared to consider the matter for a moment. “I do believe you are c
orrect. Then again, I am not now living in fear the children will be taken away from me.”

  “There is a story behind that exchange,” Constantine whispered in Charlotte’s ear, causing pleasurable shivers to flit around her neck.

  She found she was still holding his hand as they headed to the drawing room. “One day I shall tell you all I know. Yet, I have a feeling even that is not the whole story.”

  * * *

  Waking early the next morning, Con decided to surprise Charlotte. He might not be able to wake up next to her, but he could break his fast with her. Not to mention that he had an appointment to discuss the settlement agreements with her brother.

  Afterward they could take a ride in his phaeton, where he would find some little-used paths in the Park where they could be alone.

  He yanked the bell pull, and a few moments later his valet appeared.

  “Good morning, is everything in order, my lord?”

  “Couldn’t be better. I shall be joining Lady Charlotte’s family for breakfast.”

  Hot water appeared as if by magic, and in less time than he would have imagined, he was dressed and on his way down to the hall. How had he never noticed how efficient his staff was?

  “My lord,” his butler, Webster, said when Con reached the hall. “Mrs. Henley would like to know if Lady Charlotte will be inspecting the house soon.”

  That stopped him in his tracks. Naturally, Charlotte would wish to inspect the house. Whatever that entailed. He did not know what, exactly, the protocol was for a change in mistresses. Should his mother be in charge of her visit? Clearly, he would have to ask for advice. The problem was determining who should advise him. “I am sure she will wish to do so at some point.” If he had his way, it would be after their wedding. “I shall have to find out when she wishes to meet with Mrs. Henley.”

  “Very good, my lord.” His butler opened the door. “Will you return for luncheon? Cook wishes to be informed.”

  Con stopped and speared Webster with a look. “I do not recall ever being asked by my cook when I shall be here to dine.”

  “No, my lord. However, you never spent much time at home before.”