The Silk Merchant's Convenient Wife

by Elisabeth Hobbes

  ‘The only way you will obtain that land is if it is part of a marriage settlement,’ Sir Robert said. ‘Those terms are not open to negotiation.’

  Aurelia wanted to scream in frustration. Of course Father would gamble on Mr Harcourt accepting his terms. It was his love of a wager that had put the family into the financial position they were currently struggling with. He should accept whatever offer Mr Harcourt had made for the land without playing a silly game.

  ‘Which leaves us only one detail to discuss,’ Sir Robert said. ‘Which of the girls will it be? My wife spoke to both my daughters and prepared them to expect your question. Naturally as Cassandra is the elder...’

  The door handle turned and Aurelia jumped back abruptly, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. She attended to the demands of her bladder and as she came down the stairs, she once again heard her father’s voice and the study door opened.

  ‘I will find my daughter as soon as I can and give her the happy news.’

  She couldn’t be found there and had no time to warn Cassandra. Aurelia hastily fled into the morning parlour, which was the closest room. She heard her mother’s voice.

  ‘If you would care to wait in the morning parlour, Mr Harcourt, I shall send her to join you.’

  Aurelia’s stomach lurched. Mr Harcourt was going to be joining her in here while he waited for Cassandra.

  She sat down at the piano in the corner. She enjoyed playing the instrument, though she had never quite persuaded the fingers of both hands to behave in unison with as much expertise as she would have liked. She lifted the lid and shuffled the music on the stand as an excuse for her presence there, then began to softly play scales. The door creaked open and she heard the soft footsteps on the oak floor go silent as Mr Harcourt trod on to the Persian rug that covered the floor.

  ‘Miss Upford!’ he said in surprise. ‘I was not expecting to see anyone in here. I don’t think your mother knew you were here.’

  He spoke warmly and seemed pleased to see her. Aurelia smiled back. He swung his hands at his sides, looking nervous, then gestured towards the piano.

  ‘Did I interrupt your practice? Please, play something for me.’

  He was a pleasant man and no doubt Cassandra would be happy with him. She herself would be very glad to have Mr Harcourt as a brother.

  ‘I play badly,’ she admitted. She placed her left hand on the keys and performed a clumsy scale. He grinned, then straightened his face and murmured a compliment.

  ‘You don’t have to say that,’ Aurelia said. ‘I know young ladies are supposed to devote themselves to learning the instrument, but I have always preferred to spend my time in other ways.’

  ‘Doing what? Besides walking dogs,’ Mr Harcourt asked.

  Aurelia bit her lip. His eyes had shown definite interest and his face was appealing. It felt more as if he was genuinely interested than just making passing conversation. She was about to tell him of her studies with Latin and Greek until she remembered her mother’s warning. A man did not want a bookish wife or a bluestocking, but Mr Harcourt was not a potential husband for her. Even so, she thought it best not to reveal this at that point.

  ‘Oh, the usual things,’ she said breezily. ‘Painting, flower arranging, dancing. Cassandra paints better than any of us.’

  She gestured around the room to where a few of her sister’s watercolours stood framed on the top of the tables and the piano.

  ‘Very nice,’ Mr Harcourt said, glancing at them. He seemed anxious, pacing around the room, awaiting whatever her sister was about to say. Aurelia felt sorry for him. Had Sir Robert given any indication Cassandra might refuse? Presumably the delay in producing Cassandra was because she was having to be persuaded to appear.

  ‘I’ve never tried playing,’ Mr Harcourt said. ‘Perhaps you could explain the rudiments.’

  ‘If you want to learn how to place one finger beside the other,’ Aurelia said with a gentle laugh. She gathered her skirts and moved to one end of the piano stool. After a hesitation, Mr Harcourt came and sat beside Aurelia at the piano. His leg brushed against her skirts. She barely felt it beneath the layers of petticoats, but being so close to a man was unsettling and a little exciting. She bit the inside of her lip, reminding herself that not only had she sworn never to become attached to a man after Arthur, but that this one belonged to her sister.

