Edith wasn’t ready to tell Papa about Lord Camden’s personal invitation. His brows furrowed, he wasn’t pleased. “I understand. But you need to work on building your confidence and I’ll help in any way I can.”
Papa led her to the card table and introduced her to the retired Naval Captain Armstrong, Baron Wycliffe, and Mr. Bybee. Edith pulled up a chair and watched them finish up their game of whist. Papa was paired with Mr. Bybee who was more interested in talking than winning. Captain Armstrong was eager to provide entertaining stories of his time in the navy, which was distracting enough for Mr. Bybee to hardly notice the other team winning two tricks in a row.
When Papa’s team finally lost, Edith asked, “Where are all of the ladies?” for only one other table was occupied and all of the participants were male.
“Ah, the women folk decided to go into town and do some shopping. A few brave souls escorted them, but we are the lucky ones that were able to remain behind and find more pleasant entertainment for the evening. If you are truly bored, the library is large and I’m sure you’ll be able to find a book.”
All of the tables had the correct number of players. If she joined someone else would have to sit the next round out. She liked cards well enough, but didn’t want to trouble anyone. “That does sound nice,” she said.
Footsteps interrupted her train of thought. She turned around. Lord Camden was standing behind her smiling. “What sounds nice?” he asked.
“A book,” Edith replied. “I’m sure to find a new novel here that will keep me occupied until the rest of the ladies return.”
“Nonsense,” Lord Camden interjected. “I would feel terrible if you spent your first day at Avonview all alone in your rooms. Besides, now that I am here I could use a partner. How about a game of piquet?”
The fine lines by his eyes crinkled as he smiled and Edith decided a few rounds couldn’t hurt. She agreed, and they sat down at a nearby empty table and sorted the cards by removing any number less than 7 from the deck. Lord Camden dealt the first hand and Edith went first. She did well on the sequence, but lost several tricks. In the end, he won the first round, and it wasn’t until it was her turn to deal that their conversation picked up.
The Earl of Camden leaned in towards her and whispered so only she could hear, “I had a wonderful idea yesterday.”
Edith responded in a similarly quiet voice, “What, pray tell, was your epiphany?”
“I was talking to Grace, my daughter, about mothers and realized she might have an opinion on what kind of mother she would like. I told her that you would help her pick out my next wife, not because I am seriously considering anyone besides you, but in order to give the two of you something to talk about.”
He really meant what he’d said in London. He was going to propose simply because she didn’t trap him into marriage. “Are you sure that you are not interested in anyone else? I haven’t met the other ladies yet, but I’m sure that they are perfectly suitable and lovely.” Even if I marry for friendship instead of love, I would like to know that I am not a second choice. “I want you to be sure that I am the best candidate. So, not only will I help your daughter come up with a list of key features she desires in a mother, but I will also take detailed notes on my competition. Just in case one of them is perfect for you. I don’t mind a loveless marriage, but I don’t want to be resented or hated.”
“That is a kind offer. I am slow to trust women. My first marriage was not a happy one, and while I appreciate the offer, I would feel like a cad making you do such a thing.”
Edith picked up a new card and resorted her hand. She didn’t know how many other single available women were at the house party, but her odds were better here than in London. “I don’t mind you considering others while we are figuring out if we suit. I am planning on flirting with Sir Archibald when he comes. I would, however, like to know if you start liking someone else.”
Do I sound too forward? Presumptuous? Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
“I highly doubt that anyone else is as forgiving and kind as you, Miss Wilson. I have yet to decide on any course of action; therefore, your help is not needed. I may still be a single man when this party is over.”
Edith lost the second game, which she blamed on his distracting conversation; not the fact that she often caught herself staring at his face or his strong hands. Edith stood up and said she needed to rest a little longer before dinner. She nodded her farewell to the earl, walked over to her father’s card table, and kissed his cheek before retiring to her room.
At least she had planned on returning to her borrowed bed chamber. Instead, she found herself lost. She was on the upper floor on the right side of the building, so her room should have been the fifth room on the right after the music room, but when she’d opened that door she’d found an empty room that looked nothing like the one she’d been in earlier.
Thinking that perhaps she’d turned herself around completely, she made her way back to the stairs and tried the left side of the building. Only there was no library on this side, which meant she’d been closer to her room on the other half of the building. Frustrated and tired, Edith turned around once more only to run into something.
A tiny imp with a head of dark curls lay awkwardly at her feet. Tears filled the little girl’s eyes as she realized she’d fallen. Edith reached down and helped the child up. When she started crying even harder, Edith knelt down, wiped away her tears, and gave the poor girl a hug. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, dear. I didn’t know anyone was behind me.” Edith pulled back from her hug and searched for injuries. “Where does it hurt?”
The girl pointed at her arm and Edith could see a rug burn on her forearm. She blew on the offending red mark and the sniffles slowly died away. “I haven’t seen you here before,” the miniature angel said.
“I arrived today. Do you know Miss Lucy?” When the little girl nodded Edith continued, “She’s my younger sister. I’m Edith, and what is your name?”
“Grace.”
