Текст книги "An Accidental Affair"

Автор книги: Heather Boyd

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When they were through the door, he followed to observe them together. Farnsworth appeared somewhat of a tyrant about punctuality and getting his way. He wasn’t close enough to speak to them but was close enough for one last glance. Arabella appeared unconcerned as Farnsworth’s tirade grew louder. She climbed into the carriage and turned her face toward the window and him immediately.

Again, Merrick was beset by a yearning for what he couldn’t have. It should be enough that he had touched her tonight, kissed her till she was breathless, an opportunity he’d seized without thought. He should regret the mistake he’d made, yet he found he wasn’t that cross with himself at all. In fact, he was rather pleased. He hoped she felt the same.

He raised his hand in farewell as the Farnsworth carriage moved off, then he entered his own as it stopped before him and gave directions to a soiree at Lady Ettington’s home a short distance away. He was two blocks from the Ettington town house when he changed his mind about his evening plans. He tapped on the roof and directed the coachman toward his own home instead. There was plenty of time to search for a wife. With luck, he would find someone who liked him just the way he was some other night.

CHAPTER FIVE

Anson Holland, Merrick’s assistant of several years, cleared his throat noisily, interrupting Merrick’s perusal of the paper spread before him. He’d been up early to deal with his business affairs, but his heart hadn’t truly been prepared. He couldn’t keep his mind away from thoughts of Arabella, so as a last resort to leaving the house entirely and strolling past her home on the off chance of seeing her at a window, he’d seized on the daily scandal sheets littering the dining room to see if her name was mentioned, even anonymously.

Merrick didn’t bother to look up when he spoke. “What is it now?”

“You returned home early last night,” Holland observed. “I trust the evening was uneventful.”

Despite his best efforts, his eyes were drawn to where Holland waited, standing at attention beside the dining table. He sighed. There were days when the man was far too nosy. Yet Merrick could never ignore him completely. Holland, though few knew it, was one of his father’s extramarital mistakes. Instead of answering immediately, he continued to peruse the paper until he was satisfied. So far, no mention of his cousin, Lady Cecily, or Arabella had made the scandal sheet and that brought relief.

Yet on further reflection, he had not behaved very well last night and should be ashamed. He should have apologized for mistakenly kissing Arabella rather than thanking her. “It was pleasant.”

Holland shuffled his feet. “Was that understatement for my benefit? Didn’t Lady Penelope Ford attend as well?” Holland touched the tabletop with his fingertips and then peered at them as if looking for nonexistent dust. “What did happen last night? You accepted three invitations, yet you were home by half past ten o’clock.”

Bloody hell. The man was keeping watch on his movements. If he weren’t so loyal, Merrick would actually be concerned. “Nothing.”

Holland poured a coffee from the sideboard and placed it on the paper beneath Merrick’s nose, forcing him to look up. “Your face indicates otherwise.”

Merrick stared at the man he depended on most. Holland’s calm, organized temperament was well suited to managing Merrick’s affairs. His hair was just showing signs of age in the form of patches of gray at his temples, giving him a dignified bearing, though a formerly scruffy barkeep lurked beneath. Merrick heaved a heavy sigh and sat back, stretching his legs out beneath the table, and took up the cup. “I see you’ve not the temperament for minding your own business.”

His half brother met his gaze, familiar features creased with concern. “I cannot help it. You gave up much to offer me a position, and the others too. We are here to watch over you, and your happiness affects the whole household.”

Holland was family and family, in Merrick’s opinion, was never easily dismissed, so Merrick folded the paper and set it aside. “You worry too much.”

Holland nodded. “Yes, you’ve made that very plain in the past, so tell me before I imagine the worst.”

He shook his head. “Last night I prevented one Ford scandal and merely stirred the old sow. Not a bad night.”

Holland’s eyes grew wide. “Promise me you did not call Lady Penelope that out loud.”

Merrick laughed at Holland’s shocked expression. “Why do you care? The woman can hardly bear to look at you. You are far too considerate of her feelings.”

