Maryam couldn’t say a word. She looked over at her mother, hoping she could say something. But her mother grinned and raised her head as she nodded her head.
“Don’t look at me.”
Maryam smiled in return.
“My, what a glorious day.”
Coven’s smile crept back.
“Is that a yes?”
“That was a yes.” Maryam put her arms around Coven’s neck. “Just don’t make your uncle a guest.”
Coven laughed. Then he looked up at the house as shouting reached their ears.
“After everything that’s happened, I don’t think even your uncle will allow him there.”
Maryam grinned as she hugged him in return.
*** The End ***
The Virtuous earl’s intervention
Regency Romance
Grace Fletcher
Chapter 1
The Plan
M atthew Carter, Earl of Lincoln, flinched when he heard the off-key bellowing as it thundered through the rooms of the club. Mr. James Linn also grimaced and glanced furtively at the door.
“My brother’s in the building.” He muttered.
Link grunted and hid behind his newspaper. He didn’t have much time for his brother-in-law. The man was arrogant and liked to lord it over his two brothers, who were equally embarrassed about the oldest Linn brother’s antics.
If his sister hadn’t married Alan Linn several years before, Link would happily have nothing to do with the Earl of Aylesbury. But Sarah was madly in love with Alan—and James, the youngest Linn—was a good friend, so Link’s path was going to cross with Aylesbury’s at some point.
But Link preferred little to no contact with the arrogant earl.
Moments after the bad singing starting, the doors to the room Link and James were hiding in were opened and William Linn, Earl of Aylesbury, came strutting in. He started whistling, also off-key, and twirled his cane. Without even looking around he tossed it at a nearby servant who managed to catch the cane without hitting himself in the face.
“The usual, please, Sommers.” Aylesbury flopped into the remaining chair by the fire, raising his eyebrows at Lincoln and James. “You two being lazy again?”
Link shrugged. He rarely got a chance to sit down so when he did, he liked to make the most of it. In the quiet, without any interruptions. James was the same; they preferred the silence.
“It’s a cold day and we have nothing pressing to do.” He said almost lazily, barely looking up from his newspaper. “We don’t have to do anything if we don’t want to.”
“Well, you’ve got something to do.” Aylesbury smirked and picked up the glass of brandy from a tray presented to him, dismissing the servant without even looking up. “You’re going to love this.”
James grunted.
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like it?”
Link bit back a laugh. James was the opposite to his oldest brother, quiet to his brash behavior. If Aylesbury loved something, there was a strong certainty that James would hate it.
Aylesbury gave them pointed looks as he sipped his drink.
“Hastings had a stroke last night.”
That had Link sitting up. Andrew Davis, the Earl of Hastings, was a well-known peer and much loved by everyone. He was also one of the wealthiest men in the south-east and nearly everyone had tried to get a piece of Hastings land for years. But the only way they were going to get anything from Hastings was by marrying his daughters.
That was another problem in itself. Coupled with the fact Hastings was very picky with suitors, Joanna wasn’t considered an attractive girl with many graces. Link had never met the younger daughter, Valerie, but had heard that while she was prettier than her sister, she was sharp witted and just as picky as her father.
“Are you sure about this?”
“The doctor said so to Father when he came to check Father’s blood pressure this morning.” Aylesbury looked smug. “He’s not expecting Hastings to recover.”
“If he only had the stroke last night, then he could recover.”
“With his health as it is, I doubt it.”
James glanced at Link. Both had put down their newspapers and were paying close attention. Something tickled the back of Link’s neck. Aylesbury was about to announce something big, and they could both feel it. James frowned at his brother.
“What are you getting at, Aylesbury?”
“He’s got two daughters. Both are unmarried. When Hastings dies, those daughters inherit a huge amount of money apiece—and some very prosperous land.” Aylesbury puffed out his chest. “I’m going to get one of them as my wife.”
James had gone pale.
“I was right. I don’t like it.”
Link couldn’t believe how ridiculous it sounded. He wasn’t the most romantic of people but Aylesbury could put his foot in his mouth too much, and his attitude made women scrunch up their noses and hurry away. There was no way he would be able to snag a wife out of either of the Misses Hastings.
“I doubt either of them will accept him, James. You don’t need to look so panicked.” Link rolled his eyes. “Aylesbury’s not exactly the best husband material. Not with his foot permanently lodged in his mouth.”
James chuckled. Aylesbury huffed and sat up.
“What are you on about, Lincoln? I’ve got a title and I’ve got the looks.” He preened, running a hand over his dark hair. “And I’m actually looking to marry.”
“Since when?”
“Since always.”
Link glanced at James, who shook his head. He was still pale.
“News to me.”
Aylesbury frowned.
“I don’t go blurting out my plans to everyone every five minutes.”
“Yes, you do.”
Aylesbury ignored his brother.
“I was always looking for a wife. I was never going to be a confirmed bachelor like Link. Or be a romantic, simpering mess like you, dear brother. I’m looking for something better.”
