A Marriage 0f Convenience_Historical Regency Romance

by Janet Woods

  Sam hung his head. ‘I’m sorry, Mr LéSayres. I didn’t mean—’

  ‘I know you didn’t.’ Dominic took Sam by the shoulder. ‘There’s something I need to say to you, Sam. Miss Ellis is not a subject suitable for discussion between us, but I will overlook it on this occasion because of your regard for her. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

  ‘Yes, sir, I’m sorry sir,’ he mumbled, and he flushed.

  Dominic poured some warm water into a jug decorated with pink cherubs joined together by a ribbon. ‘I’ll take this up to Miss Ellis so she can tidy herself.’ Then, so the lad could regain some of his pride, he placed his pocket watch on the table. ‘Can you read the time?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Good, then you’ll know when the eggs are cooked. I advise you not to eat any of those pilchards, they stink to high heaven.’

  Upstairs, Grace was an untidy mound under the bedcover. He placed the jug of water on the washstand and gave her a gentle shake.

  One eye opened to gaze warily at him … then the other. Awareness followed. She gave him a small, shy grin, and then she scrambled upright, her hair flying, saying with some alarm, ‘Is it time? Are they here?’

  ‘It’s time to rise. I thought you might like to wash and tidy yourself up. You can use my soap and hairbrush.’

  ‘I’m all crumpled.’

  ‘I’m not surprised.’ He grinned, his glance going from her feet to her head, absorbing her. ‘You’re not as crumpled as I’d like you to be but that gown is shabby. I’ll see if I can find something suitable in Lady Florence’s wardrobe. She wanted you to have the contents, anyway.’

  It wouldn’t hurt her to unbend a little, Grace thought. If she refused to take the gown somebody else would, for Raff wouldn’t hesitate to rob the place, and as for Betty Bunce, her eyes had been darting everywhere in Raff’s cottage, so any goods she could get her hands on in Oakford House would soon end up on a market stall.

  ‘A taffeta gown was delivered a week before she died. She never wore it and it’s still in its box. She bought quite a few garments in the weeks leading up to her death, told me to leave them packed in case she went dancing. As if she could, she just liked pretty things.’

  ‘I’ll fetch them.’

  He returned within five minutes and placed the box on the bed. ‘Don’t take too long if you want some breakfast. It’s not much but it’s all we’ve got.’

  There were several garments in the box. The gown she chose was a fall of cream petticoats. It had pretty puff sleeves, embroidered with yellow roses that matched those on the bodice. There was an overdress and pelisse of pale gold silk with a feathered bonnet to match. He had also brought with him a cashmere shawl for warmth.

  ‘I’ll wait outside in case you require anything further.’

  She’d barely dressed when he knocked at the door again and said against the panel, ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘No, not quite, I need to tidy my hair.’

  The door opened and Dominic’s head appeared as he offered, ‘I can fashion a braid. I used to practise on my pony’s tail when I was a child.’

  Stepping into the room he picked up the hairbrush and ran it gently through her hair, an action so intimate and relaxing that Grace envied the pony he’d practised his braiding skill on, and nearly fell asleep on the spot. ‘You have a gentle touch, would you consider becoming my maid?’ she murmured as he deftly braided it and tied the end with a green ribbon.

  He kissed the pulse just under her ear, and then laughed when a shiver ran down her spine. ‘I’m glad you appreciate my skills. Were I your maid I doubt if we’d get much work done, and what an eager little lady you turned out to be.’

  ‘I didn’t mean … you know I didn’t mean that …’

  ‘Didn’t mean what?’

  He nibbled her neck where it joined her shoulder and whispered in her ear, ‘It was about time you were bedded, Gracie Ellis; did you enjoy the experience?’

  She turned, certain she was blushing like a beetroot. ‘You promised to behave like a gentleman … now you’re being totally outrageous.’

  ‘I am behaving like any gentleman would. You’ll know it when I’m not. Stand up now, my sweet – allow me to take a good look at you.’

