‘Do you think he will give up this Russian Countess, and go back to her? Will she take him back?’
‘Do wives have much option? She loves him, though. I’m certain she would welcome him back. Sometimes I could shake her for not being more assertive! She forgives him and he thinks he can do as he likes, so he never learns to treat her with proper respect. If I ever married, I would not endure such behaviour in a husband!’
He grinned. ‘What would you do?’
Julia chuckled. ‘Make his life so uncomfortable he’d soon regret his behaviour. However, that situation is unlikely to arise, so I must look for another position. As a governess this time, I think. I have enjoyed being with Alice and Paula.’
He said no more about how she was to get home, but chatted about the Congress, surmising that there would soon be a settlement.
‘Lord Castlereagh will have reached England by now, I imagine,’ Julia said wistfully. ‘Is he really under pressure from Parliament? Don’t they appreciate the difficulties of negotiating with men like the Tsar and the King of Prussia?’
‘No, they don’t. His lordship is not an eloquent speaker, not a man to sway the multitudes by his oratory. His public speeches are hesitant, uncomfortable, but I hope his sincerity will convince them.’
‘You will be there for support.’
‘I can do little but explain what the situation in Vienna has been. The problem is that most of our rulers care little for what happens in Europe, so long as England is secure from invasion, and Napoleon and his ambitions to conquer the world are confined in Elba.’
*
Julia was thankful to retire early. She had slept little the previous night, and it had been a stressful day. When she had sought out Herr Ritter and asked him what work he had for her, he had patted her hand and told her that now she had a protector she did not need to work for him.
‘Besides, the two maids who have been sick are well enough to work again now.’
Julia chastised herself. She had been foolish to imagine the job here would be hers for as long as she wished. And she did not like the gleam in Herr Ritter’s eye when he called Sir Carey her protector. Of course, the word in German might not carry the same implication as it did in English.
She was tired, but it was long before sleep claimed her. There were so many things she now had leisure to think about. She must brace herself to ask on the next day how he intended to help her get back to England. Much as she disliked the prospect, if he meant her to remain and come back with Maggie and Williams, she would need to ask for money to support herself while she waited. It was unlikely she would be able to obtain another job such as the one at the inn.
How was Fanny, she wondered? They must have reached England by now, and she hoped Mrs Pryce had persuaded her to remain with them. If Fanny were left on her own for any length of time she was likely to fall into a lethargy.
Where was Frederick? Apart from having heard he was travelling towards Russia, she had not thought about him much. The Russian border was a long way from Vienna, almost as far as the Channel coast, and after that the country was endless. Where did Tania come from? Would she and Frederick go to her home? Or would they rather go to St Petersburg? For herself, she did not care in the least, but she cared for Fanny’s sake. The further Frederick went, the more difficult he would find it to return to England, should he so wish. She giggled suddenly. What if Tania had grown tired of him, and he was deserted without funds? He probably hadn’t thought of how he would support himself and Tania until he could make arrangements for money to be sent from his English bank. If he were stranded, not only would he have to provide for himself, but for his coachman and valet as well. She was grinning at the thought of Frederick working in an inn as a waiter when she finally fell asleep.
*
Sir Carey was wakeful too. He had put off the decision as to how Julia might be sent home. He was aware of what the gossips would say if he escorted her, with only the chaperonage of Tanner to protect her reputation. Maggie wasn’t yet fit to travel, but he could not afford to linger much longer. He might hire a maid for her, but where would he find a suitable one? Would any suitable Bavarian girl want to travel to England? Or be sent back alone?
Then his thoughts returned, as they usually did when he had not drowned them with brandy, to Angelica’s last letter. He had opened it with such pleasurable anticipation.
It was short and to the point, and he suspected it had been dictated by her mother, for the language was even more stiff and formal than he had become used to.
He had torn it up, but the words were imprinted on his mind, and every time he closed his eyes he could see them, in Angelica’s round, childish handwriting.
My Lord, I write to Inform you that I wish to Terminate our Betrothal. I have met Another, who is more Likely to provide me with Enduring Happiness. We are to be wed Immediately. I remain, ever your Friend, Angelica.
Then at the bottom, in a hasty scrawl, she had written, I trust you won’t hate me.
Had her formidable mother influenced her? He strongly suspected it. The woman had protested when he’d insisted his first duty was to support Lord Castlereagh in Vienna. Perhaps she had realized Angelica was fickle, susceptible to the admiration and flattery she had received during her début. Had she contrived to foster another betrothal, with an even richer suitor, or one with a more impressive title, during that house party Angelica had written she was so enjoying? Well, it seemed as though she had succeeded.
At first he had wanted to set off for England at once, but a few moments’ reflection told him the letter had taken three weeks to reach him, and however hard he rode or drove it would take him two or more weeks to return to England. That was plenty of time for her mother to make sure Angelica was securely married, out of his reach. The deed was done.
He did his best to thrust thoughts of Angelica from his mind as he met with Lord Castlereagh and the Duke, but when his job of informally briefing the Duke was done, he set off for home. He had neglected his sisters for long enough, and they needed him even if Angelica did not. On the journey there was little to distract him, and he discovered the only way he could sleep was to drink brandy until Tanner was needed to put him to bed. Now he saw other possibilities and was more optimistic.
