“Lord Ridgeway,” said Ava, before Colin could dredge up another embarrassing story. “Perhaps you should ascertain if your friend needs medical attention.”
“Where are my manners?” said Colin. “Miss Conway, may I present Nathanial Gage, Marquess of Grayson? His ancestral home is that castle on the hill. Grayson, this is Miss Ava Conway.”
Grayson made an elegant bow, despite his lack of balance. “My apologies, Miss Conway for my condition. I had not thought I would meet anyone today.”
“I believe you did not think,” said Rose, hating how very much like a fishwife she sounded. But, really, when was he going to grow up?
“Guilty as charged,” he said. “And Lady Leticia, please promise me you will pelt your brother with snowballs. I am sure he deserves it.”
Letty laughed.
“If you come over to the house, perhaps you and I can have an all out snowball war,” said Colin. “I’m sure you’ll hear, but we’re at the dower house now.”
“You are?” Grayson looked at Rose. “Is everything all right?”
“Quite,” she said.
“Come for dinner,” said Colin. “As long as you don’t mind eating in the kitchen.”
“Trust me, I’d rather eat in your kitchen than the ducal dining room, but I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Leaving tomorrow. Rose wanted to groan aloud. She hadn’t seen Nate in months and then when she did, she was dressed in an old cloak and made him fall off his horse.
She certainly had a way with men.
“I should be off,” said Nate, with another look at Rose.
“I don’t think you should be riding,” said Rose.
Colin laughed. “Rose, when are you going to stop treating Grayson as a brother you can boss around?”
“I don’t think of him as a brother,” she said quietly.
She wasn’t sure, but there seemed to be a different quality to the look Nate gave her. Maybe he was beginning to see her as someone other than his friends’ sister. Or, given his state of inebriation, maybe he was about to be sick.
Whatever had been there was gone, as he swung back in the saddle effortlessly.
“Miss Conway, it was a pleasure to meet you. Lady Leticia, please remember to pummel your brother. Ridgeway, I shall see you on my return. And Thorn?”
Rose looked up.
“Take care of yourself.” Then he smiled at her before continuing his journey home.
Rose wanted to cry with the absurdity of it. Nate would be in the county for only one day and she’d made him fall off his horse. She looked up to see Ava looking at her curiously.
She hoped the too perceptive Ava did not figure out why Rose was so disconcerted. It would not do for Colin to discover that the only man Rose had ever loved was also his drunk, scapegrace friend.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Maude, you have such a lovely figure,” said Rose, as she pinned the gown she was altering. “Are you certain you do not wish the bodice to be a bit lower?”
“But we’ll be in church, Lady Rosemary. I cannot possibly show too much when God is watching.” Maude was standing very still in Rose’s bedchamber as Rose and Ava worked on the gown and Letty looked on.
“Yet, I do not think it would hurt to show a bit more of what the good Lord gave you,” said Ava, from where she was pinning the hem.
Maude laughed. “Perhaps we can lower it a little. Victor might like it.”
“He will love it, I’m sure,” said Rose, as she pinned the bodice.
It had been two days since their walk into the village. Ava had been trying to keep her distance from Colin, while at the same time trying to get Rose to speak to her of Lord Grayson. The marquess was an incredibly handsome man, but he’d been so inebriated that day it was shocking he’d been able to remain seated on his horse as long as he had. If he was a man prone to drinking, Ava could not wish for Rose to become his wife.
Some problems were not so easily solved as others.
Rose had deftly evaded her questions by claiming she was only concerned about Grayson as a friend. Yet, Ava could not help but believe there was rather more to it than that.
There was a knock on the door.
“Ladies,” called Stemple from the hall. “I have taken the liberty of bringing you tea.”
“You can’t come in!” said Letty. “It’s bad luck to see your bride in her gown.”
“Yes, dear,” said Rose. “But tea would be nice.”
“I didn’t know he could make tea,” said Maude.
Ava went to the door and opened it just a crack. “Thank you, Stemple. But I am afraid you cannot enter and see your bride-to-be in her wedding gown.”
“But the wedding is still two weeks away,” he said, trying to peer into the room.
Ava moved into the hall, shutting the door behind her. “You may see your betrothed later – after she has removed the gown. Which looks beautiful on her, by the way.”
“I am sure it does. How shall I serve the tea if I cannot enter?”
“I can take the tray.”
Stemple looked disappointed. “If you’re sure you don’t need my assistance.”
“I am quite positive.”
“You might wish to know that Lord Ridgeway received several letters from London today, Miss Conway. He seemed quite pleased to get them.”
Several letters from London? Perhaps he had good news from a company other than Clayton’s. “Thank you for informing me. I shall place the tea inside then find his lordship.”
He opened the door for her.
“That will be all, Stemple,” said Ava laughing.
“If you insist.”
“We all do!” said Rose from inside the bedchamber.
Ava placed the tray on a table. “If you will excuse me, I must attend to something.”
She left quickly, then all but ran to the library in search of Colin. She found him at his desk, but not with the smile she hoped he would have.