Edith stood up and curtsied, as though she’d been introduced to the queen herself. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”
A giggle escaped the tear-streaked face. “Not that kind of Grace, silly. My papa calls me Gracie, do you have a nickname?”
“Yes, it was also given to me by my father. He likes to call me Edee. Would you like to call me that?”
She nodded. “My papa said you were going to help me pick out my new mother.”
“He mentioned something like that to me as well. What exactly do you think makes someone mother material?” Edith asked.
Gracie stood in thought, her nose scrunching up as she seriously considered the question. Edith guessed the earl’s daughter was six or seven years old. If she hadn’t grown up with two marvelously beautiful sisters, she would have been in awe of the little girl’s perfection. As it was, Edith understood that it was important for such paragons to be treated the same as everyone else.
“She should smile a lot, play hide and seek, and read stories with lots of different voices. She should be pretty. Me and Papa should have fun with her.”
“That is a good starting place, though I think we will need to add a few more qualities along the way. Do you have many friends your age?”
“A few.”
“I’m going to give you an assignment, alright?” Grace nodded, and Edith continued, “I want you to ask your friends what they like about their mothers.”
When Grace agreed, Edith asked for help finding her room. She gave the young girl a description of the decorations, and Gracie knew right where it was. The little minx started running down the corridor, and Edith had to walk faster than she ought to in order to keep up.
Her room was on the opposite side of the corridor than she’d remembered. Edith hoped she wouldn’t forget again the next time she headed back to her own space alone. She waved goodbye to Grace and trudged across the room to the bed, where she flopped down and closed her eyes. The gentle evening sun
shining through the window warmed her face, but there was a knot in her stomach as she reviewed her conversation with the earl in her mind. Did she really want to help him find another woman to marry? One prettier, kinder, and richer than herself. Yes. She didn’t wish to marry someone who regrets her.
Edith tossed and turned in bed. She too had one more possible suitor. Sir Archibald would be arriving soon, and she would need to quickly decide which man she wanted to pursue. The widower with a closed-off heart, or the rogue with too much charm and too little sincerity. With dinnertime fast approaching, Edith rang for Gretchen to help her with her dress.
Chapter 9
At the other end of the table, Miss Wilson was talking to her sister. Miles couldn't hear anything she said, but it was obvious she was enjoying her time with Miss Lucy. Mrs. Wilson, on the other hand, looked like a cat about to pounce on a sweet unsuspecting canary. She had an unholy gleam in her eye as she smiled at him from the middle of the table. Miles needed to stop paying attention to Edith. Even Mother had seemed to notice his wandering gaze.
He turned to Lady Ann Wycliffe on his left and asked, “Are you enjoying your dinner?” It was a sad attempt at conversation, but the Lady perked up at the simple phrase and smiled at him. She had vibrant green eyes and honey hair.
“The green beans are perfectly seasoned and the meat is wonderfully tender. You have a great chef, Lord Camden.”
“Yes, Madame Fournier is a treasure. She is especially good at making dessert.” Miles forced himself to smile at the young lady. There really wasn’t anything wrong with Lady Wycliffe. She was beautiful, pleasant, rich, and eligible. He just couldn’t bring himself to trust her. Edith was the exact opposite of Lady Wycliffe and his first wife. She couldn’t use her beauty against him, and he highly doubted she would be the type to attract other lovers after she married. She was also humble.
Miles realized he wasn’t paying attention to what Lady Wycliffe was saying and tried to focus on the last of her sentence. “... a lovely shade of emerald that matches my eyes.”
Unsure of the context, Miles responded politically by saying, “Anything that matches your eyes must be beautiful.”
Lady Wycliffe laughed, and continued telling him about her shopping trip in town today. He listened and responded when necessary. As perfect as the young lady’s features were, her emotions came off as fake and her words dripped in false honey, trying to grab his attention. Miles preferred Edith’s honest face filled with emotion over Ann Wycliffe’s mask of gentility.
After dessert, the ladies left and the men were able to drink and chat alone. Miles wandered over to his cousin George who was tapping his index finger against his leg.
“What’s bothering you?”
“It's probably nothing. I received a letter from one of your stewards up north, near Sheffield. Something seemed off about his numbers. I need to read through all of his correspondence that I keep at home to be sure.”
George took care of the majority of Miles’ bookwork. It lessened his load and gave his cousin a little more income. But George was like a dog with a bone, and if no one stopped him he would work himself to an early grave.
Miles needed to get George’s mind off of business and get him back to being his teasing and happy friend. “You promised not to think about work until after my house party. I thought you were better at keeping to your promises and schedules than this. I need you here for moral support more than I need you to take care of my finances at the moment. It wouldn’t hurt me to lose a few pounds here and there, but the rest of my life will be affected over the course of the next few weeks.” George raised an eyebrow in interest. “I am seriously considering a second marriage. It’s about time I do my duty and provide Grace with a mother.”
“I thought it was your duty to produce an heir?”
“That too. Are you sure you don’t want me to find you a nice wife while I’m on the lookout? Your house is much too gloomy these days to be a proper place to raise children.”
