Redeeming the Marquess

by Beers, Laura

  Roswell watched as Ellie departed from the room. He had the sudden urge to follow after her, pull her into his arms, and assure her that everything would work out. But he couldn’t do that. For some reason, he knew he would be lying to her.

  Charles crossed his arms over his chest. “That was painful to watch, brother.”

  Emma nodded. “It was,” she agreed.

  “It wasn’t that bad,” he defended.

  “Why are you doing this, son?” his mother asked.

  “I am trying to keep Ellie safe from Lord Worthington,” he responded, his voice rising.

  “Is that the only reason?” she pressed.

  Roswell gave her a puzzled look. “What are you insinuating?”

  Giving him a pointed look in return, she asked, “Do you care for the girl?”

  “I do,” he hesitated, not ready to confess his feelings, “but only as a friend.”

  His mother bobbed her head. “Well, you answered my question, and we shall accept that.” She turned towards Emma and Charles. “Won’t we?”

  “We will,” they replied in unison.

  Roswell lifted his brow. “Is this interrogation over?” he asked. “I’m afraid I have quite a bit of work to do before I leave for the House of Lords.”

  “Yes,” his mother replied. “You are free to go.”

  “Thank you.” He walked over to the door and stopped. “Will you speak to Ellie when you have the chance?”

  “About what, dear?” his mother asked.

  “I just want to ensure she is all right with all of this.”

  Harriet smiled. “I will see to it.”

  16

  Ellie sat on the settee in her bedchamber as she attempted to sort through her feelings. She should be elated that Lord Bideford had devised a plan to keep her safe from Lord Worthington’s clutches, but she only felt apprehension. She’d heard the harshness in Lord Bideford’s voice when he’d announced that he would marry her, assuming his plan did not work. But she refused to force him into a marriage he clearly did not want.

  Why had she agreed to this madness? Could she pretend to be engaged to Lord Bideford and still manage to suppress her feelings for him? She wasn’t sure if she could.

  A knock came at the door, breaking her out of her thoughts.

  “Enter,” Ellie ordered.

  The door opened, and Harriet and Emma walked into the room. “How are you faring, child?” Harriet asked.

  “I am well,” she lied.

  Harriet gave her a knowing look as she sat next to her on the settee. “Would you care to talk about whatever is troubling you?”

  Ellie lowered her gaze to her lap. “I must admit I am rather concerned about entering into a fake engagement with Lord Bideford.”

  “I assumed as much,” Harriet said.

  Emma sat on the bed. “I think the plan is brilliant.”

  “You do?” Ellie asked, bringing her gaze back up.

  “I do,” Emma replied, “especially since I would love to have you as my sister-in-law. You are far better than Lady Persephone.” She shuddered.

  Harriet nodded. “I agree with Emma,” she said. “You are more suitable for my son than Lady Persephone was.”

  “That is because Lady Persephone is the devil’s spawn,” Emma pressed.

  Harriet frowned. “That is terrible of you to say.”

  “It makes it no less true,” Emma stated with a smile on her lips.

  “Regardless,” Harriet started, “we are thrilled by Roswell’s choice.”

  Ellie gave her a sad smile. “But I am not truly engaged to your son,” she reminded them. “This is just a ruse.”

  “We are well aware,” Harriet said with a wave of her hand. “Aren’t we, Emma?”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  There was something in Harriet’s voice that caused Ellie to pause. “Do you want me to marry your son?” she asked boldly.

  A bright smile came to Harriet’s face. “Of course I do!” she exclaimed.

  “Why?”

  “Frankly, I couldn’t have planned this out better if I tried,” Harriet said. “It was evident from the moment you two met that you belonged together.”

  “In what way?”

  Harriet grew solemn. “You may not need my son in your life, but he needs you in his, desperately.”

  “I don’t believe that to be so.”

  “No, it is true,” Harriet replied. “I have witnessed the change that has come over him this past week, and it has only confirmed what I already knew.”

  “But this engagement is not real,” Ellie said. “Lord Bideford has no intention of actually marrying me.”

  “That is what he says, but I know better,” Harriet pressed.

  “How so?”

  “My son cares for you.”

  Ellie nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me; we are friends.”

  “I daresay his feelings run much deeper than that,” Harriet argued. “You seem to forget that I saw him flirting with you in the drawing room earlier.”

  She smiled at that thought. “He was just teasing me.”

  Harriet lifted her brow. “It almost appeared as if you were about to kiss,” she said.

  “I assure you that nothing untoward has occurred,” Ellie defended.

  “I wish it would have!” Harriet exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air. “Then my son would have had no choice but to marry you.”

  “I refuse to force him into a marriage with me,” Ellie said firmly. “I would never do that to him.”

  Harriet’s eyes were tender as she remarked, “It is evident that you care for my son.”

  Ellie lowered her gaze. “I do,” she admitted.

  “That is wonderful!”

  Ellie brought her gaze back up. “Is it?” she asked. “Because I can’t help but notice that your son doesn’t truly want to marry me.”

  “You just need to give him time to know his own heart,” Harriet counseled.