“But Miss Joanna and Miss Valerie are sensible girls.” James said hurriedly. “They would never agree to a marriage with you.”
However, Link was beginning to think that maybe the daughters would agree to it. Their father—their guardian—was dying, and they needed someone to take over their guardianship. The best option was to marry so they would be provided for and have a man to manage their inheritance. Link didn’t care if a woman had money if they knew what to do with it and he was sure, if they were anything like their father, that Valerie and Joanna Davis would be absolutely fine. They wouldn’t need to marry.
Unless it was a stipulation, their father had put upon them and they had to marry before he died. That would mean they would be prey to anyone.
Link knew that Aylesbury had figured this out from the smug look on his face. And they would be easy to snag into a marriage. By the time they realized it was a mistake it would be too late.
Link had no intention of marrying himself but he wasn’t sure if he would be comfortable with Aylesbury barging his way in and taking one of the vulnerable girls for a wife. And from the look on James’ face, he wouldn’t like it, either.
***
Valerie Davis had slept badly. After spending most of the last two nights awake helping her mother tend to her father, she was exhausted. And even when her mother ushered her away to get some sleep, she spent most of it tossing and turning.
Seeing her father like that had been a shock. It had been even more of a shock when the doctor told them what had happened during the night. Her father was a strong man. He couldn’t have had a stroke; he was too young to die.
Her mother, God bless her, refused to leave his side. Her maid had confided to Valerie that she was worried about her mistress’ health. Valerie was worried as well but she didn’t say anything; Janice Davis was stronger than she looked and she could stand vigil at her husband’s bedside for as long as she was able.
Even then, Valerie was worried f
or her. The stroke was taking its toll on everyone and it was evident in the somber mood throughout the house.
But what really made Valerie’s hackles rise was the way it brought in what she thought of as ‘wolves’. Men who were looking for a wife with a substantial dowry. Valerie was eligible but Andrew Davis was a picky man–almost to the point of refusing to allow any man to court her. Not that Valerie cared; she knew what she wanted in a man and none of the noblemen who had graced her presence could measure up to her impossibly high standard.
Joanna, on the other hand, was another matter. Valerie’s older sister was now classed as a spinster, much to her chagrin. She tried her best to find a husband, but she had few social graces and wasn’t lovely to look upon. While Joanna wasn’t considerably attractive, she wasn’t ugly either. It was insulting and disgusting how she was treated.
It had resulted in Joanna retreating into the shadows and becoming a wallflower. Valerie didn’t want to become like her sister, but if the alternative meant having a false proposal from a man who merely wanted land, she would inherit upon her father’s death, she would happily join her in spinsterhood.
Joanna was sitting at the table when Valerie entered the breakfast room. She was reading through a stack of letters and calling cards, all of which Valerie was sure were from ‘suitors’. No one truly wanted to see Joanna; they wanted the wealth that came with her. Valerie had told her this several times but her older sister would not listen.
Valerie filled up her plate for breakfast and sat. There was a pile of letters by her plate as well. Valerie took her time eating before she looked through them. Every single one of them was the same. The content was different, but they all boiled down to the same thing: become my wife and I’ll make you the happiest woman alive.
It made her cringe.
Chapter 2
A Desperate Woman
“W hat’s troubling you?”
Valerie looked up. Joanna was looking at her curiously.
“Pardon me?”
“You’re making a face. What’s up?”
Valerie grimaced and pushed the pile of letters away.
“A lot more marriage proposals.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Joanna, you know why we’re getting them now when before nobody would give us a second look. Father’s close to death and we’re going to inherit everything.” Saying that out loud made Valerie sick to the stomach. “Men are coming out of the woodwork so they can marry us and take what is ours.”
Joanna scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Don’t be silly. They’re just realizing they let good things run away and are trying to get us back.”
“You’re not seriously considering accepting these proposals?”
Joanna looked at her sister like she was going mad.
“Of course I am. I’ve waited a long time for someone to ask me to marry them. Being a wife is all I’ve wanted to be.” She sat back with a little smile. “Besides, even if it is under false pretenses, I think I can allow myself to entertain one or two of them. Especially if they’re all like this one.”
She held up the letter she had been reading. Valerie was sure she hadn’t put it down since she came into the breakfast room.
“Who’s it from?”
“The Earl of Aylesbury.” Joanna held it out. “Read it. Such loving sentiments there.”
Valerie didn’t take it. She knew of the Earl of Aylesbury and she didn’t like him. He was not a very nice person. She didn’t want to be associated with someone like William Linn. And if his letter was anything like the ones she had read moments ago, she knew what was being said.
“Joanna, that man has a reputation of being so rude he makes ladies cry. You really want to accept a proposal from him?”
“His offer is the best one of the lot.” Joanna smirked. “And what’s that saying about if they’re mean to you it means they actually like you?”
