Earls Errand

by Monroe, Jennifer

  He cleared his throat. It was about time he took back control. “First, I will need you to wear that ring that was given to you.”

  She gave him a quizzical look. “Why?”

  “Without it, we will arouse suspicion,” he replied. When he noticed her hesitation, he added, “I understand that your life has changed and will continue to do so, and it all must be a bit overwhelming. However, if it appears that you have been spoken for, it will keep people out of your business.” What he meant was that men would keep their distance, but he did not want to be that transparent.

  She nodded slowly and then said, “I suppose you’re right, though I don’t care what people think. If you insist that I wear the ring, I will, but just know that I have no real concern for people’s opinion of me.” She pulled the ring from her pocket and slipped it onto her finger.

  Joseph suppressed a smile. Now no man would ask after her, and it would appear that they are already married, thus also stilling the tongues of those who would otherwise whisper behind their backs.

  “Thank you,” he said firmly. “I do not enjoy repeating myself, as I stated earlier, so to make this endeavor easy on both of us, I expect you to listen and then obey. Is that understood?” The way her jaw clenched, as did her hands, did not escape his notice, and he almost chuckled. That is, until he noted the redness of her knuckles. “What happened to your hand?” He reached out and took her hand in his in an attempt to assess the damage to her knuckles. What he had not expected was to find that hand to be so soft and delicate.

  “I-I hit…that man,” she stammered breathlessly. A deep crimson red had taken to her cheeks and neck.

  “Are you ill?” Joseph asked worriedly. He leaned in closer to her and searched her eyes for any other signs of a sudden malady or perhaps shock. He had heard it could be quite serious once it hit. “Do you wish to stop to take in some air?”

  She snatched her hand back. “No, I’m well, thank you,” she said. However, her voice still had a choked sound to it.

  He studied her a few moments longer, but she did not seem to worsen, so he released her hand and leaned back into the seat. “I am glad you defended yourself by striking that man, but in the future, know that if anyone lays a hand on you, I will do as I did at the pub. You are now a lady, and I expect you to act as such. Otherwise, people will believe they can treat you as something other than a lady.” He waited for her to acknowledge his words, which she did with a slight shrug, and then returned to their previous conversation. “Now, where were we? Ah yes, I will give you instructions, and you will obey them, especially when we introduce you to society. Until I know you are ready, you will always allow me to speak first, and you will only speak when it is absolutely necessary.”

  Her eyes narrowed for a moment, but she remained quiet. Good. She was learning.

  “When we return to Elford Estates,” he continued, “we will have the dressmaker come out immediately. That dress is far too common, and I dread the thought of anyone who knows me to see us together in public. Also…” He explained his plans for her training in all areas of being a lady and his expectations for her in the meantime. His life was maintained with strict discipline, something he had to learn early one to keep his family from becoming utterly bankrupt, and he had no reason to stray from that way of life, even with this new woman in his life.

  When he was finished with his explanation, he asked, “Now, do you have any questions for me? Now would be a good time to ask, if you do.”

  During his speech, she had given him her utmost attention, except when something out the window had caught her eye. Joseph knew that many people lacked his ability to focus on one thing at a time, so he said nothing of her random attentiveness. He would know soon enough if she had missed anything he had said.

  “Why aren’t you married yet?” she asked.

  Joseph found himself taken aback. He was not certain how to respond, and the longer it took him to reply, the wider her smile grew and the more her eyes sparkled. Although he had been caught off-guard, her question was easy enough to answer. “I have been busy as of late,” he explained. “Plus, most women who have shown any interest in the past were not up to my standards.”

  She raised that single eyebrow at him once again, and he felt a sting of ire run through him. Why did not she feel he was always lying to her? Why should he care if she thought as such?

  She made no reply, but a smile played on her lips as she returned to staring out the window. He had not been completely truthful to her, and somehow he sensed that she knew this. However, how could she know that his expectations for a wife were so stringent that he worried that that woman did not exist?

