The American Earl

by Joan Wolf

  “You need to find a husband,” he said.

  “No! You want me to go and live in a strange place with some strange man? I can’t do that, Evan!” I leaned toward him, desperate. “I can’t!”

  He didn’t say what I expected to hear, that other girls did it all the time, why couldn’t I? Instead he said, “We might be able to keep you at Stoverton, Julia.”

  I just stared.

  “Think,” he said. “You must marry. There’s no getting around that. But you don’t have to marry a man who has his own property. What if you picked a younger son, someone who would be happy to have a great estate he could live on?”

  My mouth fell open.

  “When we get to London, look around,” he said. “You might find a man who likes all the things you like – horses and hunting, that sort of thing. You could continue to live at Stoverton and maybe you could even come to love him.”

  I doubted that, but the rest of his idea was worth thinking about.

  “What about money? When a woman marries, her money becomes her husband’s.”

  “The only money you will have, Julia, is my money, and your husband will have no right to that.”

  “But when I get Stoverton profitable again? We can’t have the same thing happen that happened with Papa.”

  “Julia, your husband won’t own Stoverton because it doesn’t belong to you. He won’t handle any of Stoverton’s money. You will because I will designate you to be my agent.”

  He was right. It was a brilliant plan.

  I said slowly, “So all I have to do is go to London with Aunt Barbara, go to all the boring parties she drags me to, and try to find a poverty-stricken husband who’ll marry me for my dowry. And once I do that, I can come back to Stoverton to live?”

  “Yes.”

  I smiled as I hadn’t smiled since my fathet died. “Oh Evan, thank you!”

  He blinked. Then he said, “It’s a good business proposition for me as well. You’re right when you say you know more about Stoverton than anyone else. The fact that you’re a woman shouldn’t stop you from using that knowledge, or me from taking advantage of it. My sister has run a multi-million dollar business for years. And has borne two children, as well. I think you’re the person for the job.”

  I bit my lip as an uncomfortable thought hit me. “But what if no one wants to marry me – even with the dowry? What will happen then?”

  He favored me with that heart-catching smile. “You’re a beautiful girl, Julia. Believe me, you’ll have no problem finding a husband.” His eyes narrowed to dangerous blue slits. “But you must follow Aunt Barbara’s advice and be pleasant and accommodating to her and to your cousin. I must also tell you that Aunt Barbara has agreed to include Maria in her household and find her a proper governess and a good music teacher.”

  I thought about having to listen to Aunt Barbara and repressed a shudder. I can do it, I told myself. I have to do it. The prize would be Stoverton, and Stoverton was worth any sacrifice.

  I managed to say, “I will do whatever Aunt Barbara tells me to.”

  He blessed me with the smile again. “Good girl. I’ll send word to Aunt Barbara tomorrow that all has been agreed to. She plans to leave for London in a week.”

  “A week! That’s not much notice!”

  “It’s not as if you have a lot to pack,” he said dryly.

  “Yes, but I have to make sure the hay is ordered and the ….”

  He cut me off. “I will leave enough money with Toby for him to manage. You trust him, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  He stood up. “Good. Then let’s go into the library and tell the good news to Flora and Maria.”

  I stood as well. I felt as if my head was whirling. “All right,” I said, and allowed him to take my elbow and steer me out of the room.

  Chapter Eleven

  Evan was jerked out of sleep by the sound of screaming. He leaped out of bed, ran out into the hall in his nightshirt and saw Maria opening the door to Julia’s bedroom. Without thinking, he raced down the hall and followed her inside.

  The window in Julia’s room was uncovered and the moonlight shone directly in, giving Evan a clear look at the picture in front of him. Julia was sitting with her face in her hands and Maria had her arms around her sister’s shoulders. Julia’s breathing was audible - harsh, fast and frightened.

  He walked slowly toward the bed and said, as quietly and calmly as he could, “What has happened?”

  Julia’s head jerked up when she heard his voice. “Nothing! Just a silly dream. I’m sorry I disturbed everyone. Go back to bed. I’ll be fine.”