“And what would a good woman such as Lady Penelope Ford want to look at me for? You should follow your own rules and think better of her. She is family, after all.”

“Not yours.” Merrick drained the last of his coffee and stood. “I’ve told you she isn’t even human. I won’t pretend to like her.”

Holland swallowed. “She could help smooth the way in your search for a wife. You know how important this decision is. I want you to marry well and be happy.”

Merrick shot to his feet. “If she learns from you or anyone under my roof that I am surveying the field, then there will be a ruthless cleansing of the household, after which I will never allow another relation, illegitimate or not, beneath my roof. Is that understood?”

“Yes, my lord,” Holland whispered, his face turning white. “You’ve made that very plain to all of us who depend on you.”

Merrick immediately regretted his abrupt threat. Having his half siblings under his roof these past years had proved no great hardship. He slept much better at night knowing where they all were, in fact.

He filled another cup and handed it to Holland as a peace offering. “Was there something else? Your face indicates there is,” he said, mimicking Holland’s earlier words.

Holland took the offered cup and took his time drinking the bitter brew, a sure sign Merrick wouldn’t like the news he was going to impart. “It’s not urgent.”

“Come on, man, spit it out.” He eased back into his chair to wait. Leaving out Holland, the only sensible one in the pack, his other half brothers were not temperate creatures. There was always some to-do between their brothers. A firm warning tended to calm things down. “Who is it and what have they done now?”

“Jimmy and James.” Holland quickly swallowed a mouthful of coffee before setting the cup aside. “They’ve been fighting.”

“Not a shock there. Between themselves, as usual?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Jimmy and James were the most problematic. They were arrogant little sods and proud to be employed in an earl’s house where they were well treated, fed, and clothed. He even gave them leave to visit their families three times a year. “Over what this time?”

“That I cannot get out of them.” Holland did not look happy about that fact. There was a pecking order in the house. Everyone Merrick employed knew their welfare depended on keeping Holland’s good opinion, and Holland had mentioned more than once that their comfort depended on Merrick’s continuing good graces. Most lords would not have concerned themselves with their illegitimate brothers and sisters. Merrick, the only legitimate child sired, did what he could to correct his father’s wickedness.

“Bring them in and I’ll deal with it.”

“Yes, my lord.” Holland quickly departed, returning a short time later with his two younger half siblings in tow. Both looked embarrassed to be brought before him again. If memory served, it was the third time in as many weeks. He studied them closely. Jimmy would have a black eye by dinnertime, and James’s lower lip wept blood from a cut. “Explain yourselves.”

When they looked down instead of answering, Merrick rose slowly and circled till he stood behind them. He reached out and caught them both about the neck and smacked their heads together.

“Ouch.”

“Hey, steady on.”

Sometimes being unpredictable proved very satisfying. “Idiots. You’re upsetting Holland with your nonsense. Very soon he’s going to request you be sent back home to Needham Hollow and two others brought up to replace you. You know how he hates disruptions in the midst of the season.”

“We’re sorry, milord,” they mumbled in unison.

“I do not want an apology. You owe that to Holland.” He sat again and folded his hands over his lap. “What I want is an explanation.”

Jimmy, the smallest of the pair, fidgeted. They glanced at each other guilty then at Holland. “James claimed a greater resemblance, sir. I don’t believe it.”

Merrick exchanged a glance with Holland, but the other man covered his eyes. “Resemblance to what? What the devil!”

Holland lifted his head and stared at their half brothers with annoyance twisting his lips. “Are you still debating which of you looks more like Lord Rothwell? I thought that was settled long ago.”

Merrick stood quickly. “You must be joking?”

“Forgive me. I thought this matter had been settled and would not recur.” Holland winced. “It seems there is a certain cache for owning a greater resemblance to yourself among those you’ve taken in. For some it is a point of pride and has led to some unfortunate behavior. This fight being a prime example of it all. I am sorry to have troubled you.”