Valerie had heard that before. She didn’t believe it. If you were mean to someone you hated them. In her mind that was what happened. She couldn’t bring herself to fall in love with someone who was unkind to her at the start because they were too childish to know how to act. She sighed.
“Joanna, even if it was genuine, he’s a poor choice. Father would never allow it. He dislikes Lord Linn as it is.”
Joanna’s glee seemed to be fading. She stuck her nose in the air and huffed in annoyance.
“It’s my choice. Don’t ruin my happiness, Valerie.”
“I’m not trying to do that. I just know what’s going to happen.” Then Valerie remembered someone else and their reaction to this. “And what about James Linn? He’s been keen on you for a long time.”
Aylesbury’s brother James was known to the Hastings family. Hastings liked him and it was clear to Valerie that James was in love with Joanna. It was sad to see that Joanna didn’t seem to notice or even care.
Joanna snorted.
“Mr. Linn will never be an earl. He won’t give me the prestige.”
“He won’t give you…” Valerie stared at her sister. “Have you gone mad? You’re willing to marry Aylesbury because he is an earl over his brother who is clearly devoted to you? How shallow can you get?”
Joanna sneered and stood, slapping her hands on the table hard enough to make the crockery rattle. She glared at her younger sister.
“Shallow is ignoring proposals because you think you can lord your position over people.” She snapped.
Valerie shouted after her as Joanna flounced out of the room.
“If you think that’s the definition of shallow, you need to read the dictionary again.”
She slumped in her chair and scowled at the empty space opposite. This was all she needed. Her mother was going to be looking after her father so it would be up to Valerie to keep her sister out of trouble.
This was going to be a headache.
***
Link knew this was a bad idea. They shouldn’t be here at all. What they should have done was something, anything, to stop Aylesbury from getting into his carriage to go down to Lord Hastings’ estate to see Joanna Davis. But, try as they might, Link and Aylesbury’s brother couldn’t make him change his mind.
So, there had been nothing for it except to get into the carriage with the earl and go with him to make sure he stayed in line. Aylesbury had a habit of opening his mouth for the wrong thing at the wrong time and Link knew that wouldn’t go down well. It was inevitable that something was going to happen. All he and James could do was attempt to limit the damage.
They sat throughout the two-day journey in silence. Even when they rested overnight at the inn, they were silent. Link and James talked to each other but not to Aylesbury, who went between not caring to being offended by it. Link didn’t care if he didn’t like it; he had nothing to say beyond what he had already said on the matter.
It wasn’t until they turned into the long driveway going up to their destination that Aylesbury snapped at his younger brother.
“Would you stop fidgeting around like that, James? You’re making me nervous.”
“You should be nervous.” James glared at him even as he tried to get comfortable on the hard seat. “You’re about to go in there and lie to a woman who’s been unlucky in love. She doesn’t need that when her father is ill.”
Aylesbury shrugged.
“People lie to people. It’s been going on for centuries.”
Link snorted. That was terrible logic, even for him.
“I doubt Miss Davis will agree with you. She won’t like being used for money.”
“She’s not going to know, is she?” Aylesbury said smugly. “She’s the solution to my problems. If she’s that desperate for a husband, she’s not going to say no to something that’s being dropped into her lap. The easiest thing I’ve done in a long time.”
Link hated his smug look. He thought he had it all sorted out. It might have been how the elder earl—Aylesbury’s father—had done things,
but Link had thought the son would learn better.
“What’s stopping us from telling her now?” He demanded.
“Because she wouldn’t believe you.” Aylesbury barked out a laugh. “She wants a husband, and she’s not getting any younger. She would just think you didn’t want her happy. It’s not like either of you two are going to offer her proposals anytime soon.”
Link was lucky they had arrived outside the front door by that point because he was ready to lay into Aylesbury. As it was, the door was opened by a footman and Aylesbury alighted the carriage, smirking at his flushed-faced brother. Link glanced at James, who looked ready to explode.
It hadn’t taken much to pry out of James that he was in love with Joanna. They had known each other when Joanna had her first season and they had been friends. James had proposed to Joanna once before but Joanna had turned him down, saying she couldn’t marry a friend. That had broken James’ heart, but it hadn’t stopped him being there as a friend.
Link had a feeling Joanna would drop him as soon as Aylesbury started pouring lies into her ear.
“As if I have a chance against an earl.” James growled.
Link touched his arm.
“You will one day.”
“When I’m past the age of marriage, yes.” James snorted. “But not now.”
Link understood that. James would only become an earl if both of his older brothers died without leaving a male heir. As it was, he was third in line after his brother Alan and Alan’s son. He could go through his whole life without becoming an earl.
Link felt for his friend as James climbed out first. He didn’t have much of a chance.
Chapter 3
A Bachelor is Swayed
T hey entered the house silently. The butler, Johnson, greeted them cordially and led them into the drawing room. Aylesbury was already there with three women. He was sitting on one couch with two women sitting opposite, a third sitting near the window. Aylesbury looked around as they entered and groaned.
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