Despite knowing the home was his, he struggled to keep his nervousness controlled as he sat across from Mr. Radcliffe later that afternoon. He should have felt capable and self-assured, yet his palms were damp and he struggled to keep his hands from trembling as he shook the hand of the man who would become his father-in-law.
“Would you like Forbes to bring tea?” Nathaniel asked as he led the man to the set of chairs in front of the cold fireplace. “Or may I offer you a drink? Brandy, perhaps, or sherry?”
“I will have a brandy,” Mr. Radcliffe replied. He glanced toward the closed door. “I was curious about your butler.”
“Is that so?” Nathaniel asked, hoping he would not spill the drink. Taking a breath to steady himself, he poured the brandy, pleased that he was successful. “What about him has you curious?”
“He seems quite comfortable in your home,” the man replied. He accepted the glass with a nod. “I do not mean to criticize, but I saw him laughing with Harmony earlier. Servants must be reminded of their place, which is beneath those of us who employ them.” He gave a firm nod to punctuate his words.
Nathaniel considered his response carefully. The last thing he needed was to argue with this man before he asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage!
“Your advice is wise and noted,” Nathaniel replied. He would reserve his opinion on the matter for a later date, if at all, for beyond the man’s control over Harmony, Nathaniel had no interest in what this man thought.
He took a seat. “I would like to ask you a question concerning Harmony. I realize it is not customary to have a short courtship, but I no longer wish to wait. I want to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Judging by the way Mr. Radcliffe had changed his opinion of Nathaniel, he expected the man to give a quick affirmation with a whole lot of pomp and circumstance. Instead, he was greeted with a frown.
“I must admit that I suspected the reason for this invitation was so you could make such a request. But marriage is an honorable union that I do not take lightly.”
What game was this man playing? Nathaniel wondered. Aloud he said, “If you doubt my intentions, I can assure you they are true. I, too, do not take marriage lightly, and I assure you I will be a worthy husband.”
Mr. Radcliffe pursed his lips as if in thought and then nodded. “I must admit it is quite sudden,” he replied. “I have been preoccupied with a new business investment I am considering. You see, my wife has longed for a country estate where she can go to get away from life in the city. Perhaps after I settle matters with this associate, I will be able to dwell more on your request.”
Nathaniel was no fool; he knew precisely what this man was saying — Mr. Radcliffe wanted something in exchange for his blessing. Rage filled him. How dare this man use his daughter as a bargaining chip! Yet, what other choice did he have? If he wanted her bad enough, he was willing to offer the moon!
“As my father-in-law,” he said as he balanced his glass on his knee, “I expect we will be working closely together in matters of business.” He placed the glass on the table, stood, and walked to the window to gaze out at the tree that meant so much to him and his sisters. It gave him the strength he needed. “I own many estates, Mr. Radcliffe, all over the country. Which area holds your interest?”
“I will need to be close to London, of course,” Mr. Radcliffe replied, the greed in his voice evident. “A well-paid staff, as well, of course.”
Nathaniel clenched his fist. “Anything else?”
The man considered for a moment and then shook his head. “No, I think that is all. I do not believe my request unreasonable. Do you?”
Nathaniel turned to face the father of the woman he loved. He would do anything for her, including this. Her parents were cruel, and her father’s actions today should not have surprised him.
“I accept your terms,” Nathaniel replied. “I will have the deed for you as soon as I can.”
Mr. Radcliffe stood, his grin wide. “After careful thought, I have decided to agree to your request. You may marry my daughter.”
“Thank you, sir,” Nathaniel said. “Let us join the others in the drawing room.”
“Be sure to serve your finest wine this evening,” Mr. Radcliffe said before hurrying out the door, giving Forbes a harsh glare as he passed him.
“My lord,” Forbes said, giving no indication he had been offended by the other man’s behavior, “dinner shall be served at half-past six as you requested. Is there anything else you would like me to do?”
“Wine,” Nathaniel replied. “Select a fine bottle to appease Mr. Radcliffe.” He shook his head. “That man makes me so angry! Is every man expected to go to such lengths to secure a bride?”
Forbes chuckled. “When a man wishes to protect the woman for whom he cares deeply, there are no limits to what he will do for her.”
Nathaniel nodded. “I suppose not,” he replied.
Once Forbes was gone, Nathaniel studied the empty doorway. The butler was wise and always had advice at the ready. He was pleased the man would remain at Scarlett Hall to serve him and Harmony in the years to come, for he could not imagine replacing him another.
Chapter Nineteen
Harmony studied her reflection in the mirror. Had her smile ever been wider? She doubted it rather highly. To know she and Nathaniel were to be married could not have made her happier.
“What do you think we should do with your hair tonight?” Lydia asked. “Shall I leave it down or would you rather I pile it in a nice chignon?”
Harmony pulled at her lip. “I do not know. It is a special night, so perhaps something more formal would be best. Yes, a chignon, please.”
Lydia nodded and placed the curling tongs over the candle to keep them hot, although she had heated them in the kitchen earlier. She then placed several hairpins between her lips and began the careful work of styling Harmony’s hair.
