“My estate, Drake Manor, is quite near Grovebrook,” Ivy said. “Why don’t I stay in London, and you two may have the use of the place as long as you like? I’ll send word to my servants to anticipate your arrival.”
“That’s uncommonly generous of you! Philip’s very keen to see Grovebrook, and I expect he’d be delighted to accept.”
“Good. I’ll send Lord Philip the invitation straightaway. I think you’ll find it easier to enter into the marriage state in somewhat familiar surroundings. Has your mother ever spoken to you about what a husband expects from a wife?”
“A little. If you’re referring to managing a household—”
“No, I’m referring to matters of a more delicate and personal nature. I hate to speak of vulgarities, but there are things you ought to know. Nobody said a word to me when I was married, and it all came as quite a shock.”
“Know what?”
“Sit down, Constance, and prepare yourself.” She cleared her throat. “I hope you have a strong constitution.”
Chapter Seven
To Wed or To Woe
AUGUSTUS AND PHILIP spent the afternoon at the tailor’s shop, procuring suitable wedding clothes. While they were being fitted, Philip remembered the letter he’d received earlier that morning.
“I almost forgot to tell you. Mrs. Ivy Beaucroft has kindly offered me the use of her country house for the honeymoon. It’s quite close to Grovebrook, so that will make it very convenient for me to get started with its management.”
“I trust you won’t spend all your time at Grovebrook and neglect your wife?” Augustus asked.
Philip laughed. “Most decidedly not. Kitty’s grandmother sent a letter to her butler to inform him of our imminent arrival, but it’s short notice. Therefore, we’ll spend the wedding night at Trestlebury House and take the train north the following morning.”
“I can’t believe my younger brother is getting married before I am.” Augustus shook his head. “I suppose after tomorrow the realization will have sunk in.”
As their carriage approached Trestlebury House an hour later, Augustus touched Philip’s arm. “Isn’t that Lord Kirkham, leaving the house just now?”
“I believe it is.” Philip opened the window to wave. “Kirkham!”
His friend could not have failed to hear the greeting. Instead of acknowledging it, however, Kirkham mounted his horse and galloped off down the street.
“I wonder why he didn’t wait?” Philip said, puzzled. “I wanted to make sure he would be at the wedding.”
“He took off like the devil himself was in pursuit.”
When they entered the house, raised voices were coming from Trestlebury’s study. Philip exchanged an alarmed glance with Augustus.
“That can’t be Prudence,” Philip murmured. “She never shouts about anything.”
“Sounds like she’s having a row with her father.”
Trestlebury stormed out of the study, stopping abruptly when he saw the brothers standing there.
“I’m off to my club for the evening. Perhaps one of you two can talk some sense into the girl.”
He snatched up his hat from a table in the entryway and left the house.
Augustus grimaced. “I leave Prudence to you, old boy.”
“Why me? She’s closest to you in age.”
“Yes, but Kirkham is your friend. Besides which, you’re more facile with words than I am, and will undoubtedly handle things far better.”
“Coward.”
“Exactly.”
Chuckling, Augustus made his way toward the stairs. Philip loosened his collar and entered the study. Prudence was pacing near the window, trembling with fury.
“Is everything all right, Pru?” he ventured.
She stopped pacing and glared at him instead. “This is all your fault!”
“What’s my fault?”
“Papa has just refused his permission for Freddie to marry me.”
“Oh. I’m very sorry, but how can it be my fault?”
“Originally, he and I were going to elope. After he spoke with you, however, he was convinced an elopement wouldn’t be honorable.”
“Well, I could hardly countenance my friend running off with my cousin, could I? This family is in enough trouble as it is, no thanks to me.”
Tears glistened in Prudence’s large brown eyes. “Philip, I’m nearly twenty-five years old. I’m no beauty. I’m not good with small talk, I read too much, and I speak my mind too often. Freddie loves me anyway. If I don’t marry him, I’ll never marry. And I love him most passionately.”
