Lady Mary and Her Rakish Count: A Clean Historical Regency Romance Novel (The Revelstoke Legacy Book 3)
Page 4
Her thoughts so thoroughly occupied her that she failed to hear Mr. Bellamy’s last few words that concerned her. Having caught her name, Mary was only recently made aware of the latter part of his sentence.
“…it has been arranged between our families that Lady Mary Ellesmere’s hand in marriage be promised to that of Comte Loire, hailing from Mont-Tremblant,” Mr. Bellamy intoned.
Mary’s eyes widened at the pronouncement, not quite believing her ears. Forgetting her manners, she blurted, “What did you say?”
Realizing that he had just delivered a shock, Mr. Bellamy cleared his throat and repeated, “In short, my dear, you are currently betrothed to Comte Valerian de Baptiste of Loire. It appears your father arranged the agreement between the late comte when you were still a child. It states here that you will be provided a stipend that will continue into your marriage with the count and will be protected as such.”
Stunned, Mary could not find words in response, not with her emotions clamoring for supremacy to bubble to the surface, threatening to explode in a chaotic jumble. At the moment, anger seemed to be winning against dismay. Looking askance at her brother, she noted that Jackson was just as distressed at the news as she, his mouth gaping open in shock.
“How are we only learning of this betrothal now?” Jackson asked, his tone incredulous.
Mary, ever the echo to her twin, added, “How could I be betrothed and not know of it?” Turning to their mother, Mary was a little perturbed to see her mother unaffected by this unexpected turn of events. Instead of sympathy for her daughter’s plight, Lady Diana looked the picture of serene calm, and when she met her mother’s eyes, Mary detected a quiet pleading within their depths.
Suspicious, Mary narrowed her eyes at her mother. “You know something about this, don’t you, Mother.” As statements go, Lady Diana bristled a little at the accusation, but she knew that the situation warranted a full explanation, one only she could give in her late husband’s stead.
Ever the support for his sister, Jackson murmured, “You do, don’t you, Mother? We would love to know all of the sordid details.”
Sighing in exasperation, she looked first at Jackson, then Mary, but her gaze finally fell on Mr. Bellamy. “Mr. Bellamy, are we quite done with the reading of my husband’s will? If so, I would like a moment in private with my children.”
Understanding that the family needed a moment to sort out matters without him present, Mr. Bellamy replied, “All of the important issues have already been discussed, my lady. I will now take my leave, but if you should require anything else at a later time, I will be happy to offer my services.” Lady Diana, Jackson, and Margaret nodded their acknowledgment at his offer, as Chaucer appeared to escort him out.
Once the study was devoid of everyone but the three of them, Lady Diana began by addressing Mary. “Dearest, your father made that agreement years ago, hoping to join our family with that of one of his closest friends. He signed that contract in good faith, assuming that their son would be a good match for our genteelly-raised daughter, but news of his recent exploits reached even our faraway ears. By the time of your coming out, Valerian was already a man of the world at twenty-eight to your eighteen. But neither your father nor I could, in good conscience, give you up in marriage to a man rumored to have a wild reputation.”
Mary dryly said, “Well, thank goodness, for small favors. Even if the man were to have a sterling reputation, I would still have had to deal with the surprise of a betrothal to a complete stranger.”
Lady Diana sighed once more. “Please, try to at least understand, darling. We hadn’t told you of the betrothal because we were waiting on you to give us a reason to breach the agreement. If you had at least shown a vestige of serious interest in any of the gentlemen squiring you about since your come out, we would have written to the late Comte to cancel our side of the agreement. Since there was no exchange of wealth between either family, you were free to break off the betrothal without penalty.”
Mary brightened at that thought. “If I break it off now, then neither party suffers, and we can go about our lives without interference by the other.”
Jackson added, “Yes, that should solve the problem, then. Even if this comte were to bring this as far as a litigation, the state of our finances is secure enough that we can comfortably pay for any damages that incur.”
Lady Diana hesitated but a moment before answering. “If only it were that simple, my darlings. Your father had written to the Comtesse about a month ago, only to bring up the betrothal as a reminder of what was promised. I knew he had only written to subtly inquire as to whether her son was ready for a union between our families, but we were really only looking to hear if he had given up his degenerate ways. The letter we received from her two weeks ago told us she was thrilled about the arrangement and that her son would be coming here to visit within the month.”
Both Mary and Jackson rose to their feet at their mother’s announcement and cried in unison, “He is on his way?” Mary set to pacing, not knowing where to settle her gaze. If she so much as glanced at her mother just now, there was no telling what she might verbally hurl at her. Jackson watched his sister pace, sympathetic of her plight, as he still couldn’t fathom the need for keeping this new development a secret until now.
