The Earl's Winning Wager: Clean Regency Romance (Lords for the Sisters of Sussex Book 2)

by Jen Geigle Johnson

  “And that’s what I think would be the most diverting.” Charity lifted her chin.

  Lord Morley seemed greatly amused by her observation. “Perhaps I can return with a smaller cart, and you could help direct the horse that would lead the more manageable conveyance?”

  Charity’s smile, so seldomly gifted, filled her face. “I should like it very much.”

  “Then we shall make it happen.”

  He bowed to them all. They felt the motion as he climbed aboard, and then the equipage began to move.

  “I hope we meet many new people.” Kate, who sat closest to the window, peered outside. “Didn’t someone say Brighton is full of people visiting from London?

  “Yes. I believe we might have an opportunity to make new acquaintances. Lord Morley might know some we don’t.” June couldn’t help her smile as she thought of him.

  “Why is he being so kind to us?” Grace tapped her toes.

  “He is a kind man,” Lucy asserted.

  But Charity laughed. “No man, as kind as he may be, would suddenly care for a bunch of almost-spinster sisters out of the goodness of his heart. Can you not guess why he is paying us attention?” She turned her gaze to June.

  “We do not know such a thing. It would be unwise to speculate or to create expectations.” June shook her head, but could do nothing to control the increased beating of her heart.

  “And yet I can think of no other reason. What will you say if he asks to call?”

  “Why must he ask? He already comes to call.” Grace frowned.

  “Not just to call, Grace—to call.”

  “Oh.” She studied them, apparently deep in thought. “Oh.” Then she smiled. “Will he? Ask to call?”

  “If he asks in that way, I would, of course, encourage him, but I shan’t do any encouraging at all until he asks. I don’t want to seem the desperate, clamoring sort.” June turned to each of her sisters. “And neither should any of you. Just because we don’t have as many resources as others does not mean we are without friends. Even though I would love more than anything to see each of you happily situated, I do not feel it should arrive as a result of conniving tricks and trappings.”

  “I don’t even know what all those things are.” Kate shrugged. “I say we just go for a walk on the green. Isn’t that what a promenade is?”

  “You are absolutely right.” June lifted the cover to peek out the window. “Would you look.”

  They passed the huge palace Prince George was building. Big, pointing spindles on top of round and bulbous rooftops filled the sky to their right.

  “The palace is the most remarkable thing I’ve ever seen.” Kate looked as though every fashionable dream of her heart were being fulfilled in that moment.

  “I can’t believe we haven’t come to see it yet.” Lucy’s eyes were just as wide and staring.

  “It is a rather long walk.” Charity as usual seemed nonplussed.

  “I suppose. Another reason to be grateful for Lord Morley and his carriage.” Grace smiled.

  The carriage slowed to a stop, and Lord Morley stood again at the door. “We have arrived.” He bowed. “And who is ready for a lovely promenade?”

  “I am quite ready,” Grace called from inside the carriage.

  As soon as they were out on the lawn, the warm sun shining on a chilly, otherwise-brisk day, June was even more happy they’d come. The sun filled her with hope and happiness, and all her worries seemed to carry away on the breeze.

  Lord Morley lowered his voice and leaned closer to them, so they moved in to hear. His face was close to June’s, so close she felt the puffs of his breath on the top of her head.

  “I shall introduce you to as many as I dare. There will be some I’d rather you not know, and others I would most particularly like you to meet. How about we have a meeting afterward and discuss which types are which?” His grin was small, conspiratorial.

  “I would be most grateful for all insight you have, Lord Morley.” June placed a hand on his arm.

  “Then I shall invite myself to your home when we are finished here, and we shall discuss all the happenings of today.” He placed his hand over June’s, which still rested on his arm. “Shall we?”

  She stood at his side. “Yes, let’s.”

  They walked together, away from the carriage, to a great green field of sorts where people simply walked along. Small groups talked with one another, and many strolled together. Paired-off couples were not so much the norm, as clusters and larger circles of flowing skirts and straight jackets. The Season had not yet begun, and no alliances had been formed—or at least that’s how it looked to June.

  “So many people are here.”

  “Yes, I came across some of my peers last night. They said even more are arriving. In many ways, it is fantastic news for you and your sisters.”

  For her? She searched his face. He didn’t seem to mean anything particular by his comment, but to June, it suggested he was not interested in pursuing anything with her, like her sisters suspected. She almost removed her hand from his arm, but then thought better of it. He was being incredibly dear to her family, and she could be a friend in return. But the disappointment hurt a little.

  They approached a waiting group of men.

  “Ooh.” Kate smiled.

  Each one more handsome than the next, they carried themselves like men of title. June assumed they were not to be hoped for.

  But when they saw Lord Morley and her sisters, each one stood taller and immediately made their way over.

  Lord Morley stiffened. “Here we go.”

  “What? Are they not to be trusted?”

  “Out here on the green? They are harmless.” He lifted a hand in greeting.

  When they were close enough, he introduced each one of June’s sisters to Lords Kenworthy, Weatherby, Arrington, and Smallwood, the last of which paid June particular attention, his eyes drinking in hers in a manner she’d never seen before.

