The Marquis and I

by Ella Quinn

  That took Con aback. Still, his butler was right. Since moving out of his rooms into the house, he had had a series of mistresses and had spent most of his time with them, or at his club, or elsewhere. Come to think of it, he had spent more time here since he’d met Charlotte, than in the past four years together. “I shall have luncheon here, and tell her ladyship I would like her to join me.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Luncheon would be the perfect time to tell his mother that his wedding had been moved from sometime in the summer, or the autumn, or never—to next week. He could also ask Mama when it would be appropriate for Charlotte to meet with his housekeeper.

  He walked down the steps and lengthened his stride, entering Stanwood House about ten minutes later. His arrival barely caused a moment of silent surprise in the din he’d heard from the hall.

  “Good morning.” He entered the breakfast room and strolled to Charlotte. “I thought we could at least have breakfast together.”

  “I am glad you are here.” She gave him one of her sunny smiles, and he basked in the warmth.

  Worthington nodded, and his wife grinned.

  Phillip jumped up from his seat. “Good morning, you may have my chair. I’m finished.”

  A footman cleared the remains of the boy’s breakfast, and reset the place. After Con filled his plate at the sideboard, he sat next to Charlotte. “What are your plans for today?”

  “Do you mean after we meet with Matt about the settlement agreements?”

  We? Con had assumed her brother would handle everything. “Yes. Before we left, I’d sent my information to him.” He was about to go through all the details with her, but stopped. He had not received the contract from his solicitor, and he and Charlotte would have enough time for that later.

  “He mentioned it to me.” She handed him a cup of tea, and he spread jam on her toast. “I understand it is the same agreement that was used for Dotty and Louisa. Albeit with my information.” Charlotte munched on her toast. He even liked the sound she made when she ate. “You might as well know that there will be a provision for my property to be held in trust for my use only.”

  He froze. His cup halfway to his mouth. “Did Merton and Rothwell agree to that stipulation?”

  Her eyes began to dance. “Merton was not at all happy, but he wanted to marry Dotty, and that was the only way Matt would agree to the wedding. You must understand that he was not well liked at the time. Rothwell was having some financial difficulties, most of which have been resolved, and insisted Louisa not only retain her property but not use it to benefit the dukedom.”

  “And now there is me.” He took a sip of his tea, wishing it was something stronger.

  Charlotte’s sky-blue gaze was steady. “And now there is you.”

  His family had always gained wealth through marriage. Con had given no consideration to Charlotte’s portion. It simply did not matter to him. But if he had, based on the number of brothers and sisters she possessed on the Carpenter side of her family, he would have thought her dowry was no more than respectable. Still, a little voice suggested that might not be the case. It was entirely possible that Worthington, clever man that he was, was more devious than Con had previously thought. Her friend and sister had got married within a matter of weeks of meeting their betrotheds. That was quick even by the standards of the ton.

  Ergo, by the time the agreements were presented, a man in love would never oppose them. To do so would be to risk losing the only woman he needed. “I shall not disagree to that provision.”

  Con thought he heard her let out a breath, but he could not be sure. He knew in his bones that if he did not agree, Charlotte would never be his, and her presence in his life was more important than increasing his family’s wealth.

  As the children left, the breakfast room gradually quieted. Soon they were alone with Matt and Grace, who were seated at the other end of the table, their heads together, speaking quietly.

  A clock struck the quarter hour and Worthington pushed back his chair and rose. “I shall see you in fifteen minutes.”

  Con leaned closer to Charlotte. “I did not know he was such a stickler for timeliness.”

  “He is very busy at the moment.” Her tone was airy, yet her answer struck him as somewhat evasive, and he didn’t know why. “There is a great deal to do before this house is closed and the construction schedule on the other house is finalized, and the journey to the country is made.”

  That sounded right, but the niggling feeling that he was missing something returned. Con just wished he knew what it was.

  The meeting across the square at Worthington House was brief. The settlement agreement was presented to him fait accompli. Considering Charlotte’s portion was much larger than Con had thought, the contract might have bothered him if it had not been so fair. The primary part dealt with her well-being in the event anything happened to him before an heir had been born.

  “This came about,” Worthington explained, “because I did not trust my putative heir to take care of my wife in the manner I wished her to be cared for. I have heard of too many widows who have been left impoverished.”

  Con had heard the same stories. Some of the women had taken protectors, and that was not what he wanted for Charlotte. Not that her family would allow it in any event. And he barely knew the cousin who would inherit his title if he should die without issue. He took the pen in Worthington’s hand and signed the documents.

  * * *

  As soon as Constantine left, Grace called the town coach. “Madam Lisette is ready to attend us as soon as we arrive. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you already ordered your bride clothes.”

  What had been an exercise in shopping to convince Polite Society Charlotte was betrothed, had turned out to have been a wonderful decision. “Do you think Louisa will be able to travel here in time?”

  “I hope she will.” Grace shrugged. “We shall have to see.”

  Charlotte and Grace spent the next three hours at Madam Lisette’s shop making final fittings. They left with a list of other items Charlotte would need.

