‘You may pay whatever she demands, my dear. Our daughter’s wedding is to be celebrated.’
Mollified, his wife began planning in her head. Though she was disappointed, she would soon convince herself that this match was what she had wanted all along. She was however, still displeased by her husband’s new-found assertiveness.
‘I shall be at my club,’ Mr Buxted announced, seeing an opportunity to escape. ‘I shall return for dinner.’
His wife did not reply.
As he left Mr Buxted reflected that the likelihood of game pie tonight was probably close to nought.
* * *
Lady Sophia Annesley had a plan. Well, she almost had a plan. Having seen Adam and Charlotte together in the same room for the first time, she was convinced that Charlotte had indeed developed strong feelings for Adam, but the two of them were separated by some misunderstanding. Charlotte had watched the Earl constantly yesterday, and blushed when caught doing so. Adam had been his usual urbane self, but Sophia knew her godson well enough to know when he was deeply unhappy.
She sent a note round to Buxted House, inviting Edward and Charlotte to call on her at three, and summoned Adam to visit her half an hour earlier.
He came promptly, engaged with her in his relaxed way for twenty minutes, then signalled his intention to leave.
‘Oh, no, you cannot go yet.’
‘Why ever not?’
‘Because Sir Edward is to call, and I wish you to converse with his daughter so that I might enjoy his company properly. Charlotte is a delightful girl, and is clearly overjoyed to have her father back, but she will hardly leave his side for an instant.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Godmama, what is your game?’
She opened her eyes wide. ‘I’m sure I do not understand you. I wish to speak to Sir Edward, that is all.’
* * *
She would not be moved, and since he lived for any opportunity to spend time with Charlotte, Adam could not argue.
He was sure of Charlotte’s gratitude for his part in her father’s recovery, for she had told him so many times over the past two days—including at dinner last night. Since she clammed up when he tried to engage her in any meaningful conversation, though, he could only conclude that she had not changed her mind about rejecting his suit.
He had some hope though—he felt that she liked him, and that there might be another chance for him some time in the future.
His heartbeat quickened when his godmother’s butler announced the arrival of the Wyncrofts, though he greeted them with composure.
Within minutes, when Sir Edward and Charlotte were barely seated, his godmama surprised them all by saying brusquely, ‘Adam, please take Sir Edward to the library to show him that portrait of my mother, for he will enjoy seeing it. My mother did not approve of Sir Edward,’ she explained to Charlotte as an aside.
‘Should we not all go to see it?’ asked Adam, slightly confused.
‘No, no. Besides, I wish to speak to Miss Wyncroft.’
Sir Edward, not one to question the whims of a lady, assented immediately. Adam was rather more reluctant, and sent her a suspicious glance. She returned his gaze steadily, all innocence, until he turned and followed Sir Edward out of the drawing room.
* * *
‘Now, Miss Wyncroft, you and I shall have a comfortable coze. Tell me—are you happy to have your father returned to you?’
‘Oh, yes, it is like a fairytale. I could not believe it when I saw him standing there—I still have to remind myself that it is true, and he is alive.’
‘And yet, there is some unhappiness that still shadows you. No—do not deny it, for I have seen it in you. It is something to do with Adam, is it not?’
Charlotte looked at her helplessly.
‘He will not tell me either, but I know he is unhappy. Have you had a falling out? For I understood you had become...good friends.’
‘I—we had—we were—but then—’
‘Yes? But then...?’
‘Oh, I cannot tell you.’
‘Yes, you can, my dear.’ She moved to sit beside Charlotte. ‘You will feel much better when you do.’
Charlotte looked at her uncertainly. ‘It was—something he said to me—in the park—he wanted me to be his—his...’ She faltered.
‘His what?’
Charlotte looked down at her hands, blushing.
Lady Sophia’s eyes widened. ‘Never tell me you think Adam Fanton was offering you carte blanche?’
Charlotte nodded miserably.