  She began showing him the scale of C, watching him place his fingers on the keys as she instructed, one finger at a time above hers on the length of the key. Her hands were always cold and she could feel heat radiating from his. He had nice hands, she thought, long tapered fingers with well-shaped nails. A few scratches and callouses indicated he worked as well as being a man of leisure. ‘That’s good,’ she said encouragingly. ‘Try it again by yourself.’

  She smiled round at him and was taken aback to find him staring intently at her. She drew her hand away from the keys. Mr Harcourt looked away immediately, then spoke quietly.

  ‘Miss Upford, there is something I should like to speak to you about.’

  His face became grave. Did he imagine she would be displeased at his coming to ask for Cassandra’s hand? Had they breached etiquette too greatly by allowing their hands to almost touch?

  ‘Do you recall when we met before I told you of my plans for the development of the mill? I have been speaking to your father this evening and...’

  But he got no further because loud and rapid footsteps came echoing down the stairs and through the hall, then both Sir Robert and Lady Upford entered the room. Mr Harcourt sprang from the piano stool and Aurelia shifted even further into the corner.

  ‘Mr Harcourt,’ Sir Robert said, ‘I apologise for the delay. I cannot find my daughter anywhere.’

  Lady Upford gave a small cry. ‘Why, she’s here already,’ she said, gesturing at Aurelia. ‘Look, they’ve already found each other.’

  She crossed the room and gave Aurelia a beaming smile. ‘Aurelia, Mr Harcourt has something he would like to ask you.’

  Aurelia felt herself grow cold. This was wrong. It was Cassandra he wanted to marry. She was the eldest daughter. It was right he should marry her. She looked from her mother to her father and finally to Mr Harcourt, whose face was more serious than she had seen it before. He walked slowly back towards her, as if each foot was encased in lead. He stopped in front of her and fixed her with a look so intense that it sent shivers hurtling up and down her spine and turned her legs to jelly. He blinked and pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead.

  ‘Miss Aurelia,’ he said. ‘Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’

  Chapter Five

  Aurelia became aware everyone in the room was waiting for an answer. She looked towards her mother, whose brows were knotted together. Lady Upford made a discreet but sharp gesture towards Mr Harcourt with her forefinger.

  ‘I...’

  Her throat had seized and she felt a hammering in her chest. Not the joy she had experienced when Arthur had proposed, but nor was it dread at the thought of becoming the wife of the man who was standing before her, now wearing an expression of anxiety on his face.

  ‘You look faint. Do you need some water? A chair? Wine?’

  He held a hand out as if fearing she might fall to the ground and need to be caught. His concern was touching and Aurelia felt mortified that her response had been so dramatic. The hammering had been caused by surprise at being the one he had asked. Cassandra must have held firm in her refusal after all.

  ‘No. Nothing. I’m sorry.’ She gave him a weak smile. ‘I was taken aback. I never expected you would ask me such a thing. Of me, I mean.’

  Mr Harcourt lowered his hand. ‘If you need time to consider your answer, I can leave you now.’

  He bowed and turned to go. Aurelia stepped forward. ‘Mr Harcourt? Wait.’

  There was no point in making the decis
ion alone when the person she needed to discuss it with was about to leave the room.

  He stopped and stood rigid. When he turned back his eyes were questioning but there was a hint of a smile playing about his lips. Aurelia was reminded of the eagerness in his manner when he had walked with her by the river. She looked at her parents.

  ‘I would like to speak to Mr Harcourt in private.’

  ‘Without a chaperon?’ Lady Upford said. ‘Sir Robert, what do you say?’

  Her father looked as if he was about to deny the request, but Mr Harcourt forestalled any protest by offering his arm graciously to Lady Upford and gently steering her towards the door, passing her on to the arm of Sir Robert.