Merrick stared at the men before him. They wanted to look like him? To be known as the bastard son of their scoundrel father? His mind couldn’t fathom why. He threw his hands up in the air. “This is ridiculous. Jimmy, your forehead is too wide; James, your nose is too squat. You look very little like me except for your brown eyes. I will acknowledge that at least.”

Both men perked up at his words. Jimmy nodded. “If you don’t mind having the final say, my lord, would you cast your vote on who out of all of us most resembles you?”

Merrick rolled his eyes. “Impertinent wretch. There is but one among you cursed with such a close likeness that it is obvious to any who observe. Holland, do send them back to their duties. I don’t want to hear of this matter ever again.”

Holland hustled the two men toward the door. “Yes, my lord. Forgive the interruption.”

“But he didn’t say,” Jimmy squawked, peering behind to where Merrick sat.

When they paused at the threshold, Merrick sighed. “Holland bears the closest resemblance. Any idiot, even you pair of clods, should be able to see that.”

Yes, Holland, though older by a few years, was the closest in appearance, and that was why Merrick would never return to Newberry Park and had no time for his Ford relations. They felt Holland should be sent away and forgotten for the sake of their reputation as upstanding members of society. However, Holland had proved himself a valuable man in Merrick’s service many times over including that awkward first discovery, which had given Merrick the pleasure of thwarting his grandfather and Aunt Pen by turning his back on them instead.

CHAPTER SIX

“I swear, Lady Farnsworth, you must be the worst chaperone in history,” Lord Farnsworth said. “Can you not keep track of a single girl for the length of time of one ball? Perhaps you’ve spent too much time on your own to know what’s acceptable behavior and what isn’t?”

Arabella flinched at the unfair accusation. If her brother-in-law hadn’t sired a devil in disguise, then they wouldn’t be in this predicament. After last night’s discovery, she’d reconsidered everything she knew about her niece and concluded she’d been duped. The girl was bound for trouble and by her own design, no less.

She held her tongue rather than speak out of spite. Farnsworth’s temper was never far away, and she depended on his good opinion to maintain her limited independence. Although she had done everything he’d demanded with regard to Cecily’s season, he continued to cast doubts on her return to Winslette House in Wiltshire in order to get his way.

She steeled herself to be agreeable but didn’t like her chances of Farnsworth retrieving his good humor any time soon. The morning had not gone well. Farnsworth had received several notes from important personages that raised questions about his daughter’s behavior at the festivities last night. Questions of where she may have disappeared to often led to answers. So far, there were no reports of Cecily being seen in Lieutenant Ford’s arms, but Arabella was counting down the minutes.

Farnsworth stood and paced behind his desk, hands clasped behind his back. “Given that Cecily and tragedy are determined to be constant companions, I’ve taken steps to ensure the future is secure.”

“What kind of steps?” But Arabella had a sinking feeling in her stomach that she already knew what his answer would be. He’d been very clear that Cecily had to marry this season and he would fund no further expeditions to London in future years.

His gaze sharpened until Arabella was near to squirming from his scrutiny. “All in good time, my dear. See that she behaves herself today and tomorrow, and if all goes to plan, we will have everything settled. By the end of the week, life could go on as it should.”

Arabella’s heart sank. She prayed Farnsworth hadn’t already signed marriage contracts behind their backs. Farnsworth was the most stubborn of men and hated any attempt to change his mind. He had hopefully not gone so far in his plans for Cecily’s future that he wouldn’t see reason if he’d made a bad choice for the girl. Arabella had little influence over Farnsworth, and Cecily’s tears would bring nothing but his bad temper. She just hoped if he’d made a match for the girl that the gentleman possessed a steady temperament. “Can you not offer a hint so that I may know in which direction to steer our attention? I would hate to work against your plans.”

Farnsworth pursed his lips. “You may be correct. We should be of one mind on this to ensure our mutual felicity. I never could say no to you, as my brother likely could not. It should not surprise you that Lord Parker has expressed an interest in an alliance with our family, and I consider the match an advantageous one.”