  She promised herself not to engage his wintery eyes but couldn’t resist the pull of them when he said, ‘Do you remember what you said to me when you arrived yesterday?’

  Only too well, and the shrug she gave was almost a squirm as she lied. ‘No … I just said what came into my head … I was tired and I cannot remember.’

  ‘I love you.’

  Was he reminding her of what she’d said to him, or telling her that her feelings towards him were reciprocated?

  He kissed her. ‘So, my love, if you didn’t follow me to Ringwood because you were smitten by me, why did you follow me?’

  ‘I don’t know … I had a plan, I think, and yes, I did enjoy your attention but I wouldn’t dream of telling you that.’

  His voice plucked a silky soft warning along her spine. ‘A plan … pray tell me of it.’

  ‘Alas, because you are trying to intimidate me, the plan has fled from my head as if it decided it was no longer of importance to such a learned gentleman as yourself.’ She grabbed a plausible excuse from the air. ‘No doubt I thought you needed the services of a clerk to record your meeting with the brigadier.’

  He began to laugh. ‘How convenient a memory you have. I got exactly what I needed, and don’t you dare make a record of that. How can you look so innocent and cast a lie so convincingly at the same time?’

  ‘It’s not easy. Can you forgive me?’

  ‘You’re quite exquisite, my Gracie, so how could I not forgive you.’

  ‘I doubt if Vivienne will, after this. Besides, people will talk.’

  ‘Nonsense, my sister-in-law has a wonderful sense of adventure and I expect the pair of you will get on famously once you’ve offered her an apology. As for people gossiping … nothing will change that. I expect many of the gossipmongers knew your father.’

  ‘Which is no commendation since they encouraged him in his foolishness.’

  He brushed a kiss over her forehead, left another on her nose and her mouth found her own response. He held out his arm for her to take and they went down for breakfast, exchanging a kiss on every step they took.

  Having eaten his portion, Sam went out to give Argus a feed.

  When the lad returned, Dominic cautioned, ‘Report back if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Try not to be seen or heard. We will be in the morning room.’ He wished, though, it was still the cosy bed they had so recently vacated. He hoped the sun would appear to warm the room. He didn’t think it was worth lighting another fire, since he hoped the affair would be over and done with and they’d be on their way home well before dark.

  ‘Yes, sir, I promise nobody will see me.’

  ‘Sam tracked me from King’s Acres, and I didn’t even notice,’ Grace said.

  It wasn’t long before Sam returned again, his eyes shining with youthful excitement over his part in the adventure. ‘The mist is beginning to thin and I saw two men on foot skirting the boundary around the meadow. They seem to be heading this way. One of them is Lord LéSayres, I think. And Daisy is missing from the stable.’

  ‘The donkey and cart has been sold to Mr Jones. He took possession of her yesterday. Well observed, Sam. I’m also expecting James Archibald’s carriage so you can keep a lookout for him if you would. He won’t be here until the mist clears, which rather depends how thick it is at the Southampton end.’

  Grace gave Dominic a sharp glance after Sam had gone. ‘It sounds as though you’re expecting trouble.’

  ‘The trouble I’d anticipated did eventuate, but not in the way I expected. It had honey-coloured eyes and was hidden inside an ugly brown cloak, but she still kept me awake half the night, especially when she used my legs to warm her cold feet on.’

  Grace opened her mouth, and then
closed it again and smiled, blushing a little at the compliment. ‘How unfortunate.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, it was quite pleasant imagining how you would feel without the bolster. Your toes are flirtatious, and when I kissed your foot good morning, your toes wriggled at me and invited me in.’

  She laughed. ‘I have very ticklish feet and would have known if you’d taken any liberties with them.’ She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining a repeat of the same act and her toes responded, then she said, because she didn’t want to be a distraction to him, ‘You should have kept your mind on your job, Dominic LéSayres. Tell me what you are expecting, without the personal trimmings.’

  ‘What I’m expecting is to get the brigadier’s signature on a paper, a properly witnessed legal agreement to place Lady Florence’s worldly goods in the hands of the court. When you sign a similar deposition I will present my account to the court for payment at the same time. That should be the last I hear of the affair.’

