A Cotillion Country Christmas

by Carolynn Carey

  Then had come the letter from Mr. Presnell, who at the time was residing with his family in London in the Presnell town house. Thea was twenty-four, Mr. Presnell had pointed out, far past the age when her contemporaries were married and she had not heard a word from her fiancé in all these years. Mr. Presnell had written that if the Earl of Maulton intended to call off the engagement, it was past time he let his fiancée and her family know.

  Robert was horrified to think he’d let a responsibility such as this betrothal slide for so long. Obviously he should have informed Mr. Presnell years before that he did not consider the betrothal binding but he had not and apparently Miss Presnell had waited for him. Robert immediately called on Mr. Presnell and offered to marry Miss Presnell whenever it was convenient for her and her family. Mr. Presnell had accepted his apology, then pulled out the old betrothal papers so they could review the figures allotted for Miss Presnell’s dowry and the other details.

  As soon as all was in order, the Presnell family took over. Four of the five Presnell sons were now married and each of their wives wanted to host a rout or ball for the engaged couple. In addition, Mrs. Presnell expected Robert to accompany Miss Presnell to every ton party to which she was invited. He did, of course but Miss Presnell was so often surrounded by one of her sisters or sisters-in-law or cousins that he rarely had a minute alone with her. Perhaps a dance occasionally but even those were rare because her brothers frequently carried him off to the card room with them.

  So Robert had fulfilled this additional responsibility, his betrothal, as best he could without ever once having had an opportunity to become acquainted with his betrothed and by the time their wedding rolled around, he had neglected so many of his other responsibilities that he took his bride to his town house after the ceremony and promptly forgot her.

  But forgetting Alethea, he was discovering, was not a particularly wise thing to do.

  * * * * *

  Thea sat stiffly in her husband’s luxurious carriage as it rolled toward his country estate. She would never admit it but her feelings were desperately hurt because Robert preferred riding outside in the cold and misty weather rather than inside with her. Obviously he was still furious with her.

  What a terrible way to start a marriage. Perhaps she’d been wrong in waiting for Robert all these years. Maybe she’d misread him that Christmas day long ago when he had visited Presnell Place along with his mother and father. Thea’s brothers and sisters had been their usual boisterous selves that day but Robert had maintained a quiet and solemn demeanor for most of the afternoon. Even back then, when he was barely fifteen years old, he’d shown signs of becoming a handsome man, with his thick brown hair, his dark eyes and his broad shoulders. Thea had been fascinated by his reserved behavior, so different from that of her raucous brothers. She’d thought of Robert as a bit brooding, somewhat mysterious and even a little vulnerable.

  She’d also noticed the way his gaze sought her out time after time over the course of the afternoon and she’d hoped he’d find some way to approach her but he had not. Then, after he and his family said their farewells, she’d hoped he would come visit the following week. But he hadn’t and less than a month later, Robert’s mother had passed away. After that, Robert never visited Maulton Manor again.

  The years passed without Thea seeing Robert but she couldn’t forget him. She knew, of course, about the betrothal their fathers had planned before their births. Her brothers had learned of the document’s existence and teased her about it but they’d never expected she would feel bound by the agreement. No one had.

  So when she was old enough, her parents had taken her to London for a Season and she’d received more than one proposal of marriage over the years but she’d preferred to wait for Robert. Finally her father had pinned her down on why she wouldn’t consider any of the suitors who lined up each year to ask for her hand. When he found out she considered herself engaged to the Earl of Maulton, he’d immediately sent off a letter to the earl. She didn’t know what her father had written to Robert but plans for their wedding were made within the next few weeks.

  Thea had looked forward to having an opportunity to get to know Robert after they were married. Obviously he hadn’t shared her feelings. Well, she reflected, she couldn’t concern herself about that right now because she had too much work to do in preparation for the holidays. She’d make time to worry about the future when Christmas was over.

