The Unwilling Earl

by Audrey Harrison

  Initially, the three riders cantered together, but when the novelty of being in the open had ceased and the horses had expelled their first burst of energy, Fred fell back to the couple in the curricle and engaged them in conversation. Daniel brought his horse round and fell into step beside Penelope.

  “Thank you for inviting us on this ride,” he started not sure how much time he would have to talk and determined to make every second count.

  “You are welcome,” Penelope responded quietly.

  “Miss Hall, Penelope, there is no use in my being anything but honest. I behaved abysmally, inexcusably, I know I did. I do not know what possessed me, perhaps insecurity about my position in society, but whatever it was, it was no excuse to treat you the way I did.” Daniel paused, he needed to hear some response before he knew it was a hopeless cause.

  Penelope looked at him in her direct way. “You did not trust my word.”

  “I am and always shall be ashamed of that. I know you of all people have always spoken her mind to me, no matter the consequences. I should have had more faith that you would not have lied.”

  “I do not lie. Was it my father who spoke to you?” Penelope asked.

  “Not directly. Mr. Clark repeated some things your father was supposed to have said and hinted at your involvement in his schemes,” Daniel said honestly.

  “Mr. Clark?” Penelope asked in disbelief and anger. “The man you have previously questioned me about why he disliked me so much because his behaviour bordered on the offensive towards me?”

  “He played on my own insecurities,” Daniel responded quietly.

  “Your insecurities?” Penelope asked incredulously. “You are from all accounts a very successful businessman. Mr. Wiseman has said that your circle of friends have all benefited from your advice and guidance, so they obviously follow your lead and have profited from it. I cannot understand why you would feel insecure about your position in your own neighbourhood. As for receiving a title, that cannot have caused insecurity. You must have seen very quickly that in our village you were by far the highest ranking gentleman, the most successful even without the title and yet you believed the tittle-tattle of a spiteful country clergyman!”

  “When you put it like that, it does sound inexcusable,” Daniel replied. “It is not the whole story though.”

  “What is?” Penelope asked brusquely. She was not feeling sympathetic towards Daniel at the moment, there did not appear to be sufficient explanation for his behaviour at the assembly.

  Daniel could not explain that he had felt unsure of himself since the day he had been forced to join a world that had rejected him purely because of his background. That it had not mattered who he was as a person, or what his talents were, he had been rejected. He had hidden in business at first and had gained respect, but it had not alleviated his insecurities, after all it was not business people who had rejected him. When he had started his campaign of revenge, he had hoped to put his demons to rest. He had acted out of anger and although Fred may have known his motivation in obtaining the three estates belonging to the bullies, he had never acknowledged it. Once he had seen the look on each of his antagonists’ faces, he had thought it would give him relief, but after the initial moment of jubilation when they had realised who it was they had lost their estates to, the feelings remained as they always did.

  He wanted to right things with Penelope, but he could not bare his soul to her. Even the woman who he was convinced was the love of his life could not see the vulnerable little boy inside. He sighed as he realised that any answer apart from the truth would not satisfy her.

  “I am not in a position to go into the reasons, but believe me there are times when I am unsure and I react in anger,” he eventually replied.

  “You certainly did that evening,” Penelope responded. “I had thought I knew you, but the person who I spoke to that the assembly was an angry stranger.”

  “I wish I could change that evening,” Daniel responded with feeling.

  “Perhaps it is for the best, even though it may not feel like that now,” Penelope said sadly.

  “Can I ever repair what I said?”

  “I don’t honestly know. What would be the point anyway?”

  “I still care about you Penelope,” Daniel said reaching across to touch her hand.

  Penelope sucked in her breath, his touch still sent waves of pleasure through her as she knew it would, but it was no good, he had not trusted her and because of the way he had reacted, she would never be able to trust him. “I still care about you too.”

  “Can we try again?” Daniel dared to hope that he had made progress.

  “No,” came the devastating blow. “I would always be walking in fear that if I did something wrong, or said something wrong, you would reject me again.”

  “I promise I wouldn’t.”

  “You promised to love me until your dying day and yet within two days, you believed an unsubstantiated rumour and rejected me publicly. I could not live in fear of that. I would become someone I am not and don’t want to be in order to try and avoid upsetting you. Margaret is perhaps right when she says that a love that develops through friendship could be stronger in the long-term than a grand passion.”

  Daniel’s instinct picked up on what was being said. “Was this about a particular person in mind, or just in general terms?”

  “Does it matter? Our engagement, for what it was, was unofficial and probably the shortest engagement in history. I am doing nothing wrong and am hurting no-one by meeting new people,” Penelope responded. The only person’s heart she was breaking in rejecting Daniel was her own.

  “I see,” Daniel responded tightly. His pride was stung and his heart felt like lead. He could not stand the thought of someone else paying court to his love, but he had no-one to blame but himself. “I would wish you happy. Has there been a formal announcement made?”

  “No, nothing has been formalised,” Penelope said. She was completely confused. She could not try again with Daniel, it was too risky, but she could also never marry Mr. Peters. Even though she was not willing to take the risk on a second chance with Daniel, she would never be able to settle for second best and after being with Daniel any other man would be just that.