  She couldn’t quite meet his eyes. ‘You know the brigadier will not be reasonable.’

  ‘He might be if he doesn’t set eyes on you. Yes … I’ve figured out why you’re here. You have some idiotic and entirely romantic scheme fermenting inside your head about the brigadier. How did you get to be such a bird wit?’

  ‘Not so, Dominic, have you considered that my idiotic and romantic schemes might embrace … another man. My mind is in turmoil, knowing my life can never be as I would want.’

  His eyes lightened. ‘Goodness Gracie, such drama. Did you come all this way to tell me what I already know? What is it you want? The same as me, I suspect – someone to love you, a home to live in and children. You can have all those things as soon as this mess is sorted out. Did you intend to offer yourself up as a sacrifice on my behalf? Do you think I’d allow it? I’d die rather than let that man harm you.’

  ‘A sacrifice, how conceited you are. It just happens that I don’t want you to die, and not for any reason except … just except,’ she flung darkly at him. ‘And you have no right to run my life to please your way of thinking.’

  ‘I know. Now tell me, why did you come back to Ringwood when I told you to stay at King’s Acres? I arranged it for your own safety, you know, not to get rid of you … but just at this moment I’m inclined to put you over my knee and smack your pert little arse before throwing you in the stream to cool off.’

  ‘How did I get to be such a bird wit?’ She gave a careless snort, and then she grinned when he glowered at her. She couldn’t help it, she loved everything about him, including his frown. ‘Did you want the truthful reason, or the version that would feed your vanity and soothe your ruffled feathers?’

  ‘The truth.’

  ‘The truth is … I don’t really know why.’

  ‘And the other reason?’

  ‘Oh … all right, if you insist. I was scared for you and I thought that if I wed the brigadier, as Lady Florence had suggested I should, then he’d leave on the Bonnie Kathleen when she sailed and I’d never see him again. At least he would have the fortune he was entitled to as the only living heir. It was mean of Lady Florence to arrange matters this way.’

  ‘And you’d have a sizeable fortune too.’

  Colour rose in her face. ‘If anything deserves a slap, that remark does. You know I don’t want any of it and I don’t want him … especially now. You know as well as I that any fortune that comes my way will be entirely under his control. The old lady did me no favours, but caused trouble for everyone associated with her. Marriage to the brigadier would bring an end to it.’

  ‘On the contrary, it would simply make matters worse.’ The expression in his eyes softened and he pushed a wispy lock of her hair aside. ‘You are too intelligent to think matters will be as simple as that. As your husband he would have certain rights.’

  Privileges she’d conveniently sent crawling to the back of her mind like an army of slugs. Her lip curled.

  ‘He doesn’t have a bad reputation without reason, and you don’t have to wed the brigadier, Gracie. You can wed me instead. I’m in need of a wife.’

  ‘Hah!’ she exclaimed, then a little less forcefully, ‘hah … You don’t mean it.’

  ‘I rarely say anything I don’t mean.’

  The idea stole her breath from her body. Mouth open she stared at him, and then gulped in some air before stammering, ‘Would … wouldn’t that rather complicate matters?’

  ‘Delightfully. Sam thinks you should be wed.’

  ‘You’ve discussed it with Sam?’

  ‘Not in depth, it slipped out in a man-to-man discussion. Had he been older, he’d have proposed to you himself. The lad has reached the age when he needs to start sowing his wild oats.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said faintly.

  ‘My pardon, Gracie. He’ll get over his disappointment. I’ll go and fetch him. He’s rounding up our companions and has gone to feed Argus. I imagine he’d enjoy giving the bride away.’

  Dominic returned, minus the lad.

  ‘I’ve sent him to the church, to alert the reverend. Once we have taken our vows and the wedding is over then the court can sort this out. To be fair, I’ll recommend that Lady Florence’s estate be awarded to the brigadier, on the grounds that you’ve become my wife and can no longer fulfil the conditions stated in the will … therefore rendering the condition null and void.’