“Ava,” he said, rising from his chair. “What a lovely surprise. I thought all of you were helping Maude with her gown.”
“We were, but Stemple said the post had arrived.”
“It has. Unfortunately, nothing has come for you.”
“Was there anything else of note?”
“Even more unfortunately, there was. I received three responses to my queries. All were polite, but each said the same. They are not interested in my writing at this time.”
Ava’s heart sank. How could anyone reject this man? “Perhaps not at this time. But that could very well change. How many more queries did you send?”
“Another dozen or so, but I am not optimistic that their responses will be any different.”
“I am. Surely not every publisher in London is so mutton-headed as to say no to you. I am certain there must be someone with the good sense to sign you to a contract.”
“Or perhaps this is just a pipe dream.”
“I will not let you give up on yourself.” She closed the distance between them and placed her hand on his cheek.
He turned his head to kiss her palm. “No one has ever believed in me the way you do.”
“It is easy to do, Colin. And I will never lose faith in you.”
*
Mrs. Babcock paced the length of the sitting room once again, eyeing the threadbare rug with disgust. “Really, I cannot think how an earl’s family could live in such a place. When you become the countess Nora, you must purchase all new furnishings. You can start by taking this rug out and burning it.”
“I shall start with a wedding trip around the world,” said Nora, from where she sat on the settee.
“Your father might have a thing or two to say about that. A trip around the world is too expensive by half.”
“But Papa has loads of blunt.”
“Of course he does. But that doesn’t mean he’ll spend it all on you. He says the marriage portion will be significant given all the debt Ridgeway has. Your papa will be ruthless in the negoti
ations, of course, and he’ll not be the soft touch you think him to be once you’re married. After all, we still have Myra to marry off and she won’t go cheaply.”
“Mama,” said Myra from the window seat, “you do realize I am sitting right here, do you not?”
“I’m not saying anything you do not know. These Brits are too haughty by half when most of them have not a pot to piss in.”
“Yes, I cannot imagine why they would not want Americans for in-laws,” said Myra dryly.
The criticism sailed over Mrs. Babcock’s head. “Nora, your father hates this place and would like to decamp for London. He believes you must bring Ridgeway up to snuff sooner rather than later.”
“Trust me, Mama, I have it all in hand.”
“Do you? You already let a viscount slip away.”
Nora narrowed her eyes. “I am sure I had nothing to do with that. I’m certain Myra said something to scare him away. Besides, he was only a viscount who will one day in the future be an earl. Ridgeway is an earl right now.”
“And poor as a church mouse. If you married Lord Clayton, your father wouldn’t have to spend nearly as much money.”
“Yet you’re willing to waste money on Myra.”
“I am still here,” said Myra.
Their mother continued. “Nora, do all of us a favor and bring this courtship to its conclusion quickly. You always wanted to be a spring bride, did you not?”
“That is true. I’ll get him to propose now, then Papa can take the family to London. If I meet anyone better there like a marquess or duke, I can cry off with Ridgeway.”
“That’s my girl,” said Mrs. Babcock. “Now I must have a conversation with Cook to see if we can put an end to all these English dishes. They’re making your father terribly dyspeptic.”
As Mrs. Babcock sailed out of the room, Myra studied her sister.
“I take it your heart is not engaged with Ridgeway?”
Nora laughed. “Of course not. I’m sure I would never be so gauche as to fall in love with someone that poor. But he is handsome and I imagine he could be fun in the bedchamber, though I hope he will not want too many children. And I am looking forward to being a countess.”
“Unless you can be a marchioness or duchess.”
“I would dearly love to be a princess above all else. But I understand all those positions are taken in England and you know Papa would hate to travel to a place they don’t speak English. This will be good for you, too. When I am a countess, you will be thrown together with a better class of gentlemen. One of them just might offer for you. Although you should give serious thought to changing the way you wear your hair.”
Myra wondered how her sister the countess-to-be would look with a blackened eye. But it was not worth the trouble. Yet still wonderful to imagine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Colin was growing used to the clean country air, so unlike London. And he appreciated how quiet the mornings were without noise from the streets below. But on this morning, he awoke with a sense of dread. With his rejected inquiries fresh in his mind, he’d spent the evening going through the estate’s financial ledgers. Unfortunately, they were much as they had been the last time he’d perused them. Grim.
He was supposed to take Miss Babcock for a walk that morning and was dreading it. He was glad he no longer had Stemple helping him dress. He didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on the man’s face as Colin prepared to escort Miss Babcock. He was disappointed in himself, as well. But he could see no other way out of his predicament, barring a miracle.
He broke his fast and was regaled by Letty’s recitation of what she’d been learning from Ava’s expert instruction.
“Miss Conway has been to Italy, Colin. Can you imagine? Her papa was a great professor and he took her there once and she learned ever so much and she’s even seen paintings in person that I’ve only seen in books. Have you been to Italy, Colin? I know you were in France and Belgium in the war, but did you go to Italy?”
“No, pet, I have never been to Italy.”
“I think it would be brilliant if we all could go, Maude and Stemple, too. Maybe we’ll go when you and Miss Conway get married.”