  Her long silky black hair was tumbling around her shoulders and she was as pale as the sheets on her bed. Her gray eyes were dark with terror. He wanted to sit on the bed beside her and take her into his arms. He wanted to stroke that beautiful hair and murmur that she was safe with him, that he would never let anything bad happen to her.

  Maria said, “I’ll stay with her, Evan. Go back to bed.”

  His head went up, as if someone had slapped him. He looked at the two girls and realized Maria was right; he should leave. He backed away murmuring something about being on call if he was needed. He closed the door behind him as he stepped into the hall.

  Back in his own room he had trouble falling asleep. What kind of nightmare could have reduced Julia to such terror? As for his own reaction….he would have felt exactly the same if it had been Maria who had waked from a nightmare. He told himself this so forcefully that he almost believed it.

  * * * *

  Julia was not at breakfast the following morning. When Flora asked after her, Maria said she was at the stable, going over last-minute things with Toby.

  Flora looked annoyed. “Lady Barbara will arrive this afternoon. I hope Julia is going to be here, properly dressed, when she gets here.”

  Apparently Flora had slept through Julia’s nightmare. Evan said, “Of course she’ll be here. She has promised to be courteous to my aunt and I don’t think Julia is one to go back on her promises.”

  Maria gave him a grateful smile. “No, she isn’t.”

  When breakfast was over, Evan said, “Maria, may I speak to you for a moment?”

  Maria looked at Flora, who said, “Don’t keep her, Evan.”

  “I won’t.”

  Once the door closed behind Flora, Evan sat at the table and gestured Maria to the chair beside him. “What happened last night?”

  “Julia had the dream about Papa. It doesn’t happen often, but it upsets her when it does.”

  “A dream about your father?”

  Maria looked at him more closely. “Julia was the one who found Papa’s body. He’d shot himself in the head. Didn’t you know that?”

  Evan felt as if he had just received an unexpected punch in the stomach. “No, I didn’t. What a dreadful experience!”

  “She’s never described it to me, but I heard the magistrate talking to his men. It sounded horrid; I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to see it.”

  “Poor, brave little Julia,” Evan said softly. He shook his head in disgust. “My uncle left her to find his body. What a miserable creature he must have been.”

  “Don’t ever mention to Julia I told you this,” Maria warned. “In fact, don’t ever mention that you saw her last night. She hates being weak.”

  “It’s not weak to have a nightmare when you’ve seen a nightmare,” Evan protested.

  “Julia doesn’t think like that.”

  Evan sighed. “No, I suppose she doesn’t. Well, we must hope that with the passing of time the nightmares will fade.”

  Maria nodded. “Yes.”

  “Maria!” It was Flora at the door. “I want you to pick out the music you want to take.”

  Maria shot Evan an apologetic smile and went to join Flora.

  * * * *

  Lady Barbara and Elizabeth arrived halfway through the afternoon. Evan was walking toward the house when he saw the coach arrive, so he wa
s the first to welcome his aunt and cousin to Stoverton. Aside from the mountain of luggage that accompanied her in a second coach, Lady Barbara informed him she was bringing to London two personal maids, her coachman, and a groom. She had already sent her butler on ahead to hire household staff.

  Evan received this news without changing expression and escorted his aunt and cousin to the drawing room, where Flora sat sewing by the light coming in through one of the tall windows. She invited Lady Barbara and Lizzie to sit on two matching tapestry chairs nearby and Evan joined them.

  Lizzie looked up at the picture of the first earl in his Elizabethan finery. “It’s amazing how much you look like him, Cousin Evan,” she said.

  “It is amazing,” Lady Barbara agreed. “The Marshalls have always been blue-eyed and fair-haired, but none of us ever looked so like a replica of Philip.”

  Lucy came in with the tea tray and Flora poured. Once everyone had a cup, she asked Lady Barbara how her journey had been.

  “I should hardly call a two-hour trip a journey, Flora,” Lady Barbara replied. She turned her attention to Evan. “I never asked. Is Flora to come with us?”