“Would it help if I spoke with your father? I’d be happy to put in a good word about Kirkham.”
“That will do no good. Although Mama is far more realistic about the situation, Papa seems to think a company of dukes will be vying for my hand any day now. I want you to go after Freddie and tell him you’ve changed your mind about the elopement. He respects your opinion.”
“But I haven’t changed my mind. An elopement will make you the subject of salacious gossip and supposition. I don’t want that for anything in the world.”
“I don’t care! This is my last chance at happiness. Listen, Philip, I’ve known all along your engagement with Miss Beaucroft was a ruse.”
He peered at her. “You have?”
“Of course! You’re not the sort of man to give your heart to a girl you’ve only just met, not even one as pretty as Miss Beaucroft. Nevertheless, I kept your secret because I suspected the ruse would turn into a romance. I was proved correct, and now you must afford me the same courtesy.”
“What would you have me do?”
“Freddie and I have the romance, but now we need a ruse. Papa has confined me to the house unless I’m in his company, and I’m not allowed to send or receive any correspondence unless he reads it first. I must find a way to escape so Freddie and I can elope to Scotland.”
As Philip regarded his cousin, he suspected she’d correctly assessed her marriage prospects. She was a lovely person, but didn’t possess the vivacious personality or wit necessary to overcome her distinct lack of conventional beauty. He and Kitty had railed against circumstances not of their making, so why should Prudence be any different? It was only the edicts of society which prohibited her from choosing a marriage partner beneath her in rank and fortune. Although his first instinct was to protect Prudence, what was he protecting her from, exactly? Kirkham was an honorable gentleman and a dear friend. Philip had nothing to fear regarding his intentions toward her.
“You could slip away during the wedding celebration tomorrow, when nobody is watching. Are you prepared to do that?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Please understand, your father may never forgive you.”
“It’s not important. If I don’t marry Freddie, I’ll never forgive my father.”
A long sigh. “All right. Pack a small trunk with essentials. When you’re done, I’ll take it to Kirkham and arrange everything.”
Prudence threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Philip! You’ve always been my favorite cousin.”
Violet ushered Lord Gryphon into the drawing room of her parent’s home. Before she could speak, he produced a small packet of letters from his pocket and dropped them on a table. Her eyes widened. “My letters? Why are you returning them to me?”
“I see no reason we should continue our acquaintance.”
Panic shot through her. “But I’ve done everything you asked! I blackened Lord Philip’s and Miss Beaucroft’s names to everyone of my association!”
“To no avail. Their wedding is to take place tomorrow.” He sighed. “Our brief interlude was diverting enough, but it’s become tedious. Let’s not drag out the inevitable. I shall not be calling upon you again.”
Her hand clutched his sleeve.
“You must marry me, Zachary! We’ve no choice now.” She lowered her voice. “I’ve reason to believe I’m in the family way.”
A sound of disgust. “How f
ar along?”
She felt her face burn with embarrassment. “I’m three weeks late—perhaps four.”
“Good. I know a woman who helps ladies extricate themselves from these difficult situations for a price. I can provide you with an introduction, if you like.”
Violet recoiled. “No!” Moisture pooled in her eyes and spilled from the corners. “This is all your fault! We must go to Gretna Green and marry immediately.”
He laughed. “What on Earth would induce me to marry a girl who has been despoiled?”
“Please, Zachary! I thought you were a gentleman!”
“In that case, Miss Haver, you’ve been sadly mistaken.” He bowed. “Good afternoon.”
He strode from the room without a backward glance, and Violet collapsed onto the floor.
As Philip stood in the open doorway of Kirkham’s apartment, his friend peered at the trunk in his hands. “You’re not planning to move in, are you? The landlord only allows an occupancy of one in these lodgings.”
“Move aside, Kirkham. This is rather heavy.”
