He was in the study and making final preparations for today’s appearance and session in the House of Lords.
It had been a week since he’d left the final draft of his bill for his father to read. It had also been a week since his garden adventure at the Somerholm manor.
Both events had recorded positive progress since then.
In spite of a slight hiccup, he was discussing the bill with his peers today on the floor of the House of Lords, thanks to initial efforts from his father.
When the Duke had read the bill, it had led to yet another argument between them. His father had gone on to say that he was pulling his support of the bill if Kenneth didn’t amend some parts that the Marquess considered extremely crucial.
However, thanks to the Duke’s initial support and efforts, the popularity of the bill was already swelling. A lot of Lords were already talking about it in anticipation of its presentation. As such, today had been earmarked as the day the bill was going to be presented on the floor of the House of Lords.
Even though his father was no longer in support, Kenneth felt he could pull it off with the excitement and attention the bill was currently getting. He just had to ride this wave of popularity and steer it toward achieving its passage in parliament. And what a win it would be for the common folk of England.
And as for Lady Rose?
Their private garden party had been cut short by an approaching intruder. However, thanks to Elsa’s quick movements, they’d been saved from discovery. In his continuing correspondence with Lady Rose, he had enclosed a little gift for Elsa in appreciation. Her vigilance and quick thinking had saved her lady, and him, from embarrassment.
Eventually, he found out in the letter from Lady Rose the next day that the intruder had been none other than the Viscount of Hartington, Rose’s brother. He knew of her brother and was doubly grateful that the Viscount hadn’t walked in on them.
More importantly, he’d also gotten a response from her to the last thing he’d said before he was forced to take flight. The same letter where she’d revealed the identity of the intruder, was also where she’d finally declared her love for him.
It had been a small portion of her letter but it had resonated for a long time in his mind.
…as it is something I can no longer ignore. I too am in love with you, Lord Walsrock. In the coming days, I hope to…
He remembered that section fondly and smiled as he got out of his seat. Their correspondence had definitely metamorphosed this past week, filling him with glee.
A knock sounded at the door as he heard Leonard announcing his entry.
“Have you managed to at least take a break? You need your wits about you today, you know,” his valet remarked as he walked in and placed a tray filled with tea items on the table.
“There will be time enough to rest once I’m done with today. For now, I have to make sure I’m adequately prepared for any eventuality. This is a very important bill. I cannot allow myself to be caught off guard,” Kenneth responded, as he walked to the window in a bid to exercise his tired muscles.
He looked out through the window as Leonard filled his cup with tea and brought it to him.
“Well, if you ask me, I think you are as ready as you could possibly be.”
“Thank you, Leonard. I appreciate your vote of confidence,” he responded as he received the cup of tea. “Unfortunately, I am going to need more than that if this bill is going to be passed in the House of Lords,” he said truthfully.
“Well, you first have to make it to parliament in one piece, Kenneth,” his valet responded, obviously worried at the state he was in.
He chuckled at the worry he heard in his valet’s voice.
“I’ll be fine, Leonard. Thank you, once again, for your concern.”
“When do you want to leave?”
“In about half an hour.”
“All right, then. I’ll have your curricle brought to the front for when you are ready to leave. Would that be all?” Leonard said.
“Yes, Leonard. That will be all.”
“All right, then. Good luck.” Leonard said, as he turned and exited the study.
Half an hour later, Kenneth closed his books, packed up and headed for the front door. An hour after that and he was already standing in the House of Lords, presenting his bill for its first reading to his peers.
He had barely gone through the first two pages when a Lord stood up and shouted him down with a counter.
“What sort of lunacy is this, My Lords?” the Lord raved.
The ensuing argument was too loud for Kenneth to quell. The Lords hadn’t even heard the details of the bill and yet a majority had decided that it wasn’t worth paying attention.
Even though a few, like Lord Rockgonie and a few of his friends, tried to argue in favor of allowing the Marquess continue, the overwhelming majority seemed to drown out their arguments.
Kenneth tried unsuccessfully for the next five minutes to be heard above the din. Eventually, he kept quiet and watched the rancor continue unabated in front of him.
The whole process had been a disaster and had left a bitter taste on his lips. By the end of plenary sessions, he exited the House of Lords dejected and on his way home.
“Lord Walsrock! Where are you going?” The voice called from behind him.