  Evan wondered if his aunt was being deliberately rude or if she just didn’t know any better. “I believe Flora is able to speak for herself, Aunt,” he replied.

  “I am going to my sister’s home,” Flora said quietly. “Evan is going to hire a governess for Maria, so she won’t need me, and my sister has been recently widowed and desires my company.”

  “Good,” Lady Barbara said.

  Evan said deliberately, “We’ll miss you, Cousin Flora. You did the girls a great service by coming here, and your company has been a pleasure to all of us.”

  She gave him a grateful smile.

  The door opened and Maria came in. She went to kiss her aunt and get a hug from Lizzie.

  “Good heavens, child!” Lady Barbara said, watching Maria as she moved toward Evan. “That dress is much too small for you. Don’t you have anything better?”

  Evan wondered if all great English ladies were rude. He said, “I would like it if you would buy new clothes for Maria as well as Julia when you get to London, Aunt.”

  “Oh yes!” Lizzie bestowed a dazzling smile on Maria. “Just think how much fun it’s going to be! All that shopping!”

  Maria’s face lit with an answering smile. Evan looked at Lizzie with pleasure. What a nice girl she was.

  Flora asked Lady Barbara, “Will Mr. Lewis be going to London with you?”

  “He’ll put in an appearance for the come-out ball, of course, but his duties as local magistrate keep him busy at home.” She turned to her nephew. “And since we’ll have Evan for an escort, we won’t need him.”

  Evan put his cup down on the table beside him and directed an amazed blue stare at his aunt. “What precisely do you mean by my ‘services as an escort,’ Aunt? I am accompanying you to London because I have business there. I have no plans to socialize with a crowd of English aristocrats.”

  “But you must, Evan!” Lizzie’s lighter blue eyes regarded him imploringly. “We need a gentleman escort if we’re to go to balls. You don’t have to come to everything we do, but you have to come with us to dances. And to Almacks.”

  Evan shook his head. “I’m afraid you must get your father for this detail, Lizzie. I have other things to attend to.”

  Lady Barbara opened her mouth to speak but before any words came out the door opened once again and Julia was there. She stood for a moment, regarding her relatives seated by the window. She wore her old riding skirt and boots; her red jacket was open showing a plain white blouse tucked in at the waist. Her ebony hair was tied at her nape and spilled down between her shoulders halfway to her waist.

  She didn’t say a word, but everyone in the room immediately turned to look at her.

  Evan knew it was possible to dominate a room by sheer personal magnetism. He did it himself all the time. But he was a very large man. It was interesting that this small, black-haired girl had the same power.

  “Hullo,” Julia said. “I got your horses settled down, Aunt Barbara.”

  “I brought a groom to do that,” Lady Barbara replied tersely.

  “I showed the groom where he could sleep as well.”

  Lady Barbara’s nose seemed to pinch together. When she spoke her voice sounded carefully composed. “Come and give me a kiss, Julia.”

  Unflinchingly, Julia marched across the floor and bestowed a quick salute on her aunt’s cheek. She turned to her cousin. “How are you, Lizzie?”

  Lizzie beamed back. “I’m so happy you are going to make your come-out with me, Julia! We’ll have such fun!”

  Julia twitched her lips in what Evan assumed was supposed to be a smile.

  Flora said, “You two will be the most beautiful girls in London - one so fair and one so dark. You’ll be the belles of the season.”

  Lizzie trilled light laughter and Julia quirked her lips.

  She’s trying, Evan told himself resolutely.

  Lady Barbara said, “Is that the ensemble you greet guests in?”

  “It’s my favorite ‘ensemble’” Julia replied. “I don’t have much else.”

  Lady Barbara turned her blue gaze to Evan. “Appropriate wardrobes will be very expensive. Be prepared.”

  Evan waved a hand indicating largesse. “Whatever it takes.”

  Julia said, “There’s no reason for Evan to spend a lot of money. I can call in Mrs. Wrentham from the village. She’s often made our clothes and she’s quite reasonable.”