He was less heavy-eyed the following morning when he went down to breakfast. He had been thinking hard for much of the night, weighing the advantages of what he proposed against the inevitable problems, and finding the idea more attractive by the minute.
Julia, he discovered, had breakfasted in her room at Herr Ritter’s command. ‘For she is a guest now, is she not?’ the innkeeper had told him, smiling widely.
‘Please ask her to join me for some coffee,’ he ordered briskly, and when Julia appeared a few minutes later, he rose to his feet and took her hand, leading her over to the table and pouring her some coffee. She’d removed her mob cap, and looked as ever neat and competent in her dark-blue gown, though he could see it had suffered, being limp and in places where the dye had run, discoloured.
He uttered polite, conventional remarks about hoping she had slept well, the weather seemed fair, some of the snow had gone during the night and the roads were said to be passable and free of ice.
She was sipping coffee when he looked at her and smiled.
‘My dear, I have the solution to our problems. You need a job, I need a wife. Will you do me the honour of marrying me?’
Chapter Eight
‘I’M BEING SUCH a trouble to you,’ Fanny sobbed. She was so worried she could not think straight. ‘And where is Julia? And Maggie? They should be here by now. I can’t abuse your hospitality any longer! I can’t go on wearing your clothes!’
Fanny had just two dresses, which she had been carrying with her in the first coach, and she had been forced to borrow from Elizabeth. She refused to purchase more, saying her trunks would arrive when Julia did, and as she had so little money she did not wish to fritter it away until she knew how she stood.
‘My dear Fanny, you know what Sir William Knighton said. He is the most respected doctor in London, the King’s own physician, you must obey him. If you are to have any chance of carrying this child you must stay in bed. You can’t go jaunting off to the country on your own. As to being a trouble, that’s nonsense! We have a big house, and this suite of rooms used to be occupied by Edward’s mother. It’s almost a separate house, and it’s been empty since she died. And we have quite enough servants who, in general, don’t have enough to do. It’s the absence of Spicer that is causing most annoyance, and that only to my husband.’
‘But the girls? I need to employ a governess for them, even when Julia returns. I cannot expect her to go on teaching them.’
‘Miss Jenkins is quite happy to take on their education. She says it helps my pair to have others their age in the schoolroom. If it makes you feel better you could pay her something in addition to the salary we give her.’ She paused, and coughed. ‘My dear, this is rather delicate. Have you enough money? Did Sir Frederick make any provision for you?’
‘He said he would arrange matters with his man of business. I have sufficient for now, as I have few expenses. Frederick arranged for the estate servants’ wages to be paid, and the bills to be sent to Mr Podger while we were away. He will have dealt with them.’
‘Then we will ask Mr Podger to call here and tell you what the position is, whether your husband has sent instructions. If he has not I’m sure Mr Pryce can convince him of the propriety of advancing what you need.’
Fanny gave her a watery smile. ‘You are so good to me!’
Surely, she thought after Elizabeth had left the room, they must hear soon from Julia. She was beginning to suspect there had been some accident. If it was some delay caused by, for instance, repairs being necessary to the coach, one of the party would have contrived to send a message. She needed her sister. Despite Elizabeth’s kindness she felt so terribly alone.
*
Julia was busy mopping at the coffee she had spilt on her gown. Sir Carey must be inebriated again, though he showed no outward signs as he had on the evening he’d rescued her. Nothing else could explain his startling suggestion. For a brief moment her heart had leapt in astounded joy, then plummeted back to earth. It was not real. It must be a dream. She had misheard. Why on earth should he ask her to marry him?
He was already betrothed, she remembered, and had seemed very much in love with his Angelica. His eyes had lit up whenever he mentioned her.
Sir Carey had taken the coffee cup from her hand and set it down. He smiled ruefully at her.
‘My fault, I fear. I rather startled you, I think. Miss Marsh, let me explain.’
He’d fallen into the habit of addressing her by her given name, so why this return to formality?
‘You are already promised to Angelica,’ she managed to say, her voice hoarse.
‘Not any longer. She has married someone else. I don’t even know who,’ he added almost to himself, and Julia recognized the bleakness in his eyes.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, and thought how inadequate these words were. ‘But that does not mean you have to marry the first girl you see. Nor do you have to marry me to save my reputation. After Mrs Webber’s tittle-tattling in Vienna it’s a wonder I have any left.’
‘No one believed her,’ Sir Carey tried to reassure her.
‘It’s not just that. No one we know has any idea we are here in this inn. That we are both here is mere coincidence. A happy one for Maggie and Williams, I grant.’
She was babbling, and looked up at him in apology.
‘I spent most of the night considering what best to do. Miss Marsh, Julia, I want to be frank with you, and I’ll not pretend to any tender emotions. What I propose is more of a business arrangement than the sort of love match I thought Angelica and I enjoyed. I’ll not deny that Angelica’s defection has wounded me. I thought we were in love, but evidently her love was not as strong as mine.’
