A Merchant's Extraordinary Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Aria Norton

  “It wasn’t wrong of me to assume my wife-to-be a servant. She did not give me any other option.”

  “Did you say something, Mr Fernandez?” the baron questioned.

  The man was taking his time pouring the brandy, no doubt trying to avoid the matter at hand.

  “Only that you have a lovely home.”

  “Oh, oh. Thank you.”

  The back of the man’s neck was bright red, as were the tips of his ears. He must remember the agreement we made, although I am surprised. He was so inebriated that night that I wondered if he would recall anything of what he had said. Not that he was complaining! It was the baron’s drunken state that had pushed him to make such an outrageous statement. Had he been sober, I know he would have never offered his daughter to a commoner. One day it will put him at ease to know that he did not marry his daughter to a commoner but a nobleman. That day was closer than ever before, thanks to his upcoming marriage to Aurora. Lovely name.

  “Aurora,” he tested.

  “Has she come back?” Lord Leeds asked, whirling around.

  He honestly looks terrified about that happening. Why? “No, I simply wished to practice saying my bride’s name.”

  The colour on the man’s face deepened. “About that ... I, uh.” He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “I do not know what you mean by that.”

  Was the man trying to take back his word? “I beg to differ, My Lord. I believe that you do.”

  The baron would not have paled had he not recognised him. He didn’t answer but turned to his drinks trolley, picking up their glasses before handing one to him.

  “I’m afraid I do not, Mr Fernandez.”

  “Lord Leeds, let us not go back and forth on this matter. There is much to discuss concerning my upcoming marriage to your daughter. I imagine that you have not told her about the marriage? No, I imagine you haven’t since you deny our agreement.”

  Instead of arguing, Carlos brought out the man’s signet ring, as well as the piece of paper with the all-important agreement. He pushed them towards the man, saying nothing. The baron was shocked for a moment, staring at his own signet ring and his signature clear on the paper. His shoulders suddenly sagged, his grip on his glass loosening.

  “I see you understand the situation now.”

  The man nodded. “Yes. I cannot deny it, can I? I wish I could, but I cannot. Why do you wish to marry my daughter? You hardly know anything about her.”

  “I do not think any of the suitors you have attempted to marry her off to have known much about her either. If you were honest, you would admit that the reason behind this question is because of my status. I’m a commoner, and she is not. Am I correct?”

  “Can you blame me? You know that intermarriage between people of different statuses does not happen, or at least, it rarely happens. I’m a well-known man, respected in all of society despite my daughter’s antics. What would people say when they find out that I have married my daughter off to a merchant?”

  “My Lord, you said yourself that fateful night that no one of your class would marry your daughter. If that is the case, then why does it matter if she marries a man not of her status? From what I have heard, she has created a displeasing reputation among your circles and has been ostracised by many. I may not be someone with a title, but I do have enough wealth to make up for that. I will take care of your daughter and treat her with the greatest respect. In this, I give you my word.”

  Carlos had not thought much about his marriage as his main concern was using his new connections to draw closer to his father, but it appeared that he had been foolish not to thoroughly weigh the repercussions. He was taking a man’s daughter from her home into an environment he did not know.

  The baron hardly knew anything about him – how could he entrust his daughter to him? She may make his life difficult, but he does care for her. That much was evident. These men confuse me at times. They speak as though their women are objects, but they also have affection for them.

  “I will not take her out of England. Will that put you at ease? She will be free to go and see her family at any time she wishes, and she will never lack for anything. I will ensure her happiness.”

  The baron passed a hand over his face, rubbing his jaw. “This is all well and good, but that does not answer the question of why you wish to marry my daughter. Why not marry a woman of your own kind? I am confident there are dozens of women who would be happy to marry a man like yourself.”

  Lord Leeds had made a valid point. How I wish he were not sober at this time. He’s asking far too many questions, but it is his right. Carlos was practically a stranger asking to marry a baron’s daughter. Although it would make my life easier if he didn’t ask these questions, I’d be surprised if he didn’t. Fathers were meant to be protectors until they handed their daughters over to a worthy man, which he had yet to prove he was.

  “My primary reason to marry your daughter is to ensure that my children will have a mother from a good family. You see, family is important to me, and if a wife and mother are not of good stock, you tend to find that the family isn’t either. Despite your daughter’s reputation, I believe that she still has many good values that common women do not have.” He was really conjuring reasons out of thin air right now, but he was desperate.