‘Nonsense.’
‘But he said so.’
‘What exactly did he say?’
‘Well, I can’t remember exactly. He said I was in a difficult situation. That he enjoyed...kissing me.’ Her voice fell to a whisper.
Lady Sophia snorted. ‘Good gracious, he made a mull of it, indeed. Made you think he was offering to set you up as his mistress. Lord, young men. Hopeless!’
Charlotte stared at her. ‘But—surely you do not think he planned to offer me marriage?’
‘I know my godson, and I know he would never dream of offering an insult to a well-bred young lady.’
Charlotte looked stunned. ‘But—it is impossible. Why should he offer for me? I have no fortune.’
‘And what is that to say to anything?’
‘But he must marry well—for Chadcombe and for his family.’
‘I think his idea of marrying well may have altered when he met you. Oh, I do not mean he would marry a chambermaid, or an actress or some such, but he has learned to appreciate the difference between the theory and the reality.’
‘So you think—?’ Realisation dawned. ‘Then I have insulted him in the worst possible way by thinking him capable of such baseness. Oh, no!’
She held her face in her hands—then jumped up as Adam and Sir Edward re-entered the room.
‘Papa. We must go.’
‘Why should we go, Charlotte? For I have not seen Lady Sophia in an age, and had thought to enjoy a quiet hour here. Though if you are unwell then of course—’
‘She is not unwell, Edward. She merely needs to speak to my godson. Edward—you and I shall retire to the parlour.’ She turned to the Earl. ‘Adam, you made a mull of it, but you can yet set everything to rights. Do not let me down.’
With that, she ushered a confused Sir Edward out of the door, saying ‘Let us go. I shall explain the whole to you, Edward.’
* * *
A tense silence grew in the drawing room. Charlotte—in an agony of regret and anxiety—moved to the fireplace and stared fixedly at the little ormolu clock that stood on the mantel. Why was it, she wondered, that she had faced the poachers calmly and yet could be slain by her own mortification?
The Earl—unclear about why Charlotte was upset—took a moment to collect his thoughts. The message from his godmother had been clear: he should speak to Charlotte again. But he had ruined everything on the first occasion. What could he do or say differently this time?
He caught himself up. Thinking too much had been his downfall that first day. Today he would have to speak from the heart and hope that she felt something for him.
‘Charlotte.’ He spoke to her back. ‘I am sorry for causing you distress in the park. You were overwhelmed with grief, and I crassly tried to make you an offer at the wrong time. I also failed to speak to you in the right way.’
Charlotte, distressed, turned to face him and made as if to speak, but he would not be deterred.
‘Ever since that day I have been trying to make things right—doing whatever I could to regain the regard I once thought you held for me. Those weeks in Chadcombe—up until Major Cooke’s arrival—were the happiest in my life. Seeing you every day, watching your kindness to others, I came to appreciate you
r beauty, your intelligence and your compassion—all of those things meant I did not want your visit to end. I want to be with you every day, for the rest of my life.’
Daringly, he took her hand, and she did not resist.
‘I love you, Charlotte—and I never thought I would marry for love.’
‘But I have no dowry. You cannot truly wish to marry me.’
‘I do not care about a dowry. I know that Chadcombe will be better with you as its mistress, by my side, than any other woman. I had not been long in your company before I knew how much above me you are, how infinitely better than every other maiden I have met.’
He took her other hand.
‘It must be you, Charlotte. Will you have me?’
A thousand thoughts went through her mind—chief among them a sense of how lucky she was. This man—this beautiful, wonderful man—actually wanted to marry her. She could barely take it in. Everything she had suffered, all she had believed, the many tears she had shed—
‘Charlotte?’ He looked anxious. ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Yes. Yes. I will! I—’
He reached for her before she could say any more and they shared a ferocious kiss, continuing from where they’d left off in the rose garden on the night of the ball.
After a long moment they broke off to look at each other and smile.
