Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1)

by DeAnne Cherry

  Evan sidestepped but was caught around the waist and nearly lost his balance, but he leaned over and grasped Osborne around the waist. "It seems we are evenly matched. What should we do?" he asked.

  "You could stand there and let me pummel you. You know you deserve it you bastard.

  "Yes, no doubt I do, but I'm not going to let you. For one, my mother is going to be very upset if she finds out about this, so please show some restraint, and two, how will Fleur feel if she sees we've been fighting?"

  "Too late for that! I'm already bleeding form the nose."

  "Oh?" asked Evan. "All's fair then." He yanked Osborne down to the ground and they rolled, dust and dirt flying all around them. He felt himself land on his back with Andrew on top of him. He gripped the other man's fist just in time as it came towards his face.

  Next thing he knew, he was being gripped by the shoulders and hauled up, with Nathan and Oliver holding his arms. He blinked, trying to clear the dirt from his eyes as they watered. He could barely see Osborne being held in a similar fashion by Dom and his brother.

  "Don't touch him again, Osborne," he heard Edward say in that damned calm voice of his, the frames of his glasses glinting. "Or I'll be the next one you go rounds with."

  Osborne laughed deeply, and unpleasant sound, and held up his hands. "You are ridiculously tall as ever, Ravenbrook, so pardon me if I decline. Woolf and I were just having a moment."

  "And you could not talk it out rationally, could you?" Edward asked. "Lady Fleur has already married Osborne, so what do you hope to accomplish?"

  Evan caught his breath and shrugged out of Nathan's and Oliver's hold.

  Oliver cleared his throat, brushing away the dirt that holding Evan had transferred onto his clothes. "Excuse me if I seem a tad slow, but who is married to whom? And why are we unhappy about it?"

  "Do try to keep up, Oliver," said Nathan, shaking his head. "Evan married Lady Fleur Osborne before we quit London. How can you not know this, you've been here for two days."

  Oliver shrugged. "I am never in town, so all the good news escapes me," he defended, then looked at Evan as if his head had rolled off his shoulders. "You really are married?"

  "Quite married," he responded.

  "Good Lord." Oliver blinked, still digesting the news.

  Andrew huffed. "While this is very entertaining to watch, I still need a word with Woolf here."

  "A word is all you'll have, Osborne," Edward said, letting go of his arm. "We will stand some yards away but do not try anything. I won't let you touch him again."

  He looked to Edward and nodded. "Agreed."

  Osborne grinned as the others walked away. "Big brother is still quite protective of you."

  Evan's face burned. "No more than you are of Fleur and Lady Julia."

  "Why her, Woolf? Of all the women in England, why did it have to be her?"

  Evan thought for one heart stopping moment that maybe Osborne was in love with her, but quickly discarded the thought. He has always been like that with the girls, even when they were children.

  "What's happened to you, Osborne? We used to be friends, remember?"

  "That was before."

  "Before what?" Evan asked, genuinely confused.

  "Before everything!" Osborne shouted. "Before you tore her heart out and carelessly waltzed all over it. Why would I trust you with it now?" He stopped and ran his hand over his jaw. "Why did you leave? I never understood, and neither did Fleur."

  Evan shifted his stance, stalling for time. Every time he explained his reasoning for leaving, the weaker the excuse felt to him. "I was just a fool child, for God's sake, Andrew," he implored. "I was jealous, so I lashed out. I'm not going to treat her that way now, you know. We're adults."

  "Won't you? I will have your word on that or I'll end you. Do we understand one another?"

  "Yes, I swear I will take care of her the way she deserves or I will put my own face in range of your bloody fist, all right?"

  "My pistols damn you. I'll not bother with fisticuffs if you hurt her. Mind you keep that close to your heart."

  Evan swallowed and nodded.

  "I heard of your heroics at the ball. I guess I should be thankful you saved her from being injured ... so, thank you."

  Evan laughed, not able to help it. It was all just so absurd, the whole of it.

