A Bachelor Still

by Rebecca Hagan Lee

  “You shall have them,” she vowed once again. And her heart, whether he wanted it or not.

  “Then tell me, my lady, what you require of me.”

  Liana looked up to meet his gaze. “I require only one thing of you, my lord.”

  “Which is?”

  “That you not make me promises you cannot keep.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Be true to thyself, as thou be not false to others.”

  —Francis Bacon, 1561-1626

  “Where will you go on your wedding trip?” Lady Courtland stood with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop and Lady Manwaring, and Lord and Lady McElreath and Caroline in front of the church as Alex and Liana said their final goodbyes before boarding their coach for their wedding trip. The Earl of McElreath stood a distance away, apart from the rest of them, yet close enough to bid the couple farewell.

  “I thought you were going to leave the details of the honeymoon and the wedding night to me,” Alex said.

  “The Courtland men traditionally take their brides to Courtland Manor for their honeymoons. But now Rothermere is in residence there.” She gave her son a mighty frown. “I’m ashamed I didn’t give a thought to the wedding trip or the wedding night before I directed Stallings to escort him there for safekeeping.”

  Alex reached out and smoothed his mother’s frown lines from her brow with the pad of his thumb. “No need to fret, Mother. One of the advantages of being the only male heir in the family is that I have more than one country house to which to take my bride.”

  His mother recoiled. “We haven’t used the Abbey in years.”

  “We haven’t. But I have. It’s fully staffed and in good repair. It will be fine.”

  “Oh, Alexander, are you sure?” She shuddered. “I can’t think that’s any place to take your bride for a honeymoon.”

  “Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean Liana won’t,” he reminded his mother.

  “If she likes haunted old houses, she’ll love it. Otherwise…” Lady Courtland gave another delicate shudder.

  “Mother.” Alex added an authoritative note to his voice. “It’s not haunted and you know it.”

  Lady Courtland paid him no heed. “I know nothing of the sort. It gives me the chills. Your father always loved that place. I could never understand why. I prefer Courtland Manor.”

  “I will be happy to debate the merits of the Abbey with you another time, but it’s a bit of a journey and I would like to get there before morning.”

  “You’ve hours left,” she said.

  “Not if we take all day to say our goodbyes. It is, after all, my honeymoon. And I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I’m eager to get started…” He had made it clear to Sussex that he had no intention of making Liana his wife in more than name and title, but Alex wasn’t above allowing his mother to believe otherwise.

  His mother sighed. “At least I’ll know how to reach you if I need you.”

  “I hate the thought of leaving you alone with him,” Alex said.

  “I won’t be alone,” Lady Courtland reminded him. “I’ll have a house full of servants to look out for me.”

  “Nevertheless,” Alex insisted, “you must promise me you’ll never be alone with him. Keep Stallings or one of the other footmen with you when you have dealings with Rothermere.”

  “I promise.”

  “And you must not to keep him for more than a fortnight.”

  “I cannot make that promise to you, Alexander. I have waited too long for an opportunity to gain justice for your father and Felicity.”

  “I know, Mother, but you know you cannot keep him. You must allow him to leave. Have a Runner follow him if you must, but let him go. And send word to the papers that your houseguest has left Courtland Manor.”

  “Alexander.”

  “Do it, Mother. For me. And if you have any trouble or need anything, send word to Sussex.” He met Daniel’s gaze and Daniel acknowledged him with a slight nod. “He and Miranda are going to host Lady McElreath and Caroline at their house while Liana and I are gone. Of course, we’ll invite them to stay with us when we return. Sussex will help you with any problems while I’m away and if, for some reason, Sussex can’t handle the situation, send word to me.”

  “Their Graces and I are perfectly capable of handling any situations that might arise.” Lady Courtland appeared quite affronted. “I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your honeymoon.”

  Alex bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything in reply. Instead, he looked over his mother’s head to where Liana stood embracing her younger sister.

  * * *

  “Goodbye, Caro.” Liana gave her sister another squeeze. “Be good. Help Maman while I’m away.”

  “I’m always good,” Caroline replied. “And now that you’re married, you won’t be coming back home. I suppose helping Maman will be my responsibility from now on.” She heaved a sigh.

  “I won’t be gone forever,” Liana reminded her.

  “I’ll miss you,” Caroline said.

  “I’ll miss you, too, Caro. More than you know.”

  Lady McElreath patted her younger daughter on the shoulder, then turned her attention to the oldest. “We sent for your trunks while you and Lord Courtland were signing the parish register. You won’t have a ladies’ maid, so I chose your gowns accordingly. But once you settle in, I’m sure Lord Courtland will retain the services of one.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Liana replied. “I’m accustomed to doing without one.”

  “It matters,” Lady McElreath reminded her. “You are a marchioness. How will it look if the Marchioness of Courtland dresses herself? You don’t want to give others a reason to gossip. Remember that everything you do reflects on Lord Courtland.”

  Liana pinned her mother with a look. “Did you know Lord Courtland would stop my wedding to Lord Rothermere?”

  Lady McElreath nodded, then reached out and hugged her daughter. “He promised me he would. And I believed him to be a man of his word.”