‘I cannot believe it. You really will be my wife?’
She nodded happily, lifted his hand, and pressed it to her cheek adoringly.
‘Charlotte—’ he said, his voice cracking.
‘I must tell you before too much time passes—No, let me speak, my lord!’ He was covering her face in kisses.
‘My lord?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I think you should call me Adam, don’t you?’
‘Adam—’
He kissed her.
‘Say it again.’
‘Adam.’
He kissed her again, this time pulling her close.
Happily, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed even closer to him.
He groaned and broke off the kiss. Stepping back, and breathing rather hard, he led her to the settee. then sat down beside her. ‘We will be married extremely soon.’
‘Yes. But I must tell you—No, listen! When you spoke to me in the park—’
‘How I have regretted that day. I should have waited, or spoken differently. When you rejected me I felt lost. I have never experienced anything like it. That is why I went to France—to get away from the pain and to find news about your father’s death to comfort you. Of course, the pain came with me to France—though at least by assisting Sir Edward I was of some use to you.’
‘And I will thank you for it always. But when you spoke to me that day I confess I did not believe you thought of marriage.’
‘What? You thought me capable of offering you such an insult?’
‘I know—I am sorry. But my lack of fortune—the fact we had...kissed. You said I was in a difficult situation—’
‘I meant only to explain why I had not waited until you were out of mourning.’ He reflected, trying to remember his own words. ‘Lord, I did talk about your situation—and our kisses—but I was simply trying to show you we would make a good pair.’
‘To think such a thing of you when I know how honourable you are. I cannot say how sorry I am.’
‘Hush, my love, it is forgotten.’
A noise in the hallway told them Lady Sophia and Sir Edward were returning. Though Charlotte would have jumped up and moved away from him, he held her hand firmly and smiled reassuringly.
Sir Edward and Lady Sophia took in the situation at a glance—the joined hands, the happy smiles, the glow surrounding the young couple.
‘Well,’ said Lady Sophia, ‘I shall be the first to wish you happy.’ She kissed both of them. ‘And I shall tell everyone it is all my doing.’
Sir Edward looked rather shocked—though clearly Lady Sophia had prepared him. ‘My little Lottie. Do you wish this?’
‘I do, Papa. He is the best of men—apart from you, of course.’
‘Then I am happy for you.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Young man, in my day it was customary for a gentleman to seek permission if he wished to pay his addresses to another gentleman’s daughter.’
‘Sir Edward, you are right. I apologise for being anticipatory. My godmama...er...was most insistent. If you have no objections, might I call on you tomorrow to discuss—arrangements?’
‘You may.’
Charlotte squirmed uncomfortably. Would Papa be embarrassed at the lack of dowry for his daughter?
‘I shall ride across at around eleven o’clock, if that would be convenient?’
‘That would be acceptable. And perhaps,’ said Sir Edward, unbending a little, ‘you and Charlotte could ride out to Green Park afterwards. My Lottie is a fine horsewoman, you know.’
‘I do know. I have seen her gallop side-saddle.’
‘Ah, on Andalusia? A fine piece of horseflesh. I got her in Spain, you know.’
Charlotte’s discomfort increased. Lusy! ‘Papa, I must tell you—’
The Earl shook his head slightly.
‘Sir Edward, finally our families are to be joined.’ Lady Sophia beamed happily. ‘This surely makes us cousins by marriage, or some such thing.’
‘Ah, but, Sophia, I have no wish to be your cousin.’ He kissed her hand gallantly and she giggled.
Adam and Charlotte watched, open-mouthed.
‘I declare I believe that I will enjoy my retirement,’ said Sir Edward, with a wink towards his future son-in-law.
* * *
In the carriage, on their way back to Buxted House, Charlotte thought of something. ‘Papa, please don’t tell the Buxteds yet. About my—my betrothal, I mean.’