  Andrew looked at him hard. "Do you love her?"

  Evan stopped laughing, his smile fading from his face. "What?"

  "I asked do you love my cousin, since you said you were jealous." Andrew loved the way Evan squirmed at his interrogation.

  "That is a bit personal, don't you think?"

  Andrew shook his head. "I still don't like you."

  Evan watched him walk towards the other men, irritated with himself for being slightly in awe of how Osborne did not seem the least bit intimidated to walk over there, considering everyone was either Evan's own family or close friend.

  He looked down at his hand. Now that the urgency of the moment was over it was starting to ache, though the blood had long dried. He wondered how on Earth he was ever supposed to spend time alone with his wife now that one more obstacle, a very large one, stood in their path.

  HOUSE WITHOUT A NAME

  Evan stood alone in the corner and watched his father's cue ball drive into Julian's red, sinking a perfect hazard play. The duke had lost once again, and Evan wondered if he'd ever learn. His father lived and breathed the game in winter, and he'd yet to meet any one who could best him.

  "What are you thinking about?"

  Evan turned towards Nathan. "Hmm, just wondering why anyone bets against my father when they know he never loses."

  "Come now," Nathan scoffed. "You've been off over here on your own for half an hour. Tell me what you're really thinking."

  "Osborne's an unsocial bastard, isn't he?"

  Nathan looked to the opposite corner of the room where the officer stood off alone.

  "No more than you. Why? Afraid he might ask you for another dance?"

  Evan's smile was sad. "No, it is just with everything and everyone, I'm lucky to spend ten minutes alone a day with Fleur. I didn't talk to her at all during dinner and after everyone was playing whist. How does one ever find a match at these things? No one is ever alone."

  "Thank the Almighty, I'm not ready for a shackle, but I see your dilemma. Why don't you just speak to her at night when no one else is around?"

  Evan looked skyward. "Oh, yes, I'll just accost her in her sleep and ask her what her favorite color is. She won't be alarmed at all."

  "She's already asleep, then, when you come round?"

  "Yes, though even if she wasn't, it would be awkward at best. What if she thinks I'm about to ..." Evan waved his hand around.

  "Ah, I see, but well, someday you will have to ..." Nathan said, repeating the gesture.

  Evan laughed. "Yes, but not now. I'd like to at least have one conversation longer than ten minutes before ..."

  "Yes, before ..." Nathan agreed.

  "There is only one solution then. You must take her away from here. Go honeymoon somewhere."

  "Who is honeymooning where?" asked Felix, walking over with Edward and Dom.

  Nathan looked around. "Where is Oliver?"

  "He felt sorry for the captain standing off on his own so he went to make conversation."

  Evan looked over and nearly winced when he saw an irritated Osborne and a cowed Oliver. "Poor bastard," said Evan.

  "He has never met him before, so he wasn't to know," defended Nathan.

  Evan snorted. "Yes, because making an entrance by pummeling one of the guest says 'Come nearer.' Amiable, the man is not."

  Everyone laughed.

  "I'm still waiting to hear about this honeymoon," Felix interrupted.

  "I'm trying to convince Romeo here," Nathan said as he backhanded Evan in the chest, "to run off with his bride so they can get a moment's peace."

  Edward nodded. "It is a good idea, what with her father and now
cousin in residence. Not a very romantic setting, is it?"

  "I tried asking her to accompany me in the solarium nearly made it until Captain Chucklehead showed up. He actually wedged himself between us on the settee."

  Edward shook his head, smirking. "You're not very good at this wooing business are you, Evan?"

  "Says the man who swore at her during his proposal of marriage." Evan snickered when Nathan, Dom, and Felix again laughed at the absurd situation.

  Felix wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, God, did you really?"

  Edward flushed, cleared his throat and looked away, his long hair swinging under its ribbon. "Yes, well, we're not discussing me, are we? What are you going to do, Evan?"

  Evan smiled, taking pity on Edward's plight, and took the change of subject in stride. "I guess I can take her to the new estate. It is close."