  ‘Yes … I suppose we could tell him that, but would he believe it?’

  ‘Once our marriage is recorded in the church register across the field and he has checked the records, he will have no other choice.’

  ‘I’ve been told the brigadier’s behaviour is unpredictable. He might try to kill you?’

  ‘If he succeeds you can look forward to becoming a wealthy widow.’ He gazed at the clock. ‘We have an hour or so in which to hunt down Reverend Hallam and take our vows.’

  ‘He’s awfully dour, at times, and will probably refuse.’

  He held out a hand to her and smiled, a smile all at once self-deprecating. ‘Come on, Gracie girl, where’s your sense of adventure? I can guarantee I’ll make you a better husband than the brigadier ever would. As for Reverend Hallam, money will talk.’

  She entered into the spirit of the game. Dominic would certainly make a better husband. Hadn’t she already tasted a delicious sample of what he had to offer?

  And he didn’t have a wife … not yet. She shouldn’t have believed the gossip.

  Of course he didn’t have a wife, whatever put such silly notion in your head? He wouldn’t be taking her to the church, if he had.

  Dominic wasn’t the type of man to treat a wife and child so shabbily. And he hadn’t made love to her just to walk away.

  Her toes curled at the thought. There was such a relief in her that she could have leaped in the air like a spring lamb.

  Dominic closed his hand around hers, keeping her anchored to the earth. An owl hooted, and was answered by another.

  ‘I didn’t think owls hooted during the day.’

  ‘Didn’t you, my love? Obviously, these are special owls.’

  Cupping his hand around his mouth he sent a couple of quiet hoots into the air, then smiled innocently at her and drew her into his arms. He held her close for a brief moment. ‘You smell delicious and you look lovely.’

  The owl hooted again, but quieter, a rustle of bushes and the earl and his estate manager appeared from behind a tree. The earl gazed at them and shook his head in a way that made her blush. He aimed a grin at Dominic. ‘Well done, brother. It’s about time you put in an appearance.’

  ‘I allowed the lady to sleep in.’

  ‘Ah yes …’

  Grace turned her face against his shoulder when Dominic asked him, ‘Were there any objections from the reverend?’

  ‘Reverend Hallam indicated he will allow you to exchange your vows before him in exchange for a donation to the poor. He said he is not usually in favour of hasty marriages, but he can understand why in this case, and how the will cou
ld cause problems for certain parties. He agrees with you in thinking the legacy should remain with the brigadier and he has included a handling fee in his calculations. He wants to speak to you both to make sure you are taking your vows for the right reasons.’

  ‘That’s only to be expected. I’m sure my bride will be worth every penny.’ His smile fell on her like a sunbeam, even though it was grey outside.

  The charm of it captivated her, and she was so dazzled that she missed the doubtful glance exchanged between the brothers.

  Nineteen

  As Dominic had expected, everything could be bought at a price, though it was steep.

  After a half-hearted discussion on the purpose of marriage, Reverend Hallam agreed to perform the rites of matrimony.

  ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing, young lady? You’ve only just met this young man.’

  She squeezed Dominic’s hand. ‘May I remind you that I know the brigadier not at all, but if a comparison is made I’m sure Mr LéSayres would prove to be extremely respectable.’

  The vicar chuckled. ‘So I’m given to understand. Be that as it may, Lady Florence has provided generously for you. She’d be annoyed if she learned that you had turned her nephew down.’

  ‘Then I won’t tell her. I’m well aware it’s a generous gesture – and I enjoyed her company when I was in her employ. However I don’t want her fortune, or her wisdom from beyond the grave, and I certainly don’t want her nephew. Besides … I love another.’

  Dominic circled her palm with his forefinger.

  ‘Very well … as long as you know the possible consequences.’

  He turned to Dominic. ‘As for you, young man, I suppose there is no doubting your integrity for you wear it for all to see. Do you love Miss Ellis?’

  ‘Without a doubt, sir … and with all my heart.’

  He shrugged, and then smiled. ‘What better reason can there be to wed? I trust you will have thought it through carefully.’