  Lady Barbara looked aghast. “No one from the village is going to make your clothes, Julia! We will remove to London immediately and visit the best modistes on Bond Street. It’s unfortunate that you’re so small, but your figure is slender. I think we’ll be able to dress you very well.”

  Julia’s gray eyes were getting darker-not a good sign.

  “We’ll certainly have to get you a new riding habit!” Lady Barbara added, looking at Julia’s present costume.

  For the first time, Julia looked interested. “Where does one ride in London?” she asked her aunt.

  “Hyde Park,” Lady Barbara replied immediately. “At five o’clock in the afternoon you can see the whole world in Hyde Park.”

  Julia looked at Evan. “I’ll need to bring Isabella.”

  “Of course,” Evan said. He was feeling a little guilty about saddling her with Lady Barbara, so he said, “If you don’t want to take Isabella away from the country, we could buy you another horse for London. You’re always saying there aren’t enough horses at Stoverton. I’m sure we can afford to add one more.”

  Her lips parted slightly. Her wonderful eyes enlarged. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tattersalls is the place to look for horses in London.” A note of excitement rang in her voice. “We could go there. I’ve always wanted to see Tattersalls.”

  “A lady never goes to Tattersalls,” Lady Barbara said ominously. “You would be utterly disgraced should you ever do such a thing. And a horse is the least of our needs at the moment, Julia! We first must concentrate on your wardrobe.”

  Julia said pleasantly, “If I can’t ride I will be unhappy, Aunt Barbara. And when I’m unhappy I’m not very nice to be around.”

  Evan pretended to cough to hide his amusement.

  Lady Barbara was glaring at him. He said hastily, “We’ll get you a horse, Julia. I promise. Do you remember your promise?”

  He saw her breast rise and fall as she drew a deep breath. “Yes,” she said baldly. And went to sit next to Maria.

  * * * *

  Lady Barbara wished to be on the road to London as quickly as possible. “We have so much to do before the Season starts! There are wardrobes to purchase and heaven knows what state Philip has left Althorpe house in. My butler has had only a week to restore it to some kind of order.”

  While Lady Barbara supervised what little clothing Maria and Julia were to take, Evan spent his time looki
ng at the older account books for the estate, trying to figure out how expensive Stoverton would be to run when it wasn’t encumbered by debt.

  The afternoon before they were due to depart, Evan was in the library when Julia sought him out. “You weren’t just trying to placate me when you said you’d buy me a horse, were you Evan?”

  He looked up from his book. “Julia, I don’t know what kind of people you are accustomed to dealing with, but in America a man’s word is as good as his bond. If I say I am going to do something, I will do it. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Sorry.”

  She took a step back as if she was going to leave, when he asked, “Have you ever been to London?”

  “I might have gone sometime when I was a child, but I have no memory of it.”

  He said, “I made a brief stop in the city before I came out to Stoverton, but I didn’t get a chance to look around.” He gestured to the book in front of him. “Look. It’s a guidebook of London I found on one of the shelves. If we’re going to be in the city we might as well take in the sights.”

  She came to stand at his shoulder. “I’ve always wanted to see Astley’s Equestrian Circus. I used to ask to be taken for my birthday, but it never seemed to be convenient.”

  Evan looked down again at the book to hide his expression. It seemed to him that nothing about their children had ever been convenient to the earl and his wife.

  He flipped a page. “Here, I think this is Astley’s.” She bent to look at the picture of a white horse balanced in a perfect rear and her breast brushed against his shoulder.

  “Isn’t that amazing?” She seemed completely unaware of how close they were. “It’s very difficult for a horse to do that you know.”

  He could smell the scent of her hair. What was it, he wondered. Lavender?

  “We’ll have to go and see it,” he said, his voice a little huskier than usual.

  She turned her head toward him and smiled. His breath caught. Her eyelashes were so long and black they made her gray eyes even more remarkable. “That would be wonderful!”

  She straightened up and his brain began to work again. She said, “Perhaps they’ll be a balloon ascension while we’re there. Maria would like that.”