  When she and her sister entered the morning room for tea, they found not only Matt and the children, but Constantine, his mother, and another lady who shared the same green eyes, conversing with the twins and Madeline.

  “Charlotte.” In three long steps he was with her. “My sister Annis arrived, and my mother wanted you to meet her.” He looked as if he had lost control of his life, and she was hard pressed not to laugh. “I did not know how to stop them from coming.”

  Charlotte was certain he’d had no hope of achieving that goal. “Your sister seems to be making friends.” She took his hand. “Please introduce us.”

  Shortly after meeting Annis, Lady Kendrick, Charlotte was happy the lady would be her new sister.

  “If you have things to which you must attend,” Charlotte said to Constantine, “your mother and sister may return home in our coach.”

  “Yes, my dear,” Lady Kenilworth agreed. “Please go about your business.”

  As soon as the door closed behind him and his steps could be heard going down the corridor, Annis said, “Mama told me you have planned a surprise wedding. What a charming idea. Other than keep it a secret, you must tell me what I can do to help.”

  “I have enlisted my cousin Merton’s help in keeping Constantine busy, but if you could also keep him occupied enough that he does not guess what is going on, that would be wonderful.” Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “I sometimes have the feeling that he is suspicious.”

  “Hmm, let me give that some thought.” The lady’s lips quirked up. “I am much better at keeping my mother engaged. All I need do is mention shopping. However, I am positive I can think of something.”

  Charlotte hoped so. Although she loved spending time with her betrothed, she had a wedding to plan and very little time in which to do it.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The next morning, Constantine once more joined Charlotte an
d her family for breakfast. They had discussed the need for her to meet with his housekeeper, but, unbeknownst to her betrothed, the meeting would have to wait until after their wedding.

  “I wish I could accompany you.” He glanced at the clock and frowned. “But Merton sent me a note asking me to give him advice on a horse he had heard was coming up for sale at Tattersalls. Unless you wish to put this off, I will not have time to do both.”

  She sent up a prayer of thanks for helpful cousins. “Not at all. You will have much more fun looking at horses. You might even see if you can find a matched pair for me. Matt bought Louisa and me a pair, but I assume he will wish to keep them.”

  Constantine’s countenance cleared. “That is an excellent idea.”

  Shortly after they finished eating, Charlotte and Grace were off to the Bond Street Bazaar to finish shopping for stockings and other necessities.

  Charlotte returned home in time for tea and found Louisa had arrived with Rothwell in tow.

  She pulled Charlotte aside, suppressed excitement infusing her tone. “The letter I received was that the wedding was a surprise, and that I could not tell Gideon.”

  “The fact of the wedding is not a surprise, just the date,” Charlotte explained. “Other than Matt and Charlie, I was concerned that the gentlemen would let the secret out. The children do not know either. Merton is being a dear, keeping Constantine occupied.”

  “Charlotte, do give over,” Louisa whispered. “What has happened? A month ago, you did not even know him.”

  “I shall tell you everything, but not here.” She glanced around the room. “Meet me in the Young Ladies’ Parlor before dinner.”

  Louisa looked as if she wanted to roll her eyes. “Very well, but I want all the details.”

  “And you shall have them. At the moment, I need to speak with Grace.”

  * * *

  Con had a better time at Tattersalls than he had thought he would. He and Merton had ridden together in Con’s carriage. There were other men present he had known at school and had not kept up with. The Earl of Huntley and Viscount Wivenly greeted Con. Marcus Evesham was out of town as his wife was due to give birth shortly. Rutherford was present as well, but getting ready to leave for the country. Their discussion of horses was intermixed with politics and family issues. Huntley and Wivenly still eschewed marriage, but had not cut themselves out of Polite Society as Con had.

  What was I thinking, to ignore my friends for the company of other men not nearly as worthy or interesting?

  Where the hell had that thought come from? Or perhaps it was the truth. Worthington had warned him about the low company Con had been keeping. And now that he considered it, he had never gone out of his way to make plans with those gentlemen. He would not have, for example, dined with them at Brooks’s.

  “If you are looking for a pair for Lady Charlotte’s carriage,” Wivenly said as he inspected a roan mare, “you’ll want grays.”

  “Grays?” Con had never even seen her high-perched phaeton. Yet he was most likely the only gentleman who had never seen her drive it.

  Wivenly nodded. “Her carriage is green, and the grays Worthington bought for it set the rig off to perfection.”

  Perhaps Con should try to buy the pair from his soon-to-be brother-in-law. He meandered over to Merton, who was looking at a matched pair of Cleveland Bays.

  “What do you think of them?” Merton asked.

  They had deep chests. A groom led the horses around, showing off their high-stepping action. “Their points are excellent.”

  “Of course they are.” He looked at Con as if he were mad to have questioned Merton’s judgment. “I’m referring to the color. My wife’s carriage is red with gold trim.”

  Con would have laughed if his friend hadn’t looked so concerned. “I think they will do.”

  He strolled over to Huntley. “Is this what marriage does to a man?”

  “You will find out soon enough.” Huntley shook his head. “The sad thing is that Lady Merton doesn’t care if her horses are perfectly matched. But it’s good to see him go out of his way for her. I never thought I’d see it.”

