Emma watched as Edward held her sister’s hands. They were to be married in a fortnight at Wentworth Hall. The banns had to be read one more time, and then they would depart for Derbyshire.
“Edward?” Henry asked as he strode into the room. Emma looked up, hoping no one noticed she was staring. “Do you know why your brother is speaking with my parents?”
Emma’s heart raced. Was Phillip at Hertford House? She looked down at the dress she wore to remember it was her purple day dress. She lifted her fingers and cringed to see the stains of lead from her sketching. She touched her hair and pulled the loose pieces back into the pins.
“Phillip is here?” Edward asked in surprise.
“No . . . it’s Charles. I was wondering if he was sent with information regarding the . . .” Henry hesitated and looked over at Emma before he finished speaking. “Information regarding the forged marriage license.”
Edward shook his head. “No. As of this morning my father is still searching for the culprits. Norland is racing to prepare the documents to take everything my father has.”
Henry turned as though miffed. “Why is he here?”
“I don’t know.”
Crestfallen to find out it wasn’t Phillip, Emma went back to her sketch. She didn’t need to worry about the lead smeared on her fingers and hands. She listened as the others made conjectures regarding the visit.
Emma ran her finger over the line she drew to smear the lead on the paper for shading. She was trying to get the effect of the sun on the piano as she heard her name.
“Emma? Your mother and I would like to speak with you.” Her father stood in the doorway.
Weary of what was happening, Emma placed her sketchpad on the sofa and followed her father. If the visit were about the forged license, Edward would have known about it. She tried to think of any other possibility for Charles’s visit, but nothing came to mind. She entered the morning room to see Charles standing. He was waiting with her mother.
“Lord Charles.” She curtsied.
“Emma, please sit down.” Her father pointed to a chair. He waited for her to sit before he spoke. “Lord Charles made an offer of marriage for you.”
Emma wasn’t certain she heard her father right. Why would Charles make an offer of marriage? The words flew through her mind, and the explanation for his reasoning didn’t come. She realized everyone was looking at her.
“I’m sorry, I think I misheard you.”
Her father gave an indulgent and understanding smile. “He has made an offer of marriage.”
Charles cleared his throat. “Miss Emma, I’m the only one in my family who has the freedom to restore your reputation. Phillip can’t do it, as he will be forced to marry Olivia once the forgery is confirmed. Edward can’t because he is engaged to Anne. After me, we are out of options. I think in time we will find happiness together.”
Emma couldn’t think. Her mind raced with questions she didn’t have answers to. She asked the first one to came to her mind. “Does Phillip know you’re here?”
Charles looked down at his hands. “No. I’ll tell him once I have your answer.”
“Did your father tell you to do this?”
Charles didn’t meet her eyes. “Yes.”
Emma nodded her head. She knew Ashby had to be behind the proposal. She couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone in the room. “Have you given him your approval?” She posed the question to her parents. She knew they’d been searching for a way to restore her reputation. They’d spoken about making a match with a few of the men who’d danced and paid call to her during the season. She never expected this.
She closed her eyes as her father responded. “Yes, we think it’s best.”
“I do not mean to sound ungrateful, but I would prefer to be a spinster.” She stood and left the room without another word.
Thirty
Commotion caused Phillip to look up from the book he was reading. It had been at least an hour since Ashby lost his temper, and it was time for another rampage. He wondered what could have happened to cause the outburst. Phillip exited the library with the intent of finding out what the issue was without entering the fray.
When he realized Edward was the one yelling, he walked into the parlor. Edward and Charles were fighting. He hadn’t seen a fight between his brothers for years.
“How could you, Charles? Do you realize what you have done?” Edward yelled. He looked distraught.
Phillip walked forward and put his hand on Edward’s arm. “What’s happened?”
“You don’t want to know,” Edward snarled. His anger was pointed at Charles, so Phillip didn’t take offense.
“He’s going to find out,” Charlotte said from across the room. She sat with her embroidery while she watched the argument. “It’s best he finds out from one of you.”
Charles looked ashamed as he admitted, “I paid a call to Lord Anthony this morning . . . I asked for Emma’s hand in marriage.”
Phillip’s breath caught in his throat as though he’d been punched in the gut. He looked to Edward to see if he heard right and saw the truth of it on his face. “What?” Phillip couldn’t think of what to ask. His mind raced with the implications. He knew he would have to watch as Emma married someone else. He didn’t expect it to be Charles.
“Phillip, you have to understand this is the best way to repair her reputation. Once the forgery is revealed, you’ll be married to Olivia. Emma will be stuck with the repercussions of a ruined reputation.”
Phillip heard the words. He knew Charles was correct about most, if not all, of what he said, but he couldn’t stop thinking of the implications. If Charles and Emma married, she would live in the same house as he did, unless he never saw Charles again.
He found his voice as he asked, “Did she accept?”