“Darling,” Lady Diana said as she followed Mary’s progress back and forth, “I understand that this completely cuts out your choice in the matter, but your marriage prospects here are close to almost nonexistent. As a wealthy heiress, you could have had your choice of husband amongst the ton, but I’m afraid that the comte’s arrival will make that an impossibility. I believe if you could make the best of this situation, you could eventually become happy with the comte.”
Stopping in her tracks, Mary looked at her mother, aghast. “That’s just it, Mother! I cannot just settle for this comte, whom I’ve never had the opportunity to meet, only because I have no other option left to me! I refuse to enter into an unwanted union where I have no inkling of the man’s character beforehand, and from what you were not saying outright about him, he is not exactly a stellar example of husbandly material. Why you would want me to be tied to such a man permanently completely boggles my mind.”
Jackson, who had been raised to take on the duties of an earl and therefore had learned the subtle art of diplomacy, interjected, “Mary, what Mother is trying to say without actually saying it, is that our family honor, as well as yours, is at stake here. If you were to reject the man now, it would ruin you in the eyes of the ton.”
Folding her arms and frowning, she turned on her brother with a glare. “You are my twin, Jackson. Will you have me give up my freedom for the price of our family honor? You know my feelings on this!”
Lady Diana’s ears perked up. “And what feelings are those, darling? Please enlighten me, as I have never before heard you utter anything in regard to marriage.”
Mary strode back to her seat and plunged herself into the cushioned settee. Resignedly, she admitted, “If you must know, I had always imagined myself marrying for love. Since that fiasco with Raleigh, I haven’t come close to finding someone whom I could love who would love me in return.” Almost sulking at the forced admission, Mary did not volunteer anything more.
Understanding dawned on Lady Diana’s face as she recalled her daughter’s ill-fated love at the beginning of her come out in London. Lord Merrick Raleigh, Earl of Acclesford, was the most sought-after bachelor that season, having come fully into his inheritance, and had caught even Mary’s fickle eye. So, it was a pleasant surprise when Raleigh focused his attentions on Mary. She was in love, or thought she was, as he allowed her to be her feisty, assured self around him.
What Lady Diana did not know was that Raleigh mistook Mary’s strong confidence for worldly experience in the ways of men and women. His true intentions were made known when he tried to proposition her without the benefit of asking for her hand in marriage, and it was fortunate that Jackson had happened upon them before a
nything irreparable could happen. Jackson’s fist had satisfyingly smashed Raleigh’s nose with the threat of more if he were to ever come near Mary again. Mary’s own version of retribution involved a well-placed kick on Acclesford’s person after Jackson had struck him down, her body vibrating with fiery indignation at his callous treatment.
Lady Diana only knew that Raleigh had left town in the middle of the season that year, and Mary never mentioned the man again. Now encroaching on her eighth season, Mary showed no vested interest in another man, other than being squired about by friends of Jackson throughout the year. It was Lady Diana’s and Lord Anthony’s hope that at least one of those eligible gentlemen would have resulted in a marriage proposal so that they could write to the de Baptistes to cancel the betrothal.
When no marriage proposals were forthcoming and with their daughter seemingly disinterested in making a good match, Lord Anthony and Lady Diana clung to the hope that Valerian would have sowed enough wild oats to finally settle down. Assuming that Valerian grew up knowing of the betrothal, they did not want to burden a young Mary with the thought of marrying someone who was anything else but a gentleman, and therefore, could not happily tell her about it.
From Mary’s myriad emotions playing across her face, Lady Diana could not guess what was running through her daughter’s mind. She saw pain war with regret, and then later, resolve and determination win out with finality.
Mary proclaimed, “Mother, I was quite certain that I would never marry, and given my advanced age, I would be just as happy without matrimony to distract me from what I truly wish to do with my life.” Marriage at this time almost seemed an impossibility to Mary, not when she had been burned badly by love before, but she hadn’t completely ruled it out, believing she would one day marry someone she truly wanted and who wanted her equally in return.
Raising a brow at her daughter, Lady Diana asked, “And what is it you want to do that doesn’t involve a husband?”
“I would like to travel and see other lands, as well as furthering my education in the healing arts.”
“But darling, it’s every woman’s desire to marry. And what about children? You couldn’t have them without first acquiring a husband.”
Irritation rose quickly inside Mary, but in respect for her mother’s sensitive feelings, she refrained from snorting at her mother’s comment. What her mother didn’t know was that her profession as a healer to Donnesbury’s townsfolk saw her tend to women who bore children out of wedlock more often than not. Instead, she carefully replied, “Children would be nice, but I don’t see them in my future if I haven’t a loving husband by my side. And I have my work. It’s my passion, and I believe that the parish doctor’s work could be greatly coupled with teaching the women of our parish proper preventative care and…”
Lady Diana cut her off abruptly. “You wish to take on the responsibility of caring for everyone in this parish? As an earl’s daughter, you could be so much more, Mary! Why can’t you be both healer and wife?”