  In the meantime, she might as well get some rest. She noted that Mabel had already dozed off, so she laid her head back against the soft squabs of her husband’s coach and dropped off to sleep.

  * * * * *

  Riding along the country road toward Maulton Manor, Robert was amazed to find himself experiencing a sense of homecoming as the landscape became increasingly familiar. If anything, he’d expected to feel disquietude when he approached the estate.

  After all, he had made a point of never returning to Maulton Manor after his mother died there. Memories of her unexpected illness and passing had been far too painful. Instead and totally out of character for him, he’d trusted his estate manager to oversee affairs and notify him if any problems arose. Fortunately, they rarely did.

  He could not help wondering what his housekeeper had thought yesterday when he had sent one of his grooms to inform her that he and his bride would be arriving today. No doubt Mrs. Gilbert had been forced to scurry about airing bedchambers and removing dustcovers from the furniture in drawing rooms and the dining room. Robert hoped she would have had time to prepare adequately for his and Alethea’s arrival.

  They were still three miles from the entrance to the Manor’s drive when Robert’s reverie was interrupted by the pounding hoof beats of approaching horses and the raucous shouts of their riders. For a split second, he regretted not carrying a firearm on his person but he almost immediately realized that the approaching horsemen would be his recently acquired brothers-in-law.

  Sheldon came into view first, galloping at breakneck speed. He shouted his greetings and slowed his mount to a lively trot. Behind him appeared Gerald, Theodore, Samuel and, bringing up the rear, Thomas.

  Robert had to work at steadying his mount, which had been spooked by the unexpected noise and sudden movements. As soon as he had his horse under control, he turned toward his coach, caught the eye of his coachman and threw up his hand to indicate that the coachman should also stop.

  “Greetings, Maulton,” Sheldon called as he rode his horse up beside Robert’s. “We’ve had a groom out watching for you all day. Wanted to see to it that you had a proper welcoming committee.”

  “Ah, well, thank you.” Robert supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. He’d learned during the weeks leading up to his wedding that the Presnell sons were a friendly bunch who had given every appearance of adopting him as a member of their family. Which was all very nice except that Robert was positive he would always feel like an outsider, unsure of how to act or even how to respond around his in-laws. Even though he’d been born next door to their estate, his upbringing had been so different from theirs that it was almost as though they came from a different culture.

  Gerald rode up next. A year younger than Sheldon, he was half a head taller and just as lively. “Good to see you, old fellow, but you’re cutting it close. Mother had begun to worry because you were staying so long in the city but we told her that you newlyweds had probably lost track of time.” He grinned and Sheldon snorted.

  “Yes, well, ah…” Robert felt his face growing warm. Obviously his brothers-in-law assumed he and Thea were man and wife in every way. Thinking of Thea, he glanced back toward the coach. “I’d better see to your sissss…eh…to my wife.”

  But upon approaching the coach, he found that Samuel had already dismounted and opened the door to converse with Alethea. Sam then turned back toward the others, a wide grin on his face. “Thea says to stop making idiots of ourselves but that she’s glad to see us and we should ride on to Maulton Manor with the coach. I told he
r that Mother and three of the girls are already there helping Mrs. Gilbert get things in order.”

  “Let’s go then,” Sheldon commanded. Sam shut the coach door, climbed back onto his horse and the group set off down the road.

  Robert stifled a sigh. He’d brought a good deal of paperwork with him and had hoped to retire to his library to work as soon as he’d gotten his wife settled. But with a house already full of in-laws, that plan didn’t seem feasible just yet. He forced a smile and once more headed his mount toward his country estate. Christmas this year was obviously going to be quite different from the quiet and peaceful days he’d known in the past.

  Chapter Two

  As they neared the point where the carriage drive to Maulton Manor turned off the main road, Robert realized just how much he had been dreading this moment. Because he hadn’t been back to the Manor since his mother died there, he had expected to be struck with a deep sense of loss, much as he had felt the day so many years ago when he and his grieving father had driven away from the estate.