  ***

  The Oakfield Inn looked dismissal from the outside; however, once they entered, Joseph was pleasantly surprised to see how clean and bright the place was. With plenty of candlelight and new furniture in the foyer, it had exceeded his expectations. After paying the innkeeper for two separate rooms, he walked back over to where Miss Cooper stood waiting near a chair as per his command.

  “We have the best rooms in the Inn,” he said as if he had expected nothing less. “Once we have dined, you may go to the room to retire, and I will have a drink before I make my way up later. Then, tomorrow, we will leave by sunrise and should make up for the time which was lost dealing with that lout at the pub yesterday.”

  Miss Cooper gave a silent nod. Why she had gone quiet, he did not know, but it suited him fine. Not only would he be able to guide her in her training, but she would also learn to rely on him to the point that, when he asked for her hand, she would readily agree. Things could not be more perfect. “If the weather holds,” he continued, “we will arrive at Elford Estates as I have calculated.”

  Miss Cooper let out a sigh and then looked up to him. “You seem to be concerned about keeping your schedule at any cost,” she said. “Don’t you find the constant worrying a bit taxing?”

  Joseph was in no mood to be questioned, and though she had refrained from asking any questions since the time she asked about the reason for him not being married, he found himself fighting back irritation. Whether or not it was due to his weariness or to the fact that a woman had questioned him, he did not know. Regardless, he ignored her words and instead said, “Come, let us go eat.” He offered her his arm, and she took it without hesitation, which surprised him. For some reason, he almost expected her to refuse, but perhaps he had some preconceived notions as to how she would respond to her new life. What he found was a pleasant surprise, and for the second time, he found her eagerness to comply reassuring.

  The small dining area consisted of close to a dozen tables, half of them occupied, and a long counter behind which stood a large man, almost as wide as he was tall, wearing a stark white apron over a ruffled shirt with lace at the end of the sleeves. Several young women moved between the tables carrying plates of food or trays of drinks. Their smiles were wide but then disappeared when they thought no one was watching, which told of a rigid regime by the hefty man.

  There was no rhyme or reason to where people sat. At one table sat a family, the woman wearing a muslin gown that could have been worn by any from the royal court and her husband with his dark coat and starched cravat at his neck, both finely made. Next to them, in a dark corner, sat a ragged man who studied his ale so fixedly, it was as if he wished to see his future within the amber liquid.

  “It reminds me a bit of our pub back home, though there are usually more people drinking than eating,” Miss Cooper said. “I miss it already.” She gave a sigh. “Ah, well, I’ll have the memories of it and I’ll be able to share my stories of my life there whenever I feel homesick.” Joseph made to say that he would never allow that to happen, but the heavyset man with the apron walked over, his hands going to his wide hips.

  “What can I get ye?” the man asked. “We’ve a lamb stew tonight if yer hungry.”

  “We will have two of those,” Joseph replied, “and a brandy for me and a wine for the lady.” />
  The man gave him a single nod. “Fine. And ye can sit wherever ye’d like.”

  Joseph led Miss Cooper to an empty table and pulled out the chair for her. She gave him a stern look but said nothing as she took the seat. As he sat across from her, he leaned in and lowered his voice. “As to your past,” he said, “I believe a new story will be needed, not only for your background, but also as to how we met.”

  “What’s wrong with my past?” she asked, a challenge in her voice causing a slight sliver of anger to course through him. She had been doing so well.

  “Do not question me,” he ordered. “We have spoken about this already. However, if you must know, a person of my standing seen associating with someone like you is something that will keep the gossipmongers speaking for years. Therefore, we must contrive a backstory that will be much more acceptable.”

  “But my father was a wealthy man, you told me so.”

  He stared at her. “You are illegitimate,” he replied dryly. “Regardless of who your father was, you should know that you cannot tie yourself to his coattails.” One of the serving women brought their bowls of stew, steam emitting from the thick broth. Another brought the drinks Joseph had ordered. He flicked out his napkin and placed it on his lap.