Jackson interjected to join his voice with his mother’s, “Mary, our family’s honor is at stake. If you turn your back on this betrothal now, you risk harming our good name among the ton. I know you don’t give a fig about how the rest of society sees us, but I still have Mother and Margaret to protect.”
Shaking her head, Mary cried, “Please understand! My priorities are not the same as yours. Maybe they will change sometime in the future, but right now, I cannot turn my back on those who need me more. Not when our local doctor is in charge of not just this parish but two others. I can make a difference in Donnesbury with my skills.”
Jackson cut in. “What will you do about Comte Loire then? Regardless of your wishes, he is travelling this way to see you.”
Deflating, Mary complained, “I wish you hadn’t reminded me, Jackson. I cannot accept the man, sight unseen, as I have not yet judged his character for myself. To give him the benefit of a doubt, maybe the man has turned over a new leaf and repented of his rakehell ways, but please allow me the chance to meet with him before I decide if we will suit. Besides, I was fully prepared to immerse myself in my charitable work as a healer and devote myself to helping those in our parish since marriage seemed too far out of reach for me.”
Before Lady Diana could answer, Jackson intervened. “Mary, I’m glad you can at least see reason here. Let the man arrive here as he has intended, and once the both of you have been properly acquainted, I am happy to let you decide whether or not the both of you suit. And Mother, if you hadn’t wanted Mary to help others with her talents, she should not have been encouraged to dole out charitable services as you have instructed her to do since we were young. I fully support Mary in her endeavor to learn as much as possible to help her craft, as it keeps her occupied and far from idle.”
Mary beamed at her brother’s backing and threw him a grateful smile. Lady Diana rolled her eyes but only said to Mary, “At least if I had known that you were acquiring such a skill set, then there might have been a chance that your father and I would have fostered your learning. Our family still has good connections with some of the reputable medical experts in London.”
Wide-eyed at her mother’s admission, Mary regretted that she had kept her skills a secret as long as she did. “I apologize for keeping you and Father in the dark about how I spent my mornings while here in the country. I was afraid you would keep me from seeing Kit, the wisewoman who has taught me everything she knows.”
“Ah, yes, I knew that there wouldn’t have been anyone else in the parish who could have instructed you so well. The abbess who had taken Kit in as her ward was also one of my tutors as a girl. Her knowledge ranged widely among various subjects, her favorite being that related to anything dealing with horticulture and herbology.”
Yet again surprised by her mother, Mary tentatively asked, “Does this mean you would support me then?”
Sighing heavily, Lady Diana moved to gather her daughter in her embrace, and replied, “Darling, I hate the thought of you not finding the protection of a husband first before you delve further into this passion of yours. But I understand that there can be no persuading you to do otherwise, not when I myself was just as headstrong about marrying your father. He was the only one to turn my head and make me forget anything else. I believe you are the same as me about what you really want. But at the end of the day, refusal of marrying the comte will destroy any good faith that was maintained between our families. It is my hope that you will choose the right path.”
Relieved, Mary said, “Thank you, Mother, for giving me a choice, at least. I still have so much I would like to learn that could supplement my work here, but you and Father have taught me well. Family first, as the both of you have always said.”
Nodding, Lady Diana suggested, “I can write one of your father’s connections and ask if there is someone who can assist in your instruction when next we are in London.”
Beaming this time at her mother and returning the embrace, Mary replied, “I would like that. Thank you, Mother. And Jackson?”
“Yes?” he asked warily.
“You can count on me not to besmirch the family name. Duty and loyalty before pleasure and happiness, isn’t that right?” she said with sarcasm dripping heavily in her tone.
Jackson only sighed, knowing his twin was far from feeling family pride at the moment. He only hoped that if given time, she could possibly find love and happiness, if only she would let it.
4
A little inn outside of Mont-Tremblant
Valerian was somewhat enjoying himself, playing cards in the taproom of the inn he and his entourage were forced to bunk in to wait out the snowstorm waging outside. He would have chosen to travel with fewer members in his travelling party, but Bastien had insisted that he not invite trouble by taking his own men for protection. Camped in this tiny inn, not two hours north of Mont-Tremblant, Valerian doubted that any of Bastien’s enemies would be lurking in dark corners, especially not in this weather.
Originally a French comte, Comte Jullien Montchagny of Loire had helped overthrow the previous monarchy when the city-state had been under the grips of a stern dictatorship under the Laurent ruling family. With the help of English soldiers on loan from a personal friend and his own small army, Montchagny’s cunning displays of intrigue and battle strategies enabled Mont-Tremblant to be rescued from under the Laurents’ hard rule.