  When each of her sisters had paired with another, Grace latching on to Lord Morley, Lord Smallwood held out his arm for her. “I would be honored if I could accompany you, Miss Standish.”

  “Thank you.”

  His arm was strong, his carriage confident. When he smiled down into her face, she felt dazzled by his teeth, his eyes, his handsome attention. Her gaze flitted to Lord Morley’s, and his disapproving darkness dimmed her happiness, but then Lord Smallwood started walking with her at his side. “Come, we shall get to know each other. This fine day is one for dreaming, is it not?”

  What a pleasant diversion. No harm could come from entertaining many, becoming acquainted with the men of the peerage. Her attention would be spared for no other, at least for the moment.

  Chapter Five

  Morley bristled and growled inside, surging with concern the longer Smallwood and Miss Standish walked together. Their heads were bent just the tiniest amount toward one another, and now and then, a delicious laugh carried over the breeze from their direction.

  But Grace carried on beside him with all the happiest tidbits and tellings from their family life. so that Soon he was more focused on her and her stories of June Standish than on the real person who walked with one of the greatest cads in all of England, with June apparently enthralled by his nonsense.

  “Did you know she loves bridges? And small streams. And trees. She loves when the leaves bud and the flowers begin to show. I think spring is her favorite season. One time she had us plant bulbs in the fall. She gave me this ugly, round, dirty thing and told me to place it in the earth. When winter ended and the days turned warmer, she was out there every day, checking the soil, waiting for the green tips to show.” Grace laughed, her eyes shining. “You have never seen a more joyful June than the day she came running to show us that the bulbs had started to come up.”

  Morley laughed and was all the more enchanted.

  They approached a larger group, where a chattering energy filled the air, and he welcomed the opportunity to broaden the St
andish sisters’ acquaintance. They needed some feminine influence.

  But he needn’t have worried.

  The sisters were soon swarmed by women, interested in their welfare, happy they had made an appearance on the lawn, making eyes at the lords who accompanied them. Lord Morley didn’t know half of this group of ladies, but the Standishes seemed acquainted with them. He stepped back, away from many hopeful eyes blinking up at him.

  The air had heated, and they had been walking for longer than Lord Morley had planned. Grace’s face looked flushed. He led her away. “Are you well?”

  “I think so, but a drink of something would be nice.”

  “Perhaps we should make our way back?”

  She nodded, and he suggested they turn the other direction, at least to make headway toward the carriage.

  Smallwood still captured Miss Standish’s hand on his arm, and her attention. She hadn’t once looked in his direction.

  As he made his way to the carriage, Charity joined him on his other arm. He smiled at her. “And what has happened to Weatherby?”

  “I sent him away.”

  Morley laughed. “You did what?”

  “I did. I sent him away.”

  “How does one send away a viscount?”

  “Well, he wanted to talk about the weather first, then the Season, and the prettiness of my skin, and I got bored. So I started talking about Wellington and the war and the brilliance in a mathematical equation.”

  Morley chuckled. “And he went running?”

  “Exactly.”

  He encouraged her to place her hand on his other arm. “While I’m highly amused, it is only because we are talking about Weatherby. He’s not one I’ve taken seriously in many years. But what if he was a respectable, decent Lord who would make you a fine match?”

  “If he is not able to stomach my talking of math in his presence, then we might not be the best match after all.”

  Morley didn’t know what to say in response. “Perhaps you can save those conversations for a time when you know each other better?”

  “Perhaps.” Charity pressed her lips together.

  Morley suspected there was more to say—much more—but he didn’t pester it out of her.

  Smallwood took a ridiculously long amount of time to say goodbye to Miss Standish, and then they were all once again back in his carriage. Smallwood called up to him in the coachman’s chair, “Taking an unexpected interest in this family, aren’t you?”

  “Not unexpected, no.” He nodded to his coachman. “Take us home, Charles.”

  “Yes, my lord.” The coachman commanded the horses, and they were off.

  When they were all sitting comfortably in the sitting room at the sisters’ cottage, Morley had to chuckle to himself while watching them. They talked of this person or that. The energy was high, and soon the slippers were off and little stockinged feet peeked out beneath skirts. And for a moment, he felt as though he’d entered a large family.

  Miss Standish ordered tea and sandwiches and lemonade. “I’m so thirsty.” She fanned herself. When her eyes fell on him, they widened a moment, and then she laughed. “Sisters, we have forgotten dear Morley—that is to say, Lord Morley—is here with us.”

  “I didn’t forget.” Grace had come to sit beside him and had quickly become lost in a book. “He just fits so comfortably that not much more needs to be done about the fact.”

  Morley smiled. “I am grateful to be a part and to comfortably abide here with you, but I would like to address a couple things about this afternoon.”

  They turned eyes to him.

  “First off, what did you think?”

  “I loved it.” Kate clapped her hands together. “Lord Kenworthy was attentive and in every way a gentleman. Do you approve of him, Lord Morley?”

  “I do. Of all the men in the group we met, he is the one I can say without hesitation I approve of.”

  “The only one?” Miss Standish’s eyebrows rose a rather large amount.