“Parker?” Arabella sank into the nearest chair as dismay smothered her. She had thought Parker more interested in her, not Cecily. How could she have been so wrong? Parker surely wouldn’t want Cecily. “But he’s so much older.”

Farnsworth turned, his face creased into a puzzled frown. “The gap in ages is less than it was between my late brother and yourself. A very sensible match.”

His response in no way comforted her. A twenty-year gap was not conducive to a happy marriage unless there were strong ties of affection. Cecily had met Parker several times that Arabella could recall, and she had detected no partiality on either side. Her niece had preferred to bestow her attention on prettier, younger gentlemen.

Farnsworth resettled behind his desk, leaning back as if his problems were already behind him. “Parker needs a wife of excellent breeding, well versed in the duties of a hostess, and one with energy and beauty to hang on his arm. He has impressed me with his enthusiasm for marriage.”

Cecily would have almost the same marriage as Arabella had lived. She wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy. Women always had little choice in whom they married but still, her heart begged her to persuade him to reconsider the match. In time, the coldness and lack of affection would eat into Cecily’s soul until she was left a barren husk. Arabella had only found a measure of contentment after she’d been widowed. She’d been able to establish her own friendships and in some respects could be considered happy with her life. Even dealing with Cecily’s wild antics was better than her married life had been. “Are you sure about this? Shouldn’t we…”

Farnsworth waved his hands to halt her questions. “It’s decided. Reconcile yourself to this marriage so you may make plans for your change of location without distraction.”

She stared at her brother-in-law. The offhand remark about her leaving thrilled her. “Am I to return to Wiltshire?”

“I doubt it. You’ve endured the season quite well, but clearly your mind has not been fully on the task at hand. Why, even Lady Penelope Ford remarked on your performance as a chaperone just last evening. She suggested a sojourn in new surroundings was exactly what you needed, and I quite agree with her thinking.”

Her palms grew damp. She prayed he’d not presumed her invited to stay as a guest of Lady Penelope Ford’s and had said so out loud. He would have made a fool of them both. “What do you mean?”

“Depending on Lord Parker’s plans, you will come to Hinkley Park after Cecily is off my hands.” Farnsworth resumed his pacing, hands clasped behind his back. “Of course, I would expect you to act as my hostess on occasion and run the house again as you once did for my brother. You have not been back of your own accord since my wife died, have you?”

“No.” Ants crawled over her skin at the thought of going back to Hinkley. “There never seemed to be a need since Cecily returned to school so soon after.”

When Cecily married, there would be no one else at Hinkley Park but herself and her brother-in-law. There was no dower house to claim and even if there was, she doubted Farnsworth would endure the expense of the additional servants required to maintain it. She would be as trapped as she had been during her marriage. Arabella had no wish for such a retiring life. She had to prevent this. “I cannot imagine why Lady Penelope would take such an interest in me. I am perfectly happy in Wiltshire.”

“The Wiltshire property is superfluous to my needs, and I intend to sell it.”

“No, please.” Panic assailed her. “I will buy Winslette House. I don’t want to live anywhere else. Please do not make any hasty decisions.”

Farnsworth laughed immediately. “My dear, you could never afford to buy or manage such a property. Lord Parker has no interest in the Wiltshire estate, so I have already spoken to several gentlemen about the matter. I am sure it will be snapped up in no time. Think no more of Wiltshire. You are done with that locale.”

He dismissed her desire for Wiltshire as if she hadn’t spoken, another indication that her future was fast slipping from her control. She pressed her fingertips to her temple. Why was Farnsworth so set on what Lord Parker wanted? There were many more equally acceptable gentlemen in London. Surely Cecily wasn’t disagreeable to all.