‘Why ever not? You are making a spectacular marriage, as the ton would have it. Though I am more interested in the fact that you have chosen a good man. I spoke to him just now, when you were saying your goodbyes to Lady Sophia. He mentioned that I should consider living at Chadcombe after you are married.’
‘Oh, that would be wonderful.’
‘Yes, well, I should not wish to intrude.’
‘Of course you would be welcome. And, besides, you have not seen just how large Chadcombe is.’ Her eyes danced. ‘Why, if you wish to avoid us we may not see you for a week.’
He laughed at this. ‘Then let us rent some nice townhouse for a month or two, until you are wed, and afterwards we go to Chadcombe.’
‘Papa, I believe Faith has just become engaged to Mr Foxley. They have not announced it yet. It would be better, I think, if we waited with our announcement until a little time has passed.’
And until I am not living in the same house as Henrietta! she added privately.
Sir Edward agreed, and Charlotte was glad he had done so, for Henrietta was in a foul mood today. And Mrs Buxted had still not told her elder daughter of Faith’s news.
Nothing had been said at dinner last night, although Charlotte had realised by the change in Faith’s demeanour that she had good news. They had talked briefly afterwards, and hugged, and Faith had declared that nobody could be as happy as she was.
Today Charlotte, with Papa restored and the Earl in love with her, would beg to differ.
As Charlotte mounted the stairs she could already hear Henrietta’s litany of complaints. She was disappointed with her new dress—and her hair, she said, was not styled properly.
‘There you are, Charlotte. May I ask Priddy to help me with my hair? Flint has made it look ugly.’
This was a change. Last week she would not have asked Charlotte’s permission, but ordered Priddy around as if she was her own personal servant.
‘I do not think you look ugly, Henrietta,’ said Ch
arlotte. ‘But of course I shall ask Priddy to attend you.’
In truth, she was glad of a reason to go to her room and call Priddy. Her maid was delighted to hear that Charlotte was to be married, and that she and Joseph would be moving to Chadcombe.
‘Oh, Miss Charlotte, I am overcome. This is wonderful news. He is the very man for you. And an earl. You are to be a countess—Lady Shalford. This will likely cause apoplexy for Miss Buxted—and her mother.’ Her tone was scathing as she mentioned the two ladies who had caused her darling such pain. ‘May I tell Joseph?’
‘Of course—though you must ask him to tell nobody for now. Oh, and Miss Buxted wishes you to dress her hair.’
‘Well, I will, of course—though I wish I could be there when she discovers you are to marry the Earl.’
Priddy left, still muttering about Henrietta.
Charlotte waited for the door to close, then waltzed around the room, unable to contain her happiness. He loved her! She was to marry him. Papa was alive.
Everything was wonderful, and the contrast with her feelings only a few days ago was difficult to encompass.
‘Adam,’ she said aloud, as she had once before. ‘Adam.’
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next day, in the drawing room, Mrs Buxted finally broke Faith’s news officially to Henrietta and Charlotte.
‘Girls,’ she said bluntly, ‘you are to wish Faith happy. Your father has decided she is to marry Mr Foxley.’
Henrietta caught her breath. ‘What? Faith and Mr Foxley?’ Her voice rose to a screech. ‘Married! But—he is a nobody! Why would Papa do such a thing? Why, I am not even engaged yet. And I am the elder. This cannot be true.’ She stood up and began to march around the room in an agitated manner. ‘I must speak to Papa.’
Faith looked panicked. ‘Henrietta, please do not. I wish to marry Mr Foxley. Papa has said I shall. And,’ she added with defiance, ‘he is not a nobody.’
Charlotte rose and hugged Faith, glad she could finally congratulate her publicly. ‘This is wonderful news. Mr Foxley is an admirable man and will make an excellent husband for you, Faith.’
Mrs Buxted sniffed. ‘I confess I had hoped for more. But he is my godson, and of good family. He is, of course, fortunate to be allying himself with the Buxted name.’
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