As Lydia worked, Harmony’s mind wandered. Would Nathaniel finally profess his love for her? It would be the perfect ending to a perfect day if he did so.
“I’ve known you much too long for you to hide anything from me, Miss,” Lydia mumbled between the hairpins as she placed one in Harmony’s hair. “What’s bothering you?”
Harmony sighed. “It is Nathaniel,” she replied. “I wait for him to speak his feelings for me, but he does not. I fear I may be an old woman before he finally does.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” Lydia replied. “All men, be they servant or titled, keep their feelings to themselves. I believe it’s been a struggle for all women since Adam and Eve left the garden.”
Harmony looked at the woman in the mirror. “He does tell me he cares for me, and he never ceases with his compliments. Yet, why does he not tell me he loves me?”
“That’s more than most, I assure you,” Lydia replied. “But that word, love, seems to stick to their tongues like treacle. Maybe you’ll have to say it first.”
“But should it not be the man who speaks it before the woman?”
“By all accounts, he should,” Lydia replied. “But as you said, you may be old before it happens. The truth is you shouldn’t ever be afraid to speak what’s on your heart. I know that when you do, he’ll say the same. Sometimes men just need a bit of guidance.”
Harmony smiled. “Thank you. I will wait for the appropriate moment to tell him.”
“Tell him what?”
Startled, Harmony turned to find her mother entering the room, a frown on her face. “You are not planning to bother the baron with some request or another before you have spoken your vows, are you? You do not want to frighten away the man!”
Harmony stood and turned to her mother. “No, Mother,” she replied. “I was only speaking of my feelings for him.” She smiled, hoping her mother would want to know more, that she would want to ask what she felt for Nathaniel. They rarely conversed as she and Lydia did, and it saddened her.
However, her mother acted as if Harmony had not spoken, which was al
l too common. “Your father and I are very happy. I admit that I had first thought your choice in Lord Lambert foolish, but now I see it was wise.”
“I am pleased to hear you say so,” Harmony said as tears filled her eyes. “To know you approve of him makes me very happy, for it means that my feelings for him were not in vain.”
Her mother leaned over to look in the mirror and touched her hair. “I have always wanted a country estate.” She straightened and took Harmony’s hand in hers. “And now I will have one in which I may holiday. And near London of all places!”
“Country estate?” Harmony asked, confused. “I do not understand. What does my engagement to Nathaniel have to do with…?”
“Why, your hand, of course!” her mother whispered conspiratorially. “Lord Lambert has promised a country estate for me and business connections for your father in return for your hand in marriage. Do you not see? I will be able to finally host parties all of the ton will want to attend. And your father will earn enough money to be accepted by men who should be his peers.” Her mother embraced her. “You have made us both so very happy!”
“I am glad,” Harmony replied as the room began to spin around her. She swallowed back the bile that rose in her throat. “If you will excuse me, I must finish readying myself for dinner.”
“Oh, yes,” her mother said as she gave Harmony a critical look. “And Lydia, see that she wears her green dress rather than this blue one. I will not have my daughter being an eyesore and spoiling dinner.”
“Yes, Madam,” Lydia replied.
When her mother was gone, Harmony looked at her reflection once more. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she did nothing to wipe it away. “It is as if my feelings have no value,” she whispered. “And to think of what Nathaniel had to do in order to get my father to accept his proposal.” She shook her head.
“He did so because he loves you,” Lydia said. “He mightn’t say the words, but he does show you how he feels in everything he does.”
Harmony smiled. “You are so right,” she said. “Oh, Lydia, am I so wrong for wanting to marry sooner rather than later?”
Lydia laughed. “Not at all. You know that song you sing to the servant girls? The one about the butterfly?”
“Of course. It is one of my favorites.”
“Well, just like in the song, Lord Lambert will come to make your dreams come true.” Then she gave a mischievous grin. “But I’d recommend you calling him Lord Lambert rather than butterfly.”
This made both of them laugh, and feeling better, Harmony retook her seat in front of the vanity table thinking of the night ahead. It would be a wonderful evening, she was sure of it.
***
Dinner consisted of roast beef, stewed spinach, gooseberry pie, and pea soup. The conversation at the dinner table was polite, but Harmony spoke little. She continued to be angry and sad that her father had extorted a country home out of Nathaniel. Yet, if it bothered Nathaniel, he kept it to himself, for the smile he wore was wide and he seemed quite happy.
“My lord, this wine is the finest that has ever crossed my lips,” her father said. Already his words were slurring, and Harmony prayed he did not make a scene that would embarrass her. “Pray tell, where does one procure a bottle such as this?”
“It is produced in a vineyard in France that I own,” Nathaniel replied without the slightest bit of pride. “I will see you receive one to take with you upon your departure.”
“Make it two, and we have a deal,” her father replied with a laugh.
Harmony’s jaw tightened and she closed her eyes. Please, do not make a fuss!
“Then two it shall be,” Nathaniel replied. “I must say, although you have been here only a few days, and I believe I also speak for my mother, I feel as if we have known one another for a very long time. Your company has been quite enjoyable.”
