Directly to the point the intruder replied, “I thought I might discuss my daughter with you all.”
Looking at each other furtively, the family shifted uncomfortably. None of them was inclined to discuss the woman they had so recently persuaded Edward not to marry; they were even less inclined to discuss her with her father.
Edwina was the first to recover her composure. “Edward, would you please introduce us.” She looked at him stony-faced. Edward knew her opinion of Frances was fixed and she would not be moved.
He cleared his throat. “Lord Davenport, may I introduce my sister-in-law, Mrs Richard Emberton…”
Lord Davenport bowed politely, but Grace being unable to curtsey so well, did not return the compliment.
“My mother, Mrs Emberton…” Edward turned towards his mother.
Lord Davenport continued with the niceties, and Edward wondered how long this pretence of civility would go on.
“And finally, my elder brother, Mr Richard Emberton.”
Richard’s bow was more courteous than Edward expected it to be.
“Lord Davenport,” Edwina spoke her voice still holding an edge of incivility. “Won’t you join us for a refreshing glass of lemonade?” She indicated the one free garden chair, and he gladly took it.
Edward did the honours and poured his lordship a glass of lemonade. He could not very well have expected Grace to rise and tend to her unexpected guest. He also knew his mother would never lower herself to serve Frances’ father. Once Edward sat back in the chair he was occupying before his lordship’s arrival, Edwina began to speak again.
“Lord Davenport, you will forgive us if we seem a trifle lacking in manners, but I am sure you could hardly have expected a warm welcome.”
“To be sure, Mrs Emberton, I did not indeed expect a warm welcome. And I expect,” he returned her gaze with equal dislike, “that what I have to say to you all will not improve matters any.”
Edward studied Lord Davenport with suspicion. What could he possibly have to say to the family? As far as he was concerned, everything had been said and was a closed matter. The rest of the family need not be involved.
“I like your boy, young Emberton here.” Lord Davenport nodded towards Edward, who shifted uneasily in his chair. “I have a proposition for him, and I want to make it in front of all of you. I want you to know what I have to say.”
Edward was guardedly intrigued. “We shall listen, but I cannot promise anything else. You know how my family feels.”
Lord Davenport nodded. “That I do indeed, but I can’t say I agree with it.”
The collective gasp of astonishment passed around them.
“Aye, you may well be surprised at what I say, but I say nothing more than any father would, especially one who loves his child.” He stared at each one of them in turn as though daring them to contradict him.
“I have a proposition to make to you, Emberton.” He continued to address Edward alone. “You know me, or at least you ought to know me by now. I am a powerful man. I can make you or I can very well break you if I so choose.” He paused to allow those words to sink in.
Edward felt a familiar heaviness in the pit of his stomach. It was the same sensation he always suffered when there was bad news coming.
“Good. I think you understand me,” Lord Davenport chuckled, “well enough, at least, to not speak at this moment.” He raised his eyebrows questioning if Edward understood.
Edward nodded almost imperceptibly.
“You have done my daughter a great disservice—”
“Indeed!” Edwina exclaimed in protest.
“Madam, do not interrupt me!” Lord Davenport put his hand up in her face but kept his eyes firmly on Edward.
From the corner of his eye, Edward could see his mother was insulted by his lordship’s behaviour, but he knew they had to endure it to the bitter end. Lord Davenport was correct. He could be a boon to Edward’s career or he could just as easily destroy it entirely if he so chose to do.
“As I said, before I was so rudely interrupted, you have done my daughter a great disservice. It seems, despite your family’s insult to her character, her reputation, and her chastity, that she still is in love with you.”
Edward dared not even move. He did not know what to think or what to feel.
“Preposterous!” Edwina again interjected. “Insulting her chastity, do you call it? The whole of society knows what she is, Lord Davenport, and you have the gall to sit here in our home and claim we have insulted her!”
In all of his living memory, Edward did not think he had ever seen his mother so affronted.
“Again, madam, your tongue runs away with you!” Lord Davenport’s nostrils flared.
Edwina rose from where she sat. “I will not sit here to be insulted in my own home, no matter who you think you are!” She made to move out of the arbour and toward the house, but Lord Emberton’s bellowing voice stayed her.
“Mrs Emberton, you will sit back down and you will listen to every single word I have to say, or I will systematically destroy your son and your family’s reputation. Do I make myself perfectly understood?”
Edwina paled and slowly turned back towards Lord Emberton. If Edward did not know better, it looked as if his mother scowled at the man.
“I do not make threats lightly. Emberton,” the peer turned to fix his gaze upon Edward once again. “This is a lesson you need to learn.”
Edward swallowed hard.
“The sooner you learn it, the better. I will not brook insults to my family or to myself.” He drank from his glass of lemonade. “This is quite pleasant indeed. Thank you.”
None of them acknowledged his appreciation.
“Now, after having spent many hours discussing the matter with my daughter, it seems to me there are a few things that need to be straightened out. First of all, you will continue with your engagement to Frances and you will set a date within the next sennight.”
Edward paled and dared not look at his mother.