“I never thought to ever hear you mention the word wife or marriage again without a scowl, Miles. You may not trust the fairer sex, but at least you do not long for your Louisa the way I long for Anna. Leave me alone on that front.”
Miles poured his cousin a drink and promised not to bring up the subject of him finding a second wife again. Though he would see if there was anything he could do to make his cousin’s home a little brighter.
“I still cannot believe that you are seriously considering one of these girls. What made you change your mind?” George asked.
“Would you believe me if I said it was because of Miss Edith Wilson?”
“No.” George’s dark eyebrows furrowed. “She is a plain little mouse with a voracious mother. I thought you put your honor on the line to get rid of her?”
“Yes, I did. But it turns out that the mouse has morals of her own, and I’m starting to trust her.”
“Then you are halfway to the parson’s mousetrap.”
“Perhaps, though I’m not there yet.”
“Do you like her?” George asked.
Miles thought about that for a moment. “I respect her.”
“So you are not looking for a love match this time around?”
“No. That would be the worst possible future I could imagine.” A devilish smile spread across his cousin’s face. “What?” Miles asked.
“I just thought that if I said a few words to your mother, then she would move heaven and hell to make you fall in love again.”
“She’s been through enough trying to make me happy these last ten years. I don’t need you telling her I am planning on having a marriage of convenience.” Miles noticed his uncle walking towards them and decided it was time for them to rejoin the ladies.
Edith stood out like a daisy in a field of roses. She was charming, and while he was starting to see a future with her, he couldn’t foresee himself falling madly in love with her. No, she was the safest choice he could imagine.
Miles tried to evenly distribute his time amongst all of the available ladies without showing favor to any one girl in particular. When he finally reached Miss Wilson, she whispered, “I’m ready to report my findings so far. Most of the information I have for you I gathered from my sister. So I cannot verify the accuracy of the things she’d told me. According to Lucy, Lady Ann and Miss Green are close friends who love to gossip and tear others down. Olive Middleton and Cathryn Trimble, on the other hand, have been kind and friendly. Which is saying a lot coming from Lucy. Few women take to her because they tend to be jealous of her natural beauty.”
“That seems to confirm what Grace has said about the ladies here tonight.” Miles nodded.
“Now I may be biased, but of all the ladies here I would have to recommend my sister. Not only is she a diamond of the first water, but she is also sweet tempered, imaginative, and outgoing. Her only flaws might be how easily she trusts others and a propensity for flights of fancy.”
Miles shook his head. “No, she is too young for me,” he explained. A small smile lifted the corners of Edith’s mouth before disappearing. It must have been hard to recommend her youngest sister. It was past time for him to move on and visit with another lady.
Miles had just started up a conversation with Olive Middleton when the drawing-room doors opened and Archibald Lancaster sauntered in. Miles felt his whole body tense as the man walked straight up to Miss Wilson and kissed her gloved hand. He’d hoped the scoundrel would stay put in London or at least miss a few days trying to figure out where Miss Wilson had gone. The pure delight on Edith’s face didn’t bother him at all. Neither did her smile as she introduced Sir Archibald to her family. It was only the inconvenience of having to deal with the man that soured his stomach. After all, he was only interested in marrying Miss Wilson, not in winning her heart.
Edith basked in Sir Archibald’s attention. She knew exactly why he was paying her court, but it was nice to be appreciated and complimented. The other single ladies gathered
around her, excited by the beautiful man. Ann Wycliffe flirted with Sir Archibald outrageously. It was ridiculous how foolish she looked puffing out her well-endowed chest and asking for his opinion on her expensive ruby necklace. For his part, he didn’t even bat an eye at her lovely figure and practically ignored her.
By the time the evening was over Edith was walking on a cloud. She kissed Mama and Papa goodnight and headed to her room. She removed her gloves and folded them into the pocket inside of her dress. Now that she was free for the night there was a spring in her step, and she realized she was skipping down the hall. A noise from behind made her turn. Lord Camden was only a few feet behind her, and his face was thunderous. He can’t be upset over a little exuberant skipping, could he? Edith nodded to him in acknowledgment and turned to leave.
“Miss Wilson,” he called out.
She faced him, surprised he wanted to speak with her. He was calm now. There was no trace of the displeasure that had been there but a few moments previously. “Was there something of importance you needed to say?” Edith asked.
“Yes. In fact, there is. I was wondering if you have warned your sister about Sir Archibald. He is a libertine and a gambler.”
“I haven’t yet, but she will only think me jealous should I tell her to stay away. And with her personality, she will gravitate towards him even more once I tell her about his reputation. She has always dreamed of reforming a rake. It’s better if I admit to being interested in the man, then she will stay away to give me a chance. Lucy is very kind.”
Lord Camden’s eyebrow twitched. He didn’t seem very pleased with her simple solution. “You would lie to your sister?” he asked.
“No, it is not a lie to speak the truth. I have yet to find any insurmountable flaw in Sir Archibald. He is not perfect by any means, but a man with flaws is a better match for a plain girl like me.”
“Are you hoping to have him fall in love with you then?”
An Earl for Edith Page 9