  “Now,” he continued, “I have decided that your father will be a shipping merchant and has made a great fortune; at least that is very near the truth. We met on my travels to Cornwall for business, and you expressed a desire to move to Devon. Perhaps you had heard how lovely the area was or some sort of story as such—I care not for the boring details. I’m certain you have enough of an imagination to come up with something believable. The key is, you must never tell anyone that Richard Templeton was your real father, nor should you speak of your parents or the pub.”

  Miss Cooper stared at him, and although she showed no outward reaction, her eyes glowed with clear anger. “Very well, then. No mention of my family. What else?” She clipped each word as she spoke, and at first Joseph looked at her warily. Had her voice held a bitterness to it? No, he had to have misinterpreted her tone, for she had proven to be malleable thus far.

  “I believe that should be enough for the time being.”

  “All right,” she replied airily. “Since we’re to be stuck together, I’ve requests of my own.” She did not look at him as she spoke, but rather kept her attention on stirring the contents of her bowl.

  He went to speak, but one of the serving girls returned with a basket that contained hunks of bread and left as quickly as she had arrived.

  “You were speaking of a request?” he asked amusedly. Let her make her request. If he did not agree, he would simply deny it.

  “First, though you’re to help me adjust to my new life,” she replied, still keeping her eyes locked on her food as if what she requested was expected to be granted without question, “you must know that I’ll not tolerate you believing you can have your way with me or some other idiotic idea. You should understand that I’m not a woman to be trifled with.”

  He glanced down at her scuffed knuckles. She was a woman with a sharp tongue who would not allow anyone to push her wherever she did not wish to go. Somehow, he found that alluring, which surprised him; he was not one to condone such behavior, especially from a woman.

  She continued. “Second, I realize that my upbringing is an embarrassment to you and that makes me an embarrassment as well,” she said with a raise to her chin. “But my parents took me in when no one else wanted me, gave me everything they had, though it was little.” She narrowed her eyes at him and he found himself moving back in his chair before he realized it. “Don’t belittle them—make them less than they truly are—in my presence. I would’ve thought you were above such actions with how you helped us out, but maybe I was wrong.” By the time she finished, her voice was shaky, and Joseph glanced at her clenched fist, which shook so much the liquid in their glasses sloshed slightly on the table. Perhaps he had been a bit demeaning about her family. He had not said anything that was untrue, but if he was to win over this woman, he would need to please her, not anger her.

  “I give you my word,” he promised. “I will never speak ill of them again.”

  She gave a single nod, unclenched her fist, and then took the spoon in her fingers. Joseph shook his head and also picked up his spoon. The stew had a fine aroma, and he realized how hungry he was. As he ate, he sneaked glances at Miss Cooper, who ate with better manners than he had expected. He should not have been surprised; did his servants not also eat with acceptable table manners? Then he stifled a chuckle. In all honesty, he had never eaten with the servants, so they could shove their food in their mouths like vagrants and he would not know. In all honesty, he did not care to know.

  “Tell me,” he said as he set his spoon in the edge of the bowl, “how did you learn to eat so well?”

  Her stare bored into him and he shifted uncomfortably. “Did you expect me to use my fingers?” she asked in astonishment.

  “Well, no,” he replied, “but I was led to believe that most common people eat a bit…differently…from someone of my upbringing. Where did you learn how to conduct yourself?”

  Miss Cooper seemed to consider his words. He worried that he had offended her, but her reply did not express it. “So, that is what you wealthy people think of the poor,” she said almost to herself. Then she shook her head and added, “My birth mother taught me. Although I was still young when I knew her, and she was alone, she found it important I learn lady-like actions. I was taught many things at a young age, and proper use of table manners was one of them. Of course, it’s not as if my second parents are barbarians, but I never forgot what my mother taught me. For whatever reason, it stuck with me. I might not remember much about my mother, but her lessons had an immense impact on me.” She gave him a stern stare. “Do my manners meet your approval?”