Farnsworth tapped his finger to the tabletop, recalling her attention to him. “I’ll be at my club tonight, but tomorrow I am sure we can expect Lord Parker to call. I’ll speak to him tonight, in fact, to ensure he does. Please stress to Cecily the importance of pleasing her future husband. There will be no Lieutenant Ford in her future.”

Arabella’s mind raced. Had the lieutenant done what Rothwell had demanded of him and come to call? Had he proposed marriage rather than meet in secret again? If that were so, he had come too late to do any good, but Arabella’s opinion of Lieutenant Ford rose considerably. His intentions could be honorable after all.

Farnsworth snapped open a newssheet, signaling their interview was at an end. Although she’d like nothing better than to argue for Cecily’s freedom, Arabella stood and walked out slowly, mind racing. Being packed off to Surrey was disagreeable in the extreme. She had vowed never to return to that miserable place. She would miss visiting her friends in Wiltshire whenever she pleased and their calls to her in return. Farnsworth valued his peace, and she would never be free to invite Grayling and his wife and daughters to visit. She would be cut off from everything she knew and loved, and that was unacceptable.

Heart pounding, she closed the library door and leaned against it, drawing unsteady breaths as frustration gripped her. Her plans to find a lover this season were no longer a priority. What she needed was a way out of her dependency on Farnsworth. She wished she had someone to confide in, but her closest friends were still in Wiltshire and too far away to offer immediate aid.

A sniff drew her attention and she raised her eyes to the stairs. Cecily stood at the halfway point of the first flight, eyes filled with tears, the butler at her side holding out a handkerchief. Given their sorrowful expressions, they must have overheard her father’s plans for Cecily to marry immediately. Was a tantrum imminent? That really would seal the girl’s fate.

The butler backed away with a regretful smile, leaving Arabella to the task of comforting the girl on her own. She hurried to Cecily’s side, clasped her trembling hands, and led her back upstairs to her bedchamber before she did something rash like confront her father. She had a feeling that disobedience would not be tolerated. When the door closed behind them, Cecily gave in to her emotions with a loud sob. “I won’t let him do this to us.”

“Come now, Cecily. Surely you knew your father would have the final say in whom you married? In time, it is my hope that Lieutenant Ford will put this behind him and be happy. So will you, I’m sure.” Feeling uncharacteristically close to the girl, she pressed a kiss to Cecily’s hair. “We should prepare for Lord Parker’s visit.”

Cecily broke away. The girl could never bear to be coddled when she was upset. “I thought Father had some foolishness on his mind these past days, but it’s more important to decide how you are going to survive his plans for your life. You hate Surrey.”

Arabella gaped at the girl’s words. She’d always assumed Cecily cared for naught but her own happiness and had never paid attention to what she had to say. Yet Cecily had bigger problems than Arabella’s exile to Surrey to worry about. “Mine? Cecily, dear. Do you understand the sort of life you will likely have as Lady Parker?”

Cecily eyed her critically even through her tears. “We need to find you a new situation and much quicker than I originally planned.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Cecily sighed somewhat dramatically. “A husband you like this time.”

“A husband? What plan? Now wait a moment.” Arabella held up one hand. “There is no plan that concerns me more than your future happiness. I have spent the last two months in search of a good man for you. In all my thinking, it was never to someone twenty years older than yourself. Besides, I doubt we’d be able to find a husband for me. Marriage is not in my future.”

Now that she’d had time to consider Farnsworth’s attitude to his daughter, her ire rose. Women were not to be traded to the highest bidder. Power. Wealth. The Farnsworth men treated women no better than cattle.

Cecily said, “Oh, please. A woman as beautiful as you has many men watching her. Forget Lord Parker. Laurence’s older brother, Lord Maitland, is nice—although he is a full year your junior.” Cecily grinned, warming to the discussion. “Even the debauched Lord Rothwell has paid more than a passing interest in you, and the whole world knows he avoids proper women.”