  ‘I commend your consideration, Lady Upford,’ he said in a creamy voice. ‘Let me assure you your daughter will be perfectly safe in my care and, should she feel faint again, I will not hesitate to call you.’

  Aurelia watched in disbelief as her parents were escorted out of their own room. Mr Harcourt closed the door quietly and then they were alone.

  For a moment neither of them spoke. The sense of ease which had grown between them as they had played piano together had vanished.

  Mr Harcourt spoke first. ‘Would you care for a drink, Miss Upford?’

  She nodded. He walked to the table where a variety of decanters and glasses stood, poured two measures of something and handed one to Aurelia. She sniffed it and blinked as the fumes tickled her nose and made the back of her throat burn.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Brandy. For medicinal purposes in this case. You looked as if you need something strong.’

  ‘Is that why you are drinking it, too?’ she asked boldly. He made a noise in his throat that was half-snort, half-laugh, and raised his glass to his lips.

  ‘As you say.’

  Aurelia turned the heavy glass around in her hand, examining the amber liquid. If her father knew what she was about to drink, he would be furious. Although he enjoyed having a glass or two himself, it was not something he thought ladies should drink. Mr Harcourt obviously thought differently, however. Emboldened by the thought that her future husband encouraged it, she took a tiny sip. She had had no idea what it would taste like, but hadn’t expected anything quite so rich or warming. She pulled a face and wrinkled her nose and it was only after that when she realised she had already thought of Mr Harcourt as her future husband. Cautiously she took another sip and was gratified to see Mr Harcourt seemed to approve.

  ‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘You have a little more colour in your cheeks now.’

  He smiled and Aurelia relaxed a little. Or perhaps that was the brandy working its magic as it wound down through her belly and warmed her. They sat opposite each other, saying nothing for a few minutes, sipping at their brandy. It was a comfortable silence and Aurelia felt more at peace than she would have expected given the circumstances. She doubted Cassandra would have been able to maintain her composure and felt relief that her father had obviously dissuaded Mr Harcourt from asking for her hand.

  ‘I’m sorry my proposal was such a shock for you to hear,’ he said.

  Aurelia nodded. Her eyes darted to the door, knowing that they would only have a few minutes before her parents returned. She walked to the fire and sat down in one of the chairs, gesturing for Mr Harcourt to join her. He took the low chair opposite her and leaned forward. He rested his arms on his knees and looked at her expectantly. Aurelia took a deep breath.

  ‘I overheard you and my father speaking his study a short while ago. I assume he came up with this scheme himself?’

  Mr Harcourt gave her a sharp look. ‘Overheard accidentally or intentionally?’

  ‘Accidentally.’ Aurelia flushed. ‘At least, at first it was, but when I heard what you were discussing I didn’t leave the hallway as quickly as I should have.’

  He smiled and tried to hide it behind a cough but failed.

  ‘Was it my father’s idea that you ask for my hand?’ she repeated. She looked at him questioningly and he nodded slowly.

  ‘In lieu of payment or just to reduce the amount?’ she asked. She thought better of the question and held her hand up. ‘No, don’t tell me. I’d rather not know my value.’

  Mr Harcourt flushed and looked angry, though whether at her brazenness or the thought he had been trapped into the marriage.

  ‘You may not be aware, but my father is heavily in debt,’ she said.

  ‘I had heard rumours to that effect,’ Mr Harcourt admitted. ‘Obviously I don’t lower myself to listen to gossip.’

  ‘I dare say if you had waited a little longer he may have become keener to sell and you would have got the land eventually,’ Aurelia said, raising an eyebrow. ‘You may still wish to bet upon that happening and save yourself the necessity of marriage.’

  He gave her a long look that made her simultaneously shiver and grow warm inside.

  ‘I should be frank with you, Miss Upford. I do not particularly want a wife. Marriage is not an institution I ever planned to enter—however, I am continually told a man in my position should marry. There are other considerations besides my need for your father’s land that I have to take into account. Events seem to be conspiring to provide a solution to all my needs in one action.’