He turned to see his friend, the Marquess of Calbrook, bearing down on him. This had been the same friend whose story of the housemaid-turned-doxy, Marie, had started his fight for the commoner which eventually led to his bill. Lord Calbrook had also been one of his major sources of information and consultation in preparation for his bill
“I’m going home,” Kenneth announced, dejected.
His friend had also tried to support him in parliament but the opposition had been in the majority, coupled with the fact that they were furious and out of control.
“Come on, Lord Walsrock. Granted, your bill didn’t make it successfully through its first hearing. That doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. These things happen. All we can do is dust our behinds, get back to work, and try again at an opportune time.”
Kenneth raised his head to look his friend in the eye. The excitement and optimism he saw in Lord Calbrook’s eyes gave him strength.
“Thank you. I needed to hear that,” he confessed, in response to his friend’s optimism.
“So where are you going?” Lord Calbrook asked again.
“Home. I answered you the first time, Lord Calbrook.”
“Not on my watch, Lord Walsrock. We are going to Brooks’s,” his friend protested.
“I don’t think I have the energy for such a—”
“It is settled, then. Brooks’s it is,” Lord Calbrook announced elatedly, cutting him off mid-sentence.
With no energy left to protest, Kenneth reluctantly agreed and walked behind his friend to their waiting carriages.
By the time they got to the club, most of the Lords who were members of the club had made their way there already. There were pockets of patrons scattered in every corner of the club. The majority were currently engaged in a game of Hazards, the most popular game at the club. The rest partook in a game of whist or quinze.
His friend dragged him toward a certain company of Lords at the back and shouted their drink orders to the waiter. Thankfully, this little company included Lords who had supported him just moments ago in parliament. He wasn’t going to have to endure another argument, which he honestly didn’t have the strength for.
“You took a hard one today, Lord Walsrock. You will be back, though, don’t you worry.” The encouragements went all around.
While the encouragements were circulated, Lord Calbrook tried to drag him into playing a game of quinze to cheer him up. He respectfully declined even as another Lord took up the challenge, causing the rest of them to begin shifting in order to create space for the two players.
His drink was in his hand by this time and he began drinking in silence, even as he watched the game in pr
ogress in front of him. His attention began to drift back to the session in the House of Lords.
What did I do wrong? How could I have presented this better?
He was no stranger to this process. He thought he had greatly improved himself because he was his own worst critic. Since he’d been dragged to the club instead of retreating to the peace and quiet of home, he had begun his review of the day right there within the club.
Surely there could have been a better way of presenting this bill.
A shout of frustration emanated from the game in front of him as his friend had drawn a card that had taken his card count above fifteen. Apparently, the wagers placed on this game were high and his friend was in danger of losing.
His attention drifted back to the session in the House of Lords after the brief interruption. This time, however, he began to make a mental note of everyone who had been in support and those who had been in opposition.
His mind was already working on a plan, even though he didn’t know what it was yet. A few Lords he hadn’t expected had been on his side. The surprise came from the majority he expected to side with him that didn’t. Some of his friends, as well as his father’s friends.
Worthy of note, though, was the Earl of Somerholm. His main political rival had stayed silent while the rest of the House raved and descended into chaos.
What was that about?
He remembered every encounter he’d had with Lord Somerholm at the House. The man had always been quick to counter him at every turn. Today, however, was different.
Maybe he didn’t see the need to, seeing as most of the House was already doing his job for him.
His mind was dragged back to the present once more as Lord Calbrook screamed again in frustration after losing this particular round. The person who had dragged him to the club to raise his spirits was in danger of having his own spirit dampened.
The irony.
As his mind drifted again, it found another focal point just as he turned to look at the door and saw the Earl of Somerholm walk through it.
Lady Rose.
She had encouraged him in no small measure in the days leading up to the bill. Even though he hadn’t seen her since they met at the garden, their correspondence had continued, even increasing in intensity.
Her last letter had said that she was wishing him luck and looking forward to celebrating with him on a successful reading of the bill in parliament.
That celebration is going to have to be put on hold as there was still a long journey ahead.
Somehow, thinking of her had given him the strength he was in dire need of. He took a sip of his drink and paused. He was going to retreat to lick his wounds, plot, and bring the bill back to parliament. So many people were counting on him.
He turned again and noticed that the Earl had seen him and was making his way toward their little company.
“What a day you’ve had, Lord Walsrock,” Lord Somerholm remarked, as he reached Kenneth.
“Are you here to gloat, My Lord?” Kenneth remarked rather harshly in response.