The mention of Rothwell and the memory of his interest and devastating kiss caused her body to quiver. He would not have plans to marry her. Seduce her, yes, but nothing so permanent as a future together beyond a handful of nights. He’d suit her plans perfectly if she still required a lover. She had considered him briefly for an affair, but her courage had utterly failed until last night, and now she had other concerns to struggle through. “I’ve no wish for a husband. Marriage did not agree with me the last time I tried it.”

“Given my uncle’s greater age and sour disposition, I’m not in the least surprised. You need someone fresher.” Cecily spun about in a tight circle, her grin widening. “Forget my father. We can have any man we want for our husband. It will take cunning and bravery for sure, but you just need to choose one and offer them the right encouragement before my father carries out his plan to banish you to Surrey.”

Arabella caught her niece’s hands to still her. She assessed the gown Cecily wore and considered what might do for tomorrow. There was no time to dawdle. “What we need to do is talk about your future more than mine. Parker is expected to call tomorrow. You will need to be in your best looks.”

Cecily’s expression grew sly. “Does my father join us for dinner this evening?”

“No.” Arabella studied her niece, alarmed when her smile returned so quickly. “He’ll be at his club.”

“Good. There is much to do. The first of which is to send a note to Laurie letting him know my worst fears have come to pass and to arrange a meeting. And the second, helping you, must be undertaken at the same time. So, who among the gentlemen I mentioned takes your fancy? Lord Wade? Although his ears are too large to take seriously. We cannot allow you to be banished to Hinkley’s dull confines. You’ve barely left my side all season, despite my attempts to disappear long enough so a gentleman might be inappropriate with your person.” Her niece giggled. “We need to discover where those you favor will be on any given night before it is too late.”

Arabella shook her head furiously. “Enough of this. You cannot tell anyone of your father’s plans. There has been no announcement yet.”

Cecily’s face grew serious at last. “I am sorry about losing your home in Wiltshire. I fear Papa used my coming out to bring you back under his roof. He can certainly bear the expense of Winslette’s upkeep. He just doesn’t want you so far away from his control. What about Rothwell? I really think he shouldn’t be dismissed as too much a rogue. By all accounts he’s a dab hand when it comes to the bedroom, and that must be a consideration at your time of life. I’ve just never heard of him being interested in marrying anyone, so convincing him to offer for you might require some careful planning.”

Arabella quickly covered her niece’s mouth with her hand, furious that the girl just wasn’t listening. “Do not say such things out loud.”

Cecily broke free and merely laughed at Arabella’s embarrassment. “My dear aunt, you are too precious. You were married for seven years and still sound as prim as those silly girls who came out with me. I cannot wait to be a wife with all it entails. Why do you blush when a man pays you attention? I swear, if I didn’t think it impossible, I would believe you a virgin.”

Cecily left her then and in doing so missed the fiery blush that washed over Arabella’s face. She was a virgin—although she’d been married for enough years to make that fact ridiculous. When she’d taken her vows, she’d meant every word. She’d hoped Farnsworth might have grown kinder, at least somewhat fond of her, but he’d passed away and she was the same as the day she married. There was nothing she could do to change that fact now. Farnsworth would pack her off to the country as soon as Cecily was wed, and her hopes for the season were impossible. Whatever plans Cecily was making would be in vain. She had no one to turn to but friends and they were all in the country.

Cecily retrieved a sealed square of paper from the depths of a drawer and then rang for a servant while Arabella looked on grimly. As the girl handed the note over to the maid they shared, she pressed a shilling into her hand. “It’s time, Hill.”

The maid bobbed a curtsey, bounced on the balls of her feet somewhat excitedly, and then left as if the devil was chasing her. Arabella rubbed her brow. Was there any use in trying to rein the girl in and get her to think of making the best of her future? But she was just as stubborn as her father. Standing between the two was such a strain.

When Cecily pulled a worn portmanteau from beneath the bed, alarm bells rang in Arabella’s mind. “What are you doing?”

Cecily sized her up and Arabella broke out in a cold sweat.

Her niece smiled sweetly. “The only thing I can. I’m eloping with Laurie.”