Julia shook her head, not in denial of his words, but at her own thoughts. If, incredible as it might seem, she did marry this man, she would have to conceal her own feelings. She could admit to herself now that she had from the start found him attractive. Her heart had always given a little jump when they met. But the sheer impossibility of anything other than mild friendship had made her clamp down on her emotions.
‘That does not mean you have to marry,’ she repeated.
‘No, but I cannot imagine ever feeling for anyone else what I felt – still feel – for Angelica. There was another consideration. It did not sway my decision, but it would have been satisfying.’
He grinned, then rose and walked across to the fireplace, holding out his hands to warm them. ‘My maternal grandfather was, to say the least, an eccentric. I was but three and twenty when my father died, and the old man, who maintained that all young men should be married to protect them from carnal temptation, left me his fortune on the condition that I must be married before I could enjoy it, and if I had not married by my thirtieth birthday, the money would go to my cousin, who had married when he was just twenty. The fact that my grandfather could not tolerate Daniel, and had not spoken to him for ten years, was irrelevant to him.’
‘Is Daniel the man with the cats?’ Julia asked.
‘You recalled that?’
‘I remembered the cats, after having avoided taking a position where I would have to groom them.’ I can recall every word you ever said, Julia added to herself.
‘Yes, he is,’ Sir Carey went on. ‘Of course, Grandfather was not to know that Daniel’s wife left him a month of so after he died. I doubt he’d have approved. I did not care so much about the money, I am wealthy and have quite enough for my needs, and plenty to support my wife and provide for my sisters. But when I met Angelica and we fell in love I was amused that our marriage would deprive Daniel of Grandfather’s legacy.’
‘When are you thirty?’ Julia asked.
‘In the middle of July.’
‘So you do not have a great deal of time to find a substitute wife,’ Julia said.
‘I was not looking for one. But I can see the advantages. Not just monetary, and the rather disreputable one of depriving Daniel of what he is expecting, but my sisters need someone older to guide them.’
‘Why should you think I am qualified to do that?’
‘You are of good birth, even if you have no money. I have watched and admired how you dealt with Lady Cunningham and her daughters. You will make an admirable wife. You have said you have little chance of marriage, apart from some impecunious curate. I can give you my name and my fortune, and in return you will act as my hostess and run my houses, and be an ideal companion to my sisters.’
‘I – I need to think about it,’ Julia said. ‘Pray will you excuse me?’
‘If it helps, I can promise you I will make no other demands on you,’ he said quietly. ‘I enjoy your company, but I will not insult you by pretending love for you. This would be a purely business arrangement.’
*
Julia wept unrestrainedly when she was safely in her tiny bedroom. This was a dream come true, and yet she could not accept. He did not love her, and never would. He would always be thinking of Angelica. And one day, whatever he thought now, his love for her might fade, and he might meet someone else he could love. She would be guilty of ruining his life if she agreed to his proposal and married him, so depriving him of possible future happiness.
Oh, but it hurt! To have glimpsed such bliss, even for just a few moments, and then know it would not be hers, was agony.
Gradually, as the storm of weeping lessened, she began to imagine what life could be like as his wife. There would be no more need to earn her living, no irritable old ladies to placate, or children to teach in houses where she would be neither family nor servant. Even if he did not love her, she would be with him, caring for his needs, making friends with his sisters and guiding them. It would not be enough.
Many marriages we
re purely business arrangements, she told herself. If the couples she had met in Vienna were all really in love with one another, why did so many of them enter into liaisons? Gossip was rife, not just in Vienna, but in England. Even some of the formidable patronesses of Almack’s, those leaders of the ton, whose approval was so important in securing the success of any debutante, were rumoured to have been less than faithful to their husbands.
Her sleepless nights, together with the weeping, were too much. Julia fell asleep. It was dark when a knock on the door woke her.
‘Yes? Come in,’ she called out, looking in dismay at her crumpled and coffee-stained gown. It was Anna, another of the maids.
‘Sir Evelegh, the gentleman you went out with yesterday, he asks you to join him for dinner in half an hour,’ Anna said, and grinned conspiratorially. ‘He is handsome, is he not?’
Julia nodded. She must be strong and give him his answer.
‘Do you have a better gown?’ Anna asked now. ‘That one is too stained for dining with a gentleman.’
‘It’s the only one that was saved from the accident,’ Julia said. ‘What on earth can I do? There isn’t time to wash it, even if the stain would come out. I’ll have to press it and hope the stain doesn’t show too much.’
‘There isn’t time. You could borrow my dress. It is the one we wear for festivals, but it is pretty. I think he will like you in it. I will fetch it.’
Before Julia could reply she had whisked away to her own room, across the narrow passage. Within a minute she was back, holding out one of the regional costumes like the ones Julia had admired in Vienna. The skirt was black, but brightly embroidered, and when Anne held it out Julia saw that there were several frilly petticoats which just showed beneath the hem. There was a blouse, white with more embroidery round the neck, and full sleeves, and a short cape, black again.
The Accidental Marriage Page 9