“On the contrary. I’m here because whether you believe it or not, Lord Walsrock, I am still interested in the contents of your bill,” the Earl said in response, completely catching Kenneth off guard.
He turned to look at the Earl in a bid to gauge his seriousness.
“You are interested in my bill?” Kenneth asked warily.
“In its contents? Yes. And I know you might not like to hear this, Lord Walsrock, but your father was right. In order for that bill to have made it today, you should have listened to him and changed some clauses.”
“And tamper with the overall essence of the bill.”
“Some changes can only be effected incrementally, Lord Walsrock. I expect someone of your pedigree to know this already. And that is the message your father was trying to make you understand.” The Earl heaved his chest.
“So you talked with my father?”
“Of course I did. He is my friend. And even though you both don’t see eye to eye, he was really worried about you today.”
“Is that why you stayed quiet in parliament today?” Kenneth asked.
“So you noticed?” the Earl laughed. “I stayed quiet because I really wanted to hear the details of the bill. I didn’t see any need to lend my voice to the arguments, seeing as it was obvious they weren’t going to let you continue.”
Kenneth simply sighed.
“In any manner, I came here to ask if you could indulge me with a copy of the bill,” the Earl remarked.
Just then, another Lord walked in and joined their little company, one who had supported Kenneth in the House, to his surprise.
“There you are, Lord Rockgonie. How is my future son-in-law doing?” the Earl announced heartily.
Future son-in-law?
Kenneth gasped.
Chapter Nine
Elsa had come into the room and shut the door behind her as usual, before handing her the latest correspondence from the Marquess.
Rose turned the letter over in her hand as her lady’s maid watched on.
Knowing that the Marquess had presented his bill in the House yesterday, she’d been waiting eagerly for any news to know how it all went.
When her father had returned from parliament yesterday, she’d made an effort to find out what had happened to Lord Walsrock’s bill, with as much subtlety as she could muster. Unfortunately, her father had been more interested in having his dinner and retiring for the night.
When she’d woken up this morning, she’d raced toward the study in search of her father, only to be informed that he had set out at first light on official business. However, he had left a letter for her, and a note which informed her that Lord Rockgonie was going to call on her today.
Lord Rockgonie was the last person on her mind, however, as she needed to know what had happened to Lord Walsrock’s bill. Her only other recourse on finding out was to wait for Lord Walsrock’s letter which she knew was coming at noon today, like it always did.
Lord Walsrock hadn’t begun the letter as he had on previous occasions. Reading the first line, her breath caught in her chest. By the time she had gotten to the fourth paragraph, she could have sworn that her heart was literally beating outside of her chest.
Lady Rose,
Yesterday did not turn out as I anticipated. My fellow Lords shut down the bill before I even had the chance to finish reading it on the floor.
I should have known better than to expect their understanding and cooperation, knowing fully well that my ideals have always been a bone of contention between me and a majority of them in parliament.
As a result, I was left in such low spirits, pondering and wishing for a way to ensure that my bill succeeds in parliament.
Unfortunately, this was not to be the end of my predicament. Thinking to myself that it could not get any worse, I followed a company of Lords to the gentlemen’s club. Your father was there. And so was your betrothed, the Earl of Rockgonie.
How could I not have known you were betrothed? Why did you keep such news from me? I do not even know which hurts more; the failure of my bill in parliament, or the knowledge that she whom I love is betrothed to another and has kept me in the dark.
These thoughts have continued to plague me and even as I write this, only one thing is clear. I cannot continue to remain in correspondence with you.
I wish you the best in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
The Marquess of Walsrock.
Rose was in shock and clearly hyperventilating by the time she was done reading the letter. Not only had Lord Walsrock found out about her betrothal to the Earl of Rockgonie, he had also decided to end all correspondence between himself and her.
The way he had even addressed the letter was clearly an attempt to absolve himself of any wrongdoing if ever their secret correspondence came to light. It had been formal, direct, and straight to the point.
She couldn’t feel betrayed, however. The
truth was, she had hidden this from him. His reaction was only normal and expected.
She turned to look at Elsa as her eyes began to mist.
“My Lady,” Elsa said simply after noticing her distress.
“He knows,” Rose found herself saying as she struggled to hold back the tears. Thankfully, she didn’t have to explain further as she was certain Elsa knew what she was talking about.
The letter fell from her hand to the floor as she struggled to rein her emotions in. The strength in her knees waned, causing her to waver.
A Ravishing Lady For The Rebellious Marquess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 7