  “I do not presume that Lord Bideford could fall in love with me.”

  “Why not?”

  “Caring for someone is a far cry from falling in love.”

  “They go hand in hand,” Harriet pressed.

  “Don’t you want to marry for love?” Emma chimed in.

  Ellie rose from the settee and walked over to the window. “After my father died, I knew I was destined for a marriage of convenience, and I resigned myself to it.”

  “And now?” Emma asked.

  “Because of Lord Bideford’s assistance, I have a real chance at marrying for love, assuming the judge rules in our favor.”

  “If you inherit twenty thousand pounds,” Harriet said, “I have no doubt that you will have a line of suitors hoping to court you.”

  “But would you want any of them, especially since they abandoned you after hearing what the gossips said?” Emma asked.

  Ellie shook her head. “No, I most assuredly would not.”

  Harriet gave her an understanding smile. “Don’t give up on my son, then.”

  A knock came at the door before it was pushed open and her lady’s maid walked into the room, holding a bouquet of flowers.

  Mary held them up for Ellie’s inspection. “These flowers were just delivered for you.”

  “Was there a card with them?”

  “There was, miss.” Mary reached into the pocket of her gown, pulled out the card and approached her. “They are from Lord Bideford.”

  Ellie accepted the card and read:

  Ellie,

  I saw these beautiful flowers and thought of you. I hope they bring a smile to your lovely lips.

  Yours truly,

  Roswell

  Ellie couldn’t help but smile as she read the note and smelled the flowers. Lord Bideford had bought her flowers, just because he was thinking about her. What a sweet gesture, she thought.

  “What did the note say?” Emma asked.

  Harriet shook her head in disapproval. “That note is personal,” she chided. �
��Although I must admit, I am rather curious, as well.”

  “It just says that he thought of me when he saw the flowers, and he hopes they make me smile,” Ellie shared.

  “That was most thoughtful of him,” Harriet said.

  “It was,” Ellie agreed.

  Mary interrupted, “Would you care for me to put those into a vase and put them on your dressing table?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Ellie replied, extending the flowers towards her.

  Harriet rose. “I think we should go shopping,” she announced.

  Emma jumped up from the bed. “That sounds like a lovely idea. I could always use some more ribbon.”

  “I agree,” Ellie stated.

  Harriet smiled. “Then it is settled. Collect your hats and meet in the entry hall.”

  Roswell sat in his coach as it headed towards the House of Lords. He hoped the flowers that were delivered to Ellie had made her smile. He hadn’t intended to purchase flowers for her, but he’d driven by the flower shop and found that he couldn’t resist. The image of her came to his mind, and it brought a smile to his own lips.

  He knew this engagement wasn’t real, but he wanted to ensure that Ellie was content with her decision to go along with it. Her opinion mattered a great deal to him, especially when it came to her happiness.

  Frankly, he wasn’t quite sure why he had blurted out that they were engaged, but it had just felt right. Besides, he was doing this for Ellie. He didn’t want her to even associate with Lord Worthington anymore. If they did need to speak, it would be through their solicitors.

  Glancing out the window, Roswell watched as they passed into the Old Palace Yard. The coach came to a stop in front of the Palace of Westminster, and he waited while a footman came around to open the coach.

  Roswell had just stepped down when he heard his name being shouted across the noise in the yard. He turned towards the sound and saw Lord Townsend approaching him with a smile on his face.

  Townsend stopped in front of him. “When were you going to tell me?” he asked.

  “Tell you what?”

  “That you are engaged.”

  Roswell reared back slightly. “How did you find out?”

  “Was it to be a secret, then?”

  “No,” he replied, “but I only just asked Miss Bentley to marry me.”

  Townsend smiled. “Apparently, Lord Worthington is at White’s, and he is quite inebriated,” he explained. “He has been shouting at anyone who will listen that you have stolen his fiancée right from under him.”

  “He is saying that?”

  “That, and more.”

  Roswell frowned. “I do not like him saying such disparaging things about Miss Bentley.”

  “I imagine not, since she is your fiancée now.”

  “That she is.”

  Townsend looked at him curiously. “I must admit that I find it rather surprising, considering the timing of it all.”

  “Why is that?”

  “It wasn’t long ago that you couldn’t abide Miss Bentley, and now you’ve offered for her.”

  “I’m afraid a lot has changed for me.”

  “Clearly,” Townsend agreed.

  “If you question my affection towards Miss Bentley—” Roswell started.

  Townsend stopped him. “I am doing no such thing,” he said. “I can see a change in your demeanor, and I find myself happy for you.”

  “You do?”

  Placing a hand on his shoulder, Townsend said, “I am glad that you found Miss Bentley, I truly am.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Have you had a chance to tell her about what happened that night?”

  He stiffened. “I have not.”

  “Don’t you think you should?”

  “I suppose I must.”

  Townsend dropped his hand. “I think it would be for the best.”

  “You are right, but I must admit I am dreading that conversation.”

  Before Townsend could reply, Cosgrove approached, his hands out wide. “You are engaged?!”