  But surrounded as he was by the Presnell brothers, he didn’t have time to feel bereaved. In fact, he barely had time to notice that the door to the gatehouse was adorned with an evergreen wreath. Then, because the drive would not support three horses abreast, the other brothers fell back and Robert and Sheldon rode on side by side.

  “I hope you don’t mind, Maulton,” Sheldon said, glancing at Robert as they rode toward the front of the Manor. “I know you’ve not been in the habit of spending Christmas here in the country but we all know how much the holiday means to Thea and we decided you might not object to a bit of assistance in getting the place ready. You must tell us, of course, if you wish us to go away."

  “Glad to have you here,” Robert replied, hoping his true feelings weren’t reflected in his tone. “Thea will be happier with her family around her.”

  “No doubt,” Sheldon agreed. “That girl is so enthralled with tradition. Would you believe she actually cried when Gerald moved away?”

  Robert frowned in confusion. “But I thought that was Gerald who spoke to me just a few minutes ago.”

  Sheldon’s eyes widened momentarily. “It was Gerald. He’s back home for the holidays, of course.”

  “Where does he live the rest of the time?”

  “Father gave him an estate in Sussex. I’ll inherit Presnell Place someday, of course, since I’m the eldest, so our father is giving each of the boys his own estate as they come of age. He couldn’t do that if the properties were entailed but fortunately they’re not.”

  “That is fortunate,” Robert agreed, wishing he’d had some brothers to share in his father’s estate.

  “Yes but we’ll all be home for Christmas. And as a member of the family, you’ll have the pleasure of joining us in some of our traditions. Mother wants us to scout out some greenery tomorrow morning.”

  “Greenery?”

  “Holly, mistletoe, ivy, all of that. And I don’t blame you for sounding confused. I know it’s too early to cut but our mother likes us to find the best patches and know exactly where to go when the time comes. Then we don’t waste half a day searching and instead we can cut and bring the stuff to the ladies by midday.”

  Robert had no idea what his brother-in-law was talking about but didn’t want to say so. “Well, eh, that sounds sensible.”

  “The ladies certainly think so. We’ll stop by here to collect you around ten tomorrow morning.”

  “Me?”

  “Of course. You’ll want to go along. It’s great fun.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Business. I need to meet with my estate manager.”

  Sheldon shook his head. “Mr. Frashton got a letter a few days ago saying his mother is ill so he’s gone up to Brighton to visit her.”

  Robert frowned. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that but I still can’t go. I have at least a dozen letters to write.”

  “Oh? Is your secretary not arriving until later?”

  “I don’t have a secretary.”

  “Ah, so you’re between secretaries then. What happened to the last one?”

  “I’ve never had a secretary. My father said they were useless. I write my own letters.”

  “Good God, man, you can’t do that. I’ll bring our man over in the morning. He’s quite talented. You just tell him what you want him to say, just in general of course and he’ll do the job for you better than you could do it yourself.”

  Robert took a deep breath. “Thanks anyway but—”

  “No thanks necessary. Besides, Murdock will be happy to get away from my sisters for a while. They’re pestering the poor man to death wanting asking for help with their various Christmas plans. Ah, here we are at your front door and there’s Mother and the girls come out to greet us. As soon as you’ve handed Thea out of the coach, join us. I know Mother’s been looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Robert merely nodded, then dismounted and handed his reins to a groom he assumed was in his employ. The coach had rolled to a stop a few feet away and obviously his next duty was to see to his wife. He bowed first to his mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, who stood outside his front door smiling as though this was the happiest day of their lives, and then he walked toward the coach.

  He doubted he would have felt any more displaced if he’d suddenly been dropped amid a tribe somewhere in the wilds of South America.

  * * * * *

  If Thea hadn’t been a countess, she would have been bouncing up and down in her seat for the last five miles. Actually, she’d forgotten her new status and bounced a couple of times anyway but the quick frown on Mabel’s face reminded her that she was supposed to be a sedate lady now.

