Gamble With Hearts
Page 15
‘I fancy you are right, Charles. Too dangerous to put it in a bank near Beauchamps. Too far away in town. Yes, I think you will be proved correct. Well, how very satisfactory.’
Charlotte gave a little shudder as she thought of her experience the previous night. Certainly it was a sin to be glad that another human being was dead, but she could not help it. While he lived, she felt he would always have been a danger to their peace. She shook her curls as though to shake off oppression and, turning eagerly to her mama, she said; ‘Dearest Mama, may I tell Charles your news?’
Mrs Wrexham smiled her assent. Charles, of course, was already aware that the Marquis had intended to make Mrs Wrexham his wife, but that did not prevent him from greeting the news with the greatest surprise and delight. He offered his old friend the most fervent congratulations and mockingly asked his permission to address his new daughter.
‘I do not know, scapegrace. Are you worthy of her?’ asked the Marquis, smiling.
Charles was suddenly sobered. He took Charlotte's hand and held it very gently. ‘No, Sir, I am not worthy of her yet. But God knows, I will try. I will try every day to become so. Oh, Charlotte! There is so much to be done! When you see Beauchamps, you will see how my uncle's mismanagement had caused such misery. It is for us to put right, my love. Will you be willing to come with me? To leave London and bury yourself with me in the country until Beauchamps is again as it was in my father's day?’
‘My dear, I could not ask for more of life. How happy we will be! I shall start a school in the village, and you will be able to try out all those new methods that Mr Edridge is always talking of.’
Seeing that the two young people were quite absorbed, the Marquis and Mrs Wrexham quietly left the room. They were both smiling at their thoughts. The Marquis was full of satisfaction that the rakish youth, who had for so long worried him with his irresponsible behaviour, seemed in a fair way to becoming a respectable landowner; and Mrs Wrexham was delighted that her clever daughter would have full scope for her talents in her new sphere. For herself, however, she fervently hoped that her husband-to-be would be content as she was to live in town and indulge in those gentle pleasures that she had come so much to enjoy. She and the Marquis understood each other perfectly, and as the young couple planned out their future regarding crop rotation and charity schools, the elder pair was content to hold hands and whisper foolish endearments.
What a day of triumph it was for Lady Northwood when, before the end of their first Season, her sister became Marchioness of Ruthin and her niece became Viscountess Carlington. Nothing would prevent that good lady from taking all the credit for these matches, although she had expressly forbidden one, and had not had the smallest inkling about the other. She looked forward with much pleasure to visiting her dear sister at Milverly and often talked of making the journey to Beauchamps. Perhaps fortunately for the young couple this threat was never executed, for there is not a doubt that her ladyship would have much disapproved of the informal style favoured by the Viscount and his lady. However, there were many visits exchanged by the happy couples, and Miss Milverly derived much enjoyment from spending her time with first one and then the other of her new relations. Mr Edridge also was most happy to spend his long vacation in Cumberland, walking the acres with his host, and happily putting his expertise and enthusiasm at the disposal of his friend.
In short, although Charlotte's plan had not worked out quite as she had intended, there were very few days when she and her mama did not offer up thanks for the success of the gamble that had taken them, poor but determined, to the Metropolis.
The end
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