Philip brushed past him into the somewhat shabby apartment and lowered the trunk onto the floor with a thump.
“Do you still want to marry Prudence?”
“More than anything. I suppose you heard Lord Trestlebury refused my offer.” His downcast expression matched the set of his shoulders.
“Prudence believes I discouraged you from eloping.”
“You did, rather.”
“After speaking with her, I’ve given it some thought and changed my mind. I want her to be happy, and I think you’re the man for the job.” He pulled a wallet out of his jacket. “I’d reserved this money for my honeymoon, but I won’t be needing it. Kitty’s grandmother is allowing us to use her house in the country.”
“I can’t accept this!”
“Yes, you can. Honestly, I don’t know how Trestlebury will react when he realizes his daughter has run off. You two may have to take up residence in Scotland for some weeks. When you’re ready, come visit Kitty and me in Grovebrook. You’ll always have a warm welcome there.”
“I-I don’t know what to say, Butler.”
“Say you’ll take care of Prudence and treasure her, no matter what.”
“I swear to you that I will. You’ve my word.”
“Hire a carriage and be waiting for her across the street from Trestlebury House at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. I advise you to get to the train station thereafter with all due haste, in case her absence is noticed too soon. Oh, and don’t forget Prudence’s luggage.” He patted the trunk. “She won’t be carrying anything when she slips away.”
“I can’t thank you enough, old boy.” His grin faded. “Lord Trestlebury has forbidden me to come anywhere near his daughter, so I won’t be at your wedding. That’s my only regret.”
“You’ll be there in spirit.” He shook Kirkham’s hand. “Tomorrow, you and I will be two of the happiest men in England.”
It was a beautiful day for a wedding. Kitty rode alone in an open carriage trimmed with fragrant flowers. People lined the street, waving and cheering as she passed. When driver turned around in his seat to give her an amused glance, she was shocked to realize it was Lord Gryphon.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the funeral,” he said.
“What? It’s a wedding, not a funeral.”
“That’s what you think.”
The hem of her skirt became the color of pitch and spread upward until her entire dress was black. The horse pulled the carriage around the corner, and the church loomed into view. Kitty began to tremble.
“Stop the carriage! I want to get out!”
Gryphon merely laughed. “You should have thought of that earlier.”
When they reached the church, Miss Haver was waiting out front, dressed in mourning. Gryphon jumped down from his perch and opened the carriage door. Hot tears spilled down Kitty’s face, and she shook her head.
“This isn’t what I’d anticipated at all. I don’t want to die!”
Both Gryphon and Miss Haver howled with mirth. The bouquet in Kitty’s hands crumbled, revealing the ropes snaked around her wrists. Four of her rejected suitors suddenly materialized. Along with Gryphon, they seized the end of her rope and yanked her from the carriage.
“No!” Kitty exclaimed. “I’m not ready.”
In the doorway of the church, Grandmama beckoned her forward. Although Kitty braced her legs against the cobblestone pavement, it was no use. As she was pulled inexorably forward, her throat began to burn with the strength of her screaming…
Something grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
“Kitty, wake up! You’re having a nightmare,” Juliet said.
Her eyes popped open. The light from a single candle barely lifted the darkness, but she could see her sister’s face.
“I don’t want to die. I mean, I don’t want to get married.” Kitty sat up. “I’ll run away. I should have left London immediately after rejecting Lord Gryphon.”
“Kitty, you’ve had a bad dream, that’s all. Do you love Philip?”
“Yes.”
“Does he love you?”
“I think so. Yes, I know he does.”
“Then you can have nothing to fear, Kitty.” Juliet sighed. “I thought you’d overcome all this.”
“And so I had, until Grandmama arrived. I’d no idea—” She broke off, unwilling to repeat the things her grandmother told her.
“These are modern times, and nobody will force you to marry Philip if you don’t want to. But I’ve seen how happy you’ve been since your engagement became real. Do you really want to throw that away?”