“I have taken it upon myself to arrange the small sticking point of her indiscretion with the young man from the city of London. It seems the fool had delusions of grandeur and fancied that he could marry her.” Lord Davenport chuckled at the thought; none of the others did the same. “I can pay the lad off. That is of no matter.” He indicated with a flick of his hand that the young man was nothing more than an irritating fly. “All that remains is to see that my daughter is happily married,” his stare intensified, “to you, Emberton. That is what she wants, and that is what she gets.”
It seemed Edwina could no longer hold her peace. “But she is a doxy, a disgrace! No son of mine will marry such a floozy! I shall forbid the banns to be read in church if need be!”
Lord Davenport snapped his head round and gave Edwina a withering glower. “No, madam, you shall not.” When Edwina made to interject and argue with him, he raised his voice, “And I shall tell you what will happen if you do.”
His words hung in the air, all of them waiting to hear what threat he would make against the family.
“I will, piece by piece, bring down young Emberton here’s reputation in Parliament.” He nodded sharply at Edward and glowered at him with such fierceness in his eyes that Edward cowered beneath it. “I will not stop at that alone. I will make it my personal mission to make sure Edward does not practice politics in this country ever again. He will not even be able to secure votes in a rotten borough.”
Edward felt as though he had been stabbed in the chest with a knife.
“Then I will see to it that you cannot gain employment on these shores. The only place that will accept you will be the colonies. Emberton, do you understand what I’m saying to you?” Lord Davenport’s words were slowly spoken and carefully measured.
Edward nodded. He was in no doubt as to the meaning and the sincerity of all Lord Davenport said.
“Good. I will, of course, assume that your family will also agree to my terms. If I discover that any of you
have spoken disparagingly of my daughter or have not welcomed her with open arms into the bosom of your family, then you had best reserve Emberton passage on the next ship to the New World.”
No one said a word. No one had the courage to speak.
“Well, then!” Lord Davenport clapped his hands together, his mood changing suddenly. “We have cause to celebrate!”
The Embertons were nonplussed.
“Come on now. Cheer up! We have a wedding to plan!” he hailed. “Deepest felicitations to young Emberton and my dear Frances!”
With a fair amount of lacklustre, they all smiled and weakly chorused, “Deepest felicitations to you, Edward, and your bride-to-be.”
* * * *
Richard turned and grinned wryly at his brother. “Do you remember, brother, mentioning that you thought whomever you married would not bring anything overtly melodramatic to our home?”
Edward was in no mood for joking. His cold glare didn’t stop his brother from continuing.
“You said, as I recall, that things would calm down and get back to normal after Grace’s friend, Mrs Phillips, came here. Do you remember?” Richard still maintained his chirpy demeanour, much to Edward’s shame.
“I remember, I remember!” Edward looked back at his older sibling with something akin to hurt in his eyes. “Do you take delight in torturing me with my own words, Richard?”
“Not at all!” Richard exclaimed, evidently surprised at the notion. “Heaven forbid!” His features softened into an expression of concern. “I am merely attempting to lighten your mood.”
Edward raised his eyebrows.
“It’s not working, is it?”
“No, it isn’t, Richard. You see what I face.” Edward hung his head, laced his fingers through his thick hair, and groaned. “She is fair to be sure, but what scandal!”
“Mama is livid,” Richard stated flatly.
“She has every right to be,” acknowledged the younger Edmonton, “but what is her ire compared with mine?” He shot an injured look at his brother. “Richard, I am the one who has to marry Frances. I am the one who people will gossip about behind their hands. I am the one who has to live with this situation. What other choice do I have?” If Richard had had a viable solution to this dilemma right there and then, Edward would have accepted it. “I will be a terrible husband because I already think the worst of my bride-to-be,” he said miserably.
“Come now, Edward! It truly isn’t as bad as that. Speak with her, let the rumours be put to rest, and in a few months’ time, it will all have blown over.”
“Dear God! Where do you get your endless optimism from?” Edward was astounded, and Richard laughed at him. “I will speak with her. I have to let her know that I will brook no unseemly behaviour.”
“Good.”
“I feel sick to my stomach at being forced into such an agreement, but knowing what her father is like, what must Frances be suffering?”
“I wonder,” Richard replied simply. “Do you think he is manipulating her?”
“I do not know. If all the rumours about her are to be believed, then she has led a double life, keeping many secrets from her father. She risked damaging his reputation too. His fury with me must pale in comparison to how he might be with her.” Edward shook his head.
“Then that is where you must begin, with that compassion in your heart.”
“What do you mean?”
“Edward, it is possible that Frances has suffered much by her father and that she genuinely loves you and wants to marry you.”
Edward turned and frowned grimly. “Richard, you are not in full possession of the facts.”
“Then fill me in!” Richard splayed his hands and leant back in the chair inviting Edward to tell all.