  “I am afraid so.”

  She lifted her chin in a show of stubborn rebuttal, but said nothing.

  “Do you wish to say something in support of Lord Smallwood?” Morley said. “I noticed he captured your exclusive attention the entire time.”

  “Oh, well, as he should have. He’s quite engaging to converse with.”

  “June, what did he say?” Grace leaned forward in her chair. The others seemed equally eager to hear her report.

  “Well, we talked of poetry and literature. Do you know he’s read every one of the books we have upstairs?”

  “We don’t have many.” Charity frowned.

  “Nevertheless, the ones we do have are my favorites. And he was able to talk of them all, to quote them. We had the most fascinating discussion on the merits of the rhythm of Shakespeare’s sonnets.”

  “Fascinating.” Lucy leaned back in her chair in what looked like a frustrated heap.

  “What is the matter, Miss Lucy?” Morley was learning more about the female mind the longer he spent with this family.

  “Oh, bother. Nothing is the matter. Well, perhaps there is. The whole of it is that I would like to walk with a true gentleman, and though these men were genteel, they certainly talked of themselves an overly large amount.”

  Morley nodded. “Some men cannot resist the subject.”

  “Well, I found it tedious after a time. Must they speak only of themselves? I’d like to share some of my thoughts too. But there was never a time, a moment, even when Lord ‘I am too big for myself’ paused for breath. It seemed as if he spoke on the intake and the out.” She fanned herself. “Otherwise the promenade was perfectly lovely. I enjoyed the women we met.”

  “Oh, yes, I did as well.” Charity nodded. “A few said they would come call, and I think perhaps some might share my interests. One certainly wishes to be a writer. The other might just wish to see the cottage. They find us quaint, provincial. Do you know that?”

  “Yes, I do.” Miss Standish shrugged. “I can’t blame them. But perhaps if they stop by, if you call there, they will develop an understanding, a friendship with you which will overshadow our unique circumstance.”

  “Perhaps. And it might change once we live in the castle, mightn’t it?” Charity seemed unusually interested in how they were perceived. He wasn’t surprised. She did have a strong desire to converse and defend her opinions.

  “It might.” June’s small smile warmed him and her sisters seemed to rally because of her hope.

  Morley turned to Grace. “And how did you find the walk?”

  “I think I got a bit too much sun, but otherwise, it was everything I’d hoped. Your tales of the frogs on your land were so diverting my sides hurt from laughing.”

  Morley grinned. “I am pleased to hear it. Not everyone gets to hear my frog stories, so consider yourself among the few.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, I will, thank you.”

  “Miss Standish, what more did Lord Smallwood say that leaves such a favorable impression on your mind?”

  She looked up, and the small smile on her lips grew which disturbed him further. “I think it was more his manner than anything. He was perfectly attentive, spoke kindly, and praised openly. I found myself refreshed when we were finished.” Her eyes stared him down in challenge.

  “Pleased I am to hear it is not more than that.” Morley straightened his jacket.

  “And why should you be pleased about something so completely unrelated to you?” June’s eyebrow rose, slowly.

  “Because for a moment, I thought he might be among those you hold in greater regard.”

  “He is.” Her words shattered his well being.

  “In what way?”

  Her eyes flit around them. “I think we should talk about it at a later time.”

  “But I wish to know.” He sounded a bit like a beggar at this point but he didn’t care.

  The sisters looked back and forth from one to the other until Morley stopped and noted their attention
. “Perhaps I might have a word in private?”

  “Certainly.”

  They both stood, and Miss Standish led him outside the front door.

  “What is your concern over Lord Smallwood?” She crossed her arms. “You don’t like him.”

  “You are correct.”

  “And in what manner is this prejudice formed?”

  “From my observation of the fellow. Miss Standish, he is the greatest cad I know.”

  She gasped, and he regretted his brash conversation. But she had to know. At some point he would have had to tell her. It may as well be now.

  “He holds little regard for women. He is a rake by reputation, and he says the most inconceivable things when just with the other men. But when he’s with the ladies, he finds this inner charm, and that is all that is seen.” There, he’d said it.

  “Well, I see nothing wrong with that. I appreciate he takes care when he is with the ladies to behave in a manner above his norm. Nothing you have said has yet dimmed my opinion of him.”

  He was astounded at her words. “And is your opinion so high?”

  She looked away. “Well, no.”

  He breathed out in relief, but she noticed, so she spun back around and stepped closer. “But he is very well growing closer to my estimation of a man I’d like to know.”

  “I can only hope his true nature will present itself before you are caught in his wiles.”

  “His wiles?”

  “Well, yes.”

  “And again why should you care? Why have you taken upon yourself this responsibility?”

  He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Miss Standish, I just want to see you ladies happy and in good situations. Lord Smallwood hardly fits the recipe.”

  “And what if we wish to make these sorts of decisions on our own?”

  “Do you? I remember clearly you asking for my assistance in this matter. You were certainly willing for assistance in the way of introductions.” When she didn’t answer, he asked, “Is he coming to call?”

  “I imagine he will.”

  “And you’ll receive him?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”