  “You arranged all this.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Liana wanted confirmation.

  Lady McElreath gave her daughter an enigmatic smile. “Let’s just say I was part and parcel of the conspiracy.”

  “And Papa?”

  “Was not part and parcel of the conspiracy. He knew nothing about it. And for all concerned, it is best we keep it that way and allow him to believe everything happened the way your husband and I said it did.”

  “Thank you, Maman,” Liana whispered. “For doing what Papa could not.”

  “Your Papa is a good man, but he is beset by a fondness for drink and gaming we cannot understand.” She smoothed her hand over Liana’s blond hair. “Don’t be too angry with him. He loves you even if he doesn’t show it.”

  “I know, Maman.” Liana had heard it many times before. “Papa loves us all, but he loves himself more or he would not place us in desperate situations where we are forced to rely on Colin’s and Gillian’s generosity or the kindness of strangers in order to survive.”

  “Your Papa—” Lady McElreath began.

  “Is spoiled and selfish in the way a little boy is selfish. He thinks of us occasionally, but he thinks of himself first. And like a little boy he cannot be depended upon to do what is right instead of what is convenient. He will never change,” Liana concluded. “He will never grow up.”

  Lady McElreath gave her daughter a sad smile. “I am sorry about Lord Rothermere, Liana. I did what I could to make it up to you. I did my best to give you what you wanted.” She glanced over at her new son-in-law.

  Liana was stunned. “How did you know he was what I wanted?”

  “I’m your mother. I pay attention. I saw the way you looked at him whenever he appeared at a function we were attending. And I remembered how excited you were and how you sparkled when he danced with you at Lady Harralson’s ball during your first Season. You’d never looked at any young man like that befor
e. Or since.”

  Liana gave her mother a fierce hug. “Do you think he knows?”

  Lady McElreath shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

  “He doesn’t care about me,” Liana said.

  “He may not love you, Liana, but he cares.”

  “He only married me out of pity and a sense of duty.”

  “He married you, my darling, and no man, especially a young wealthy marquess, does that lightly. He did not have to come to your rescue. Perhaps he cares more than he realizes. Give him a chance to know you and perhaps he will grow to love you. In any case, Lord Courtland is a good man. He’ll be a good husband to you.” She looked at her daughter and spoke from the heart. “I couldn’t give you much while you were growing up, Liana. I couldn’t give you the things you should have had. But I could give you this chance to build a happy life with the gentleman of your choosing. Make the most of it.”

  “You saved me, Maman.” Unshed tears shimmered in Liana’s eyes. “And made my wishes come true. Thank you.” Leaning closer, she planted a kiss on her mother’s cheek.

  “I helped him save you. Be happy.”

  “Liana!” Alex called and motioned for her to join him. “It’s time to go.”

  Torn between joining her new husband and clinging to her mother, Liana hesitated.

  “Go!” her mother urged. “He’s your husband now. Don’t keep him waiting.”

  Liana nodded. “Goodbye, Maman. Goodbye, Caroline.”

  Lady McElreath dropped into a curtsey. Caroline glanced around, looking for the archbishop or Lady Courtland or the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Lady McElreath caught Caroline’s elbow and pulled her down beside her.

  “Maman,” Caroline protested. “Why are we curtseying? It’s just Liana.”

  “Your sister is a marchioness, now,” Lady McElreath reminded her younger daughter. “She outranks us.”

  Recognizing the honor her mother was bestowing upon her, Liana swallowed the lump in her throat, then quickly turned and made her way to Alex’s side. Her mother and Caroline followed.

  “All set?” he asked.

  Unable to speak, Liana nodded in the affirmative.

  Alex shook hands with the gentlemen, including her papa, thanked Miranda and Lady Manwaring, pressed a kiss to her mother’s hand and to Caroline’s, and caressed his mother’s cheek before turning toward the waiting coach.

  “Goodbye, my dears.” Lady Courtland embraced her new daughter-in-law, then blew a kiss to her son as Alex took Liana’s arm and assisted her into the coach.

  Settling onto the cushioned seat, Liana pulled back the curtains and waved until the little group gathered to see them off appeared only as tiny specks in the distance.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I do desire we may be better strangers.”

  —William Shakespeare, 1564-1616

  They were well out of sight when Liana sat back on her seat and faced her husband.

  “It won’t be forever,” Alex told her. His bride sat stiff as a board on the opposite seat, her back barely touching the comfortable velvet squabs cushioning the bench seat.

  He smiled to reassure her. “You’ll see your mother and sister again soon. And if you’re ready, your father as well.” It hadn’t escaped his notice that Liana hadn’t spoken to her father during the wedding breakfast. “We’ll only be gone a few weeks.”

  “That should give me time to get over my anger at Papa.”

  “That’s because he’s your father and you love him,” he said. “It may take me a little longer.”

  “Because Papa didn’t trust you to help him? Or because he agreed to Lord Rothermere’s offer?”

  It took Alex a moment to realize Liana still believed part of the fiction he and Lady McElreath had created. He shook his head. “Because he put us both in an untenable position.”

  “You and Papa?”