  The party rearranged itself, but for both Penelope and Daniel the day had lost its appeal. They both responded automatically to pleasantries, but neither sought the other out during the meal or the ride home. Both Fred and Margaret could clearly see that their hopes of a happy outcome were to be disappointed and each had to soothe a broken heart on their return.

  *

  Daniel had wanted to leave Warwickshire as soon as he realised Penelope was being courted by another man. The thought of seeing her with someone else made him so angry, he thought his actions would see him at the gallows. Fred on the other hand was determined not to give up the situation as lost just yet.

  “She told you she cared about you, she talked about a grand passion,” Fred reasoned as they breakfasted. “I am convinced that if her heart was engaged to another she would never have said such a thing. She would be totally committed to someone she loved.”

  “That’s all well and good, but she told me she does not want to try and repair the damage,” Daniel replied, trying to be patient and failing.

  “She is wary of you, which is understandable. She needs time, you will have to woo her,” Fred replied, looking pleased at his theory.

  “Woo her? How do I woo someone who is being courted by another?” Daniel said exasperated.

  “She has said there has not been a formal announcement, so there is still time. You shall have to take a leaf out of my book old chap. Learn from the expert, learn from the expert.”

  “I’m doomed,” Daniel groaned, to the grinning face of his friend.

  Chapter 11

  Over the next week Daniel did take the advice of his friend and went out of his way to flirt, tease and entertain Penelope. It was not a hardship on his part, any time with Penelop
e was time well spent. He was also buoyed by the fact that he could not see any favouritism shown by Penelope towards any other man. He would have been less confident if he had known Mr. Peters was out of the area for a few days.

  Penelope found Daniel’s attentions torture in some ways. She longed for his company, but at the same time refused to let herself believe the man she saw before her. He was the Daniel of their acquaintance, but she had initially met an angry man and he had reappeared in the Ballroom. She honestly did not know which his true character was.

  A dinner party was held at the Simpson household, it was Margaret’s attempt to play matchmaker. She had come to realise very quickly that her advice to her sister was wrong, Daniel was the perfect match. She found it easier to believe Daniel’s sincerity, she only had to watch him with her sister to know he was besotted. Mr. Peters had returned to the area and would be attending the party. Margaret determined to drop him a hint that he should give up his quest.

  When the gentlemen arrived, they were introduced and both received a shock when introduced to Mr. Peters. Fred responded first. “Samuel Peters? Sam? Is it really you? I hardly recognised you!”

  Penelope noticed the flush in Mr. Peters’ cheeks and the stiffening and glower from Daniel.

  “It is. Hello Fred. It’s been a long time,” Mr. Peters said looking uncomfortable.

  “We saw you at the theatre, why the devil didn’t you make yourself known?” Fred asked in his usual open way.

  “I wasn’t sure it was you, I have since found out who the Earl of Rivington is,” Mr. Peters said with a slight sneer.

  Daniel bowed his head and a slight smile appeared on his face, “Yes a real member of the aristocracy after all.”

  “In name maybe,” Mr. Peters responded.

  “Now Sam, you should know better than to upset someone who could one day be a patron of yours. The way Daniel is going he will be running the country before he is much older,” Fred interjected jovially, but it was obvious he was trying to dissolve the tension that was evident between the two men.

  Before anything else could be said the group was called in to dinner. Penelope was left to wonder at the exchange. It was obvious Mr. Peters was uncomfortable but his reaction had been rude and she could only wonder at it. It was a side she did not like and felt that somehow Daniel did not deserve it. For a clergyman to be offensive to an Earl showed a lack of manners that was not appealing.

  The dinner went off smoothly until Mr. Simpson mentioned an investment he was thinking of. “I’ve been told they are looking for investors to build a canal network all across Wales. I am thinking of investing, after all the canal network has been a little gold mine for investors so far.”

  Penelope was seated next to Mr. Simpson with Daniel at her left. She felt Daniel’s interest catch as he overheard the comment.

  “I would advise caution to any further investment in the canal network,” Daniel said to Mr. Simpson. “All signs are pointing that their days are numbered as the preferred line of transport. You may not see the returns other investors, myself included, have seen.”

  “Ah, keeping the spoils for yourself my Lord,” Mr. Simpson joked amiably.

  Daniel laughed. “Not at all, there are enough investments to go around. I can discuss an area I do think will replace canals for the next improvement to transport. It may be a few years away before you see a return, but I am convinced that there will be large amounts of money to be made, if invested wisely.”

  “I shall be interested to hear what you say,” responded Mr. Simpson. He was an easy-going man, but he was not a fool and would invest carefully.

  Penelope had observed that Mr. Peters had watched the exchange with increasing colour and although it showed a lack of etiquette to talk across a table, he joined the conversation.

  “I think Mr. Simpson should be wary of taking such obvious poor advice,” he said, smiling at his host, but it did not hide the animosity in his voice.

  “And why is it poor advice?” Daniel asked quietly.

  “Anyone who is anyone could see that the canals are here to stay, they are so efficient, why would anyone want to change to yet another mode of transport? This new speculation, Mr. Simpson, must be foolish. Invest in your canals as you were going to.”