  He looked grave and Aurelia’s heart fluttered in sympathy. ‘Will you tell me your other reasons?’

  He shook his head. ‘You must pardon me if I don’t share those with you now.’

  It seemed fair. After all, she had her own reasons for being tempted to accept. She wondered if his hopes had formerly been wrecked as hers had. Oddly enough, by sharing his reservations he had given her more inclination to accept knowing he was not entering willingly into it.

  ‘Do you love me, Mr Harcourt?’ she asked. ‘Please, before you answer, do me the courtesy of answering honestly.’

  He blinked and took another sip of his brandy before standing and placing it on the mantelpiece. He did everything meticulously slowly and Aurelia was gratified to see he was taking her question seriously. He turned back to face her and remained standing. His eyes moved over her. She realised he was assessing her physically and bristled, although she had done that herself on a number of occasions.

  ‘No. I don’t. I don’t believe that love happens at first glance.’ He gave her a cautious smile. ‘I do find your company pleasant.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. Some of the tension trickled from her shoulders and she sat a little easier. ‘If you had told me you did, then I would have refused your offer immediately.’

  ‘Really?’

  Now he seemed genuinely surprised. Did he think himself such a catch that he didn’t consider such a thing possible? Had he also heard rumours about her past and considered Aurelia would be desperate to marry any man who would rescue her from her infamy? She hoped not. She stood and put her glass beside his.

  ‘If you had said you loved me, then nothing would have induced me to accept your proposal. I do not want much from a marriage, but I demand honesty.’

  His eyes widened. ‘Then you are considering accepting?’ he asked.

  Aurelia walked to the window and parted the heavy damask curtains to looked out. The moon was a thick crescent and she could make out the line of trees at the boundary to the formal gardens. Beyond that were the fields and river, and beyond that lay the mill. It stood in darkness, although the lights of Macclesfield flickered in the distance beyond and around it. To move from this house to the town would not be so great a change.

  ‘I am considering it,’ she admitted.

  Mr Harcourt joined her at the window, staring out as she did. He was taller than she was by some measure and broad shouldered. He held himself well, but that might have been tension as the tendons in his neck were tight. Now she had noticed it, Aurelia’s eyes kept sliding back to his throat and the sharp jaw that cast it into shadow. His finely s
haped lips were a firm, determined line. Despite everything she felt a little tug of attraction towards him, followed immediately by a greater rush of anger towards her father for placing both of them in this position.

  Mr Harcourt put his hands behind his back and stared out across the gardens towards his mill.

  ‘When we met by the river you spoke of expanding your grounds and needing my father’s land to do that. What will you do with it?’ Aurelia asked.

  ‘Will that have a bearing on your decision?’ Mr Harcourt raised his brows and Aurelia was reminded of her mother’s words. She should refrain from showing interest or intelligence in case she put her suitor off.

  ‘I’m just curious whether your end justifies the lengths you are prepared to go to.’

  ‘I need the river more than the land, but I’m considering building a house for the apprentices to live in. The children come from the workhouse and I think that I could feed and clothe them cheaper than the fee we pay for their upkeep there. Better, too.’

  His eyes took on a faraway look and his tone became enthusiastic. ‘I want a schoolroom and a garden. The boys can be taught to read and write.’

  ‘And the girls?’ Aurelia asked. His enthusiasm was infectious and she found herself picturing a riverside house with children playing at the end of the working day. Mr Harcourt beamed at her and at that moment she could have married him on the spot.

  ‘Oh, of course the girls can learn useful skills. Sewing and cooking and suchlike.’

  ‘Or reading and writing,’ Aurelia said under her breath. He jerked his head round and frowned as if he had only half-heard. Just as well, she thought. Any attempts to advance the education of girls would have to be done by degrees after they were wed.