Lady Lambert nodded her agreement. “I do indeed agree. We have been so pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“And to make this night even more special than it already has been,” Nathaniel said as he stood. “I would like to make a formal announcement.” He looked at Harmony and smiled. Harmony’s heart fluttered in her chest. “A gentleman needs a wife, one who is strong in both heart and mind. Such qualities are rare, and those who find such a woman are fortunate indeed.”
Harmony glanced at her father, who was waving over a footman to refill his wine glass and paying little attention to Nathaniel’s speech. Could he not at least feign interest in what others thought important for even a moment?
“Therefore,” Nathaniel continued, “it is with great pleasure that I announce that Harmony has accepted my proposal of marriage.” He lifted his glass. “To my fiancée!”
Lady Lambert and Harmony’s mother lifted their glasses, but her father muttered into his glass before realizing what had happened. Even then, he gave no more than a perfunctory lift of his glass before downing the drink in one gulp.
“I am happy for you,” Lady Lambert said as she patted Harmony’s hand. “Tonight is special and will be remembered for years to come.”
“Thank you,” Harmony replied, feeling better. The woman was right, this was a special night, and no one, not even her parents, would ruin it. At least, not any further than they had thus far.
Despite this thought, however, her father proved her wrong. “I presume the reading of the banns will take place upon your return to Cambridge,” he said, hiccuping in the middle of his statement. When Nathaniel voiced agreement, her father continued. “Then we must work quickly on planning an official engagement party and decide on the particulars surrounding the event. I have a friend, a vicar, who will be able to officiate at the church…”
“I appreciate the offer,” Nathaniel interrupted, “but Harmony and I have already discussed the location. I would like to have the ceremony here at Scarlett Hall.”
Harmony’s father took a sip of his wine and slowly set his glass back on the table. That was not a good sign. “I see. Well, perhaps I should remain silent about all matters. Forgive me, my lord. I will keep my attention on business matters where it belongs.”
Harmony shook her head in disbelief. There was no mistaking the underlying threat in her father’s voice despite the dismissive words he used.
Nathaniel must have heard the same, for he replied, “I see no issue with having the ceremony elsewhere. It does not need to take place here.”
As if nothing adverse had happened, her father returned a jubilant smile. “That is marvelous. Now, concerning the party…”
As the two men discussed, or rather her father dictated, the upcoming engagement party, Harmony could not stop her spirits from sinking to her stomach once more. A blind man could see her father was doing all he could to manipulate Nathaniel, and his behavior sickened her.
She attempted to catch his eye, but he never glanced her way. Taking her glass of wine, she drank in hopes of easing the sorrow that should have not been present when discussing what would be such a momentous occasion as her wedding.
***
Harmony saw it as nothing less than a miracle when her parents retired early to bed, her father stumbling up the stairs as they made their way to the room they had been assigned.
Her head throbbed, not from an overindulgence of wine but rather from her father’s constant insistence that whatever he requested be honored. How could he have been so overbearing? He acted as if nothing Nathaniel suggested was of value. Then again, he treated most people in the same manner when he thought himself better than they.
“It’ll all be over soon,” Lydia said. “And you’ll be here in your new home, and your parents will be far away in theirs.”
With a sigh, Harmony nodded. “I know you are right, but I cannot help but feel a bit sad.” She took a sip of the sherry Lydia had poured for her and then placed the glass on the table before her. “I wonder if all women suffer as I do over a simple engagement.”
The door opened and Harmony could not help but smile a
s Nathaniel entered the room, the usual smile gone from his lips.
She hurried to him. “I am sorry about my father and mother,” she said. “They have embarrassed me more than you can ever imagine.”
“No, it is fine,” he replied, but something in his demeanor told her he was not being completely honest. “The man believes he may give me orders, and I must admit, my patience was wearing thin.”
Harmony nodded, for she understood all too well. “Perhaps tomorrow it would be best to inform him that we have decided we will marry here after all. If the ceremony takes place in your home, you will be able to have more control over what happens.”
“And then what?” he demanded. “Have him delay the wedding? He has already received a country estate and a promise of business investments. I have no plans to give him more.”
She took a step back from his anger, guilt ravaging her heart. Could she find the words to apologize? “I did not mean for you to be forced to give him more gifts.” The anger in his eyes tore at her soul. “I had no idea he planned to treat you as he has.”
Nathaniel sighed and took her hands in his. “No, I am sorry. I should not be taking my anger out on you. We will marry according to your father’s wishes. Once that is done, we will return here as man and wife. Nothing will stop that from happening, not even him.”
Tears filled her eyes. “You are a good man, Nathaniel Lambert, patient and kind. I am unworthy of your admiration.”
He wiped a tear from her cheek. “That is where you are wrong,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. “I would do anything for you, for there is no other like you in this world.”
Whether it was the words he spoke or the way he gazed down at her, Harmony did not know, but her heart beat with such love for him, she feared it would lift her to the sky. Although she would be happy to be held by him all evening, they were not yet married. She could not shame Lady Lambert with immoral behavior in her home. Plus, poor Lydia was doing her best to melt into the wallpaper.
Harmony of the Soul Page 11