  But, oh, she was so excited. To be coming back home for Christmas!

  Well, not home exactly, as she wouldn’t be living in her parents’ house any longer but next door was the next best thing.

  She was even feeling a bit more optimistic about her marriage. After all, Robert might not have done so cheerfully but he had given her what she wanted when she’d made her feelings known.

  On the other hand, she was concerned because she was a wife in name only thus far. That was more than a bit worrisome. Most men, so she’d been led to believe by her sisters-in-law, couldn’t wait to bed their wives and some men—and on this the sisters-in-law had sworn Thea to secrecy—had even performed their husbandly duty more than once on the wedding night.

  Although Thea found that thought quite shocking, she had been prepared to please her husband if that was what was required. But instead he had ignored her completely.

  Did he resent having to marry her? If so, why hadn’t he ended the betrothal years ago when they’d been too young to marry? Since he hadn’t, Thea had supposed he was like her, just waiting for the right time.

  Of course he had no way of knowing that she’d been in love with him all these years. She wondered now if she’d been in love with a figment of her imagination.

  But no. Even now, after this rocky start to their marriage, Thea felt the most delightful tingles whenever she was around Robert. She was accustomed to her brothers, who rarely passed five minutes without talking and so she found Robert’s long silences intriguing. What was going on behind those dark eyes? What deep and turbulent thoughts lurked behind his calm exterior? Thea longed to delve into his personality and hopefully learn some of his secrets.

  But first she was simply dying to see her mother and sisters again. She leaned forward in the coach, looking out the window and waiting for someone to open the door, let down the step and help her out.

  Suddenly her husband’s face filled the small window. “Oh,” Thea said, mostly because he had startled her.

  He raised his brows and regarded her with some hauteur, then opened the door and held out his hand. “Are you ready to alight, my lady?”

  “Yes, of course.” Thea placed her hand in her husband’s and allowed him to help her out of the coach. She could feel th
e warmth of his hand through her glove and discovered she loved the sensation of her hand being enveloped by his. She glanced up into his face, hoping to catch his eye and see if he was still furious with her. But he was looking straight ahead and then she heard her mother and sisters calling out greetings to her and she forgot to act like a married lady. She picked up her skirts and ran to the front entrance where she was instantly enveloped in hugs.

  Fighting back tears of happiness, Thea returned her mother’s and sisters’ embraces, then allowed them to lead her into her house where they had been helping the housekeeper prepare for her. Thea had met Mrs. Gilbert on various occasions over the years, so they greeted each other with less formality than might otherwise have been the case.

  There had been no real need for a butler at Maulton Manor after Lady Maulton’s death, so that post had been vacant for a number of years. However, the other servants were lined up in the entrance hall waiting to be introduced to their new mistress and following that rather formal ceremony, Mrs. Gilbert offered to have refreshments brought to the drawing room. “That would be delightful, Mrs. Gilbert,” Thea said, then turned to her husband. “Does that meet with your approval, my lord?”

  Thea noticed that Robert’s eyes widened slightly, as though he had not expected to be consulted but he quickly nodded. “That sounds lovely, my lady.” He turned to her brothers. “Won’t you join us?”

  But Sheldon quickly shook his head. He winked at Thea and grinned. “Thanks but we’ll be off. See you tomorrow, Maulton.”

  Thea watched her brothers leave with a slight tilt of her stomach. Her mother and sisters would stay for refreshments and to inform her about any household responsibilities they might have noticed while helping Mrs. Gilbert but they would soon leave too and she would once again be left alone with her husband. Would he ignore her and retreat to his library?

  But she couldn’t worry about that at the moment. Mrs. Gilbert excused herself to go order the refreshments, while Thea’s mother indicated Thea was to follow her to the drawing room. Five minutes later, they were seated in a lovely room that still smelled a bit musty.