  "Are you mad?" Nathan asked, his face a perfect picture of disbelief. "You can't take her there."

  "Why ever not?"

  "Because it's a catastrophe. The walls need plastering and you've no furnishings whatsoever. Where will you eat? Who will even make the food?"

  "It is not so bad. Besides I had a letter this morning from my steward. With my permission he has found a housekeeper, a cook, and a few servants. They have been there for a fortnight already."

  Nathan stood and stared in astonishment. "Tell him, Edward. Tell him it would be completely inappropriate to take the lady there."

  Edward looked between the two. "I have yet to visit. Is it that awful?"

  "Yes," said Nathan.

  "No, it is not," Evan countered. "The matter is settled. I will go up early and speak to her about it, and we will leave in the morning if she agrees.

  "What will you tell Mother?" asked Edward.

  "I'll tell her they needed me on some urgent business. It's time I stayed and oversaw the renovations anyway, and Fleur should be part of those decisions."

  Nathan rubbed his forehead before throwing his hands in the air. "God save me from fools and stubborn brothers. This is a terrible idea, I tell you."

  Evan looked at Nathan. "Yes, but when did I ever listen to you?"

  Nathan shook his head. "It's your marriage."

  Evan nodded. Settling his plans for tomorrow in his mind, he turned to leave when Oliver walked up.

  "The captain's not a very agreeable sort of fellow, is he?" he asked, looking relieved to have escaped.

  Evan laughed all the way out the door and until he reached the stairs. Not very agreeable, indeed.

  ***

  Fleur tossed and turned in bed, wishing she could read her book, but she had already blown out her bedside candle and her thoughts were making her restless.

  She reached up and touched her lips, trying to replicate the gentle brush Evan had given her earlier. At the thought, she rolled around in the bed, hugging her pillow, landing on her stomach, her face full of her own hair, muffling her giggles.

  He had tried to kiss her today, and he would have if not for Andrew. But things had been easier between them today and they had spent some time alone together before Andrew's arrival. The smile slipped from her face and she turned her head and slammed it down on her pillow as she huffed. She knew her cousin would never leave them alone. Evan would be lucky if he wasn't black-and-blue before they left.

  She tossed again, sitting up before gathering her hair in her hand, twisting it to throw it behind her head. Looking at the door, she counted to five. If he came in before she was finished, she would wait up for him, and if not she would just feign sleep as she had done before.

  One, she thought. He was probably still drinking and playing cards with the others. Two. The ladies had left for bed more than an hour ago. Three, she wondered what the men talked about when ladies weren't present. Four, did they gossip? Surely they did. And five, he hadn't come.

  She sighed and lay back down. Just as she reached down to pull her blanket up higher, she heard the door. Lying still, she held her eyes closed, her breathing slow and steady, motionless.

  She heard him walk up to the bed, much as he did that first night. "Fleur," he whispered.

  She lay there frozen. What should she do?

  "Fleur, are you awake? I need to speak to you."

  Her eyes popped open, and he was standing right in front of her. She raised her eyes to his and she scooted upwards, sitting up and propping herself up on her pillow to listen.

  She waited, and when he looked like he regretted rousing her, she gave him a small smile, hoping it would urge him to speak, but he remained silent.

  "What is it?" she finally asked.

  He reached out a hand to steady himself as he sat on the end of the bed, and when he felt her foot, he whipped his hand away and sprang from his seat. "Forgive me, I ..."

  She pulled her feet up under her and leaned forward. "Please sit; tell me what's on your mind."

  He sat down again and rubbed his chin, where a small shadow of a beard showed. She thought it handsome.

  "You know when we were children, it was so easy to find ways to escape everyone, except maybe Julia. She had a talent of finding us wherever we were." He chuckled at the memory as Fleur smiled. She could not deny it was true. "It's different now, of course. We have not had a very easy time finding ways to be alone, have we?"