Charles fidgeted. He looked as though he were waiting for Phillip to attack him. “She was in shock, but she turned my offer down.”
Phillip nodded and left the room. Once he was in the hall he panicked and noticed his lungs were constricted from the weight of the implications. He couldn’t breathe. He rushed to the back of the house, went out through the servant’s door, and entered the stables. He hadn’t thought about riding since he arrived in London. He needed to think, and a dusty old library wasn’t the right place.
Phillip looked at the horses, trying to decide which one to take when he noticed Bassanio. He walked over to his horse. He didn’t remember anyone mentioning Bassanio being brought to London. Without another thought he saddled the horse and left. His mind raced with places he could go. His father owned estates throughout England. He could hide away at any of them and spend the season brooding in misfortune. But it would be too easy to find him at any of the estates close by.
He thought about leaving England and heading to the States. He’d heard a lot of positive information about Boston and New York. He could start over, remove Emma from his mind. As the thought remove Emma passed through his mind, he knew it was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to be with her.
For a wild moment, he thought about going to Hertford House to convince Emma to go to Gretna Green with him. It would take a day or so to get there, but we could elope and . . . and the thought ended. He was angry because of the person who made up the forged marriage license. He couldn’t take Emma to Gretna Green, and he wouldn’t ask her again because he loved her too much to bring shame on her. She’d already turned him down for an elopement at the church in London.
As Phillip calmed down, he sighed. My parents are going to be angry, he thought. He shook his head. They’d yelled at him once for leaving without an escort or protection. He’d promised not to take off again, although in his defense, an attempt on his life hadn’t been made for quite some time.
Phillip rode out of London. His mind continued to repeat the words Charles said. She said no. He screamed i
n his head, She said no! Charles never should have asked for her hand. In anger, Phillip decided if Charles and Emma did marry, he would make certain the home Charles inherited was the one on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It was far enough away he would never have to see either of them again. He wouldn’t have to see their children. He wouldn’t have to see Emma. I would ban Charles from Wentworth Hall.
Phillip’s anger drained from him as he rode. He knew Charles was right. Emma would need someone to repair her reputation. The best way to do it was through a marriage and a boost in station. Due to the burden of title and inheritance, he couldn’t rescue Emma’s reputation. Charles was the only one in his family who could. He should be thanking him for the generous offer.
As the anger left him, he realized he’d left the house without a winter coat. It was chilly for October, and the sun was going down. He rode to an inn, checked to make certain he had a money purse, and entered to stay for the night. He would decide what to do in the morning.
Thirty-one
Edward understood why Phillip left. What he didn’t understand was why he didn’t return. After going missing over the summer, how could Phillip do this to their family again? Edward didn’t handle the situation with Charles and the proposal well. He shouldn’t have made a scene. He should’ve been more delicate, knowing it would upset Phillip.
He paced through the drawing room as he listened to their father speaking with the London police. His anxiety grew as he thought the killer might have succeeded this time. His brother could be dead. Edward didn’t feel anything. He didn’t feel connected to Phillip like he once had. He hadn’t realized the connection was gone until Phillip didn’t come home. Does this mean he is dead? Edward contemplated as he paced back and forth.
His relationship with Phillip changed once Edward started focusing on time with Anne. He and Phillip were growing apart. He never thought it could happen.
“Ashby, send letters to all of the estates. Ask the stewards if he is staying at one of them.” His mother was trying to hold herself together by thinking of all the places Phillip could be. She didn’t want to think he was dead.
“What about Norfolk House?” Edward asked. Norfolk House was in London a few blocks from where they currently resided. “I’ll ride over to see if he is there.”
“I already checked,” Ashby said. “They haven’t seen him.”
“Aren’t you having him followed?” Charles asked.
“He agreed not to leave the house. I didn’t have him watched within the house.”
“Your Grace,” the officer said as he readied to leave, “I will send Lord Arundel’s description out to surrounding areas via telegraph tonight. We should have responses by morning.”
Edward left the room, unable to listen to anything else the officer said. He walked to the library to find Charles sitting in front of the fire.
“May I join you?” Edward asked, not wanting to interrupt Charles’s thoughts.
“It wasn’t my idea, Edward.” Charles looked as though he’d been torturing himself since the argument.
“I should’ve known Father put you up to it.”
“I know Phillip is upset, but how can he do this to Mother again? How can he do this to our family?”
Edward shook his head. “I don’t understand it either.”
“I’ll send a letter to Miss Emma and her parents. I’ll apologize for the offer in the morning.”
“Be thankful she refused you. Otherwise, Phillip would’ve made certain the house you’d inherit is the one in Scotland.” Edward smiled as he said the words, hoping Charles realized he was joking.
“You speak in jest, but I think you’re right.” Charles leaned forward and put his head in his hands. “I messed this up.”
“Ashby messed it up.” Edward knew where the blame should lie. His father had messed up more than enough this season in hopes of gaining more wealth. Instead he was on the verge of losing all of it.