  Rather than responding to her question, however, he said, “Let us finish our meal, and then perhaps we can enjoy a drink in the common room. I expect you to behave yourself like a lady, despite the common dress you wear.”

  “I look forward to it,” she said, though her words were as dry as dust. Joseph thought he saw her roll her eyes, but he unsure.

  As they continued eating, he found his mind reflecting over the past months. He had been summoned to the home of a dear friend only to set out to find the man’s daughter, a woman of great beauty that he believed no woman could rival. Although he had known her but a day, and he had already made plans to become better acquainted with her, he was surprised to find himself intrigued. Perhaps Richard had been correct that what he had asked Joseph to do was a quest. However, Joseph was learning all too quickly that simply finding the woman had only been a step to the quest’s completion. In all actuality, the woman was the quest, and he could not help but be interested in learning more about her.

  Chapter Seven

  The common room was larger than the room in which they had dined and looked more like The Rooster’s Crow from back home than anything else had. Rachel found it interesting that the inn had two separate rooms for drinking and dining; that was certainly different from back home. A number of people who sat with glasses of ale before them, many more than could have been staying at the inn. They were all listening to a man playing the violin in the corner while a woman sang a bawdy tune that made Rachel’s cheeks redden, and she thought she had heard them all. No one in the common room seemed to mind. As a matter of fact, many cheered her on.

  Rachel thanked the serving girl who brought her a new glass of wine. Lord Linfield stood, his tall frame looming over her. Though she found the man a bit arrogant, she could not help but admire his chiseled jaw and the tightness in the sleeves of his coat that spoke of fine muscles beneath.

  “I will take my brandy to the bar,” he said as he looked down at her. “If you become tired, you are free to go to your room whenever you choose.”

  She found his demeanor strange. What man would leave a woman to sit alone in a com
mon room of a pub? For all intents and purposes, that was what this room was. Perhaps he was testing her in some way. Well, let him perform whatever tests he wished; she would be her own person. She preferred it that way. At least she had a ring on her finger to keep away the troublemakers.

  She watched him walk to the long counter where several men sat on tall stools, all dressed very much like Lord Linfield. The man had a swagger to his step that caught the eye of more than one woman in the room, and Rachel felt a bit of jealousy stir inside her. Why did she feel the need to be jealous? He was simply escorting her to her new home. Nothing in that said they had any other relationship. Her fiancé, whoever he was, was not him, or he had never suggested that as part of her story.

  As she sipped at her wine, she thought about her parents and wondered if they were safe. Had that scoundrel Jacob kept his word and kept away from the pub? After seeing the look on the man’s face, Rachel was certain he had packed up all of his belongings and moved to another part of the country before she and Lord Linfield had arrived at the inn. The thought made her giggle.

  What would it be like living on a fancy estate? she wondered. She had more choices now in her life than she had ever had before. She could stay at the estate, but the thought of living in the home of a man who had refused to acknowledge her as his daughter was not an easy pill to swallow. What she had finally decided was that she would inventory all of the items that had been left to her and then sell what she could. The money would be sent to her parents to help them renovate the pub to draw in more patrons, or, if she could procure enough money, they could simply sell the pub and live happily in a country cottage.

  Then she would explore the halls of her father’s house, a home she never knew. The man had never gone to see her, although deep inside she understood why he had not. It was for the same reason Lord Linfield had instructed her to lie about her past. She was not of the same class. It mattered not that her birth father was a wealthy man. She had been born out of wedlock, an illegitimate daughter, a scourge on society. Yet, for all their rules of etiquette and custom, most of the people she had met who were of the ton, including Lord Linfield himself, were unhappy. Oh, they tried to hide their discontent behind their fancy clothes and elegant carriages, but she had known too many miserable people to not recognize someone attempting to hide their joylessness behind a smile or a haughty demeanor.