  Con would approach Worthington when he joined them for tea this afternoon. Not so much to see Charlotte cut a dash, but because she had most likely grown attached to the horses.

  Once the purchase was made, they went to Brooks’s for luncheon.

  “Have you and Lady Charlotte set a date yet?” Huntley asked.

  “Not yet.” That was another issue Con would discuss with Worthington. “I must visit Doctors’ Commons for the special license.”

  “After the End-of-Season breakfast, then.” Wivenly cut another piece of his beef.

  End-of-Season breakfast? Why hadn’t Con heard about the entertainment? He was receiving all the invitations now. “When is this to be?”

  “The day after tomorrow, if I am not mistaken.” Huntley looked up at Con. “You must have received an invitation.”

  “My mother might have it.” And he had not seen much of her lately. She had been too busy with his sister.

  “That accounts for it,” Merton said. “You will have to ask her.”

  Still, it was strange that Charlotte hadn’t mentioned it, but it might have been planned while they had been running around the country. “I shall make a point to do so.”

  He’d ask her this afternoon at tea. Even though he had not been invited, he was sure he would not be turned away. After all, the children liked him.

  “Has anyone seen Ruffington around lately?” The query came from a gentleman at the next table. “He owes me a pony.”

  “No chance you’ll get it,” another man said. “I heard he left the country.”

  That was one way of putting it, Con thought, pleased their ruse had worked after all.

  A few hours later he was admitted to Stanwood House by the under-butler. “The family is having tea in the morning room, my lord.”

  “Thank you.” He and Charlotte had only been apart for a few hours, yet he was impatient to see her.

  Yet when he entered the room, the only people present were Worthington and a gentleman Con recognized as Rothwell. Sounds of the children playing came from the garden. “Are the ladies outside?”

  Rothwell raised his goblet in a salute. “In a manner of speaking. They are shopping.” His discontent was clear from his tone. “We had not been here for twenty minutes when my wife, your betrothed, and Grace deserted us.”

  Con wondered if Rothwell was concerned about money. “They cannot accomplish too much in the amount of time they have. It is only another two hours until dinner, and they will wish to change.”

  “You obviously do not know how efficient they can be,” Worthington mumbled.

  He poured Con a glass of claret.

  “Come to think of it,” Rothwell continued, taking a large drink of his wine, “when I came to Town to be inducted into the Lords, Louisa had renovated the kitchen and redecorated several rooms by the time I returned.” He frowned into his wine. “I was only gone for two weeks. I still do not know how she managed it.”

  Even if Con could not spend time with his beloved, he could find out about the party. “I understand there is to be a large breakfast event in two days.”

  “Grace wanted to do something before we left for the country. She had planned a ball for our sisters and Dotty, but weddings kept interfering.” Worthington took a sip of wine. “We agreed that an evening entertainment would be too much work with your marriage coming up, and decided on a breakfast.” Worthington glanced out the window and watched the children for a moment. “Your mother has your invitation.”

  Again, that made perfect sense. Still, Con had the feeling that he was missing something. “I’ll look forward to it. It is too bad we could not have combined my wedding breakfast with your entertainment.”

  Worthington paused for a long moment before replying. “Yes, indeed.”

  “Speaking of my marriage, I would like to set a date as well as purchase
from you the pair of grays Charlotte is using for her carriage.”

  “The horses can be arranged. As to the other, I am still waiting for my wife to give me a date for the wedding.”

  Just then the children ran into the morning room, followed at a slower pace by the Great Danes.

  Worthington heaved a sigh. “I really must get Daisy to the country before she drops that litter.”

  The children began to surround them, but he directed them to the schoolroom. “I shall invite Kenilworth to dine with us.”

  As they left the parlor, the children chattered happily, debating who was to sit next to him.

  Rothwell looked confused. “What about me?”

  “I am their favorite brother-in-law.” Con couldn’t stop himself from smirking.

  “What the devil did you do?” the duke groused. “They liked me perfectly well the last time I saw them.”

  Knowing he had the advantage, he puffed out his chest. “I allow them to call me by my first name.”

  “Those children do nothing for my consequence.” Rothwell snorted. “I never feel less like a duke than I do around this family.”

  Worthington raised his glass. “And that is exactly how I intend it to remain.”

  “You could allow them to call you ‘Gid,’” Con said. Rothwell scowled and Con forced his lips together so he wouldn’t laugh. “They would like that.”

  “I am sure they would. While they’re at it, they can call you Connie.”

  “No, they can’t,” he retorted. “That’s what we call my sister Cornelia.” A circumstance he had always been thankful for. “Aside from that, Barton—you remember him—is called Connie. We’d confuse everyone.”

  “Don’t feel too bad.” Worthington poured more wine in Rothwell’s glass. “Merton thought Dotty would never find a use for his title.”

  Con recalled him saying something to that effect in the inn. “I for one would rather be wanted for the person I am rather than my title.” Even if he had never expected that would be the case.

  Or expected to be rejected despite his title and wealth.

  * * *