Deeply, Edward sighed and closed his eyes. His mind travelled back to the beginning of the story. He knew he had to tell Richard everything. His brother was the one person he could trust and confide in. His mother, he knew, was too emotionally involved to help. Richard’s calm and objective thinking was precisely what was required. Edward poured out his heart and soul to Richard. He did not see that he had any choice in the matter. He must marry Frances. It was either that or say goodbye to his career as a politician. If he chose the latter, what would he then do? He had no other profession. He was for politics and politics alone. It had been his only passion for most of his life, and he did not want to stop now.
Richard waited patiently and listened attentively to all that Edward told him about Frances’ past, Lord Davenport’s hand in it all, and how he truly felt deep down inside. When he finished, Edward looked up expectantly at his older brother.
“I am glad you have confided in me, Edward. It took a lot of courage to tell me everything you have today.”
“I need your advice, Richard. I need it badly.”
Richard considered a moment and said, “It seems to me that you must ascertain Miss Davenport’s affection for you. If she does, then you have something to build upon. Regardless of what she may or may not have done—I do not wish to enter into that debate because I am on your side and your side alone—the fact remains that you two are to be wed. Therefore, you have to talk. You must find some common ground, something on which to base your relationship.”
Richard considered a moment, then leant forward and clapped his hand upon Edward’s shoulder. “My advice to you, brother, is to go to Miss Davenport and go to her quickly. Take her to your house for the day, entertain her as though none of this nastiness exists. It doesn’t matter what I think, what Mama thinks, or even what Lord Davenport thinks. From here on out, Edward, you must think about yourself and Frances. If you do not concentrate on creating a strong, stable, and lasting relationship with her, then everything that you must endure side by side from now on can and will bring your marriage crashing to the ground. Give it the best chance of survival that you can by making it as strong as it can be from the beginning.”
Edward stared at his brother dumbfounded. “When did you become so wise?”
Richard laughed. “Wise? I don’t know about that. I just know that a fresh pair of eyes on a situation often can see more than the one in the middle of it.”
“Yes,” Edward nodded. “You are right.” He was glad he found the courage to confide in Richard. Now he knew precisely what he had to do.
Chapter Thirteen
“I feared I would never see you again.” Frances looked at Edward through her lashes. She knew full well the effect she had upon him.
“Your father can be very persuasive.”
She watched as Edward tried to muster a smile but failed. “I think he had plenty of motivation.”
Edward arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow at her. “What do you mean by that?”
“I know…” She bit her bottom lip in thought. “I know that I have not had a perfect or unblemished past. I am also painfully aware that I am not the ideal choice for you or your family, and I am not oblivious to the things that are said about me in society. All that aside, Edward, I have become sincerely attached to you in the short time that we have known each other.” She inched closer to him. “And I believed, I still do believe, that you feel the same way.”
Edward’s face remained impassive, tearing at Frances’ heart. She wanted to see some flicker of emotion pass across his face, something to indicate that her presumption was correct. There was nothing.
“I was so distraught after our last conversation,” she pressed on, “that even my father sat up and took notice. He is not a man to pay attention to such things. The depth of my grief at losing you was so profound that my father decided he had to take matters into his own hands and do something about it for the good of us all.”
It was now that Edward reacted, but not in the way Frances hoped. He let out a short sharp laugh, shook his head, and rose from the chair to begin pacing in front of the fireplace at Sandon Place. “Forgive me, Frances, if I simply cannot believe that you were so profoundly affected by our breakup.” He continued
to shake his head in utter disbelief.
Frances began to feel desperate. Somewhat foolishly, she had assumed everything would be fine and, when Edward invited her to visit him at his home, that she would run lovingly into his arms and he would confess his undying love to her. Inwardly she kicked herself for such silliness. She knew as well as he did that her father was forcing them together. And under such circumstances, it was extremely difficult to be affectionate. She would have to learn patience. She would have to hope that in time Edward would come to renew his feelings for her. She never expected to fall deeply in love, but now that she was, she wished it did not hurt so much.
“I do not want our time here together today, Frances, to be spent in petty recriminations, finger-pointing, and blaming. You can be in no doubt whatsoever of how my family feels about this match, in particular how my mother feels about it. Your father has made his feelings very plain indeed.” Edward closed his eyes and splayed his hands. “He threatened my career and my family's reputation. I presume you are aware of that.”
Frances’ heart sank. “I am familiar with the methods my father uses to persuade others.”
“Then you know, or at least you must understand, how difficult this is for me, how difficult this is for all of us.” When Frances made to speak, Edward held his hand to stop her. “I now know you also are finding it difficult. Frances, I want you to know I am not oblivious to that fact.”
Relief flooded her body, and she managed to smile weakly at him, seeing a small ray of hope shine through his words.
“We cannot alter the fact that we’re both in this situation and cannot get out of it. We must rally. We must…” Edward sighed and shook his head, running his hand through his locks. “I just don’t know what we must.”
Inside, Frances was growing stronger. She rose from the chair and walked in careful measured footsteps toward Edward. Tentatively, she reached out and placed her hand gently upon his sleeve. “We must try to continue as before, as though none of this has happened. I love you, Edward, and I believe that you loved me once. Perhaps the seed of it is still in your heart somewhere…”
The Suitable Bride (The Emberton Brothers Series Book 2) Page 9