Ava knocked over her water glass. Colin almost dropped his fork. “Unfortunately, we won’t be going to Italy in the near future, though I would love to look at those art books with you so you can show me what you learned.”
“Where will you and Miss Conway go when you do get married?” asked Letty.
Colin looked at Rose, hoping she would intercede. However, she was completely engrossed in her breakfast, as were Maude and Stemple. A quick glance at Ava showed that she, too, was inordinately interested in her meal, though her blush had turned her face a delightful shade of red.
“Letty, why do you think Miss Conway and I should get married? This is the second time you have brought it up. And don’t say it’s about maths.”
“Well, if you get married, she could live here forever and Stemple wouldn’t have to keep hiding those letters Miss Conway has been writing.”
“Lady Leticia, what are you talking about?” asked Ava.
“This is my fault,” said Rose quickly. “Completely and utterly my fault. I told Stemple I would dismiss him if he did not refrain from posting Miss Conway’s letters.”
“Lady Rosemary did no such thing,” said Stemple. “She asked if I would do it. I could have refused. The fault is mine. I am sorry, my lord and Miss Conway.”
“The fault is mine!” said Rose. “Stemple never would have done such a thing on his own. It was my idea. I told him to do it. I am the one who owes an apology. I am terribly sorry, Stemple, for placing you in such a difficult position.”
Colin was trying to take everything in. Had his household conspired to keep Ava from leaving? “Do you not also owe Miss Conway an apology?”
“Yes, I do,” said Rose. “Ava, I am sorry I deceived you. I want you to stay and this was the only way I could think to do that.”
“But I must go,” said Ava.
“Please stay, Miss Conway,” said Letty. “We have so much fun together and you’ve taught me so much and who will help us decorate for Christmas next year if you leave?”
Ava looked at a loss for words. Colin thought it was likely the first time in history such a thing had happened. “Well, Miss Conway? What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I certainly do not wish to leave…” she began.
“So you’re staying?” said Letty.
“I would like to….”
“You’re going to stay!”
“Poppet, I do not know if I can.”
“Please say you’ll consider staying,” said Rose.
“I will consider it,” said Ava softly, though not with as much conviction as Colin would have liked.
But the day was looking brighter because of it. Until Colin remembered the task ahead of him. “I must be off.”
“Can’t you stay here instead?” asked Letty. “We’re holding lessons outside and Rose is coming even though she doesn’t need to learn anything anymore.”
Colin kissed his youngest sister as he prepared to leave. “I think perhaps Rose needs to learn to mind her own business a bit more, even if her heart is in the right place.” Then he kissed Rose to take the sting out of his words.
But as Colin walked to the manor house, he was heartened by how much his family loved Ava.
*
“I thought it was time for you and me to have a talk,” said Mr. Babcock from behind the desk in the study. It was the same desk that Colin’s father had occupied whenever he’d called his children into account. And that desk was the same one Colin and James would have to grip as they bent over for their canings. Looking at it now, Colin wondered why he hadn’t burned the damned thing the moment he became the earl.
“Are you listening to me, Ridgeway?”
“Of course, sir. It is time for a talk.”
“As I’m sure you know, Nora’s marriage portion is si
gnificant. In your case it would have to be in order to cover your significant debts, even if most of them were incurred by your father.”
“If I might ask, how do you know how the debts were incurred?”
“I had you investigated, of course. You don’t really think I’d come to England without knowing about the peers who were in want of a wife? I had my man of business look into the lot of you. You’re a good deal more impoverished than most of them. But you don’t have a gaming problem, a love of drink or opium, and you’re even discreet enough with your mistresses that my man couldn’t figure out who you have set up in town. Of course, your finances are so bad you might not be able to afford any of those things, up to and including the girl. But plenty of your peers are poor, yet are still able to be miscreants and deviants.”
“I am flattered to be found guilty of poverty but cleared of the miscreant and deviant charges.” If Colin didn’t punch this man before the end of the interview, he would surely have apoplexy from the thwarted desire.
“I am willing to give you £75,000 when you marry Nora, then I can gift you £25,000 more per annum. Assuming you keep my little girl happy, of course, as well as help me in my business endeavors.”
It was all Colin could do not to let his jaw drop inelegantly to the floor. £75,000? That was more than enough to settle all the debts, restore the estate and give his sisters the future they deserved.
“Are those terms agreeable, Ridgeway?”
If all that had been at stake was money, they would have been more than agreeable. But there was more, even if Colin did not wish to think of it. “I have not yet spoken to your daughter, sir. And, in truth, I have not decided to propose.”
“I’ll raise it to £30,000 per annum, but I’ll expect you to introduce me to all your rich friends.” Colin realized that in marrying Nora, he would also be subjecting himself to a lifetime of doing her father’s bidding.
But £75,000. Then £30,000 per annum.
“That is a most generous offer, sir. But as I said, I have not yet made up my mind.”
Mr. Babcock had a rather thunderous look on his face, reminding Colin even more of his father. But, fortunately, the beautiful Miss Babcock chose that moment to enter the study.
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