“N-No.”
“Concentrate on your feelings of love instead of the fear, and you’ll be fine.”
As Kitty pictured Philip’s handsome face and trim figure, her heart melted.
“Yes. Yes, you’re right. Nothing ill can happen when we’re in love with each other.” She smiled. “I’m the elder sister. I should be giving you advice.”
“You’ve done so on many occasions, and will do so again in the future.” Juliet stood and picked up the candle from the bedside table. “Now get some rest. You don’t want to look tired in the morning.”
“Thank you, Juliet. I’m sorry to have wakened you.”
“You didn’t. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
Kitty’s sister left, and darkness descended once more. She fingered the Claddagh ring on her finger almost like a talisman. Philip is my friend and would never do anything to hurt me. She repeated that, over and over, until she managed to fall into a deep, restful slumber.
Philip’s valet roused him from the few hours’ sleep he’d managed to acquire. All night long he’d lain awake, worried about his impending nuptials. Would he make a good husband? The idea he was to be responsible for a wife’s happiness and future was formidable, to say the least. All the reasons he’d vowed not to marry came back to haunt him in his final hours as a bachelor. He and Kitty both knew she could have married better. Despite their mutual affection, what if she came to regret their hasty union? On the other hand, he couldn’t wait to make her his wife and hold her in his arms. His good fortune in marrying Kitty was a stunning turn of events by anyone’s reckoning. If he’d already been in possession of an enormous fortune and could have had his pick of brides, he still would have chosen her.
He was fully dressed when Augustus tapped on his door.
“Coming down to breakfast?”
“Er…I’m not hungry.”
Augustus laughed. “You look as pale as new milk. Have some tea and perhaps a piece of toast. I think you’ll feel better.”
Philip shot him a terse glance. “I’ll remind you of that on your wedding day.” He paused. “I hope you don’t resent my marrying Kitty. You rather fancied her.”
“Any dispiritedness I experienced soon passed. Now that I know her a little better, I realize she’s far more compatible with y
ou. In fact, I probably would have bored her silly with my butterfly collections and drawings. I may have mentioned, I was initially drawn to her sister. I should have followed my first instincts.”
“Are you going to pursue Juliet?”
“She’s quite young still, so we’ll see how things develop going forward.” His eyebrows drew together. “You know, it’s a shame about poor Prudence. I daresay Trestlebury has made a grievous mistake in rejecting Lord Kirkham.”
Although Philip’s first impulse was to tell his brother of the planned elopement, he bit his tongue. If his cousins discovered Philip’s complicity in the plot, he would likely receive the brunt of their rage. Better to keep Augustus ignorant and therefore blameless.
“I agree. Now let’s see if I can eat something and keep it down.”
Augustus chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “I can’t believe it. My intrepid brother has finally found something that frightens him.”
“Weddings frighten any sane man.”
While Bridget dressed her hair, Kitty sat at the vanity table and tried to remain calm. A myriad of last-minute details were flooding her mind, racing around like a litter of irrepressible puppies. A small trunk had already been delivered to Trestlebury House in preparation for her stay overnight. Several larger trunks filled with her belongings were stacked in the entryway downstairs. Those trunks were to be shipped to Drake Manor the following day and thereafter accompany her to Grovebrook. In a very short while, my name will no longer be Beaucroft and the house I’ve resided in every Season since I was born will no longer be my home. Her shiver of apprehension gave way to a stab of excitement. At last I will be able to preside over my own household and have the freedom to do whatever I like! Living in the country would hopefully have one distinct advantage over town: she wouldn’t have to put up with the constant scrutiny of nosy gossips and deceitful acquaintances.
Juliet entered the room. “Oh, you look lovely! The carriage is here. Are you ready?”
Kitty’s stomach leaped into her throat. “Give me a moment.”
Ruse & Romance (The Beaucroft Girls Book 1) Page 9