  “No. You and me.” He kept his anger in check when he answered, but it was still palpable. Despite his companionable demeanor toward her father during their wedding ceremony, he was furious with Donald McElreath for putting them all in this situation. “He not only put your reputation at risk, he put your life at risk as well.”

  “Papa would never risk my life,” Liana protested, automatically defending her father.

  “Wouldn’t he?” Alex asked. “Your father is a gentleman whose weaknesses have made him vulnerable to a variety of unsavory men. If he hadn’t become hopelessly indebted to Rothermere, it would have been someone else of similar character. I cannot excuse his behavior. He has to know Rothermere’s reputation. Your mother did and she’s the epitome of a gentle lady. You may be quick to forgive your father for what he almost did to you, but I’m prepared to take my time in doing so.”

  Liana took a deep breath, then slowly expelled it. “Is it true? Is Rothermere particularly unkind to his wives?”

  “Most unkind.”

  “Why?” Liana asked.

  Because he is evil incarnate. Because he enjoys hurting people—especially weak, defenseless women. Alex shrugged. “I don’t know why he is the way he is. But Rothermere believes a wife is chattel to be used and sorely abused.” He didn’t add that Felix not only abused his wives, but allowed and encouraged his friends to do the same. Or that his young brides had suffered mightily during the course of their marriages to him. He cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on Liana. “Don’t fret over Rothermere. He cannot hurt you. I won’t let him. You’re my wife now. And there’s nothing he can do to change it. I’ll protect you.” Alex reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Now, tell me, aren’t you at all curious about our destination?”

  Liana was less curious about their destination than about what would take place once they arrived there. She knew marriage required that she surrender her virginity to her husband, but she was quite ignorant of the process. Her mother hadn’t explained anything. She had simply advised Liana to obey her husband, not to make a fuss, and if at all possible, try to find pleasure in the deed for that was how marriages were legally consummated and how children were created. Liana understood what was expected of her, but had no idea how to go about it. And she’d been so worried about her wedding night that she hadn’t thought to wonder where the deed would take place.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “My favorite of my country houses,” Alex told her.

  His answer surprised her. “Houses? You have more than one country house?”

  “We have two.” He emphasized the ‘we’ once again. “The one nearest London is Courtland Manor in Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately, that’s where my mother ordered my footman to escort Rothermere.” He frowned. “Since I’ve no wish to share a residence with my mother or Rothermere whilst on a honeymoon with you, I decided we should venture further afield and travel to Greneleafe Abbey in Derbyshire.”

  “Derbyshire?” Liana had never traveled so far from her family. The thought filled her with a wave of homesickness. “So we’ll be traveling—”

  “Most of the night,” Alex said. “It will be another two hours before we reach the coaching inn for a change of horses.”

  “What happens after we change horses?”

  “We’ll only stay long enough to refresh ourselves with a light repast and a quick wash and then we’ll resume our journey.” He tried to put her at ease. “The thing you fear will happen tonight will not take place. You’ve been granted a reprieve, so you might as well sit back against the cushions and rest for the duration. You’ve had quite a morning and you must be exhausted. Close your eyes if you wish. I have no intention of bedding my bride in a vehicle or a busy coaching inn.” Or at all. But Liana didn’t need to know that just yet.

  The look of relief on her face would have broken his heart if he’d had his heart set on making her his wife in truth. Alex had seen men who had had prison and transportation sentences commuted who didn’t look as relieved as Liana did when he told her he wouldn’t be consummating their marriage vows.

&nb
sp; And even though he’d made the decision to preserve her innocence at all costs—even from himself—the relief on her face stung.

  Alex wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was young and fit, good-looking, well-groomed, and a wealthy marquess. Where marriageable females and their mamas were concerned, he was like cream to a cat. And his bed partners had never found him lacking. He was popular with the residents of Madame Theo’s house on Portman Square. None of his female companions had ever been relieved by the prospect of not sharing his pillow. Quite the opposite.

  With one exception…

  His bride.

  Alex wrinkled his brow in concentration. It didn’t make sense for him to feel slighted. Liana was Colin’s sister. He wanted the best for Colin’s sister. Nothing less. He wasn’t the best for Colin’s sister. And what’s more, Colin knew it.

  Alex inhaled slowly, then released the breath just as slowly. It wasn’t as if he’d set out to win his bride’s heart or her hand. He didn’t have feelings for her. He’d rescued her because no one else could. Because it was the right thing to do. Because Colin McElreath was his friend and his blood brother and Alex couldn’t stand by and watch while Colin’s sister was forced to wed a brute like Rothermere.

  Logically, he understood—or thought he understood—the new Marchioness of Courtland’s natural reluctance to surrender the part of her only she could give. She was an innocent who had narrowly escaped marriage to a brute by marrying a stranger who might go from hero to brute at any time during the course of their married life. He certainly understood her trepidation. She had spent her life with a father who was highly unreliable only to find herself dependent on a man with whom she had shared one dance during her first season. How was she to know if she could trust him? He’d made promises she didn’t know if he would keep. He was an unknown far outside her realm of experience. The fact that he didn’t drink or gamble to excess did not guarantee he would be a good husband for her. Liana needed assurances.