  “I have searched high and low for the perfect wife, but I have not been able to find one. When I heard that you were willing to let your daughter marry a commoner, I thought it my chance to have a good wife. Lord Leeds, I will remind you that you gave me your word. Do not become one of those men that say whatever they please, only to take it all back when it suits them. My heart is set on marrying your daughter.”

  Somewhat winded, Carlos took this moment to sip his brandy, hoping he had said enough to convince the man. I cannot have him refuse me, not when my hopes have been lifted so high. What would he do if the baron said no? Lord Leeds remained silent, stroking the rim of his glass.

  “How do you know Richard Sykes, Mr Fernandez? Are you into anything illegal? I have known Richard for twenty years, and I’m aware that he deals with the black market. He is an honourable man, there is no doubt about that, but he has his weaknesses.”

  Carlos spat a little of his drink out, quickly following it up with his handkerchief. That came out of nowhere.

  “I supply Richard with stock for his club, My Lord. I have not dealt with any black market items in my life.”

  That was the truth. His mother was his conscience, preventing him from getting involved with anything nefarious in nature. He was friends with pirates, but that was for his protection, as well as that of his cargo.

  “I find that surprising in a merchant.”

  “You may do any research you wish to do, My Lord. You will find that I have remained above board in all my dealings, never taking any sort of bribe or offer to trade on the black market. I have certainly heard of it, but my mother would have my head. You see, she is a devout woman of faith and has instilled values that prevent me from doing anything contrary. I am loathe to disappoint her.”

  At least that much was the absolute truth. Lord Leeds knocked back his glass in one gulp, wiping the back of his mouth.

  “These are unusual circumstances, but I am assured that you are an honourable man. I did not mean what I said that night, and I regret having said it. However, I am a man of my word, and you seem to be a man of yours as well. I trust that you will take care of my daughter, Mr Fernandez.”

  Carlos wasn’t sure if he heard correctly. “Does this mean that you consent to our marriage?”

  “Yes. My daughter needs a husband, and you are the only one willing to marry her. ’Tis unfortunate that you are a commoner, but it cannot be helped.”

  Carlos beamed, not minding the side comment. “You will not regret it, My Lord! Your daughter will be in good hands, and I am convinced my mother will love her. She will always have someone to take care of her.”

  Although he wasn’t entirely confident about what Lydia
would make of his wife, he hoped they would get along. Aurora appears to have a soft spot for servants; she cannot be a bad person. I have yet to tell Mother that I am getting married, but I know she will be happy.

  “Perhaps I shall not regret it, but you might. My daughter is not the … uh … typical Englishwoman. You may have heard of her reputation, but you have never seen her in action. Have you by any chance heard of how she drove away all the suitors I brought to meet her?”

  No, he hadn’t heard much, but no one could be so terrible, could they? I find Englishmen rather weak. It would not take much to drive them away if one put enough effort into it. However, I am not English. It will take more than a few tricks to push me away. Carlos didn’t want to admit that he hadn’t heard much about it because it might make the baron change his mind to protect him from his daughter.

  “Yes,” he lied. “I have heard something of her antics. I noticed that she was not the typical woman of your country, especially as I caught her playing outside with the servants’ children, but that hardly matters to me. There is nothing wrong with being a little different.”

  The baron barked out laughter. “A little? Have you indeed met my daughter, Mr Fernandez? I feel I would be doing you an injustice if I did not warn you that you might have bitten off more than you can chew by marrying her. If you get her to marry you. ’Tis one thing to say you will, but quite another to actually do it.”

  First, he did not wish me to marry his daughter, and now he is warning me away from his daughter. I cannot keep up with him. Besides, what could be so horrendous about the woman that would make him run for the hills? He must be over exaggerating.

  “I am confident I can handle whatever comes my way. Would it be acceptable to discuss the wedding now? Or shall we wait until we speak to Aurora?”

  The sooner he was married to the baron’s daughter, the sooner he could work out a way to meet his father. I will utilise my father-in-law’s connections to my own benefit. Surely a father-in-law would not begrudge his son-in-law an introduction to the higher circles?

  “I do not think that you understand what you are agreeing to,” the man insisted. “Are you entirely certain that you wish to marry my daughter? I do not want you to later accuse me of hiding my daughter’s eccentricity from you. Once you are married to her, you cannot divorce her – this is my final decision.”

  Was his daughter a demon that he had to ask this question repeatedly? I’m beginning to think that perhaps he has the problem, and not his daughter.