  Mr. Simpson looked awkward and Penelope was infuriated on her brother-in-law’s behalf. If Mr. Peters disagreed with what was being said he should have spoken away from the dining table. She was just about to say something when Fred leaned across his partner to be closer to Mr. Peters.

  “Sam, don’t forget where you are and who you are with! This is not the time or place for such a conversation, but I will add one thing, if Daniel told me to invest in pigs, I would put every penny I owned into the scheme. He has never been wrong in an investment and has the wealth to prove it.”

  “Was that before or after he stole estates?”

  Penelope could stand this lack of appropriate behaviour no longer. “Gentleman, you may continue your discussion about business and your dislike of each other when the ladies have left the room, if it continues I may be forced to suffer a bout of hysterics!”

  Fred grinned at her across the table, but offered his apologies to his dinner partner. Mr. Simpson squeezed her hand, while Mr. Peters looked extremely angry. His expression did not improve when he heard Daniel say to Penelope. “Well said Imp.”

  The gentlemen entered the Drawing Room and Mr. Peters immediately crossed to Penelope. “Please let me offer my sincerest apologies Miss Hall, my behaviour was inexcusable.”

  Penelope doubted his sincerity, she had seen a peevish, spiteful man this evening and she was not about to let his behaviour go unchallenged. “It was and I am surprised at it.”

  “If you knew the whole I feel you would understand more,” Mr. Peters responded.

  These words piqued Penelope’s curiosity. “I would be interested to find out exactly what could cause someone to breach all good manners.”

  “I will tell you the whole, but now is not the time. Could you please allow me some time tomorrow to speak to you?”

  “You could visit in the morning?” Penelope suggested.

  “I need help with the flowers in the church, Mrs. Mather has gone to visit her sick sister and I am afraid my flower arranging ability is as poor as my manners tonight. I would appreciate it if you could meet me in the church and I can speak while we work,” Mr. Peters cajoled.

  Penelope did not relish the thought of being alone with Mr. Peters, but she could not really refuse an appeal to help in church. Also her curiosity would be satisfied if Mr. Peters told her what had gone on between himself and Daniel, that was enough for her to consent with the scheme.

  After the guests had left Penelope sat down with Margaret and William. Margaret was being told by William what had gone on between Mr. Peters and Daniel.

  “It was very strange. I’ve always thought Peters to be a little too pompous for my liking, but never thought him to be bad mannered with it,” William said.

  “Perhaps not such a good catch after all?” Penelope asked her sister archly.

  “Oh I admit he cannot compare to your Earl,” Margaret said defensively, regretting promoting Mr. Peters quite as much as she had.

  “The Earl spoke a lot of sense about investing my money when you ladies had withdrawn. It looks like he knows what he talks about. He said he will send through some more information that will support what he has told me this evening and he will let me know exactly which ventures he decides to invest in, in case I wish to join him. Mr. Wiseman said that he usually waits until the Earl has decided, invests in the same and then enjoys watching the profit coming in. He explained it’s easier that way, as little effort on his part, with as much return as possible,” William chuckled.

  Penelope mulled over the evening. Daniel had obviously been upset by seeing Samuel Peters whereas Fred had been indifferent. She had never seen someone be openly disliked the way Samuel disliked Daniel and it made her wonder. Had Daniel
reacted angrily to Samuel the way he had to her? The anger did not match with his usual character and that was what confused her the most. His advice to William had been generous to a fault, he was not obliged in any way to William, but now he was going out of his way to help her brother-in-law, someone who he had never met until a few weeks ago. She wished she could understand more.

  Chapter 12

  Penelope mentioned to Margaret that she was going to help out with the flowers in church, but she failed to mention that she would be meeting Mr. Peters alone. Although not completely breaking the rules, it still would be frowned on for them to be alone together without a chaperone. Penelope accepted the escort of a maid until she reached the church, but then sent her on her business, saying that she would be escorted back by one of the vicar’s servants.

  The church was cool and still as she entered. She felt a little relief that she could not see Mr. Peters. The new flowers were on the altar to where she made her way and started work on them. She wanted answers, but the sooner her task was finished the better.

  Penelope had been alone a few moments before the vicar entered the church through the vestry.

  “Ah, Miss Hall, how delightful,” he smiled in greeting. “There is no need to start work immediately, would you care to take some refreshment?”

  “I thank you no.” Penelope replied with a smile. “My sister expects me back as soon as I have finished, I promised I would make some visits with her this afternoon.”

  A look of annoyance crossed his face, but it was soon hidden with a smile. “As you wish.”

  He pottered around behind the altar for a few moments, while Penelope became more impatient with the lack of progress. Eventually she could hold back no longer.

  “So, you are already acquainted with the Earl of Rivington?” she asked as she moved one of the larger vases to the rear of the altar.

  “Unfortunately yes, but he was no Earl when I knew him.” Samuel could not help the sneer as he spoke the words.

  “Yes, he came by the title only recently, I knew the previous Earl. He was a good man,” Penelope responded, trying to keep the conversation light.