Edward paced the house the entire night, waiting for Phillip to come home or for the police to drag him home. He nearly cried when Phillip walked in the door.
“Where have you been?” their mother sobbed as she pulled him into her arms.
“I owe you all an apology.” Phillip looked as though he meant the words, although now that he was home Edward wanted to make him suffer as they had while he was gone.
“Do you know how worried we have been?” Edward yelled. He sounded like their father. “You could’ve been killed. You could have been floating in the Thames for all we knew.”
Phillip looked repentant, but it didn’t stop Edward from his rant.
“We all know you’re upset, but you didn’t have to punish us. Do you realize your actions affect every single person in this home?”
Edward stopped yelling and turned away from Phillip to see the surprised expressions on everyone’s faces. He’d never lost his temper like this. It was a new experience. He didn’t like this part of himself. He wanted to be the fun-loving, charismatic jokester he’d always been. Far too often of late he’d seen Ashby emerging in him, and he needed to change before he turned into his father.
Phillip pulled away from their mother and looked at Edward. “I’m sorry. I was angry, and before I knew it I was outside of London and it was night. I stopped at an inn.”
“Well, we are all happy you had a comfortable night’s rest,” Edward continued to rant. “The rest of us have been pacing the house wondering when the police would come and tell us they found your dead body.” He stopped and looked at his family. “Is anyone else going to join me in reprimanding him?”
Edward took a deep breath of regret as their father cleared his throat. He could see Phillip was waiting for the punishment. They were all waiting. The anger drained out of him as their father grabbed Phillip and shook him while he yelled. The words were lost to Edward as he watched Ashby beat Phillip for the irresponsible behavior.
Edward took a step back and realized he needed to control his temper; otherwise he could end up like his father. Ashby was already angry and desperate due to the debacle with Norland. Phillip’s decision to leave the house without protection from the person trying to kill him was more than enough to throw their father over the edge.
When their father left the room, Phillip stumbled out. Edward followed him up the stairs and helped him with his bloody nose.
Phillip gave a derisive laugh as he said, “Are you still going to yell at me?”
“No. I’m not angry with you anymore. I am ashamed of my behavior.” He vowed he would never turn into his father, and if he saw any sign of it, he would change course.
Edward decided he wanted to see Anne. He needed to find out what Emma was thinking, and he needed to be away from his family. As he arrived at Hertford House he was thankful they didn’t know anything about the night’s events. He walked into the drawing room to see Anne at the piano and Emma on the sofa sketching.
“Edward!” Anne always looked happy to see him. He spent every moment he could with her, and it made him a better person to do so. “I hoped you would come this morning.”
“I had a busy night.” He didn’t want to worry Anne, so he would omit the events of the previous evening.
Thirty-two
The best part of his relationship with his father was once Phillip received the beating, Ashby didn’t harp on him over the mistake. But he feared his father. When Hodgens passed the message to him letting him know he was expected in the den, Phillip’s anxiety hit the ceiling.
He slowly walked to the den, holding an arm over his stomach as if it would help stop the pain from the beating. He wondered why he was summoned. He paused outside the door, thinking of excuses he could use to get out of the meeting. He could feign an illness. He could claim a headache; it seemed to work for women when they wanted to get out of a social engagement.
“Come in, Arundel,” his f
ather said before Phillip knocked on the door.
Phillip entered to see his parents and the Duke and Duchess of Norland. He looked around the room and found Olivia in an overstuffed chair by the window. As he looked at the occupants, he wished he had faked the headache.
“Arundel, my investigation is complete. My solicitor found the culprits of the forged wedding license.”
This information piqued his interest. Although he would love to be married to Emma, he now understood why it couldn’t be in Gretna Green. “Who?”
“Lady Olivia and Lord Folly concocted the plan together.” Ashby looked jubilant as he said the words.
Phillip didn’t have to ask why; he knew why they did it. He just didn’t understand the purpose of destroying Emma. She was innocent. He wanted to tell Olivia what he thought of her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Ashby would say something awful in this situation, and Phillip was not his father. His father would rage and yell. He would hit walls and slam the desk. Instead Phillip sat on a chair to hear his fate. He wondered if he was a coward but decided it took strength to stay human when treated so diabolically.
“Now this mess is cleared up, we can continue with plans for the wedding,” Ashby announced, “unless your daughter is backing out of the contract, Norland?”
“She isn’t backing out. She is apologetic for her actions. She will offer Miss Parker an apology today.”
Phillip looked up at the mention of Emma. His head came up too quickly and caused the room to spin. He wondered how long the effects of the beating would stay with him. This was one situation he wasn’t going to sit back and accept an apology over. “What does she expect Emma to do now that her reputation has been tarnished?”
“I think you should marry her and save her reputation,” Olivia said, speaking to Phillip for perhaps the second or third time since they were thrown into this engagement.
The Earl of Arundel Page 19