  She laughed. "With Andy in residence we should not expect that to change anytime soon."

  "My thoughts precisely. What if we were to leave here? We could go to my estate, our estate. It is not far, as I told you."

  She stared into his eyes, surprised.

  "Of course, we don't have to leave," he said, looking more uncomfortable by the moment. "I just thought maybe we could ..."

  She watched him struggle for words, and at that moment she knew she would say yes, that she would follow him anywhere.

  "Forget I said anything, really," he smiled, but she saw hurt in his eyes, and when he went to stand, she reached forward and laid her hand on his arm, stopping him.

  "When should I be ready?" she asked. When he didn't answer right away she gently shook his arm. "Evan?"

  "Oh, in the morning? Say about eleven? Everyone should be up and about by then so we can say our goodbyes."

  She nodded. "I will be ready."

  He slid his hand over hers, grasping it before letting go, allowing her hand to slip from his arm. He stood and walked over towards the other side of the room to ready himself for bed as she slid back down under the covers, once again pushing her hair behind her head.

  She wished she were brave enough to ask him to stay, but she was nowhere near that bold. She flushed thinking about their almost-kiss earlier and wondered if one day she would ever be so bold as to kiss him first.

  She raised the covers over her lips to hide her smile. She felt silly for thinking such things, but she knew she wanted to finally be kissed by someone, and for that someone to be Evan.

  ***

  Fleur hugged Julia, already having said goodbye to the other girls. Phoebe told her to be sure to write, while Prudence told her to look after her health. Charity held on a bit too tight and a bit too long, and Fleur felt a moment's regret at leaving her alone.

  Julia held her closer. "I feel like I'll never see you again."

  "We will see each other for Christmas if not before."

  "It is not the same," whispered Julia.

  Fleur backed away and placed her gloved hands on Julia's face. "I know. Be good to Papa. Make sure he doesn't eat too many desserts throughout the day. You will be in charge of the accounts and the house now. Also, make sure he does not stay up too late only to get up at dawn."

  "I will, I promise."

  "Write to me often, and promise me something?"

  Julia reached up and placed her hands on top of Fleur's. "Anything, just name it."

  "Stop picking on poor Mr. Carter," Fleur smiled when Julia flushed.

  Julia leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Oh, off with you, Papa is waiting."

  "Goodbye, Julia,
" she said, returning the kiss.

  She walked over towards the carriage. Evan was already there, shaking her father's hand.

  "I will, I swear it," she heard him say before turning to look at her. He nodded at her father and then stepped up into the carriage, giving them privacy.

  Julian held out his hands for hers and grasped them lightly when she placed them into his palms. "I knew this day would come, but I find myself shamefully unprepared."

  "Papa," she simply said, at a loss of what to say.

  "I don't know how Julia and I will get on without you. We might kill each other within a fortnight."

  Fleur laughed. "You will be here for another two weeks, so I give it a month."

  He pulled her forward and hugged her tight. "Be safe and write often. Madeleine has already invited us for Christmas so it won't be long before we see each other again."

  "Yes." It was all she could say, afraid the tears she held may fall.

  She kissed him on the check, then he helped her into the carriage.

  "Madeleine asked me to inform you that she is sending one of her maids to attend you until you can make arrangements for your own," he said, closing the box door.

  She leaned forward out of the window, taking his hand once more.

  "Tell her thank you, and tell Julia I love her."

  "I will."

  "I love you, Papa," she said before leaning back into the carriage. Evan leaned forward, tilting his head to the duke.

  Her father let go of her hand and rapped on the side of the carriage, and she knew she did not imagine it when his voice gave a gruff "Drive on."

  ***

  At first the ride had been blessedly silent because she knew if she spoke, she would weep. She would miss them terribly, but she did not want Evan to feel responsible for her tears.

  Though now she was starting to feel a bit anxious, and she wished he would just say something, anything. She took a deep breath and decided to take the situation into her own hands. "How long have you had ownership of ... ? Oh, you never told me what the estate is called."