  “I do not believe in divorce, My Lord, and there is not a woman I cannot handle.”

  No sooner had he said that when the door banged open so forcefully that it bounced off the wall and nearly smacked into the seething woman at the doorway. Carlos and the baron must have jumped a mile in the air, both of them momentarily speechless.

  “Have you lost your senses?” she yelled.

  Who was she speaking to? Her father or him? Perhaps both of us. Had the woman been listening at the door and discovered his plans to marry her? That might explain the steam coming off her.

  “Aurora, dear,” her father began weakly.

  “Oh, no, you don’t, Father! Do not attempt to explain yourself out of this. I truly believed that you had finally accepted that I do not wish to marry, but I was wrong. Thank goodness that I eavesdropped, or I would have never known what plans you have for me.”

  “Eavesdropping is not something to be proud of,” Carlos commented.

  Her gaze latched onto his, searing him. “I would remain silent if I were you, sir.”

  Had this woman lost her mind? Who was she to speak to him in such a manner? No woman had ever disrespected him like so.

  “You are rather impertinent, Aurora.”

  “And you are foolish, Mr Fernandez. Kindly withhold from using my name as I did not give you permission.”

  “Surely, a husband does not need permission?”

  The woman turned around, her hair whipping around her person. He was quite mesmerised by the thick length of it, wondering how she managed to maintain its shine. During their walk up the stairs, he had been tempted to touch it, wanting to rub the silky strands between his fingers, but he had a feeling he might have ended up at the bottom of the stairs had he done that. She must be trying to control her temper.

  “Aurora, you–”

  She held up a hand. “Do not speak to me until I have worked up enough patience to deal with both of you. Would it be terrible of me to have them tied to Delilah and pulled through the field?”

  She appeared to ask herself this question, making him wonder just who Delilah was.

  “Her horse,” the baron offered. “She speaks of her horse.”

  I suppose I asked the question out loud. “Has she ever tied anyone to the back of the horse?”

  “Not to my knowledge, but I would not put it past her. She usually gets her way.”

  “Do not speak of me as though I am not in the room!” she shouted, facing them. “Typical men. Hear me, merchant, and hear me well: I will never marry you! I would sooner run away than get married to the likes of you. I suggest you return to whatever ship you stepped off and sail away from England. Better yet, find a woman foolish enough to marry you. Goodbye.”

  She walked out, banging the door shut behind her. Well, what am I supposed to make of that?

  “I did warn you,” the baron muttered.

  Chapter 8

  Aurora paced the library, shocked at her own volatile reaction to hearing the news of her marriage. It had caught her by surprise, and before she knew it, she had entered the room and rained down words that likely still had the men reeling.

  “Well, it serves them right. How was I meant to react to such a discovery?”

  Her father intended to get her married, after all, and she had stupidly believed otherwise. Yes, she had had her doubts, but weeks had passed since his trip to London without mention about suitors and marriage. It hadn’t been strange for her to grow a sense of relief from the fear of being forced to marry.

  “He never once mentioned the topic in all this time. I truly thought he had given up and would leave me be.”

  How could she have been so foolish to let her guard down? I do not know what to feel. Anger? Hurt? Fear? All these emotions are churning within me, making me ill to my stomach. Would her father indeed force her to marry that man? The merchant who initially intrigued her replaced by a man seeking to take her freedom away from her.

  “I cannot allow that to happen. I cannot.”

  She stopped at the window, staring at the children still playing in the front. I was just there minutes ago. Carefree, happy, and herself. Now, she was facing lifelong imprisonment. Aurora rubbed her chest, easing the feeling of restriction.

  “What is he thinking? He hardly knows the man! I heard him admit it! Am I cattle to be purchased by the highest bidder?”

  The merchant seemed determined to marry her despite her father’s warnings. I could get away with chasing away potential suitors, but this man has already made up his mind. A courtship period had not been mentioned, only marriage.

  “Even if he had asked to court me, I would have denied him. Who does he think he is coming into my life to control me?”

  Aurora imagined herself closeted in a house, her life dull and monotonous. What if he demanded children of her? She grabbed her belly, looking upward. The man had mentioned wanting a family and wishing his children to have a mother from ‘good stock.’

  “I shall die in childbirth. I know it.”

  She was but seventeen, nearly eighteen. She had her whole life before her, for goodness’ sake! How could she agree to this horrible end?