  “I am,” Roswell replied.

  Cosgrove chuckled. “I didn’t think you would be the first one of us to fall prey to the parson’s mousetrap.”

  “I am as surprised as you are,” Roswell replied. “May I ask how you found out about the engagement?”

  “It is all over Town.” Cosgrove chuckled. “I’m afraid a piece of tasty gossip such as this one had no chance of staying quiet.”

  “I should have known,” Roswell muttered.

  “If I were you, I would just take a ride through Hyde Park during the fashionable hour, satisfy all of the gossips who want to see you two together,” Cosgrove advised. “You may as well get it over with.”

  Roswell bobbed his head. “I suppose that could work.”

  Townsend spoke up. “What are you doing over here?”

  Cosgrove gestured at a building across the yard. “I was at a coffeehouse across the way when I saw Bideford’s coach pull up.”

  “Bideford!” came an angry shout from behind them.

  Roswell turned around and saw Lord Worthington approaching him with a thunderous expression.

  Worthington stopped in front of him and wagged his finger in front of his face. “You think you can just steal a man’s fiancée and get away with it!” His words were slurred, and his eyes were bloodshot.

  “You are drunk, Worthington.”

  “No, I’m not,” he replied. “I can drink anyone under the table.”

  “That may be true, but you are making a fool of yourself,” Roswell said, keeping his voice low.

  Worthington glanced over his shoulder at the men and women who were gawking at him. Taking a step back, he declared, “This man stole my fiancée!”

  “I did no such thing,” Roswell replied. “You were never truly engaged.”

  “We had an understanding.”

  “That isn’t true. Miss Bentley had no intention of ever marrying you.”

  “She doesn’t know what she wants!” Worthington spat out. “I had been slowly wooing her, and you just swooped in and took her from me.”

  “I believe Miss Bentley made her intentions known when she ran away from you,” Roswell remarked dryly.

  Worthington’s eyes narrowed. “You think you are so clever.”

  “More so than you.”

  “Miss Bentley will be mine once more,” Worthington declared.

  Roswell shook his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said. “Perhaps it would have been different if you hadn’t deprived Miss Bentley and Lady Worthington of their inheritance.”

  The crowd gasped, and he saw the women bringing fans up in front of their faces.

  Worthington took a step closer to Roswell. “That money rightfully belongs to me.”

  “Not according to your predecessor’s will.”

  “Bah,” Worthington said. “He was coerced into creating that will.”

  “Yet he had the soundness of mind to register it at the church probate court?” Roswell questioned. “That seems highly unlikely.”

  “I am confident that the judge will side with me on the matter.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Roswell said.

  Worthington’s face grew splotchy. “You are just marrying her for her money, aren’t you?”

  “I am doing no such thing!”

  “It finally makes sense to me why you are marrying Miss Bentley.”

  Roswell took a commanding step towards Worthington. “I am marrying Miss Bentley because I care greatly for her, and I refuse to see her marry the likes of you.”

  “What will you do when you marry her, and she doesn’t receive a farthing of my money?” Worthington asked.

  “As I said before, I do not care a fig if Miss Bentley has a farthing to her name.”

  “You say that now, but I can’t help but wonder if you will toss her back to me when she is of little use to you.”

  Having heard enough, Roswell reared back and pun
ched Worthington’s jaw. “You will not speak about Miss Bentley that way,” he commanded as Worthington staggered back. “She is my fiancée and deserves more respect than you are giving her.”

  “You will pay for that, Bideford,” Worthington growled, holding his bruised jaw.

  “I truly doubt that.”

  Without saying another word, Worthington walked over to a coach and stepped inside.

  “I was wondering when you were going to punch him,” Townsend said as the coach rolled away.

  “You waited far too long for my taste,” Cosgrove remarked. “I would have punched him the moment he opened his drunken mouth.”

  Roswell glanced over his shoulder at the crowd that had assembled and sighed. He hadn’t meant to lose his temper and hit Worthington, but the man was beyond infuriating.

  He just hoped his antics didn’t show up in the Society page tomorrow. But he had a sneaking suspicion they would.

  17

  “You punched Lord Worthington?”

  Roswell glanced up from his desk at his mother, who was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. “I did,” he replied. There was no sense in trying to deny it.

  “In front of all those people?”

  “He should be grateful that I only punched him once.”

  His mother gave him a stern look. “Have I not taught you better than this, son?” she asked. “We do not settle our differences with fisticuffs.”

  “Worthington left me little choice in the matter.”

  “Why was that?”

  “You should have heard the disparaging comments he was making about Ellie.”

  His mother sighed as she dropped her arms to her sides. “I can only imagine.”

  “He was shouting in the middle of Old Palace Yard, and I saw no other way to shut him up,” Roswell said. “So I punched him.”

  “That was poorly done on your part.”

  “I disagree.”

  Walking further into the room, she asked, “Do you not worry about the repercussions of hitting him?”

  “Frankly, I don’t.” He eyed her curiously. “How did you come to find out about me punching Lord Worthington?”

  “We were shopping on Bond Street when we heard the news,” she replied.